First Camera

[JeffSkydiver 0]

Hello All,

I have been reading quite a bit about skydiving and camera etc etc.

Here is the preface to my question. I KNOW I have a small number of jumps.

BELIEVE me I do not wish to do ANYTHING until my skill level, experience etc etc are what they need to be before I take ANY next step in skydiving.

Having said that, please do not interpret this post to mean I'm running out tomorrow and strapping on a camera.

OK, now that I covered the things that should not need covered any further.

A few months ago, I met a skydiver from England. He was not a DZ video guy or anything.

He did, however, have a small digital camera mounted on the side of his helmut - it looked real small. He told me he just likes to record his own freeflying etc.

It was not the big bulky and potentionally dangerous for newbies top mounted video and still shot camera set up that I see our Tandem video guys wearing.

His set up, I would think, would be a little less "dangerous" than the big rigs in that it was obviously lighter, from what I could see had no or very little protusions etc to snag lines or canopies on. Far less bells and whistles to be messing with. I think he just turned it on in the plane and turned it off when he landed. It had no eyepiece.

So.... the questions:

What do you think that setup was?

How much would something like that cost new and used, if available used?

What kind of experience level do you recommend if I use it the same way he did - turn it on before exiting, turn it off on landing and not messing with it during free fall or canopy control?

What say you?

Thanks,

jt

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Let's all do this safe enough that we can still do this in our 90's.

[theskydiveguy 0]

Hey,

Do a search, there are alot of similar questions around here!

Do check out the Sony PC109 and if you have the bling bling check out the Sony PC350.. or wait out the Sony PC-1000.

Good luck!

~Jeff

[jeffallen 0]

Jeff, here's my opinion,
1. camera- 399$ and up
2. camera helmet- 200$ and up
3. box for camera- 175$ and up
4. wide angle lens- 50$ and up
5. mini dv tapes- about 6$ each
6. distraction and frustation level- PRICELESS
It can add up very quickly even with the lower end products. As far as experiance, that is up to each individual. Your instructors and experianced jumpers should be able to give you some advice on that. My advice, wait as long as you can before flying with a camera. Jeff

[JeffSkydiver 0]

Thank you very much Jeff.

jt

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Let's all do this safe enough that we can still do this in our 90's.