HELP ON FILMING TANDEMS

[davidfreefly 0]

hI FRIeNDS.

I am starting to film tandems. First jumps went bad filming, because i were wearing no suit at all, so i falled to fast.

My camera is a Panasonic NV-Gs1 with a panasonic wide conversion lens vw-lw3007 30.5mm
I know that the camera is not a sony and the wide lens are not very good. i have been looking for other lens but i cant find any that fits the panasonic 30.5mm. Anyone can help??

I wear the camera on a top mount rawa helmet. is very comfortable. I wear a baggy freefly suit from aircare (Thomas sports U.K)

The main problem i have found filming tandems i cant stay low enough to film the face of the student.. if i go low the face of the student is out of frame. i cant find a good angle. Perhaps a wing suit would help??? or perhaps a webbed gloves??
I can go on sit but my fall rate is too fast... so i have to go on my belly

Can any one give me some tip???

thank you very much!!!!

________________________
DAVID DOVAL
www.paracaidismogalicia.com

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Why not backfly under them?

[StevePhelps 0]

I'm sure our TMs wouldn't want someone with 250 jumps flying on their backs underneath them. Maybe Skymonkey was speaking 'tongue in cheek'.

I'd suggest, get a camera suit with wings. It will help you fly more in a modified mantis, that way you can fly the slot and be able to look up at the tandem's face.

[feuergnom 28]

from my limited experience as a vidiot:

hint 1: try flying with a tandem without a camera on your head - this helps you to get a feel of what a tandem can/will do in freefall and how you can or have to deal with it.

hint 2: if you are comfortable with fall rates proceed to fly closer still keeping level. 2-3 feet distance should give you a good distance for capturing the face of the pax on film

hint 3: NEVER fly ove a tandem and never fall under them - you wouldn't want to suck them down, would you?

hint 4: once you've managed these 3 tasks try again with a camera on your helmet. if you still don't get the shots you want - well there's tons of time and jumps ahead of you to get it right

ps: and look out for the thead on what can and will go wrong when jumping camera

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[feuergnom 28]

you say maybe a TI wouldn't want someone with 250 jumps flying on their backs underneath them. and on the other hand you recommend buying/flying a suit with wings?

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[vdschoor 0]

I'd recommend a camera suit, sometime down the line you are going to want one anyways cause you'll get hooked up with a tandem that falls REALLY slow or something like that.

Here's a picture of my basic body position when flying tandems. I try to go a bit lower normally, but this was "one of those" tandems that was all over the place
When you go lower, you have to look up more, which means more of an arch.. so your fallrate would pick up. With the wings, you can compensate for that and stay right with them.

I know there's a lot of people doing an awesome job with just a freefly suit, but I am challenged by gravity a bit more than most of those guys / girls so I like my camera suit.

I think the basic message is: dress for success, put on the suit that will get your customer the shot they deserve!

Be safe, read the camera flying section of the SIM as well before actually going out and filming tandems
Iwan

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

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I'm sure our TMs wouldn't want someone with 250 jumps flying on their backs underneath them. Maybe Skymonkey was speaking 'tongue in cheek'.

I'd suggest, get a camera suit with wings. It will help you fly more in a modified mantis, that way you can fly the slot and be able to look up at the tandem's face.

I didn't even look at his jump numbers; my bad. That said, it's entirely possible that a freeflyer with only 250 jumps who backflies alot might be completely capable of shooting tandems in that manner. It wouldn't happen here (nobody with under 500 jumps is going to film me because that's what Bill Booth says), but it's entirely possible that some places would allow it with proper proof of flying ability.

Yes, a "standard" camera suit would be the best bet though.

[DaGimp 0]

whats up wit hthe TM's legs dude!!

"Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas

[freefalle 0]

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whats up wit hthe TM's legs dude!!

Vector tandem rig... maybe

[vdschoor 0]

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whats up wit hthe TM's legs dude!!

This jump was done in 300mph uppers, and the tandem instructor is trying to stay above the dropzone.. or something like that..

if you want the full story.. pm Deuce

[StevePhelps 0]

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you say maybe a TI wouldn't want someone with 250 jumps flying on their backs underneath them. and on the other hand you recommend buying/flying a suit with wings?

I think there are people with 250 jumps that can fly video. I did at around the 275 range. My suggestion to buy a suit only helps him fly lower without backsliding or sinking. Flying on your back underneath a tandem is a whole different ball of wax. I know many do it, such as Arville, but they are exceptional flyers IMHO

[feuergnom 28]

my intention was not to bash low-time "camera"-jumpers. heck - according to my jump-numbers and to the opinions in these forums it shouldn't be my business at all (so what do i know?)

i started flying with tandems really early and only after being encouraged by the TI's of our dz. it was a long way, i proceeded slowly, learned a lot and made my first videos last year. and i still have tons of things to learn

from my understanding the original poster has problems finding the right angle - to me that reads like he didn't do his homework = learn to fly his slot without thinking. that's why i thought that a wingsuit might not be a brilliant idea

as a sidenote: i think that wide angle lenses make a novice vidiot fly much closer to a tandem than comfort-level. but once you have handled that, they make nice pics

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[sq8horus 0]

Perhaps a good method to get the angles squared may be to get out and do some jumps with a friend and do some jockeying until you know where to sit to get the shot. The fall rate may not quite be the same but there is less risk than trying to learn with a TM pair. And i definately agree with getting some wings, however do some solo jumps so you know what is going to happen with changes in body inputs and when it comes time to deploy you main. If your interested look at http://stuntquest.8k.com and ask a few questions there as well.

good hunting

[feuergnom 28]

up to now i jump all my videos with my freefly-suit. if the passenger is heavy i change to my rw-suit - haven't had problems with fallrates or angles so far.
but i guess i'll give a winged suit a try in the near future

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[davelepka 4]

You'll need camera wings as far as the fall rate is concerned.

As far as getting a low angle on the tandem, the wings will let you sit up a little steeper, and look a little steeper, while keeping up (down) the fall rate. Also, check to see that your camera is mounted with enough up angle.

Some freefly type helmets have the camera mounted either level, or with a slight up angle. Compare this to a Boenhead FTP, or other dedicated camera helmet, and you'll see the angle you need.

[feuergnom 28]

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Some freefly type helmets have the camera mounted either level, or with a slight up angle. Compare this to a Boenhead FTP, or other dedicated camera helmet, and you'll see the angle you need.

and if you can't get it right you'll end up with two different helmets depending on what you are filming

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[Canuck 0]

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whats up wit hthe TM's legs dude!!

No shit. Bottom drogue rigs fly steep enough as it is. I really like it when the TMs get their arms out forward and their legs up their asses to flatten them out a little.

Canuck

[riggerrob 643]

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whats up wit hthe TM's legs dude!!

No shit. Bottom drogue rigs fly steep enough as it is. I really like it when the TMs get their arms out forward and their legs up their asses to flatten them out a little.

Canuck

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nice theory.

Too bad the student do not always cooperate.

Like the student in the photo, with his knees way out in front.
Sometimes - with naughty students - the only way to slow the spin, wobbling, osscilations, buffeting, potato-chipping, etc. is to extend your legs every last 1/8 of an inch.

[Canuck 0]

Ahh, but the TMs I work with would, in this case, leg hook the student and pull them into a good body position. Nothing is ever cut 'n dry with tandems, but from my perpective, they fly the smoothest and the most heads-up when their arms are forward and their knees are bent. YMMV.

Canuck

[freakydiver 0]

maybe you should fill your numbers in

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[Deuce 1]

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whats up wit hthe TM's legs dude!!

The tandem master is fucking with his buddy.



I do all kinds of tricks.

[FlyinseivLP2 0]

as a sidenote: i think that wide angle lenses make a novice vidiot fly much closer to a tandem than comfort-level.***

[Deuce 1]

Well, it's all about skill level.

Sometimes, at low jump numbers, a camera flier is ready.

The way we do tandem video at Byron, it really can't be done in a freefly suit, and requires a wingsuit of some type. I like the footage the guys can get on thier back or in a sit, but we don't do much of that.

The wideangle is required to get the exit, since it's on, it's necessary to fly close for the remainder of the skydive.

Fly hard, fly aggressive, fly!

[skinnyshrek 0]

Some people pick up videoing quicker than others. But any video guy will tell you...Learn something new each time. I really do believe 500 jumps should be the minimum

http://www.skydivethefarm.com

do you realize that when you critisize people you dont know over the internet, you become part of a growing society of twats? ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

[jtval 0]

honestly david,
this is one time that I think jump numbers is the answer.

ever hear the term " its nothing 50 jumps won't cure"

I dont mean to sound like a dick but when I first started filming tandems it was the same deal.
I also jump a top mount. it jsut takes some getting used to.with either type of mount (side or top) youre going to have to get lower then the tandem Inst& student and look up at then for the best view. most tandems try to look up but they cant look at you if you are on the same level.

borrow someones camera suit and go jump with a buddy a few times to get the hang of it.
or if the TI/TM is willing to work with you on a few jumps where the film is not paid for, then you can practice on them.

there is the option to prop the front of your camera up so that you dont have to look up so far but IMO it just throw me Line of sight out when I jump with my friends I.E. freeflying

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