bmcd308

Too late now, since you already bought it, but be aware that some older Sigma lenses do not work with newer EOS cameras. see this:http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html#compatibilitythirdparty ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

A 420 won't cover the whole fov of a 15mm lens, so make sure your subject is right in the center. Also, Canons calc flash exposure just prior to the moment of exposure with a preflash. Flash exposure is determined at the active focus point except when the lens is in MF mode, when it is calculated at the center. Your 15mm lens also likely blocks some of the flash. See this: http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/flash.html and this: http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/eosfaq/flashfaq.htm ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

>> I guess when they were ate the dz hanging out recently another "skydiver" rudely told my little sister that she is not allowed to wear one unless she jumps out of a plane.

>>people asked me if I was a student, why was I wearing a closing pin? As if I had no business wearing one as a student.

Perhaps it is embarrassing because a proper jumpsuit would have created a larger crotch bulge. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

I wish some other Brent would do something worthwhile so that folks could get me confused with him. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

He did my coach course. His ability to fly like a newbie, complete with facial expressions and potato chipping, is amazing. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

>>That's simple. I see many of the answers here from Derek, Bill, etc. as discouraging the use of an AAD and other hi-tech devices. That is, IMO, seriously wrong.

Check your headers and footers for the reference, also. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

>>ANy idea on how to track down the references to these other workbooks other than selecting each worksheet and searching it individually?

They trained me for all kinds of things that can go wrong - for triangles, and everything. I looked up and it was round so that was good. Or words to that effect. They trained him for triangles? He got better training than I did. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

>>Food Grade silicone lubricant? I would like to see a label actually saying something about that.

1. No. 2. You need 1/125 or faster to freeze motion. Faster is better, all else equal. But all else is not equal. You want the fastest shutter speed that will make your camera pick apertures in the f/5.6 to f/22 range. 3. Let the camera pick it unless you really want to brag that you are an "all manual" kind of guy. On bright sunny days, use the "sunny 16" rule and convert to an equivalent exposure from there. 4. I don't think so, but I don't ever wear my camera in freefall. Some vidiots at my dz do not use a sight. They use a paper reinforcing sticker on their goggles. Others just feel the love all the way down with no aid whatsoever. And some others look like they are aiming photon torpedoes in the cockpit of an X-Wing without using the Force. 5. Gaffer's tape. You did not ask at what focus setting to tape it, but I would advise against infinity. For some reason the myth that the focus ring should be taped at infinity has become absolute fact with camera flyers, who always wonder why their pictures look so soft. Google "depth of field calculator" and "hyperfocal distance" to see why. 6. I would use Fuji. It generally has better greens than Kodak, and for a given speed it has better resolving power. Kodak does tend to have more realistic skin tones, though. Buy a few rolls of each and see which YOU prefer. Freefall is one of the few places where the slowest film that will get a clear shot is not necessarily better, because you don't really want to be shooting your lens wide open. Shooting wide open (at max aperture) will give shallow depth of field, and most lenses perform much better stopped down at least a couple of stops from max aperture. Faster film will require a smaller aperture (and higher aperture number - - bigger aperture number = smaller hole, since the number is really the denominator in the fraction that determines the size of the hole), and that smaller hole will give more depth of field and get the lens into its sweet spot. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

I used to shoot competitively. In gun owner circles, ownership of a can of WD-40 is considered a sign of lack of knowledge. It's a little like walking around the pits of a NASCAR race with vice grips. Anyway, I've never really gotten over my aversion to WD-40. It is not a good cleaner, because it leaves a waxy residue. It is not a good lubricant, because the lubrication doesn't last very long. The one thing it is really good at is getting dirt to stick to surfaces to which it has been applied. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

I'll second that. I'll go up a container size to avoid a reserve PCIT caused by an excessively tight container. Or down a reserve size. Or both. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

It is possible to trick the Rebel series into AI Servo from AI Focus, which is available in all modes. If anyone is interested I will find the link. It involves forcing AI Servo (by say, acquiring a moving subject in a creative mode) then keeping the shutter button halfway down (by hardwiring the switch as you have done). ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

The only time any of this really becomes a problem is if one of my (or your) students gets a letter from USPA saying that the A license card was not properly filled out, resulting in their not actually getting the license. At that point, all this will get sorted out real quick by the rulebook lawyers. Until then, I will continue doing my best to help those cleared to self-supervise in freefall learn the basics, and I imagine you will, too. Maybe none of this will ever matter... Brent ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

Tell 'em it would be bad for business. Who is going to pay up for the latest and greatest from you if you jump ancient gear yourself? ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

Karen - Are you using one shot to get that behavior? I would think that if you used AI Focus it would change focus between shots. Brent ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

Very similar to us. If you are going to hit something, hit it going as slowly as possible, and hit it with your feet first. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

Let me clarify - coaches don't sign off on the check dive at my dz, but we do sign off on things like landings in the peas, gear checking another jumper, identifying areas of and describing the effects of turbulence, planning and executing a breakoff, etc. If we are doing it wrong, there is not much of a mechanism in place to make sure it is done right. Our dz has a USPA ND pilot/dzo and a USPA RD upjumper, so we at least try to do things right. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

Thank you very much for posting that for me. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

>>As it stands right now, a Coach can perform the requisites for Cats G&H, but take the student over for debrief in front of the Instructor and the "I" must initial.

No, but thank you. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com

. ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com