WFFC 2006 Helmet\Camera Bracket Question

[Suavel 0]

Okay I'm really unsure where to put this thread so I just threw it in General:

I'm attending the World FreeFall Convention for the first time this year(lots of beer), and I had planned on buying a helmet to replace the borrowed frap hat I've been using. Probably a Bonehead Mindwarp or something similar. I had also considered purchasing an L-Bracket camera mount for my nifty new headgear. I own a Sony PC110, so the fit, availability of helmet\bracket, and prices are no problem.

I'm wondering if there will (in any probability) be someone there with the capability and (perhaps) expertise to mount the bracket to the helmet.

Also, for those with a similar setup, is the bracket removable after being mounted? From what I can tell it's essentially bolted on with standard bolts and nuts. In which case a simple turn of a wrench would get it off. I'm not sure what type of minute adjusting goes on with the mounting though, or if it's just holes drilled in the right places.

Thanks guys! See ya'll there.

[damion75 0]

Actually, what you are far more likely to get is a lot of people recommending that you rethink your plan to jump with a camera attached to your head while you have so little experience.

Let alone at the world's largest boogie in conditions which you will be experiencing for the first time...

***************

Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus.

[Suavel 0]

Not a bad plan.

Well that saves me $50.

Lets see that's...just over 2 jump tickets. Sounds good, thanks for the warning\tip\advice.

[AFFI 0]

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Actually, what you are far more likely to get is a lot of people recommending that you rethink your plan to jump with a camera attached to your head while you have so little experience.

Let alone at the world's largest boogie in conditions which you will be experiencing for the first time...

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Not a bad plan.

Well that saves me $50.

Lets see that's...just over 2 jump tickets. Sounds good, thanks for the warning\tip\advice.

Good advice given and well received.

Wow, dont see that everyday...

Mykel AFF-I10
Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

[WFFC 1]

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Wow, dont see that everyday...

Exactly -
Now, here's one more avenue to pursue. Get the hardware and get it mounted/setup/etc. Then, remove the bracket and just jump without it (the bracket) installed. Get a few more jumps under your belt and strap it back on at home.
Stop by the WebCam/Photo trailer (should be up by manifest/ticket sales) and we should either be able to help or locate an experienced camera flyer to help you out.

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~~~Michael

[Suavel 0]

Thanks so much. I would much rather the bracket be mounted by someone more experienced.

[packerboy 3]

If you mount it yourself, you get to know your gear better. I'd say:

Don't do it at the WFFC with 50 jumps.

Even at home, maybe grab at the very least another 100-150 jumps or so (very least).

Buy a commercial bracket and read the instructions and mount it yourself. Maybe talk to an experienced camera jumper before, but definately go over your setup with someone experienced in the discipline after. OR.. do some research and make one yourself (in hindsight, that's what I wish I had done)

It's amazing what you can learn from someone with experience. And by mounting it yourself and talking to your local video god about it, you will have a better understanding of your gear, what is safe about it, what is unsafe about it.

There is also stuff like:

What kind of lens is best
How you want to focus the camera
How you want to sight the camera
What kind of jumps you should start out with the camera
What you need to work on with your flying skills
How you dress for success while flying camera
What you think about before deploying with a camera
Maybe even a thing or two about software and dubbing.
RSL or no RSL?
Spare battery or no spare battery
And something I learned the hard way : When you are running around all proud and showing everybody the best jump you ever had and managed to capture evidence on video... forward the tape to the end before taking a stupid out of focus video of the Otter taking off in the distance on top of your headown 5ft away in focus stable in frame video of your buddies doing a wicked mindward that you have yet to download from the tape .

All these things have already been figured out by someone else, and are exciting to discuss with someone who knows it well.

I am very lucky to have Fuzzy around our DZ to answer all my questions. It would take me years and thousands of jumps to figure out all the shit he's already spent money on learning. Fortunately he's one of the good guys who has no problem passing his hard earned information on for free. Provided you go about your business in a responsible and safe manner. I think you will find it very easy to find someone like him near you. But if you go to your local head video guy and tell him you are going to put 3 cameras, and external flash, cameye, and ring sight on your helmet and start videoing bigway headowns with 100 jumps asking what size bolts you should use, you probably won't get a very warm reception and you will lose a very valuable learning tool.

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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[DJL 235]

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Thanks so much. I would much rather the bracket be mounted by someone more experienced.

Also waiting a few hundred jumps will give you a chance so see all the options out there and understand how and why. Sure you could mount something now and still hold off but then you could find later that you'd really prefer another setup.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher