Fuzzy

I picked up the Nikon Cool Scan IV which had the Ice software. It had been mentioned on hear a "while" back. While it is just for negatives and slides, it was far from a waste of money. My wife scanned over 1500 slides for one project alone, and I continually scan my old negatives with no problems. Also the Ice software saved many hours of touch up work. Not sure if that sort of thing is old technology or not now though. Probably depends on what sort of scanning volume you have. Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Thanks, in both cases. I've asked Will to check out this forum, figure it's a "pretty good" place for advise on this issue. (hey I remembered the face guy this time) Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Figured it was, I just forgot to put the little face guy in there - Sorry, my bad Also I think we did meet, CSS Easter Boogie during all the sitting on the ground time? I think you, Karen and some others were looking at my pictures. Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

I've used both the kit (18 to 55) lens and the Sigma 15 for tandems While the 18 to 55 worked well, the Sigma for me is much better especially if using a Sony .6 or equivalent wide angle lens on your video. For one thing you don't have to tape up the Sigma or worry about accidently bumping the zoom like on the zoom lenses. Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

I'm an instructor at the Centre (Skydive Gananoque) where Mark is doing his training. A: It usually is, and in this case will definetly be one on one training. As Mark mentioned we are a "small" Centre so very seldom do we get more than one or two people at a time going through the freefall portion of our Tandem IAF program. B: Our main concern is safety. Will McCarthy (the person who is and will be working with Mark) will take as much time as is needed to ensure there is no doubt in Marks mind (and Will's) that he knows what needs to be known. He already has done so to this point (see Marks previous post on his jump last weekend) C: Unless something has transpired that I'm not aware of, and I doubt that - WE ARE NOT CHARGING ANY EXTRA!!!!. Any extra charges would be solely at Marks discresion i.e. if he wanted to hire an interpreter. The only other reason I can see where there may be any added expense would be through the need of extra / repeat jumps which can happen to anyone. Feel free to check out our place and the staff at http://www.skydivegan.com. Look up the Staff Profile. Although we have had a number of hearing impaired / deaf people do tandems, this is the first time someone will have gone through our program. Will is looking into the best training method for the ground school, and is definetly open to sugggestions. Edited to say: There is no need for any "big sticks" or "fly swatters" Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

I'll check out the Canpara's, we have a few back issues kicking around (my wife started jumping in the 70's) Also going to put up a message on CSPA Chat to see if anyone there knows about other Canadians. Who knows - If there are other Canadians out there, maybe one day Mark could orgnaize a Canadian Record Jump Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

I just received an email and Vender Agreement package from Skyride. They contacted me directly through the dropzone.com DZ listing (I mistakenly used my personal email address ) I have since contacted Greg Thomas, Director Of Vender Relations for Skyride "bitched" at him about this. Apparantly they are moving into Canada. He aslo says that they (skyride) have cleaned up their marketing practices - something to do with complaints. A msg has been sent to Sangiro about the same (not sure if he allows this sort of comercial use of his site or not, but just incase thought it wouldn't hurt to let him know. Just curious if anyone else (especially Canadian DZ's) has received the same thing via the same way,through dropzone.com? Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Sweet - That's why I like to hear it from people using it vs a salesperson. They said it would only be good for around 100 pic's. That just didn't sound right. Have fun with the pics

Thanks If you hear of, or experience any noticable difference, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Fuzzy Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

I haven't had as much of a problem with my Sigma lens fogging inside, even when my video lens has fogged. Not sure if its just due to better quality lens or luck. On our humid / muggy days I have been removing the lenses on the ride to alt letting them "vent" / dry out for a minute, putting it back on a few minutes before exit. This obviously isn't always possible depending on the plane and where you are in it, but the times I have been able to, it's pretty much eliminated the internal fogging problem. Fuzzy Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Someone just mentioned to me that the Rebel-XT has a much smaller battery (NB-2LH), than the Rebel and 20D (BP-511/512). They said the battery life for the XT is much lower per number of pics in comparison to the the others. My 20D seems to go forever so not sure if it would even be an issue. Has anyone seen any noticable difference between the two? This person got the info from a sales rep so I'd rather here it from people like you, who are actually using it. Thanks Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

No I don't look at my altimeter while shooting video (I don't wear one when videoing tandems - you want to slam me - slam me for that) I do however wear audible(s) but as a back up only. I also do not recommend jumping without an alti, it's just how I do it. Sense of timing is a big thing in my mind - If someone has not built up some kind of an internal clock to the point they know the skydive is coming to an end, then I'm saying they probably shouldn't be shooting that type of video just yet, whether that be Tandem, freefly, RW whatever - (My Opinion) I just started learning headdown - my internal clock / sense of timing and skill level in this are such that I do wear an altimeter on these jumps, I **do not** wear my camera head down and don't plan on doing so for some time. You are absolutly right. At our place, you can start when you have proven you can stay out of the way / get out of the way / not be in the way when it's time. Again absolutly right - I don't know it the TI did so in your example, but what does the TI do when that "newbie" doesn't do what he was told to do? It doesn't take long to go from 5000' to 4000', then 3000' etc. Have a collapsed drogue in tow or some other crappy mal then the 3000' to 2000', time is even shorter. Why put him in that situation in the first place. I am on a small DZ where there are not too many people who are going to follow me on a tandem (deffinetely no strangers). Those who do follow me know not get above me or out of my line of sight. Yes, you can pop up and orbit a tandem pair and get the "cool shot" nothing really wrong with that, but you can do so without being in the way of a suprise deployment. Bottom line, speaking as a camera guy - "I" feel it's "my" responsibility to stay out of the way of the tandem, and making sure people following them do the same (includes not being in a situation where I/they can end up hitting the Tandem or get sucked into the burble), I / we can & do still get the "good shots" and still haven't gotten bored. Anyone wanting to do video at the place I work has to feel and do the same. You're place has a different policy, if it works and the TI's are cool with it, hey, more power to you. Fuzzy Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Gotta call Bull Sh.. on this one. What's the TI to do, wait until when 3000' - 2000' in hopes that the person will get out of the way or back in view? You can wave to signal "somethings about to happen" but beyond that, he needs to get a parachute out. Did this TI wave in this case? Not that it really matters as the camera person should not have been over the tandem (especially at that alt.) If the person following was not able to stay altitude aware and know that it was time to "not be up there" (especially while filming a tandem) then that person should not have had a camera and should not have been following a tandem. Plain and Simple. I do tandem video, but am also a TI (as are many people on this list) - My feeling, the responsibility is 100% on the video person to stay out of the way. If someone follows me, & I can't see them when deployement time is coming (visibility & mobility can be somewhat restricted when you have someone strapped to your chest) - I will wave like a frantic lunatic, then get a parachute over our heads when its time - not later. If it turns out the person was above me, they WILL get their ass chewed off for endangering my passanger. When I do video & it's getting near "that time", I am in front and below where the TI can see me, and where I can see the passangers smiling face, that's my job (not to get a advert for the tandem rig). **Edited to say** I back off enough that I'm not going to be kicked by the tandem etc** Again If someone doesn't have the ability or skills to maintain alititude awareness &/or stay out of the way and be safe while doing video maybe they should not have a camera on just yet. Maybe do a poll to see what the general consensus is on who is responsible. If I'm wrong, I will gladly conceed the point (although my feelings won't change). Fuzzy Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

I started with around a few hundred jumps Started filming fun stuff - worked my way up, then tandems. Had around / over 500 camera jumps before filming tandems though Got my tandem rating at just over 3000 jumps and was still somewhat nervous - It was different being on the inside looking out. Instead of looking at jump numbers to say when someone is ready, I prefer to look at a combination of skill, ability, currency, overall experience & specific discipine experience. Having a camera doesn't make someone a good freeflyer or RW'r, but being a good freeflyer or RW'r can help make you a better videographer. Fuzzy Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Thanks We're pretty much in the same boat in that anyone wanting to do this is already known by us, but this lets me know my thinking is not out of line. As and aside - One other thing we look for is a good personality. Tandems pay good money so the video person is part of making it fun and needs to be able to interact with the tandems in air and on the ground. Oh yeah - They also have to have the ability to NOT MAKE a tandem go low because they got over top of it (they are to never get over top of it period - end of story.....). That WOULD be the last video jump at our place. The TI would see to that before I got a chance. Glad to see my feelings of "NEVER EVER GET IN THE WAY" are not out of line on this one either. Thanks again Fuzzy Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Hey Karen Probably a little off topic and a little late, but just wanted to say "thanks" for the "camera conversations" during the "not so jumpable times Easter Weekend. You guys (everyone at CSS) always show us guys (the Gananoque group) heaps of hospitality when we visit. And even if the weather wasn't perfect, 4 of our group got 20 to 25+ jumps each in for the weekend. Hope to see everyone at Thanksgiving....need Bud's Turkey dinner mmmmmmm. Fuzzy (the guy who made you look at pictures) Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Funny as you were writing that I was writing this ----------------------- 1 thru 8 Very Nice - I especially like #5 I hope you don't mind, but I am going to print this out for reference ------------------------------------------- You mentioned that's what you do with low jump number people. What do you do with, or expect from, the more experienced jumes (ones you don't already know personally? Fuzzy Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

I'm using the Canon EF-S 17-85mm on the 20D, and got to play with it a bunch over the winter. Like it much better than the 18 - 55. If nothing else than for the added zoom. Haven't had a chance to play with the image stabilizer feature yet, but have heard from others who have, that it's great. Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

What exactly does your dropzone want you to video? Do they want you to start learning to fly video at 100 jumps, or will they have you doing working video at 100 jumps. Either is not great, but the latter is definitely worse. All the "extremely valid safety concerns" aside, what flying experience do you have (will you have at 100 jumps) that provides the ability to follow anything with the confidence that it can be done and captured to the point of being useful video. At this level especially, if flying your slot (in the discipline your capturing) is not pretty much second nature how can you be expected to safely provide video that would be worth the money being paid. Dave Laptka and the others are 100% right - There are other people on the skydive to consider. It'll be your job to get the shot, while not getting in the way, and not creating a hazard for others or yourself (notice the "others" were put before you?) If you follow experienced people, they should know what they are getting into. If the intention is to follow tandems, students, or other low experienced jumpers, "everything" changes. Innocent people (who don't know any better) are then on the line. Again: I am really curious as to "what" exactly your dropzone wants you to video Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Hey Murray - That was just too sad - Preasure cracks and the like can be a bitch eh? When it happened, I was in Yellowknife, another Gan jumper (go figure two of us in Yellowknife at the same time) showed me the newspaper clipping. I saw the picture of just the tail sticking out, and said "bummer". Then he said look at the call letters --------------- We recently took a guy from Tennessee for his first snowmobile rides (may have been first time on a frozen lake too, not sure) - I think he was more impressed by all the Pick-Up trucks & cars being driven on the lake than anything else. At that time there was still around 3 feet of ice, but when it starts to go, it goes fast. Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Hi Mark I see by the PM's that you and Will McCarthy have been in touch with each other, so I'll leave you guys to it. If you have any other questions etc. feel free to get in touch with me anytime. No matter what route, or where you go, make sure all the bases are covered and that everything is safe. I know that money is a bit of an issue, but remember that a little bigger investment at the start usually means a bigger payoff at the end & can usually save you money in the long run. Hope to see you out this year. Fuzzy Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

You weren't really that far off Skydive Gananoque, although in Canada, & if he decides to come here is USPA (we're only a few minutes from the border & get lots of people from the U.S.) We also have a CSPA club here that he can get his ratings through as well - which is what I would recommend. So SIMs or PIMs - They're all good here

I'll send her a note to see if she can shed any light. Gonna run firmware update anyway to see if that helps (even though it shows same version). I'll post the results Thanks Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Hi Peter Everything else seems to be fine, although I'm still having the same problems as mentioned in the previous msg - decided to keep it wired as is for now, and make up a second wire for spare / experimenting. Canon shows firmware update is to 1.1.0, which is what my camera already shows as having so not sure if I should try updating anywary or not. One thing I was not sure of is the "3 contact plug adapter for auto focus function" mentioned on your site. I wired straight from the tongue switch to the 80NS plug. Did I miss something in the between? Btw: Thanks for having that info on your site (very cool & helpful) Fuzzy Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.

Thanks I'll look further for the other threads again (didn't see anything on this originally), and check out Canons web site as well ------------------------------- Edited to add - Found the other thread -(guess I didn't look hard enough first times) In case anyone needs them Here is the thread http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1497704;search_string=20D;#1497704 Here is the Canon Site for the firmware http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/eos20d/eos20d_firmware-e.html -------------------------------------- Thanks again Fuzzy Ambition / Ability: Know the difference.