Can I take a Leica skydiving?

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Ron F

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This might be a [really] stupid question, but has anyone ever taken their Leica skydiving? Also, what are the chances this could screw up the verticle/horizontal alignment of the RF? Would the shutter be in danger of being destroyed? And finally, what would break first, the strap, strap ring, or body lug?

I'm wondering because I'd love to try skydiving (very likely tandem) and I'd like to take my M6ttl if I can find a skydiving place that might let me.

Thanks,
Ron
 
Ron F said:
This might be a [really] stupid question, but has anyone ever taken their Leica skydiving? Also, what are the chances this could screw up the verticle/horizontal alignment of the RF? Would the shutter be in danger of being destroyed? And finally, what would break first, the strap, strap ring, or body lug?

I'm wondering because I'd love to try skydiving (very likely tandem) and I'd like to take my M6ttl if I can find a skydiving place that might let me.

Thanks,
Ron
Click to expand...

Never done any skydiving but I did fly paraglides. I think it should not happen anything bad to your camera. Also, if something happens usually it is not the camera which will worry you the most...

Giella lea Fapmu
 
Yes,
yes you can.

Just make sure the Leica has it's own parachute and that it's taken enough ground training before you push it out of the airplane 😀

A little (very little) humour for Friday,
Dave
 
I did a tandem dive once. I have no I idea how you would be able to take photos while doing that. Or where you would pack a camera so it would be safe during the freefall and not flying out of your pocket and injuring your instructor (bad thing) you need him to land safely 🙂

I would recommend something really small, like minox 35 or P&S and talking to your instructor about it.

have fun, it was really great!
 
Most skydiving photographers use a camera on their helmet.

You're essentially talking about photographing in a 100 mph wind. The camera must be secured when going out of the airplane. For example, it could really hurt someone if attached to a camera strap. The tandem instructor in charge of the jump will probably be pretty strict about safety regulations for a first-time jumper. A good starting point would be to ask him/her or someone else at the jump club how to handle photos.

The Leica itself should be fine. The chute opening is probably less sudden than, for example, tossing a camera bag into the backseat of a car. If there is an emergency situation, the camera has to in a place where it won't get in the way.

I made just a few military parachute jumps a long time ago (static-line, low-level) and just padded the cameras with clothing in my rucksack/knapsack, with no thought of actual jump photos, and my best jump photos were taken without my actually jumping but hanging over the side (with a very good safety harness). Lots of troops take jump photos. They usually keep a small point-and-shoot in a button-down/Velcro-down cargo pocket of their pants.
 
My father was a recreational skydiver in So Cal. in the 1960's and he had a special helmet with a flat front plate that a camera could be mounted on.
In those days the concept of a small, affordable motor drive was relatively new and he bought a Graphic Electric camera, which was known as the world's first motorwind 35mm. It took two AA batteries and the motor was built into the take up spool.
He pre-set the focus and used a long shutter release cable taped to his arm down to his hand. He used it numerous times until the motor gave out. When I was in my teens I tried to have it repaired to no success.
It was a really cool camera.
 
If you are jumping over a populated area you will need to assure someone you are not going to detach a body or lens or detachable viewfinder, or drop a complete camera. There will be some hazard procedure you got to do?

For the photo potential you need to make sure you have a film loaded and the rewind nob is rotating etc. You wont want to have to change a film on the way down...

I take a fixed everything camera, preferably with a fixed on lens hood/filter otherwise use rubber hood and tie everything together with fishing twine or similar, suture the twine through the rubber, tie the twine round the lens waist, camera waist, camera baseplate lock, etc...

Actors (and actresses) spend a lot of time checking they are not going to have a wardrobe accident, before going on stage...

Lastly if you do 'detach' the camera remember the violin player who snatches the leaders violin, when she has a string snap in the middle of a concerto, and then when she snaps a string in the leaders grabs the leaders 2nd... , you would want a snap of your leica 'floating' in mid air, leitz will pay money for the shot of the floater and the remenants/residue after you dig them out...

Noel
 
Years ago I read a story in a Leica Photography magazine about a person who took their M3 skydiving. When the chute opened one of the strap lugs pulled out of the body from the shock and the camera fell to earth. After landing the camera was located embeded in the soft ground and did not appear seriously damaged. The real surprise was that it still functioned, and that the only real breakage was the pressure plate. It was one of the early M3's with the non-metal pressure plate (ceramic?).

If you do decide to take your Leica, try to avoid putting a strain on the lugs such as this camera must have experienced. Looking forward to seeing the shots if you decide to do it.
Cameras that are left at home NEVER shoot great pictures! 😉
 
If you let go of the camera in freefall it won't "float" beside you. The camera strap will probably act like a drogue parachute and you will fall faster than it does. For practice, ride as a passenger in a car traveling in excess of 90 mph with the windows rolled down (or better yet, ride on a motorcycle without a wind fairing at 90 mph), then hold the camera out in the slipstream. You'll see why jump photographers use pre-focused wide-angle lenses and motordrives on helmet-mounted cameras.
 
I'd take a Bessa L, 15 or 25mm lens, set to 5 meters, let 'er rip. Cord, that is. But without a motor drive, you have to advance the film, and if you are a newbie at skydiving, your hands better not pull in toward your body or you'll be tumbling ass over teakettle. Held in front of you, the arms and hands stabilize the freefall, which is only going to be a few seconds until the chute opens, unless you're doing one of those tandem buddy things, strapped onto someone, and they can then take you higher. So to squeeze off a few frames and maintain your balance...and when the chute is open you've got to steer the bugger, which means holding onto the lines. Finally, there is the all important and unavoidable landing. You roll when you land, until you're flying a chute that allows you to land on your feet. So a tuck and roll doesn't do much for a Leica. Or a Bessa L, but at least its only worth a hundred dollars. I'd say: wait until you've made a few jumps. I'd say, get an experienced jumper to shoot pix of you.
 
I wouldn't do it. However I once made a tandem jump with a professional Sony tape recorder strapped to my chest. At the time I was working with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and was doing a feature on skydiving. I got the brilliant idea to record the adventure. It was a blast. You won't be able to shoot photos during the free fall part of the jump (you'll be shaking like a leaf from the adrenaline rush and the enormous winds, and as was mentioned previously, your instructor probably won't let you) but you could haul out the camera once the 'shoot has opened. I unstrapped my microphone at that moment and actually asked the jump instructor a few questions on tape as we descended under the parachute. I let the tape run out and at one point actually had to flip the cassette over to restart on the other side!

Whatever you do, have a great time!

Ron
 
I think there is first hand evidence that Leicas can handle skydiving... 😀

"Thought by some to be the toughest 35 mm SLR ever built. The Leica Solms museum has on display an SL2 MOT with Motor and 35 mm Summicron which survived a 25,000 foot fall from a Phantom II fighter jet: battered but in one piece, and deemed repairable by Leica."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica#R_.28SLR.29_series

Peter
 
kbg32 said:
You won't have any problems at all. Just don't drop it.
Click to expand...

I don't want to get into a shouting match here, but I disagree entirely with this comment. You will probably not be allowed to carry your camera on your early jumps if you are jumping solo. I parachuted for a summer in my twenties, and made over fifteen jumps, and, to tell you the truth, after the fifth jump it got kind of boring, as it took a while to gain altitude permission. But what made me quit was the hay fever I couldn't shake from the field we were flying out of, it was misery. And because the experienced jumpers got first crack at the flights, you'd sometimes have to wait an hour or two between jumps (and also find a qualified parachute packer). I never shot any film or video! You know, in this case I'd have to say, enjoy the moment and forget about recording it.
 
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