The111 1 #1 March 7, 2006 Just opened the box and started playing with it, haven't even mounted it yet, and here are a few basic questions I've already come up with. I'm sure the info is buried in a thread here somewhere but I can't seem to find it. 1. The little rubber flipup cover for the 2.5mm plug port. Do you break that off (like I already did on plastic one on my DV cam) or do you try to leave it intact somehow? 2. Zoom lens. Even though I've read it's not that great, I went with the 18-55 kit lens for a starter. I can learn on it and upgrade when/if I want. When using a zoom lens in freefall environment, do you gaffer's tape the "zoom cylinder" in place to prevent it from moving in freefall? Just by putting a small amount of pressure on the lens (along the axis) it seems it will change settings easily. I will probably have more questions later, so stay tuned! Don't leave the edge of your seats! www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflydrew 0 #2 March 7, 2006 don't break the rubber off... and get a better lens. :-) http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ is a great site with a ton of info... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pcalandra 0 #3 March 7, 2006 Don't break the rubber completely off, if it proves to be cumbersome to your mounting just either a drill a hole though it large enough for your plug, or cut just the end with the remote off with a sharp razor blade. That's what I did with my first Digital Rebel and I could even out it back on if needed. On the lens, the kit lens is OK for now. Just make sure that you "DO NOT" set the camera down with any pressure on the lens, even sideways laying your helmet dwon in the plane or wherever. As you have already noticed the lens barrel moves in and out and YOU WILL damage it, take it from experience I gaffer taped for a while then realized all I need was a rubber band around the lens, it works great! Have fun and save your cash for a new lens, I like the Canon 10-22mm. The only down side I can see is if you want to upgrade to a "full" sensor camera later. Personally I can't see the benefit vs. cost of a full sensor in the near future for the average freefall photographer. Pat Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefalle 0 #4 March 7, 2006 Matt, I agree, dont rip the rubber cover off if you can avoid it. When I bought my camera the first lens I used was the kit lens, you've seen some of the shots I got with it. You can use gaffers tape to hold it in the position you want. Just be sure not to tape the focus area if you are going to shoot using auto focus. Eventually you may want to upgrade to a better lens, opinions about which lens is best vary but for what you are going to shoot the stock lens is a good place to start. Just a comment on auto focus vs manual focus I almost always use auto focus. It has served me well, however knowing that you will be shooting alot of wing suit stuff I encourage you to try to play with manual focus setting it just shy of infinity wing suits move so quickly that I think the auto focus will have a hard time getting a lock and maintaining it. The XT is a good camera enjoy it, feel free to ask if you have questions, someone will have the answers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #5 March 7, 2006 and if you hear a clik-click noise in the flash area, do a search in this forum. I let the zoom cylinder free, so I can zoom/widen in freefall (which should seldom be your case as you mostly wingsuit). When I use it in Manual Focus, I put a wide rubber band around the focus ring so it doesn't get set off. But I also sometimes jump it in Autofocus.scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #6 March 9, 2006 One more "stupid" question! I have looked through all the settings and manual and decided that for my first weekend of shooting I will use the "sports" mode and autofocus (yes Chuck, wingsuits move fast, but we fly relative to each other just like any other discipline ). The sports mode seems to have everything I want including disabled flash, and enabled burst mode. Any comments on this? So, my main question is this. If the flash is disabled through settings, should I still gaffer's tape it down just as an extra precaution, in case it somehow pops open? Obviously it would not be good to have open in freefall...www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefalle 0 #7 March 9, 2006 Matt, let me know how that works, Id like to see some shots, Im always looking for better ways to get pictures To answer your question, I've not taped down my flash, I've never had a problem with it opening but its certainly not going to hurt to tape it down. I think the only time taping it down would be when you DONT have the flash disabled, if it is not disabled, and if the flash trys to open when it is taped down you'll get an error message and the camera will lock up Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #8 March 10, 2006 Another stupid question. Do you guys who use strobo's use AT (Anti twist) plates? I realized the battery cover on my XT is underneath the strobo plate, which means I have to take it off to change the battery. I don't know how I can accurately realign it every time, though I guess for now I will see how accurate it is aligned by eyeball.www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #9 March 10, 2006 QuoteI don't know how I can accurately realign it every time, Once it is inalignment ,take it off the base plate and mark the camera plate so you know where to put it back when you change the batt, the base plate will always be the same unless your mounting screws loosen. ~you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #10 March 10, 2006 QuoteOne more "stupid" question! I have looked through all the settings and manual and decided that for my first weekend of shooting I will use the "sports" mode and autofocus (yes Chuck, wingsuits move fast, but we fly relative to each other just like any other discipline ). The sports mode seems to have everything I want including disabled flash, and enabled burst mode. Any comments on this? Sports mode focusses on getting high shutterspeeds, which can result in large apertures as well, which in turn results in shallow depth of field in your photos. Unless you are looking for that.. I'd stay away from sports mode. Try shooting in Tv mode, shutterspeed at 320 / 400 and have the camera pick the aperture to go with that. Shoot in ISO 100. on regular days your aperture will end up at or around F8 which gives you really nice depth of field.. Quote So, my main question is this. If the flash is disabled through settings, should I still gaffer's tape it down just as an extra precaution, in case it somehow pops open? Obviously it would not be good to have open in freefall... You can do that for extra security, but I've never done that and it has never come open in freefall.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #11 March 10, 2006 QuoteAnother stupid question. Do you guys who use strobo's use AT (Anti twist) plates? I haven't actually jumped with it but when I was putting together my stroboframe I had several people suggest that I should get the AT plate. (I had already done so...) but looking at my setup I would recommend getting one in part for the reason you are describing and partly to reduce the chances of it twisting gradually over time. Tiffen (the manufacturer) recommends This AT plate for the Rebel XT. They don't seem to have the online ordering setup yet and I ended up getting mine through Dell...Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #12 March 13, 2006 QuoteSports mode focusses on getting high shutterspeeds, which can result in large apertures as well, which in turn results in shallow depth of field in your photos. Unless you are looking for that.. I'd stay away from sports mode. Try shooting in Tv mode, shutterspeed at 320 / 400 and have the camera pick the aperture to go with that. Shoot in ISO 100. on regular days your aperture will end up at or around F8 which gives you really nice depth of field.. Thanks for the tips Iwan, I will try it out. Do you recommend manual focus too? It seems that just short of inifinity gets everything in focus. The sports mode and autofocus seemed to work for my "trial run" though. Check out the pictures I posted here, with cheap kit lens even.www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #13 March 13, 2006 Quote Thanks for the tips Iwan, I will try it out. Do you recommend manual focus too? It seems that just short of inifinity gets everything in focus. The sports mode and autofocus seemed to work for my "trial run" though. Check out the pictures I posted here, with cheap kit lens even. unless I shoot with a longer lens (35mm+) on my digital camera, I shoot in manual focus. For longer focal length it gets too tricky and I use autofocus. Your trial pics worked, cause you had sports mode, and auto focus.. which means that the camera determined the correct exposure, and locked in focus on your subject.. so now your subject is in focus but.. people that are still fairly near to your main subject might not be, cause of the short depth of field that was caused by a larger aperture.. Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites