kashton 0 #1 August 2, 2008 I found a camera that has the potential to be a promising contender in the sidemounting FF camcorder class. I think many people have over-looked it because it doesn't have a wide angle lense. The Sony HDR-TG1: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10510551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665400969 This camera is definitely not new news though it did come on the market quite recently, but I stumbled upon a site that may increase the camer's versatility and popularity: http://techmoan.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/sony-hdr-tg3-with-a-wide-angle-lens-2/ It may need a little modification to make it airworthy, but it is a good start. With some custom mounts built on the side of the helmet it is possible to limit the distance from the side of the helmet to the other side of the camera to 1.5 inches. I've tried it and it is unbeatable for it's compact (and titanium) frame. It is surprisingly rigid and should hold up well in the air but I won't know until it is jumped. I have a good way of mounting it which I can show pictures of sometime soon but right now I have to sleep. Let me know what you think. Thanks! This was interesting as well: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200806/08-069E/index.html ---------------- Ok, so I decided to stay up a little later and give you some pictures (Attached). I spent three hours at lowe's with just a budget and some creativity and came up with a decent mount. It has six small holes drilled into the left side of the helmet, two lines, each with two holes. Two are horizontal and one is vertical. Tie bungee cord with the knots inside the helmet (make sure to not interfere with the cutaway system!), and make sure to use a secure knot such as a square knots. Make sure to make the bungeea very tight. I improvised a protective holster for the camera that allows full function of the buttons and full view from the lense (It is just foam wrapped in duct tape lol, but it works!). just so I don't get attacked, I am not jumping thisThat John Denver's full of s**t man... It's a great day to be alive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cookie 0 #2 August 2, 2008 Nice one, We have been testing this camera for a few weeks now and it is getting jumped this weekend. It is a great little camera for side mounting. We have built a prototype mount for this camera and done a small production run to iron out any bugs. They will be available soon. Cookie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alge 0 #3 August 2, 2008 Awesome! Will you be selling the lens with the box? For us lazy bastards who think 2 shops should be enough to get a fully functioning camera setup? (= Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderbow 1 #4 August 2, 2008 How did you mount the wide angle lens?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cookie 0 #5 August 2, 2008 The box has a 30mm thread machined in the front, so you can just screw your lens on and go. Cookie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderbow 1 #6 August 3, 2008 That thought crossed my mind but wasn't sure the camera could be held in close enough for it to work.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kashton 0 #7 August 3, 2008 WoW, that is just a little bit more professional than mine That John Denver's full of s**t man... It's a great day to be alive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Acoisa 0 #8 August 3, 2008 NICE!! Please let us know how the testing goes! I'd be especially interested in knowing if the camera has shake issues similar to the cx7 while freeflying if thats not to big of a problem for you.. If everything works fine you already have a customer! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cookie 0 #9 August 3, 2008 Defintely no shake issues as it has a different image stablizer. To fit a lense we had to bring the camera away from the helmet, this also helps with the fitting of the Hypeye Pro. Cookie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
majestik666 0 #10 August 3, 2008 Could you post a video of a jump ? :) very interested in looking at it , and getting it with your box :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Acoisa 0 #11 August 3, 2008 I thought there was no possibility of fitting a remote with this camera... even better. What thread size will the box have? I currently have a cookie .28 for a pc 1000 will I need a new lens? Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cookie 0 #12 August 4, 2008 The thread size in the TG-1 box is the same as your PC1000 camera, 30mm Cookie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Acoisa 0 #13 August 5, 2008 Awesome! When do you think the box will be available? Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cookie 0 #14 August 5, 2008 Photo's and video of the camera in use only a few day away Cookie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bomb420 1 #15 August 5, 2008 The HYPEYE D PRO does control this camera for standard operations. Sony decided to only implement a subset of their protocol on this camera and therefore the zoom control and switching modes does not function correctly. Outside of the control, you must have the LCD facing outwards for the camera to turn on. This is a non-issue with a full case like cookie provides. I already know one team that is going to be using the TG1 as a backup camera during nationals. I can't wait to get one of those new cookie boxes. -Trunk HYPOXIC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Acoisa 0 #16 August 5, 2008 what's the switching mode, and is this a firmware issue that sony could solve by updating firmware? Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bomb420 1 #17 August 5, 2008 The HYPEYE D PRO allows you to switch modes (video, photo, vcr) by double clicking the push button. It also starts up the camera in video mode so that it could recall the zoom if that feature is used. The TG1 does not listen to these mode commands so the above features will not work correctly. Sony runs the camera production once and once it's started its full steam until they sell out. So I doubt they will fix this or even think its a bug.HYPOXIC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cookie 0 #18 August 7, 2008 Ok a few photo's. I will try and get to video's of the TG-1 in use up loaded tonight. Cookie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snakeeater 0 #19 August 7, 2008 wow.. that box looks awesome. what was the reason to move the camera that far away from the helmet? There's quite some gap between the lens and the helmet. Does the hypeye pro plug take up that much space, or is it something else, I'm not an expert in box building, just curious. "He tried to kill me! He tried to f***ing kill me!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cookie 0 #20 August 7, 2008 The gap worked out as such for two reasons. 1. To accomodate the Hypeye Pro 2. To fit a wide angle lens. If the camera was flush with the helmet the wide angle would pick up most of the helmet. You will see once the video's are uploaded that the Liquid 3 still picks up the edge of the helmet and the dudes face Cookie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cookie 0 #21 August 7, 2008 Ok the dude who shot the vid's is Crikey, thanks mate. Here is a link to the video's http://www.youtube.com/user/Skydivebase The guys ran the camera on auto focus. We also made a minor mode to the production boxes so that the lens is exactly in the center of the wide angle ie no black corner. Cookie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markovwgti 0 #22 August 7, 2008 is there a manual focus mode on the camera? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cpoxon 0 #23 August 7, 2008 Quote is there a manual focus mode on the camera? RTFM Page 74Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cj1150gs 0 #24 August 7, 2008 Quote Quote is there a manual focus mode on the camera? RTFM Page 74 He means "yes". "You can adjust the focus manually" Carlos Martins Portugal www.cj.smugmug.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cookie 0 #25 August 7, 2008 OK more to the manual focus setting. To set your camera to manual focus with camera out of the box is For the Liquid 3 lens Set the camera to manual Step down using the left button (Little man Left arrow) until you hit 0.1M. Then press the same button four times to get the lens in focus For the Liquid 5 lens Set the camera to manual Step down using the left button (Little man Left arrow) until you hit 0.1M. Then press the same button one time to get the lens in focus You can also hold the lens in front of the camera and do the same as above to confirm. Cookie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites