grega 0 #1 September 22, 2003 Where do you prefer to have your camera? Top mounted or side mounted? And why?"George just lucky i guess!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jsyslo 0 #2 September 22, 2003 Side mount works well for me Freeflying. Ive never jumped a top mount, but folks tell me its quite a rudder flyin fast HD. Seems like the side mount wont get banged around as much climbing in and out of the plane. I would guess the RW guys would prefer the top mount and Freefliers would opt for the side mount.Blue Skies! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingfrog 0 #3 September 22, 2003 never had it top mounted... and side mount works great for me.. so why change something, and beside that I feel it is easier to adjust your camera to different angels depending what you are going to film next Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #4 September 22, 2003 Top mount, as I prefer to have the weight of the cameras in line with my spine when deploying. The top mount also allows me to get a better angle on tandem videos, or when I duck undeneth a rw formation for a bottom view. I have no problems freeflying in the setup, and the helmet I use (Flat Top Pro) lets me mount a wide variety of cameras (still, video, flash), in different configurations, for different projects.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grega 0 #5 September 25, 2003 Any more reasons for each set? Anybody... ?"George just lucky i guess!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazyfrog 0 #6 September 25, 2003 have an L bracket on the side... never tried top mount...---------- Fumer tue, péter pue ------------- ourson #10, Mosquito Uno, CBT 579 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slayer21016 2 #7 September 26, 2003 QuoteTop mount, as I prefer to have the weight of the cameras in line with my spine when deploying. The top mount also allows me to get a better angle on tandem videos, or when I duck undeneth a rw formation for a bottom view. I have no problems freeflying in the setup, and the helmet I use (Flat Top Pro) lets me mount a wide variety of cameras (still, video, flash), in different configurations, for different projects. Blue Skies, -jp- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I agree with diablopilot Plus there is the vector issue with side VS top mount and the alignment for a top mount is straight ahead. and i've seen alot more side mounts get nocked off than top mounts. and on my reserve ride at rantoul this year i was able to get my head all of the way back and see that i had a tension knot and line twists (see video below) which had me spinning on my back and if i had been wearing a side mount i don't think i could have gotten my head back to see what was happening as my risers were behind my head. But i do like side mounts for student work as you can get a better view when holding on to a student and raft dives when your in the raft. I also have a shimming system on my top mount that lets my adjust the angle of my cameras up or down. so my answer is 1. Top 2. Side 3. Belly 4. Shoe 5. Hand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #8 September 26, 2003 QuoteThe top mount also allows me to get a better angle on tandem videos, or when I duck undeneth a rw formation for a bottom view. I don't disagree, I just don't understand. I can swivel my side-mount up or down all I like, I've never seen a top mount that'll do this. Why does a top mount help with this angle? _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grega 0 #9 September 26, 2003 Huh looks like the top mount is winning. But the side mount looks so cool, all the hot freeflyers have side mounts. So where are more reasons for side mount? "George just lucky i guess!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Billy 0 #10 September 27, 2003 I opted for a side mount, The total weight of my helmet and camera isn't much compared to what you big guns have, but I wanted the weight lower and closer to my CG. It seemed the top mount set it up higher and I assumed would generate more force in a hard opening. Am I off base with that logic??? I have a PC9/Bonehead set up and don't notice the lateral force at all on openings, but haven't experianced a hard opening with it. In the smaller planes it also seems to be less of a hassle than the top mounts. Shit I forgot to answer the poll.... Natural Born FlyerZ.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
czechbase 0 #11 September 27, 2003 Side mount. And it looks cooler. www.motavi.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #12 September 27, 2003 QuoteThe total weight of my helmet and camera isn't much compared to what you big guns have, but I wanted the weight lower and closer to my CG. It seemed the top mount set it up higher and I assumed would generate more force in a hard opening. Am I off base with that logic??? From my experience, yes. Having the cameras mounted on top, in line with my spine, when standing and looking straight ahead, feels better. At that point, a slammer isn't going to rock my head left or right, nor fron and back. If I keep my eyes on the horizon, then everything is in line and my neck is taking the load the proper way. Not usualy a problem on sidem mount set ups, but then I also have been known to jump my setup at weights up to 8-10lbs. As for the angle, I have seen many side mount flyers struggle to get enough up angle when filming a tandem. I know others that can rock the sidem mount well and produce excelent results. I personaly do not favor an adjustable mount, as you're never going to be 100% sure it wont come out of the alignment you set it at. With my setup I can run a .5 or even no wide angle at all and still be sure I've got the framing right. To each's own.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Billy 0 #13 September 27, 2003 QuoteHaving the cameras mounted on top, in line with my spine, when standing and looking straight ahead, feels better. At that point, a slammer isn't going to rock my head left or right, nor fron and back. If I keep my eyes on the horizon, then everything is in line and my neck is taking the load the proper way. Ok ,, But at deployment you'd be horizontal, and as you "jerked" vertically that "mass" would wanna stay in place, as the rest of your body swung upright, putting more strain on your neck. I was thinkig that the closer to your CG that mass was as it accelearted through the arc of deployment the better. ( Can ya tell I read that post with all the physics dudes replies...) I also have eye's on the horizon and shitloads of video of my canopy opening, so maybe it's not really that big of an issue, it's more important what you do with your head, neck, and shoulders on opening. Have any of the physics folks calculted the forces placed to the neck in each placement??? Sounds like an interesting problem if your into that shit. Natural Born FlyerZ.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiventom 0 #14 September 28, 2003 I have a big......... um, Video camera on the top and still camera mounted in the front. I think both have advantages and disadvantages... "Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana" -Groucho Marx- "Tom flies like a rock" -Tom Carson- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #15 September 28, 2003 I have well over 500 tandem video's with a top mount and have just started using a side mount pc-5 I cannot believe it took me this long to change, dont get me wrong the top mount works great, but the side mount puts you online with what your eyes are seeing, the only drawback is when I am really in close, I have to look about 20 degrees to the right to keep them centered in frame, but the climbout is easyer in small planes with the side mount. Riser strikes are the only drawback that I can see with a side mount, if you remember to look to the right upon deployment then this isnt a problem though. for me Freeflying is much easyer with a side mount, Its like its not even there, the top mount always seemed to fly me....... RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zlew 0 #16 September 28, 2003 side lower center of gravity...thus less force on the neck in the event of a hard openning. Z Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
