Start up advice

[RedKite 1]

I have just bought my first set of camera gear - an FF2 with a PC1000.

Could you experienced people out there give any overall safety advice - things to do and not to do. I suppose I'm asking for people to tell me how they were 'caught out' through inexperience.

Thanks

Red Kite

[oldgit 0]

You ask for help and yet you cannot be bothered to fill in your profile.
An idea of your jump numbers & ability would help people help you.

[RedKite 1]

Old Git

My apologies - you're right. I have put some more details in.

Red Kite

(probably even Even Older Git!)

[davelepka 4]

Turn the camera on

Don't forget to check your gear

Don't forget to check your cameras

Don't think that a good camera or good helmet makes you a good cameraman.

Don't smack your camera into the door frame

Don't get kicked en the head on exit

Don't look away from your subject

Don't get hit from behind while looking at your subject

Don't burn through break off trying to get a shot

Don't run into anyone trying to get a shot

Don't get taken out on break off

Don't get anything caught on your camera during opening.

Don't get into a wrap trying to film under canopy

Don't biff in your landing and break your camera

Don't biff in on landing and break your neck


There's 400 more things to remember. Maybe others will chime in with some additions...

[ltdiver 3]

You -do- realize that the human mind doesn't recognize the word "don't'... It canceles out that word and hears only 'the positive'...

So, you realize what you just told him to go do...

ltdiver

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

[steveorino 7]

Take steps.
Add a video w/o site
add a site
add wings
add stills

etc.

If you try to make your first camera jump with a Bonehead FTP loaded with site/video/still camera/flash in a jump suit with wings -- get ready for problems. Maybe fatal problems.

My progression (my not be universally right but worked for me)

jumped video with dot on goggles
added site
added wings
added still
added flash

Be careful, know your skills.

steveOrino

[RedKite 1]

Steve

That sounds good advice. How many jumps did you make at each stage and would you identify some steps as being bigger than others.

Also, would you recommend jumping the wing suit with nothing at all for a few jumps at the beginning?

[steveorino 7]

To be perfectly honest, some of my progression was dictated by finances as much as safety.
I had a camera on my head way too soon. Probably about 150 jumps.

I was jumping FF suits until I desired to jump video for tandems around 350 jumps (again - probably too soon) Added wings and site pretty soon after I started doing tandems.
Added still camera around 450.

In no way do I think these are the best #s for progression. Everyone learns at different rates. Hopefully your instructors and mentors will be honest with you and advise you to what ability you are demonstrating.

If you read enough posts here you will see that many believe they are able to fly video sooner than the recommended 200 jumps. Don't we all fly better than most? You'll see the guys with lots of jumps (not around 1000 like me -- I haven't seen enough yet) but guys with 3000 -4000 jumps have seen so many things go bad that they try and persuade jumpers from starting too soon.

Listen to them, Listen to your instructors and mentors. Be safe

steveOrino

[vdschoor 0]

Quote

How many jumps did you make at each stage and would you identify some steps as being bigger than others.

Also, would you recommend jumping the wing suit with nothing at all for a few jumps at the beginning?

I think my first camera jump was around 350 jumps or so, and I got the camera suit about two weeks after I bought the helmet.
I was pretty much 100% belly flying at the time.

I never jumped the camera suit without wearing a camera (I have a couple of times since though to practice new maneuvres)
What I did do was jump with small belly group filming them and landing extremely frustrated cause I was orbiting around them and couldn't figure out how to stop.. (happens to a lot of first timers on a new camera suit.. )

I added still about 100 jumps after my first video jump, since I am more passionate about photos than I am about video, and upgraded to digital 20 jumps later cause film cost was going through the roof..
At about 800 jumps upgraded to a Flat Top Pro (used to have a Full Box Pro) and added flash to my setup..

Yes, I have taken out formations.. why? Cause I wasn't listening to my camera coach (he told me this was too difficult a formation for my skill level.. how different is a 12 way really from a 4 way right? It's only belly flying right? WRONG)

Just be really careful out there, get experienced people to jump with instead of new / low experienced people.. the experienced people stay more in one place so you can focus more on your flying and they know what good video is supposed to look like.. so they can coach you even more..

Take care and let me know if you have any more questions...

[steveorino 7]

I forgot your other two questions.

To me, the biggest step is jumping with students (AFF or tandem) Before you jump with them you should be able to fly your slot without "thinking" about it, much like one runs or wallks. We don't "think about putting one foot in front of the other -- we just do. I believe you need to be able to fly that way before you go with students. If you are always trying how to figure out how to fly at video level and how to turn your back to the sun, you're not ready.

Recently I had a young perspective vidiot at our DZ say to me he flew great when he didn't have a camera, but his flying skills lacked when he had to also think about getting the shot. IMHO he he isn't ready to fly video yet. He only has about 200+ jumps I think. He has good to better than average flying skills so I believe a few fun jumps with camera and suit will get him into the rotation before Summer.

As far as the suit -- that depends. I flew pretty good at the start but at 225# it is hard to fly below a 140#TM with a 90# student if you don't have wings. Some that weigh as much as I can do it but many would be better with wings. Dress for sucess!

I "think" wings can be figured out pretty quickly in a few jumps.

steveOrino

[AiRpollUtiOn 0]

Quote

I "think" wings can be figured out pretty quickly in a few jumps.

Took me about 10 jumps to control, and about 3-400 to get the feeling of "hanging" in my wings underneath a tandem.

Wouldn't recommend going with a tandem / team or even cam-helmet the first time you wear wings... at first it will be a very ackward feeling, but as mentionned before you get used to it very quickly.


Have fully charged batteries in your camera (s). I find it really stressfull when in doubt if my batteries will last the jump. Those are pretty much the only jumps I don't enjoy.

Place a battery on your recorder, believe it or not, one of my colleagues was sitting next to me in the plane when noticing this "technical malfunction". I nearly wet my pants! So did he...

"Don't make me come down there" - God.

My site:http://www.skystudio.nl/video.html
Some of my vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TomSkyStudio

[steveorino 7]

Quote

Have fully charged batteries in your camera (s). I find it really stressfull when in doubt if my batteries will last the jump. Those are pretty much the only jumps I don't enjoy...

Yep, I carry an extra battery in the cargo pocket of my suit. If in doubt -- I put it in. I keep 4-5 batteries ready at all times.

steveOrino

[Shyandinnocent 0]

Quote

Quote

Have fully charged batteries in your camera (s). I find it really stressfull when in doubt if my batteries will last the jump. Those are pretty much the only jumps I don't enjoy...

Yep, I carry an extra battery in the cargo pocket of my suit. If in doubt -- I put it in. I keep 4-5 batteries ready at all times.

Oh, yes! My only video bust (touch wood) was jumping a low charge battery on a very cold day. It died on me while I was hanging from the strut. Carry extra batteries in a pocket, but make sure the zipper/velcro is good. Those little suckers can make a big ding in someones head if dropped.
Make sure you seek help and advice from people you respect and trust, and be wary of unsolicited advice from people you don't.
Otherwise: ditto to all of the above. Don't run before you can walk. There is an awful lot of running going on in skydiving!
Yes, I am a mother hen...

It's never too late for a low turn!

[RedKite 1]

Thanks for the advice gentlemen - it is very much appreciated.

Do you consider "bootey's" a pro or a con on a camera suit. This is all hypothetical, but I anticipate that I will restrict myself to filming small flat formations and when the time is right, Tandems.

Also, I'm a little confused about the wings. Looking at 'Tonysuits' , the sort of flying I anticipate doing would seem to lend itself to either the 'A' or 'C' wings.

I will ask Tony his view in due course but comments from experienced Camera-Flyers is part of the learning process for me too.

Thanks

Red Kite

[steveorino 7]

I have booties on my main suit and they are helpful to close any gap fast. But now I'm beter able to fly on all axis and the booties are not desired. In fact they are a pain when I transition to a sit on tandem's deployment. Thus I ordered a new Bev suit that should be here today! Woot!

steveOrino