ArcAngel0223 0 #1 June 23, 2004 Hey there, Alright I just bought a PC110, and naturally I want a helmet with as little snag possibilities as possible. I'm considering a few options... 1) I can buy a RAWA helmet and get everything custom fitted for 380, and just add a cameye II and ringsight if need be. 2) I can buy a left mount Hawkeye and add a Bonehead D-box? 3) Nvertigo with a D-box or L bracket? I'm just mainly looking to be shooting tandems and have a camera on my head while I"m freeflying, I have a low number of jumps right now so I'm just kinda peicing my helmet together for when I am ready. As you can prolly guess I'm crawling in the dark here, and any input would be appreciated. Jourdan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YahooLV 0 #2 June 23, 2004 First off...don't even think of flying a camera for at least 130 more jumps... Secondly, a friend of mine wrote this: First and foremost, you should be at least a pretty competant skydiver before strapping a camera on your head. I don't mean that you need to know how to crank 20 points, but you should at least be able to fly your body to anywhere in a formation and HOLD IT without side-sliding or back-sliding around the sky. If you can't control your body in flight, then ---YOU--- are the biggest danger. You'll also want to be a fairly competant parachutist. If you can't manage consistant, accurate, stand-up landings in no wind conditions, then you sure as heck shouldn't be putting extra gear on your head to snap your neck when you biff in. I would recommend you hold a USPA D license or your country's equivilent. Basics aside, the danger probably depends on what type of camera flying you're doing. The obvious increased dangers of line snags, neck injuries from hard openings and gear being misrouted through camera suits . . . stuff like that can probably happen to anyone flying camera. If you're flying camera for RW, (about the only kind I do so it's the only one I'll address), you need to be really aware of other peoples gear and CONSTANTLY on the lookout for someone in the formation possibly having a premature deployment. Anything flapping around; a loose pin cover, a hacky and especially something hard to see like a piece of bridle means you must immediately get off the top of the formation and off to the side where it's safer. Perfect competition video is shot from directly over the center of the formation with you pretty deep in the burble. Still judgeable video, but safer if there's a question of a premature deployment, can be shot with your camera just outside the verticle limits of the formation -- maybe 45 degrees off-axis -- more than that and it may not show everything it needs to. If you're shooting a new team, you WILL whack into them on exit a few times before getting your timing down. This is expected -- just down make a habit of it. TIP -- if you think you're going to whack into your team, do NOT put your arms out toward them to block the hit. Just get bigger, you -may- not hit them at all and if you do hit them it will be at your slowest speed. Fight for it and don't give up! Watch people getting on the plane and check their gear, watch them do their pin checks. When you climb out of the step, look at people's rigs and see if something bad is about to happen. If they have a reserve deployment in the door and you're on the camera step, it's not going to be pretty. Watch how the newbies are taking harness grips at the mock-up. A chest strap is ok -- a grip by a reserve handle might be your death -- so get them to correct that right then and there. Try to keep aware of where the people that "went low" actually went. Be certain everyone on the formation you're shooting understands what's supposed to happen in the dive flow -- especially at breakoff. Make certain they understand that YOU have the center and THEY track away hard. Make sure they understand that THEY shouldn't open above a certain altitude. Unless you have a LOT of experience and are VERY heads up, do NOT go "on level" with the formation to get people geeking the camera as they bullet track away. Yes, this looks very cool on video and it makes for very dramatic photos, but you're just looking for a mid-air collision. Thank you Mr. Quadehttp://www.curtisglennphotography.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #4 June 24, 2004 Sure why not. Spend you money on a helmet that doesn't allow you to change equipment later...... My advice is this. Stick to skydiving for a while. No TI/TM in their right mind is going to let you near them for the next 200 jumps anyway. At that time see what's new and avaliable on the market.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrisky 2 #5 June 24, 2004 QuoteSpend you money on a helmet that doesn't allow you to change equipment later...... Good point, though i must say the Rawa has definitely less snag hazard than the "Helmet plus camera box exchangeable"-Combo, unless you cover the whole thing in tape... And in my Rawas case, it was simply the best fit... The price seems to go up constantly, though...The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wlie 0 #6 June 24, 2004 QuoteNo TI/TM in their right mind is going to let you near them for the next 200 jumps anyway. Try 500My other ride is the relative wind. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oiseau60 0 #7 June 25, 2004 Being a TM and also a vidiot, i wouldnt allow you to even think about it for another good 300-500 jumps, depending what kind of jumps they are. If i were you, i would concentrate more on getting info from the actual cameramen on the DZ and try to be current, and maintain yourself current. The way things go, probably by the time you're ready to film tandems, prices, technology and equipment will be significantly different. So dont go out and get equipment right now, just gather information and stay current... oh, and skydive and have fun as well! my 2 cents... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeiber 0 #8 July 1, 2004 By putting a camera on your head, you'll be significantly slowing down your learning curve because you'll be thinking about the camera. If all you ever want to do is shoot video on your belly, then (safety issues aside) throw the camera on. If you want to learn RW and freeflying, leave the camera alone for a while and develop your skills. I consider myself a fast learner (sit at 50 jumps and head down at 130 jumps) and I'm just now starting to really develop my skills enough that I'm considering video again. Good luck!Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
