docjohn

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Everything posted by docjohn

  1. docjohn
    Ok, this is ancient history, but you asked for it. Wonderhog (aka RWS) used to have a Sprint pilot chute (circa 1980), basically a suspension line bridal instead of webbing connecting to the pilot chute. The bridal wrapped around the pilot chute causing basically a pilot chute streamer. Now my Prodigy (crw canopy) has a similar suspension like bridal, but what the heck, we're talking crw. Chances are I'll chop it anyway. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  2. docjohn
    Just bought a Pilot 150 after demo'ing it at Couch Freaks. Flies just like my Stiletto 150 but opens MUCH better! Sweet deal from Aubrey as well. Thanks dude! Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  3. docjohn
    Oh sure, leave my ass on the ground. Guess I'll go bowling this weekend since we have NO PLANE At least SOMEBODY will get to jump this weekend. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  4. docjohn
    You can make most Sony PC-xxx camera's fit in a Sidewinder. Mine was made for a PC-1. When I upgraded to a PC-105, I had to do a little modifying to get it to fit. I basically cut off the old mounting bracket, fashioned a new L-bracket and mounted it. Regarding your experience level...... search this forum. There's lots of talk about # of jumps and camera flying. Jumping a Sidewinder is less treacherous than top mounted cameras which may be more prone to snagging lines, pilot chutes etc. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  5. docjohn
    Awesome! I play around with Adobe Premiere and attempt fancy titles, but your stuff makes me drool! Excellent work! What software do you use? Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  6. docjohn
    Using Premiere, it just depends on how fancy you want to get. I can crank out a quick & dirty video in about 20 minutes including music and transitions. But if I want titles, a still montage at the end, rolling credits, etc, it takes closer to an hour. From there I can make a VHS tape. Burning to DVD takes another 20-30 minutes. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  7. docjohn
    People die every day for nothing. That kind of money could do some incredible good. But that starts long philosophical arguments about 'the value of a human life' that I don't want to get in to. I do remember hearing about a novice jumper a few years ago who cutaway from a malfunction and had trouble pulling his reserve. So he just went flat and stable and waited for his Cypress to fire. It worked but he caught lots of heat. Anyway, yeah, sign me up. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  8. docjohn
    Back when I was jumping a heavy camera helmet, my PD-230 was my canopy of choice for doing camera work because of the consistent soft openings. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  9. docjohn
    Yeah, the quality of still images taken from digital video is fair at best. I tell them that up front. I tell them these jpegs are for emailing to friends and making small prints, not blowing up into 8x10. My customers seem to like them anyway. I don't charge them any extra for making stills (we charge $75 for just video). Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  10. docjohn
    I put close to 1000 jumps on my Sony PC-1 in an enclosed Sidewinder helmet. Despite heat, cold, and humidity, it never complained until I dropped it hard last summer. I replaced it with a PC-105 this year. I'm still using the same Sidewinder helmet. My 0.02 Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  11. docjohn
    At our DZ, the videographers are independent contractors, separate from the DZ but we have a rotation to decide who films the next tandem. I tell them up front that my charge is $75 (I pay for my own jump ticket). For that they get a VHS video and a CD-ROM with still images (taken from the video). DVD is $25 more. If nobody wants video, I sometimes jump anyway and film whoever I think is the most likely to buy the video after the dive. I offer to show it to them free, no obligation. Then I offer them a $65 special deal. They usually buy it. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  12. docjohn
    Sounds like Premiere Pro will accept WMA files. I know for a fact the Premiere 6.0 and 6.5 will not accept WMA files. So, even though its a pain, I burn a music CD with those WMA files, then rip the tracks from the burned CD to create WAV or MP3 files. I haven't noticed a loss in quality that a former post mentioned. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  13. docjohn
    Adobe Premiere. I'm still using old 6.0 which you can buy cheap on eBay. I used to run it on my old 500 mhtz computer and it worked great (a little slow on rendering but silky smooth play back). Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  14. docjohn
    If you can get your video captured to your computer, you're in business. Most DVD burners come with free software like Sonic MyDVD. It will take your AVI files and burn DVD's from them. Of course its nice if you can do a little editing first. I use Adobe Premiere. So capture, edit, create a new AVI, then burn to DVD. Takes time though. You won't be able to hand your tandem customers a DVD until at least an hour after they jump. Probably more. (I mail them a DVD later in the week). Its worth it, but its alot of work. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  15. docjohn
    Our time has come and gone. I can remember jumping in the mid 70's. We were the cool RW jumpers. We used to laugh at the 'old guys' who did mainly style and accuracy. Now, its gone full circle. We're the 'old guys' doing RW while the cool freeflyers are laughing at us. So, all you freeflyers, look out. 30 years from now, you'll be the 'old guys' freeflying while the cool new generation is............ doing style and accuracy? Who knows. It doesn't matter. Just keep skydiving. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  16. docjohn
    I've been hearing rumors from non-jumpers about an Imax movie out there about skydiving or at least an Imax movie that includes skydiving. Does anyone know of such an Imax movie? I remember jumping in Quincy a few years ago and saw several body painted skydivers and a HUGE helmet cam which was supposedly an Imax camera. Does it exist? Thanks Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  17. docjohn
    Sony. I got 5 years of use out of my PC-1 and it never complained until I dropped it hard. Moved up to a pc105. Sony rocks! Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  18. docjohn
    I've read that DVD-R are more compatible but I've had better luck with DVD+R. My Sony burner rejects many DVD-R disks (during burning). Also folks have complained that their players won't play DVD-R but +R seems to play fine. I do 100% +R now. Just my $ 0.02 Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  19. docjohn
    age 51 sex M avg 0.2156 Not bad for an old fart Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  20. docjohn
    I watched your video (WMV format) and it looks fine. When you say 'full version', do you mean watching the timeline in Premiere? Your compressed version (WMV) looks fine to me. BTW, nice job. Just a suggestion: a bit more editing, like when your subject is far away or when your lens fogs up. Smooth transitions like fades would be nice too. Keep up the good work! Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  21. docjohn
    Cool video. I wish I had the balls.......... Nice job Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  22. docjohn
    I cut it off. Its really hard to do this with a new camera but its a real pain dealing with that flap still attached. I had to butcher a brand new pc-105 to get it to fit in my Sidewinder helmet. Voids the warranty too I'm sure. Just one of the many sacrifices we make to jump cameras BTW, if you cut if off, make sure that no pieces fall inside the camera. Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  23. docjohn
    Thanks for the feedback. I guess I should have explained the clip first. The video you're watching is just the intro. The entire video is 20 minutes or so and the rest of the scenes are longer. So, yeah, the clip you watched is pretty jerky. It just to get you pumped for the rest of the video. You can watch the full version on skydivingmovies.com. Go to MISCELLANEOUS section, then the BOOGIES section and look for couchfreak.wmv Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  24. docjohn
    If you really want to impress your audience, select the music and make the video fit. Its more time intensive but usually worth the effort. Here's a two minute example: http://manifestmaster.com/video/cf_2003.wmv Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video
  25. docjohn
    The Yo Mama's will all be there! 4 days, 22 hours till Dollar Daze! Doc http://www.manifestmaster.com/video