distance to center cameras

[huckfinn 0]

Hey all, I'm setting up my helmet as I type, but I have a question that I hope I can get a quick response to. How far from the helmet do you set the point at which both cameras are looking at the same spot? Tandem filming primarily, also some fun freefly jumps.
I hope that makes sense.

Thanks in advance. There's a $500.00 bonus for the first correct answer. (trust me!...)

[quade 4]

There are two answers and because it's your helmet, you get to pick the answer you like the best as "correct".

Answer 1 -- Infinity. All cameras and sights look at the same spot infinately distant. In this way the sighting offset remains the same at all distances.

Answer 2 -- Some Point Closer. All cameras and sights look at a point maybe 10 feet distant from the helmet. At that distance, and ONLY that distance, there is no offset whatsoever, but closer or farther way whatever the sight is looking at will definately not be what the cameras are looking at.

I choose Answer #1 for my helmet, but there are others that think differently.

My reasoning can be found HERE.

Brent also has some additional comments HERE.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[AndyMan 7]

The farther away, the better. Preferably, it would be infinity.

Here's why: If you set for an arbitrary short distance, like 3 feet, you're hosed if you ever get far away. If you're 10 feet away, each camera may be pointing at wildly different subjects.

If you set it to be far away, then no matter how far you are from the subject, the difference in view of the cameras will always be the same - the physical distance from the two cameras. If you're 3 or 30 feet, there will only be 8 inches of difference.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[huckfinn 0]

Thanks Quade and Andy. (man, I am really loving this forum, you can get actual answers)
I think I will go with a longer distance, like 20 feet or so, and see how that works.

You guys get to split the prize money! To get it, simply head to the burned out warehouse on the east side of town. Go thru the green door out back (keep your hands visible and move slowly) and ask for Big Mike. Tell him you are there for some popcorn, and drop my name, shouldn't be a problem.... and don't stare! He hates that.

[quade 4]

Split the? What the? I mean hell my answer even came in a full 3 minutes ahead AND was based on crap I'd written years ago!

Holy crap, what's a guy gotta do to win these days?!?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Deuce 1]

Yeah, Q, these new guys.

SEND BEER, HUCKFINN! TO BOTH!

Parallel over paralax. For over the top RW it's really not noticeable with a .5 diamond on a PC120 and a Nikon N70 with a Nikon 28mm. I post the cameras and lenses cause they do frame different.

When you get REALLY close, for the close-up face shot on a tandem, your topmount still camera will be just a little high, and your sidemount PC video will be just a little left. Focus the ringsite just off the right cheek of the tandem student and you're money on both cameras.

I love this stuff. And yeah! REAL answers from the monsters in the industry.

You donate to Sangiro lately? Cheaper than buying that "flying the camera" book. And jokes too

[huckfinn 0]

Ok, Ok, sorry Andy, Quade is right. I thought it might be safer to go together, but it looks like you'll be alone Quade. Good luck.

One last tiny question; with a side mount and top still, which eye do you guys like to use your sight with? I am envisioning the left eye to have less error, but I always sight stuff with my right. Let's see if you smarty pants' can explain this one...

[quade 4]

I'll give you a hint -- what do you know about sighting with your dominant eye?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[huckfinn 0]

Hmmm, not much I guess. I use it to sight guns, thread little bolts, anything where I close one.
What am I missing?

pretty please.

[quade 4]

Check out THIS.

Also, you can get a wealth of information about most of the common topics just by doing a simple search of dropzone.com. Almost everything has been discussed at one point or another.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[BoobieCootie 0]

Cool!
But what's the proper way to adjust your ring sight?

I use a paper reinforcer on the goggles and a laser pointer combo

[huckfinn 0]

Thanks Quade. I actually did a search, but I didn't come up with much. I guess it's all in the words I search for. Don't want you to think I'm a lazy forum user!
The helmet is together! Looks great in the living room. Let's see how it does in the air.

[Deuce 1]

In my opinion, and experience, the paper thingie is the equivalent of a bead sight on a shotgun, and a ringsight is the equivalent of a sniper scope.

They both work, but a ringsight is a quantum leap more accurate. Now, there are plenty of camera fliers who are dead-accurate without any kind of sight, but they are the equivalent of trick-shooters. They can shoot from the hip and hit dead-center every time. Nothing 10,000 camera jumps can't fix.

I'll use the scope.

JP

[AndyMan 7]

Quote

Split the? What the? I mean hell my answer even came in a full 3 minutes ahead AND was based on crap I'd written years ago!

Grrr! Ya hadn't replied when I STARTED typing it...

That's ok. Most of what I posted I learned from quade anyways.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.