Selfies, Camera on a Stick

I film my flights. I start recording at takeoff and finish after landing. This minimizes my fiddling with the camera. I have the camera on a magnetic mount that makes removing and placing it on the mount basically distraction free.

IMO use of recording equipment by a pilot is no more distracting than using a map or PDA for navigation. I don't care who you are, you aren't looking out for traffic 100% of the time. The key is the pilot needs to recognize when not to mess with the camera (in a gaggle, poor visibility, etc) and when it's OK to take a picture or look at his PDA for information.
Balleka films all his flights, Sebastian Kawa takes photographs while GP racing. It can be done safely.
There is no evidence there should be a "blanket" statement like "camera's should not be used by the pilot". It seems like the NTSB is trying to paint a picture that taking a selfie causes a crash. In the case of Colorado that pilot had minimal night flying experience and the argument that he was distracted by taking photos (because there were photos on his gopro from earlier flights) is just speculation at this point.

On Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 10:27:47 AM UTC-5, PBA wrote:
I film my flights. I start recording at takeoff and finish after landing. This minimizes my fiddling with the camera. I have the camera on a magnetic mount that makes removing and placing it on the mount basically distraction free.

IMO use of recording equipment by a pilot is no more distracting than using a map or PDA for navigation. I don't care who you are, you aren't looking out for traffic 100% of the time. The key is the pilot needs to recognize when not to mess with the camera (in a gaggle, poor visibility, etc) and when it's OK to take a picture or look at his PDA for information.
Balleka films all his flights, Sebastian Kawa takes photographs while GP racing. It can be done safely.
There is no evidence there should be a "blanket" statement like "camera's should not be used by the pilot". It seems like the NTSB is trying to paint a picture that taking a selfie causes a crash. In the case of Colorado that pilot had minimal night flying experience and the argument that he was distracted by taking photos (because there were photos on his gopro from earlier flights) is just speculation at this point.

Exactly. There's also the point that apparently he took a flash(!) picture
while looking at the camera!

I'll second Sean's point though. You do have to discipline yourself to
always put flying the plane first on the list. In the case of your club
I'd say it wouldn't hurt to make sure pilots are properly briefed before
filming, but otherwise should be OK. Pilots can be grownups with a little
encouragement. :-)

Matt