My Equipment

I have finally obtained the right equipment for kite Aeriel photography.  Through trial and error and lots of reading on the Internet.  At first I used a video camera because the cameras I already had were too heavy or couldn't take continuous photos but the snapshots from the video were low quality and didn't look very good.   My husband and I attempted to build our own picovet, a frame like contraption that you suspend your camera from on the kite line, but couldn't get it right.   I finally bought one on the Internet from http://www.brooxes.com/.    All my cameras will fit on the rig.  This is a photo from brooxes.com and is the rig I have.

I got it with the intervolometer so it controls the camera in the air.  It automatically tells the camera to shoot at about 10 second intervals via infrared communication.  And, it was easy to assemble.

My problem then turned to the kite.  The delta I had purchased would not lift the heavy canon XSI.

I went to ebay and lots of online kite stores and finally found the right kite for me.  It's has powerful lifting ability.  It's the Jumbo Illusion 36 Parafoil Sled. Awesome kite!! http://stores.ebay.com/The-Skybow-Store

Now a little warning.  This kite works great for me but it is very powerful.  It uses 500 pound test kite line and if my husband wasn't there to help me I probably couldn't handle it.  If you get one of these kite be prepared.  The really great thing about this kite is that it picks up anything I want it to.  There is a Parafoil 24 which is smaller but  still has lifting power.  I will probably get one in the near future for flying in places where the wind is strong all the time..like the beach.  PS:  Always wear gloves.  That kite line burns.

My next challenge was the camera.  I wanted a camera that takes great photos, would take continuous photos, is easy to operate and wouldn't hurt so bad if I crashed it into a tree.  I found the Canon Powershot A490 at http://www.walmart.com/.  When I bought it the cost was $68.00, now their price is $73.00.  Its great for KAP and has 10 megapixils. 

I still use the XSI but mostly I use the A490.  It's just so easy to use.

So, that's my equipment.