How to deploy with side mount camera?

[Rory81 0]

What's safer and why?

It seems pretty clear that turning your head can be dangerous for your back in case of a hard oppening (tho its what most camera guys i know do).

Then chin to chest would take the camera away from the risers, but again could it be dangerous in case of hard oppening?...

keeping the spine straight would be better in case of hard oppening, but it also makes it easier for the risers to hit the camera...

So what do you thing about this?

Should you relax when pulling or is it better to tense your neck muscles?

[Icon134 0]

I think it all depends on how big a camera we're talking about... my Sony HC-32 is small enough that it isn't really noticible on opening...

when i spoke to experienced camera flyers when I first started they suggested that I put my chin on my chest in case of a hard opening but I've never had any problems...

now when I put my SLR on top of my RAWA that might be another story...

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

[jeiber 0]

If you're just jumping with a small sidemount camera, you're probably putting too much thought into it. I typically look up, so I can get the opening on video. Ya never know when you're going to catch a cool mal on video! I barely even notice the camera is there most of the time.

Jumping with a top mounted still camera, I look at the horizon, until I feel the canopy starting to open. Then I look up. My still is a Nikon D70s with a Sigma 14mm lens. Not exactly a light combination. I've gotten strained neck muscles from not keeping my head level...

Jeff

Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!

[Dokeman 0]

I jump a side mount video and another helmet with top mount vid and stills. I never do anything special during deployment. Just I just keep my head centered and look up and watch my canopy open.

[freeflydrew 0]

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I jump a side mount video and another helmet with top mount vid and stills. I never do anything special during deployment. Just I just keep my head centered and look up and watch my canopy open.

I agree... I focus more on a good arch and stable deployment than turning my head during opening. I keep my focus on the horizon just like wearing a regular helmet.

[DJL 235]

And to copy what I just posted on another thread: Putting your chin to your chest can be dangerous if there is a hard opening. Your neck muscles are near there strech limit and that snappy opening may over extend those muscles. By doing this you've already put your head on a lever arm perpendicular to the force transmitted by a hard opening. Position your head as if you were doing a squat press, so the forces are transmitted down your spine. Then your head will go nowhere.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[The111 1]

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Position your head as if you were doing a squat press, so the forces are transmitted down your spine. Then your head will go nowhere.

Ditto. Looking up (at canopy) could be just as bad as looking down, IMO. Once I got comfortable with not looking at canopy (it was strange at first), my openings actually improved a bit and I felt safer since I could continue to scan the surrounding area with my eyes while sniveling.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[pilotdave 0]

I did the opposite. I never used to watch my canopy on opening. After getting the camera, I wanted to get a good video of one of my standard off-heading openings to see if I could tell what was happening. My camera is aimed a little low, so I need to look WAY up to catch the opening, and even then I usually don't see the whole canopy. But I've also got around 550 jumps on it and no hard openings, and I have a pretty light camera, so I don't worry too much about my neck position (though I'm aware it could happen any time).

Dave

[Dokeman 0]

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I agree... I focus more on a good arch and stable deployment than turning my head during opening. I keep my focus on the horizon just like wearing a regular helmet.

exactly!

[The111 1]

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But I've also got around 550 jumps on it and no hard openings, and I have a pretty light camera, so I don't worry too much about my neck position (though I'm aware it could happen any time).

That's good if it works for you. I have two topmounted cameras, and combined with the forward throw on a wingsuit opening, if I look up or down at all, even smooth openings will result in neck ache the next day.

I envy people with a light sidemount setup.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[Shyandinnocent 0]

In case of a hard opening, I don't give a shit about riserslapping a camera. I am more concerned about having to spend the rest of my life with a whiplash.
I used to jump a fairly firm opening canopy (with side video and topmounted stills) and I used to get strained muscles from the top of my neck to the middle of my back in the right side only. I discovered that the firm openings were pulling more on the left side of my head (where the videocamera is) and therefore straining the right side of my back. So I started to keep my head straight and actually cupping my chin with my hands to brace for firm openings. Makes it interesting if you aren't symmetrical in deflating/inflating your wings...

As soon as I could afford it, I bought a Crossfire 2 and now I just deploy like on any other jump. Looking straight in the horizon and then looking up when I feel myself sit up in the harness. Before that, I hadn't seen my deploying canopy for 700 jumps...

It's never too late for a low turn!