Separate video system

[andygrom 0]

Could anybody tell me smth about separate video system - i mean small optical element (smth like web-cam) on the helmet and portable recorder in other place?
I saw smth like this on some BASE videos and i want to use smth like this instead of whole camera on the helmet.
Any ideas, advices?

[quade 4]

It's certainly possible, but not the best idea for at least two reasons I can think of;
1) Makes cutting away the camera helmet more difficult. Imagine how much it would suck to cut away your helmet only to have it caught on the external video cable.
2) Depending on how the external video recorder was attached to the camera flyer, there is a very real possibility of forgetting to put your rig on. This has actually happened and there is at least one documented case of a person exiting an airplane without a rig because of it. This would have been back in the 1970s as I recall. I'd have to look it up.
I do like the idea of a very small camera, but, since modern digital cameras are already so dang small to begin with, in all practicality, you probably won't be able to get much of an improvement over what most camera flyers are already doing.
Also, most "lipstick" cameras have fairly average optics (small lenses and chips) compared to even cheap digital cameras like the Sony TRV series.
Paul
http://futurecam.com

[andygrom 0]

I agree with you that in most case small camera like Sony PC is the best choice.
But sometimes - not.
let me explain my idea.
i want to be able change tool for fixing video. For example it can be very useful for skydiving shows to use video transponder with videowall on the ground instead of simple camera. And this is the only one way to show RW jumps for ground people. I want to have one helmet for jumps with recorder and with transponder.
Next goal is to use single helmet for jumping with camera or without it (Small optical device is not so problematic as whole camera)
And the third goal is easy changing of video device without changing helmet or camera box.
I understand, that many difficuties on this way. But i really need it.
To be more quite my question is:
Is it possible to have separate video with good and small optic on helmet and fixed device as another changable part?

[PhreeZone 20]

If you are talking about doing Air to ground Video transmitions, Give the guys at Perriscam.com a call. They have had some experience in dealing with these type of issuses for their streaming web shots of live skydives.
I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique

[quade 4]

The issue is not really the camera then, but the transmitter/receiver set.
How much money are you willing to spend?
Air-to-ground video is either going to be inexpensive and marginally viewable, or REALLY expensive and suitable for broadcast.
The air-to-ground rig at Perris is marginal and a little kludegy. It currently consists of three flying parts; the camera flyers regular camera helmet system, a battery pack and a transmitter unit. The transmitter is worn around the waist and is housed in a box about 6 x 6 x 6. Cables run from the camera flyers helmet to the box and also to the battery pack. It's not perfect, but it works fairly well during the bottom half of the jump and under canopy as long as the transmitter is pointing at the receive antenna on the ground.
Basic problems are that the system is not tolerant of being mis-pointed toward the transmitter for even a brief period of time and that it's an analog signal that's being transmitted.
There is a far more advanced system by WesCam that puts out a streaming digital signal that IS tolerant of minor signal drop outs. I'd LOVE to demo this, but so far I haven't had the opportunity to do so. My boss at work tells me I have some R&D dollars I can spend this quarter, so I -might- give it a shot.
quade
http://futurecam.com

[markbaur 0]

Quote

small optical element (smth like web-cam) on the helmet

Try writing to Dave Becker, dbecker@mmm.com. Dave disassembled a high-8, mounting the vidicon on his helmet, the recorder in a chest assembly.
Headhunter (Perris-based?) had a lipstick-cam helmet on the market, using a digital recorder in a waist/chest pack. Auto-irising was poor, and the two helmets I saw were poorly constructed. The recorder itself was okay, even though the pack was second-rate.
Mark

[billvon 2,998]

>Could anybody tell me smth about separate video system - i mean small optical element (smth like web-cam) on the helmet and portable recorder in other place?
I built one of those and got poor results. The problem is that most of what makes a camera a good camera (optics, iris, mechanical stability, stabilization) is in the lens part, not the recorder part. You can easily get a small color camera that mounts in the mouth-hole of a full face helmet, for example, but don't expect great results.
-bill von

[hookit 0]

During Summerfest last summer at Skydive Chicago I noticed a female AFF instructor jumping what appeared to be just what you're describing. The bulk of the camera appeared to be belly-mounted while the lens was very small and was mounted on top of the helmet. It looked to be connected by a small cable (as opposed to using any sort of wireless system) however I didn't get a terribly close look.
She may still be there or, if not, they should at least be able to provide some contact info if you're still interested.
Good Luck,
Trey

[PhreeZone 20]

That would probally be Missy Nelson. I looked at her setup last summer and what it looked like. It seemed to be setup to do tandem/aff videos really well. The optics never could get twisted or moved jump to jump. The video crew at SDC seems to drop their camera/video recorder off with the video area, grab another camera and jump their second rig while the video from the first jump is being mixed. I could see where constantly changing cameras could knock the sighting off. Missy only has to change recording units so its a more constant video. That being said..... I did'nt like it, the optics were'nt what I'd want to jump.
I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique