Zlew

Also, if you have access to the plane practice it on the ground. If you don't have access to it...see if you can get it.

Another tip- If you don't have a remote switch, you can use the self timer on the camera to separates the vibrations of you pushing the button from the stutter opening.

I've never seen anyone specifically cover it as a line item. In the past I have had it covered under the "personal property off premiss" clause, as well as under specific line items for sports and camera equipment. I've always been really specific with my Agents to make sure it is covered one way or another, and to the proper amount (I had to bump up my personal property coverage, because one policy only covered 10% of that amount for off site claims. We had a discussion in our A-License forum at our DZ that then got turned into this article. Some good info- http://www.skydivemag.com/article/covering-your-gear?articleId=skydivemag%230%23WrncWrktR324rd3iLVRB3Q

The Eloy leg bruise is not just for short people (i'm not real tall ~5-8''). I'll never forget having drinks at the Prop mid way through 2012 Nationals, and about half a dozen camera guys (and gals) were all showing off the left inside leg/knee bruise we got from having to slam our left leg into the back of the door to stretch out far enough to get to the step. Two of the guys were over 6 feet tall Eloy- Love you guys, but your camera step sucks ass. Even some of the really short people (5 footish girls) were able to get out there. Not easy..but they got there. Don't be afraid to use both handles if you need too. My Eloy Otter Climb out is usually- Right hand to the rear handle, weight on my left foot in the door (try not to jam it in the corner to avoid the bruise!). Get a visual on the step, then stretch my right foot to get onto the step, at this point I can't see it. Transition weight to right foot, left hand goes from the floater bar to the rear of the door. Hang out there until it's about time to go, then somewhere between ready and set, I let go of the door with my left hand, and lean/shift my weight back to get to where I really want to be just before exit. Some guys do the foot switch... I've tried it a few times... not my favorite thing. I think Nik Daniel had an article in here about how he does it that way, and I know a few other big name camera heads that do the hop/switch. The good news- Most other DZ's have much better setups on their otters. Skydive Chicago- It's not a step, it is more like a patio that runs almost the full length of the luggage door, and also has 2 handles similar to Eloy but a little further back. Skydive Dallas has a similar step, but just one handle. There is another style that is pretty common with a medium sized step (maybe 7-8 inches by 3-4 inches?) that is in the middle of the luggage door but a little above the bottom of the door.

Nice shot! I think Chris has the right idea. You won't necessarily need a super fast lens to get the exposure you are looking for. If it was me, having a good tripod/platform for the camera, and figuring out the exposure to get the glow/background combo I was looking for. As Chris's picture demonstrates, you don't need a really fast lens for that. I bet you could get great pics even with the Kit lens as long as you have a stable platform for it since you may need shutter times longer than you can easily handhold.

Not sure if I can make this make sense via computer, but for me it isn't about "sighting in". I'm not of the school of thought that I want a sight to intersect a line going through the camera lens at a given distance. I just want to make sure that my line of sight/point of aim is on a parallel line with the center-line of the camera. That is, I'm ok with the idea that where the center of my ring sight is, will always be be 2-6 inches lower on a parallel line, instead of "dead on" at a given distance via an intersecting line and therefore off at every other distance. Mount your cameras level/flat, and set your ring sight up such that when your eye looks through it, it is also on a parallel line with the cameras. If you do this, when you put your helmet on and get it cranked down right, you will see the perfect cross (or circle pattern) in your ring sight, letting you know your eye is lined up on that same line as the cameras (if the light isn't coming straight in through the ring sight and into your eye, the cross/circles skew). If the cross/rings aren't lined up you either bumped it, didn't put your helmet on right, or otherwise know you may not be looking on the same parallel line as your cameras. The idea of twisting/cranking the ring sight to a point of impact like you would on a gun scope...isn't the way I want to go. If you have it set up right, there is no need to "sight in", and you will know you are pointing within a few inches of dead center on your cameras at any distance.

If it is the PD RDS, the RDS slider is 2 inches on one side, and 4 inches on the other side SHORTER than the stock slider. It was explained to me that it was designed to make sub terminal openings faster, and that's one of the reasons they don't recommend it for terminal. I put about 60 jumps on mine that way before taking with PD, and actually measuring the slider. Thought I knew better....I didn't. For me the openings were faster for sure. Usually ok, but some were too snappy for what I look for wearing camera. Put the old slider back on, and back to money openings. I know some others make RDS sliders that are bigger than the PD model.

In this thread http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4659684;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread PD had some insight into the development of the wing. Including pics of prototypes from 2012.

Hmmm. Almost not sure if I should post this. I don't have any inside info at all... but based on the V logo/design the name that popped in my head was Valkyrie. Has some cool wing/flight history in the name. Badass women.. seems to fit. After googling a bit, the valkyrie wings look a lot like that V/logo. Do I win a prize if I am right? Maybe a "stfu" email from PD? ha!

I'm not sure if that is what the ad was (i'd assume so?), but the 7 cell, schumann planform seems to be getting close to release. They had one in the factory/sponsored colors at Nationals and sounds like they wanted to create a little buzz with it. some pics and a little info here. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152395906249220&set=a.45657939219.59729.622434219&type=1&theater https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152396037344220&set=p.10152396037344220&type=1&theater

They have been out of stock for the last few times i've checked, but you might keep your eye on this http://shop.gopro.com/cameras/refurbished-hero3-black/CHDNH-B05.html This is the way I picked up my second Hero3 Black. Came with all the accessories, and in 100% new condition (at least mine was) for ~250 bucks from GoPro. Maybe the 3+ will end up in t here soon. Normal link is at the bottom of gopro.com - referb cameras.

I got an e-mail back from GoPro today - " However, the Hero4 will not have image stabilization. It will be able to capture footage faster, at a faster frame rate which may improve the shaky quality when filming at fast/ high speeds." For me, the crop with IS is fine, and is actually what I'm looking for. Not sure I'm ready to go with an totally non CX setup just yet, but one possibility is 2 action cams- one wide and one a little more tight. IMO, the gopros look pretty good on wide (thats what i use for my backup now), and some of the footage I have seen on the medium setting is judgable...but very shaky compared to even a non BOSS sony with electronic IS. So for me, 2 action cams, one wide without IS, and one a little tighter with IS could be perfect. The 4 looks like a really nice camera for sure, and if I didn't have action cams i'd probably get one, but for me right now it isn't worth the price just for upgrade from my current 3 blacks.

I also read that the H4's don't come with the wifi remote...so looking at $600ish for a H4black and a remote. I still want to see more hands on reviews, but from what I've seen so far, it isn't worth the cash for me to upgrade from my H3 blacks. 4K isn't worth much to me. I don't own (or know anyone who owns) a 4K monitor/display/TV. I know they are coming, but not worth 5-600 bucks for the upgrade. 120FPS is a cool feature for sure, but even now I don't often shoot at 60fps. So nice to have, but not worth the $ on the upgrade. IS....if it had IS...it would be an upgrade that I'd probably pay the money to pick up a Silver. Right now the shorty Sony looks more appealing to me.

Looks interesting for sure...but looking through the site still no sign of image stabilization.... looking fwd to some hands on reviews. Also, they have a 129 dollar version base model now.

Nice! I actually watched all your vids when Krisanne posted her blueskies/dz.com article. Some shake for sure, but not as bad as I would have guessed it would be on a med or narrow setting. Without some sort of IS, i think there will always be shake. Turning IS down on my sonys is noticeably more shaky (even with a FTP helmet, boxes/cages etc.). I really like the .5 or so FOV for 4 way and the gopro Med setting matches that pretty well. If the next version of the gopro has good IS, I'd consider running 2 next year with one on wide and one on med. Thanks for letting me see your footage!

What was your team name? I'd love to see the footage you shot, as I only tested the medium setting on the ground and never in the air. I'd love to see what it looks like in the sky. The best team in the country is shooting 2 Gopros only. Not sure what the settings are. IMO, the footage is pretty shaky, but clearly it didn't hurt them from a judging or scoring standpoint.

Also, if it is just for training and not comp...some coaches don't care if the angle is a little bit flatter (and closer). For comp, it is all about the grips and judgeable video. For training many times they are more concerned with reference points to see how/where people are flying, than if the camera can see a grip hidden behind a booty. So the stills you posted to the team/coach and ask if that will work. Also ask what they are looking for.

IMO, using the medium or narrow setting on the gopro makes the vibrations/shakes much too exaggerated. Wide has almost 180 field of view. You won't be able to easily fill the frame with them unless you are really close, and really steep. The screen grabs you posted, IMO should be fine for what you are doing in the short term.

No attack/offense taken. For me it comes down to a numbers game. There are situations where any of our gear will fail to work as designed. From AADs, RSLs, MARDs... There are also situations where they will work as designed, and may not act or do what we the jumpers might prefer them to do. Based on my own observation from watching spinning chops come down with the freebag attached to the main, I feel that the skyhook (or similar MARD) will most likely work the way I want it to in that situation. I understand that isn't 100% a sure thing. I also feel that the odds are in my favor enough that it tips the scales for me to make my safest/best bet to be using skyhook, while choosing not to use a standard non MARD RSL. Statistics say you are better off having it than not. It is a personal decision for sure. For me...I'd rather have a chance of my last parachute not flying past a helmet with 3 cameras/snags all over it. As I remember, it was not an RSL activation, but we did lose a camera guy this year to an entanglement during spinning mal breakaway. If you a re in any doubt, I say use an RSL/MARD. I'm just giving my reasons for jumping in the configurations I currently jump in. My info is free, and worth every penny

Yes Correct.

I'm feeling too lazy to go find the links to some discussions that have good videos on this subject, but here is what I have found and the reason I DO use a skyhook and I DONT use an RSL (with the obligatory...if in doubt use an RSL...recommended by uspa...better odds of saving you than hurting you etc. etc. etc.). Most likely mal for me based on my gear is a spinning mal. This often results in having to chop while spinning on your back due to where your 3 rings connect. In this situation, most of your airspeed is coming from below you. Many many many videos will show that if you pull your reserve pin (manually or via RSL) on your back, your reserve deployment happens UP, not OUT. Meaning, having your reserve PC/lines/etc come up next to your body, and contacting your head is not uncommon. Having that gear on my head, I'd rather not risk a snag, and since I pull a little higher, it makes more sense for me to NOT have and RSL, be very altitude aware, and have that extra second to at least roll over. In the same situation, after watching many SkyHook spinning chops, because of the canopy acting as an anchor point, even with airspeed from below you the deployment happens OUT, more than UP. I didn't see any footage with the skyhook of the reserve deployment coming under an arm, or touching the jumpers head. The centrifugal force and attachment to the main caused the deployment to happen on an angle, and not perpendicular. TL;DR- The way reserves launch in spinning mals on a RSL vs how they launch with a skyhook made me choose to use a skyhook with camera, but not an RSL.

I think most of the rumors are around the chip they are supposed to be using, coupled with some conjecture and history. The chip is capable of doing the higher rate 4K etc. etc. etc. I haven't heard any credible info about the actual camera yet. Nope.

Seems like the same rumor info that has been copy and pasted to a handful of sites/blogs over the past 9 months or so. The next gopro can't be that far out, but these same rumors/info seems to make the rounds every 2-3 months.

This isn't just a slider hang up. Watch in HD you can see he has loose/knotted lines. I'm guessing he didn't collapse his slider, and the tag end tangled with the other lines...but either way he had some "spaghetti" lines. Also looked like at times it had a slight turn. Just based on the lines on that right side, I also would have chopped it.

I'll be there! 4 Way- Dallas Khaos Khobalt 8 way- Dallas Khaos 9 Videooooo