Beware strobo frames

[Luckyif 0]

Thought i should just let anyone who uses a strobo frame know that they don't hold up very well on hard openings.

My Boyfriend had a total and dumped out his reserve at terminal and waved good bye to his stills camera and rather expensive lens!

In the scheme of things i'd rather it was the camera than him but i'm sure you would all agree its something you wouldn't want a repeat of.Especially when it is so hard to insure camera equipment for jumping.

And in case anyone was wondering why i am writing this and not my boyfriend, it's because he can't even turn a computer on without help and i have to much free time.

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PM#290
There are some people in this world which are just like slinky's,
Totally useless but you just can't help but smile when you see one bouncing down the stairs!

[lister55 0]

I have a stroboframe and I have also had a reserve opening with it. I have also had hard enough openings to give me whiplash. All with my stroboframe. I think this was just an unfortunate accident. Things will happen. I have seen the screw break and let a camera go. I would not write off stroboframe.

[teamhypoxia 0]

I'll second that opinion, just two weekends ago I had a terminal reserve opening and my stroboframe held up just fine. That's with a 10d and a 14mm Sigma lens (not a light package). I've had several lighting openings wearing my camera that made my terminal reserve opening look like a 1000' snivel. Again, no problems with the stroboframe.

[diverds 0]

Same here. I've had terminal reserve deployments and the occasional Icarus FX "chain-link-bungee" opening with no Stroboframe problems. Sounds like a freak accident. Maybe there was some debris of some kind keeping the Stroboframe from totally locking down?

Skydive Radio

[efs4ever 3]

Where was the separation point?

Russell M. Webb D 7014
Attorney at Law
713 385 5676
https://www.tdcparole.com

[stateofnature 0]

The CAMERA, the CAMCORDER, and even the STROBOFRAME were NOT made for skydiving.

We all take the risk of loosing equipment in numerous situations. Grin and bare it baby!

[motherhucker 0]

I have 2500+ jumps using a stroboframe to mount a still camera with the biggest problem being a riser strike that twisted the camera (maybe twice).

I'd be curious to see how big of a camera/lens he was jumping and how it was mounted to the helmet. Using variable focal length lenses can help create a lot of torque on the quick release in a situation such as a terminal reserve opening. On one of my helmets I now have my still camera bolted directly to the helmet with a 1/4-20 screw, and I had to add an additional strap to feel as comfortable as I did with a stroboframe.

Where did it fail?
mh

[Luckyif 0]

I hope no one took offence to my post i just thought people might like to know what could happen. I'm really glad no one else has had the misfortune we did. The camera was a minolta 404si, so quite light with a 20mm fixed lense, the stroboframe was fitted by a pro in the USA so i don't think that was the prob, though having never recoverd the camera i couldn't tell you much else, though it was the frame that gave out out ant not the screw into the camera.

And as some one said, none of this stuff was made for skydiving so its a gamble using any setup!

Shit happens ai!


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PM#290
There are some people in this world which are just like slinky's,
Totally useless but you just can't help but smile when you see one bouncing down the stairs!

[jeiber 0]

You're exactly right, it isn't made for skydiving. I believe there's even a warning on the mount that says it's for cameras under something like 8 lbs, or so.

The 'ol Force = Mass x Acceleration, (well, deceleration in this case
They sure are convenient mounts though!.

J

Shhh... you hear that sound? That's the sound of nobody caring!