What's the riskiest ride you've ever video taped on?

[nile455]

Anyone ever use their palm camcorder on Hulk or anything like that in another park? I just got a new Panasonic and I am really excited (although obviously hesitant) about using it on a ride.

 

[robvia]

Well, obviously, you can see my videos here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/ioapovs.htm
The first time I rode Hulk with the camera was freaky, because the coaster launched and I still didn't have the strap around my wrist. I was hanging on to the camera for dear life. Then I accidentally shut it off half way thru the ride. Now I've got it down to a science.

The ride ops won't let you take a big camera on the major coasters like Hulk and Deuling Dragons. In my case, it was hidden until the ride dispatched.

Next year I'm going to tape more coasters now that I've figured out how to do it.

 

[nile455]

Well, obviously, you can see my videos here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/ioapovs.htm
The first time I rode Hulk with the camera was freaky, because the coaster launched and I still didn't have the strap around my wrist. I was hanging on to the camera for dear life. Then I accidentally shut it off half way thru the ride. Now I've got it down to a science.

The ride ops won't let you take a big camera on the major coasters like Hulk and Deuling Dragons. In my case, it was hidden until the ride dispatched.

Next year I'm going to tape more coasters now that I've figured out how to do it.

Those are amazing videos! You've mastered this unusual and dangerous art! A couple questions: First off, what make/model camera are you using? And does it have image stabilization? Also, was it difficult to hold the camera that high when you had those shoulder restraints on?

And that gorgeous still shot on hulk, did you get that from your camcorder or a digital camera? If it was taken from the video, I wonder how many megapixels it is, because mine can only take stills at about 1/2 a megapixel.

Oh and one more thing (sorry just filled with questions), I looked at your Mummy video. Great stuff, but I never knew Kong was in it. WHERE do I find him? I looked "on the shelf" as described on the site, but can't find him. What should I be looking for? A projected image? An actual physical statue?

 

[spewey]

Does US even allow cameras on-ride? I think that's the first question you have to ask - and even if someone at, say, park ops gives the thumbs up, I would still check with a ride op before pulling out the camera. You're right about one thing - taking POV is dangerous, even if you're sure you know what you're doing. That's why few parks allow it, and I would be surprised if in a few years any do. Too many people get hurt every year by objects carried on by passengers flying off and smacking them in the head. Why risk a lawsuit?

For a, um, spirited discussion about the ethics/protocol/stupidity of on-ride cameras, I suggest you check this out:

http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=40256

Be warned - many have very strong views against this activity. Enjoy ...

 

[BonnieA]

Seems to me they're pretty strict at Universal about taping. My neice was trying to tape "Cat in the Hat" ride and a voice came over the loudspeaker telling her to turn off the video camera. I tried to take a picture of a picture they took of us on Jurassic Park. They wouldn't let me. You know those kind of pictures never really come out good, what harm was it for me to take that picture. I've always done it at disney without anyone saying anything about it.

 

[highlander447]

When we where at BG in march they stopped montu on way up to take a camera of a rider

 

[Prince Eric1]

I thought Universal was pretty strict on not allowing videotaping. I also thought they were really strict on not letting you on with any loose objects. They wouldn't even let my wife wear her fanny pack on the Hulk. Not that it counts here, but the closest thing to a dangerous ride I ever videotaped on was at Disney on Splash Mountain. I videotaped all the way to the end but unfortunately some water did splash into my camcorder and it wouldn't work for several hours until it dried out. It was worth it though.

 

[robvia]

The camera is a Sony V1 with a wide angle lens and a 1 gig memory stick.
No, it doesn't have image stabilazation. It was easy to hold the camera, just hard to keep it steady because the ride shakes like you wouldn't believe.

The still shot on Hulk was an accident. I was shooting the first video, and accidentally switched the camera to still shot mode. It was just a fluke the coaster happened to be in that position when I pushed the shutter button. That's actually a 4mp picture, which I resized down for the web. If you click the picture it will get big.
Yeah, it's hard to see Kong in the Mummy video, it's a statue. If you go on the ride and look to the left, you'll see him.

It's kinda weird how Disney doesn't seem to care about cameras on rides, but most of them are family coasters.

Yes, I've read all kinds of threads about the dangers of taking cameras on rides. I don't hang out at CFB because of the rude comments by the A-listers. Technically, I didn't do anything wrong, because I walked into the coaster, no one stopped me, and I "secured all loose articles." But they'd still come back and rag because they just love to show their power by putting people down.

 

[flfun]

I think that a flying palm corder could potentially kill someone on a major coaster or even someone on the ground should it get loose, I just don't think its fair to the other people on the ride to put them at risk (and one they don't even know they're taking). I didn't realize people did this on a regular basis, I'll never watch my child get on another coaster without worrying about it now...

 

[madduck]

please

 

[Digger In FLA]

boo hoo. nice vids.

 

[flfun]

I'm just saying there is a reason they don't allow loose objects, and its strictly for everyone's safety, that's all. I'm sure it doesn't happen often, but it does happen. For EXAMPLE....


BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP - A Wisconsin woman suffered a fractured skull and broken nose Sunday when she was struck in the face by an object as she was riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Ohio.

It is believed the item was a cell phone from another passenger on the Villain roller coaster, said Terri Wang yesterday from her bed at Hillcrest Hospital.

"I said, Something hit my head,’ then saw my niece was covered in blood that had splattered on her," Wang said. "My daughter turned around, and I yelled at her to turn back because I knew it wasn’t good."

An ambulance took her to South Pointe Hospital. She said she had a seizure and was transported by helicopter to Hillcrest.

She had surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain, her forehead was rebuilt and staples extend like a headband from one ear to the other, she said. "I look like the Bride of Frankenstein," she said.

(OUCH!) I don't really think I'm changing anyone's mind here, just my two cents.

 

[nile455]

I'm just saying there is a reason they don't allow loose objects, and its strictly for everyone's safety, that's all. I'm sure it doesn't happen often, but it does happen. For EXAMPLE....


BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP - A Wisconsin woman suffered a fractured skull and broken nose Sunday when she was struck in the face by an object as she was riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Ohio.

It is believed the item was a cell phone from another passenger on the Villain roller coaster, said Terri Wang yesterday from her bed at Hillcrest Hospital.

"I said, Something hit my head,’ then saw my niece was covered in blood that had splattered on her," Wang said. "My daughter turned around, and I yelled at her to turn back because I knew it wasn’t good."

An ambulance took her to South Pointe Hospital. She said she had a seizure and was transported by helicopter to Hillcrest.

She had surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain, her forehead was rebuilt and staples extend like a headband from one ear to the other, she said. "I look like the Bride of Frankenstein," she said.

(OUCH!) I don't really think I'm changing anyone's mind here, just my two cents.

A cell phone I could understand. But if a person had a tiny palmcorder with a shoulder strap wrapped diagonally to under his armpit, there's prbobably no way it can fall lose. Someone's eye glasses would have a much bigger likelihood of falling loose and flying than a camera attached to a shoulder strap.

 

[stevenpensacola]

riding in the van with my fifteen year old daughter driving!!!

 

[Timon]

We were at Knott's Berry Farm a couple of weeks ago and we rode Silver Bullet and so far to date, they had the most restrictive rules I have EVER seen on a coaster! It was quite ridiculous really, you couldn't even wear jewelry such as earrings!!! She announced it over and over while we waited for the train. I didn't have any earrings in at the time but if I had, I would have been upset if they made me take them out.

You should get video of that one Robvia!!!

 

[robvia]

We were at Knott's Berry Farm a couple of weeks ago and we rode Silver Bullet and so far to date, they had the most restrictive rules I have EVER seen on a coaster! It was quite ridiculous really, you couldn't even wear jewelry such as earrings!!! She announced it over and over while we waited for the train. I didn't have any earrings in at the time but if I had, I would have been upset if they made me take them out.

You should get video of that one Robvia!!!

I will. I'm thinking of flying out there for West Coast Bash, which is held the weekend of March 11-13 this year.
While Silver Bullet is new, it must have some head bashing which is why they make you take off earrings.

 

[Timon]

robvia,
Actually, it wasn't all that rough. The first half of the ride is almost identical to Fire Dragon from DD at IOA, which was cool and not a rough ride. The second half of the ride really sucked because you only went one way (I believe they were all right turns) and by the time the ride evened out, my head was still spinning in the same direction but it wasn't very rough at all. In fact, Ghostrider which had almost no safety rules (we were able to bring on our fanny packs with no problem) was ten times more rough than SB!!!