Laszloimage

Thank for the DOF calculator link, it's awesome! Otherwise I never felt the problem of the less AF points of Rebel or the Rebel XT. At least one out of the 7 finds something to focus on quickly and accurately. If I fly close enugh it's normally the subject and not the back ground of the image. Also I found the "One Shot" mode better than the "AI Servo" (But I also prefer to use single shot mode vs. the burst mode) -Laszlo-

Thank you very much Doug! I knew you would know the real answer... Otherwise the image quality of the HC-3 is very impressive on the outside light. But I guess the real solution is to spend some more money and get the A1U. -Laszlo-

...but a good quality external mic. even if it's through the hot shoe, still suppose to provide better audio than the built in one. Please correct me if I'm wrong because I never used that optin on the HC-3, but I did it on other Sony models. -Laszlo-

The HC-3 does have a mike input. Just check out the "hot shooe" on the top of it, and your manual... Otherwise I recommend B&H photo video ( bhphotovideo.com ) to find the most suitable microphone for your needs. -Laszlo-

If you're useing Tv 320 with ISO-100 AF that means your camera have to achive auto focus while the apeture changes. In a low light conditins it becomes more difficult. Just imagine during the exit your camera measures the light and sets the f-stop wide open 2.8 which gives you a very shallow depth of field. But at the mean time your camera also tries to AF the subject (like a TM pair) in the foreground and the plane in the back ground. The most likly result will be the focus half-way between, so everything will look blurry. My personal expirince with the Sigma-15mm is it works pretty good even in low light with AF but I try to maintain at least f4 or above. So you either have to come down with the shutter speed or go up with the ISO. Personally if I use AF I prefer to set eveything else fully manually (RAW files give a pretty good flexibilty to correct exposure if needed). My othe expirince with AF is the "One Shot" mode with single shots works lot better than "AI servo". -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

What's the difference between AFF/TM or a funjumper group? Nothing! You still doing a same job, so you should get paid same (or even more since you have more costumers for the given skydive...). Unfortunately people don't understand the value of the video/photo work until themselves trying to do it. Then they realize how much effort, time, and money involved to be able to come up with some descent result after a skydive. To charge $15-20 for an 8x10 print is very fair, so $10 to dub the footage onto a DVD. If some one tells you "I can get this at Walmart for $2-3" then you should tell the person ask a Walmart employee to take your freefall or landing shot. Hi resolution digital files... they worth lot more than a print because they can be reproduced unlimited times in same quality. I charge more for them and have a written agreement about the use. Or I just give away a small (like 640x480 pixels) JPEG with a big watermark on it. I've been hosed before multiple times. People and businesses asking frequently if they can use the image for commercial purposes only for a photo credit. Some rare cases it's ok (if it means a lot to have your name out there) but most of the time my answer is: "as long as B&H Photo accepts those photo credits as a payment when I buy my equipment". And finally if you are a full time skydiver how the hell you're going to pay your every day bills if you don't get paid for the job you;re doing? So please don't feel bad about charging for your work, because you deserve it!!! I hope I helped. -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

Today was kinda' windy and cold to skydive... ...so I took pictures of other stuff. -Laszlo- wwww.laszloimage.com

Thanks Jeff! The 5D is approx the same size and weight as the 20D. The XTi is definetly lot smaller and lighter. -Laszlo-

Thank you guys, thanks Arvel!

Details for everybody, Very slow shutter speed (1sec) multiple flash setting on the EX 580(strobe), manual focus, ISO400, 24mm Canon lens, Canon 5D (my new toy), tried to hold my hand steady, and the guy is Sebastien Lalloz. No PhotoShop tricks!!! -Laszlo- in this pic same location, same settings on my XT with the Sigma 15mm lens. The dude is Aaron Stocum

Nigth jump at Skydive City just an hour ago. -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

What a great shot! Did you use film or one of the full frame digital cameras? -Laszlo-

Those photos are great. But I noticed as a TM-I the side connectors are way too lose in picture 3 and 4. I know you have nothing to do with that and it should be discussed in the Instructors forum, but I still felt to point it out. As I said the photos are great, you did your job good! -Laszlo-

Awesome shot dude!

I don't think that's coming from the camera... There's a lot of different auto focus setting. I found that the lens is very vital part of it. In the attached picture I used the XT with the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS USM lens. Manual exposure (so the aperature dosen't have to change) AI servo, and only the center focus point (so the camera dosen't try to fucus on anything else). ...and the subject was coming at me 35-40 MPH... -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

I normally shoot between 1/200 and 1/320 in free fall (1/320 when I free fly). If go any faster I have to use "high speed sync" on the flash which gives me lot less power. The attached pic was photo finish in March 06, I used 1/200 shutter speed on my XT -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

Thanks! No I'm going straigth to Z-hills on the next week

Matt, Nice pics in Skydiving!

As long as you know how to use it... If you have no expirince, it's going to be a good one to learn with. So the answer is: yes it will!!! -Laszlo-

I have to agree with Miami. I never had a problem using Panasonic (also I like their 80 min tapes) or other brands than Sony. Matter of the fact is I'v been using Sony tapes at the time when I had to send out my VX-2000 for head cleaning and aligment (but I don't say it had anything to do with the tapes). Normally dirt is coming from outside, not from the tape so the best solution is to keep the dirt outside. I usually put gaffers tape around the casette tray's seems and it helps. (I agree it's more pain when you need to chage tape). -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

That's a good one Arvel, nice catch of the moment! -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

Thank you for the compliment! The reason the student has emergency handles (chiken handles) is the instructor was still working on his TM rating and he took another expirinced jumper (phase-II jumps) -Laszlo-

Exactly! The most disturbing part of it is these photos are just the very small portion of my collection of bad tandem student harness adjustments. And imagine the times when I can't even take pictures. It is sad. -Laszlo-

Then I give you all my respect. Also this means you are belong to those very few exeptions who takes it seriously and have some concept of it. -Laszlo-

You are 1,000% right!!! The problem is nothing else but the f*&^ up adjusment. They have a chache to slide out backward, and if you noticed the students are hanging from the chest-strap by their chin! ...their neck could brake during a harder opening! -Laszlo-