Bill_K 0 #1 July 25, 2007 Hello all, I'm creeping up on that 200 number and I'm wanting to start flying a video camera. I have the camera already as I used the excuse of needing a new one for the fam to get one that I knew I could use in skydiving as well. Next up is a helmet and suit. I'm a larger guy, 195lb and fall pretty fast at times so I want something that can slow me down. What do you guys recommend for suit's? As for the helmet I think I'm going to go with either a Cookie or 2K, probably order it next month so that it will be here about the same time I hit my 200th. Yep, I have held off and am waiting until I get to the recommended number. Trying to be safe about it. Thx in advance, BK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #2 July 25, 2007 What kind of video are you looking to do? Freeflying or RW? I have a 2k Composites FF2 that I have been really happy with. I started jumping a camera at around 500 to 600 jumps and have worn it on nearly every jump since then. Remember it's not so much about the suit as it is about how good you are at flying your body. The better you can fly your body the better your video will be. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_K 0 #3 July 25, 2007 Quote What kind of video are you looking to do? Freeflying or RW? Yes Quote I have a 2k Composites FF2 that I have been really happy with. I started jumping a camera at around 500 to 600 jumps and have worn it on nearly every jump since then. Remember it's not so much about the suit as it is about how good you are at flying your body. The better you can fly your body the better your video will be. I'm just learning to free fly. I do ok on my belly. I mean as well as can be expected for my numbers I guess. I also have some tunnel time which has helped. I pretty much can and do jump in any place in formations from 4 ways to 18 ways. It used to be that I was only in the base, but now I'll go where ever the org wants me and I'm there when the time comes to be there. My reason for asking about the suit is because I see so many of the camera flyers that wear special wing things. Now my free flying... that's a whole other ball game, I suck right now. I can hold the sit for the most part, can't head down at all yet. I am investing the time to learn it though. I'm making 3 to 1 FF to RW jumps over the last three to four weekends. BK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #4 July 25, 2007 I don't do any RW video. Right now I freefly only. I find it easier to just focus on one discipline at a time. I can't say much about RW, but in freeflying I don't have a special suit for video. In freeflying I don't video from above the formation like they do in 4 way. I am generally on the side of formation. Video can be a big distraction. If I were you I would decide on one specific aspect to work on and concentrate on that. The interesting thing with video is that you get tangible evidence of just how good a video flyer you are. If you suck then the video will show it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #5 July 25, 2007 As far as a suit, well, what do you have now? Any reason why you need a new suit when you add a camera? I have an FF2 helmet. I think there are some things that could improve, but overall I think it's great. I'd definitely recommend it over something that you need to add a box to (assuming you're talking about a sidemount). None of the add-on dboxes I've seen get rid of the gap between the helmet and the dbox, which is a great big snag area. What I like about the FF2: Virtually no snags. Haven't seen any other sidemount helmet that has less for lines to snag on. This is THE reason I chose it. Adjustable L-bracket for the camera. Can fit a wide variety of cameras and can be adjusted in tilt, so you can get the camera aimed just where you want it. Captive thumb screws for the door and camera mount. Thumb screws don't come off, so you can't lose em. Big hole in the back of the door...you can use the camera's viewfinder with the helmet closed. Some things I don't like: I think it's ugly. Very bulky looking. I was SURE my left riser would hit the sidemount on every opening, but it turned out not to be a problem at all. The door is a lot wider than it needs to be (for a PC1000), in order to fit a wider range of cameras. The door doesn't stay open and it's got some weight to it. If you open the door to swing your LCD screen out, the door can drop really hard on the screen. I basically never try to film the the door open. Can't seem to get my camera to fit just right. Since the L-bracket is adjustable, it doesn't come set up for your particular camera. I had a bit of trouble getting my PC1000 to fit properly. Never did get it completely perfect, but it's close enough and my still camera matches my video camera almost perfectly. Whew...long enough? Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
