My humble query

[AustinTaylor 0]

I'm sorry to come into your guy's forum and leech off your knowledge, but I'm out of options. I'm a beginner skydiver who is looking for a nice camera, but from what I've read, there are so many factors to think about. Will it mount on a helmet? Is there a manual mode, or if not will the auto-focus go crazy during freefall. How well does it work in bright sunlight? In average light? Is it durable? These are just some of the questions I have. I'm just going to be using it for making amateur skydiving videos at first, but I still have a discerning eye and would like them to be good amateur videos. If anybody has a nice camera that they could recommend, I would be forever grateful. I've got about 700 bucks to put towards one.
Thanks for real,
Austin



PS: As I read my own post, I realize how much of a noobie I sound like. Let that not persuade you to leave this post unanswered. I'm just planning for down the road. I'm not going to be camera flying anytime soon. So don't think you're condoning stupidity and unsafe practices by answering my post. To tell the truth, I'll most likely be using it to video my rappelling escapades until I get the proper amount of experience to camera fly.

____________________________________________________

KHHAAAAN!

[Scoop 0]

Im afraid im no camera expert (or skydiving expert) but I wouldnt recommend getting a camera for skydiving if your profile is accurate and you only have 16 jumps. I believe the recommendation and it might actually be a ruling is 200 jumps. If you do a quick search on the topic you will find lots of good advice im sure.

If your profile is incorrect then ignore me making a tit of myself

EDIT: Yes, thought so... try here for camera advice http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=search_results&search_forum=all&search_string=new%20camera&sb=score&mh=25

[PhreeZone 20]

At this point you really need about another 200 jumps before you are looking at being able to put a camera on your helmet. Depending on the rate of your jumping that might be as soon as this spring or it might be another year or so. If its going to be beyond late summer of this year before you reach 200 jumps its not worth getting a camera specifically for jumping since a lot of models were just released and they might be cheaper then the current models out there.

If you want to do research look at Sony's. The HC's are the current model, the PC series is all but discontinued and the TRV's are a dead line.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[ltdiver 3]

1) We appreciate that you went back and reconsidered your post and remembered that you'll be shooting ground video for awhile longer. Some good advice is found in the 'sticky' post at the top of this forum.

2) As stated before, go Sony for a video camera. At this time you'll want one that:
a: Has manual focus mode
b: Has image stabilization
c: Has ability to accept external wide angle lenses
d: Has miniDV tape recording
e: Has a LANC port (for future skydiving use when you get there)
f: Has firewire capability (iEEE1394)
e: Has good reviews here on dz.com

As stated before, if you buy new, the TRV series is no more . The PC series is going the same way . The HC series is here now . But the HDTV is where it's going
At this time, stay away from DVD cameras, Memory Chip cameras, and Bullet Cameras.

Even if you don't stick with camera-play, if you stick to these parameters you'll most likely find a buyer to take it off your hands later in your skydiving career.

btw, anyone have a good TRV22 they want to sell? I'm looking for a 2nd camera to match the one I have (for competitions).
ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[AustinTaylor 0]

Thank you so so so much Lori. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you helping me out. The advice of an experienced skydiver is invaluable. And I will continue to check the 'sticky' post for general info on camera flying. Thanks again.

____________________________________________________

KHHAAAAN!

[YahooLV 0]

yeah, what she said!

http://www.curtisglennphotography.com

[Karol 0]

Quote

At this time, stay away from DVD cameras, Memory Chip cameras, and Bullet Cameras.

I have a question about those Memory Chip Cameras. I found one that looks like a good choice for begginers, thanks to it's width (1.04") -> http://product.samsung.com/event/optin05/sportscam_site/ Especially, when I'm about to make non prof video of my jumps.

Why do you ask us to stay away from it?

Karol

[PhreeZone 20]

Because they for the most part suck. Look up that Samsung on here. Its been talked about MANY times.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[ltdiver 3]

Quote

Because they for the most part suck. Look up that Samsung on here. Its been talked about MANY times.

Ditto. Memory chip cameras just aren't up to snuff for freefall photograpy....yet.

Also, Karol, have you talked to your instructors about wanting to strap on a camera at this stage of the game?

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[Karol 0]

Quote

Because they for the most part suck. Look up that Samsung on here. Its been talked about MANY times.

Well, I did and as I say, it looks good for begginers. But all of You (experienced jumpers) don't give any reasons WHY shouldn't we use it (except for the fact that it's poor quality of teh videos)

For me the safety reasons are most important. At this time I'm not capable of flying Sony Pc or anything else that size by my head. If I could fly this Samsung until my 500's that would be good :)

[Karol 0]

Quote

Also, Karol, have you talked to your instructors about wanting to strap on a camera at this stage of the game?

Well, actually I haven't, but don't worry, I will (there is no season here in Poland yet)

What do You think personally? Is a bullet cam for example such a problem even for someone with B licence (I won't start filming until this time)

Karol

[Icon134 0]

There are people that jump bullet Cameras attached to cameras Sony's (carried in a pocket or something) but generally speaking the reason the BSR's for camera flying are in place is because adding a camera to the skydive adds several potential problems.

A couple of the are:

1. Having a Camera on you're head adds the possibility of a snag hazzard. Even a bullet camera is a hazzard for this.

2. wearing a camera is a distraction (you may be the best most heads up skydiver on the planet) but there are accounts of young jumpers that say exactly what you are... "I only want to wear it to record my jumps it won't distract me..." then later after they've jumped with it. They have admitted that it was a distraction they "tried to get a shot" and forgot something important.

I provide myself as an example... My first ever camera jump (I started close to 200...) I managed to forget to bring my visual altimeter. (I wasn't too worried after I got on the plane... because I have my eyes (and a pretty good idea of altitude) in addition to the fact that I have an audible as a back up. I did understand that it was important to make the jump simple since I was doing somthing new. But this clearly indicates how the addition of a camera adds a distraction...

Because I had experience I was able to make this mistake and still come out of the jump ok.

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[PhreeZone 20]

Hell I've forgot the alti more then once while fussing with camera gear even at up to about 700 jumps . Also forgot goggles since I was more worryed about cleaning the lenses then keeping track of my gear on the ground, same with turning the dytter on in the mornings. Luckly I learned more then a few lessons early enough that they did'nt kill me.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[ltdiver 3]

Quote

What do You think personally? Is a bullet cam for example such a problem even for someone with B licence (I won't start filming until this time)

I'll refer to Icon134's #2 statement. It's the distraction that a camera brings to the situation that's the issue.

Also, for example, I know of a cameraflyer who has almost 3,000 jumps who regrets putting a camera on at an 'early' stage of the game. Almost 400 jumps....Why? Because that's ALL he can do now....camerafly. He can't join in an RW jump, etc without taking it out....

Take the time to fly your body and enjoy touching friends. Get good at it! That way, when you -do- strap on a camera you can go back and forth through many disciplines and have fun. You won't be 'stuck' being outside the formation at all times.
ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[piisfish 140]

Quote

2. wearing a camera is a distraction (you may be the best most heads up skydiver on the planet) but there are accounts of young jumpers that say exactly what you are... "I only want to wear it to record my jumps it won't distract me..." then later after they've jumped with it. They have admitted that it was a distraction they "tried to get a shot" and forgot something important.

this winter at Xmas boogie there was a young english dude around 100 jumps juming a Samsung.. He was so focuseds on his camera on teh plane taht he was almost shaking. We made him notice that his reserve handle was inside a pocket of his jumper (still on the plane) and suggested him to NOT use the camera anymore. He thanked us, but needed an INTERDICTION from the ground safety guy to take t OFF

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[Icon134 0]

Quote

Take the time to fly your body and enjoy touching friends. Get good at it! That way, when you -do- strap on a camera you can go back and forth through many disciplines and have fun. You won't be 'stuck' being outside the formation at all times.

here, here, I have an RW helmet and when I do RW I don't wear my camera and I enjoy doing RW sometimes... I want to learn to fly outside video but not at the total expense of my ability to do RW.

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...