If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
What's the best $30 digital camera (for pano wheel)?
I shoot a lot of panoramas ( http://www.templetons.com/brad/pano/ )
Using a variety of techiques. But some times because the platform is moving or a lot of people or cars are moving, you just can't shoot a panorama over the period of time it typically takes. You can do one-shot panos with fish-eyes and curved mirrors, but these are not hi res. (I do very hi-res, such as 1/4 gigapixel.) I have also shot some from a helicopter ( http://www.templetons.com/brad/pano/sfba.html ) but it was lots of work to get this to work at all. So one possible solution, build a wheel of cheap cameras. Get from 12 to 16 cameras and arrange them in a circle, and put them on remote control so you can fire them off at once. You would have some paralax but I don't plan to shoot things that are really close. I plan to shoot from the top of long poles, from kites, from planes etc. So I see that older generation digital cameras, not viewed as being of much value, will often sell for quite cheap, and the price keeps dwindling. But getting 12 (landscape) or 16 (portrait) with the typical 35mm-equiv 35mm focal length lens found on these cameras is still daunting. So I am looking for votes from people who have used some of these older generation cameras on what cameras to possibly seek. One would imagine the "disposable digital" found at Ritz might be suitable but in fact it's only 2MP, and you pay $30 for 25 shots by the time you are done. You also have to remove the cameras from the wheel, which means re-aligning with each new batch. Plus no remote, I think. Requirements a a) Fixed focal length lens, as wide as possible. Generally that's a 35mmEq of 35mm, though there have been some cameras at 28mm. Fixed lenses are much better than zooms, though in a pinch a zoom with a decent wide end (rare) could do the job. b) A good lens, of course. c) I think at least 3MP. What matters actually is the height. I like my panoramas to be hi-res (3500 pixels on my 20D) but I would like to see almost 2,000. 2MP would give me about 1,500 in portrait, and perhaps I can consider that. d) Some means of remote control. Perhaps they will all go at once from the same IR? Or USB remote control with a big hub is also possible and might even be preferable if you can then suck down the pictures so that memory is not an issue. However, in a pinch, I can break-open these cameras and solder wires onto the shutter release! e) Enough memory to take a couple-dozen shots at full res, since transfer will be a pain if I have to remove flash cards. USB control, where I can wire them all one a giant hub, could make this easier. f) The kicker -- manual exposure mode. I want all shots at manual exposure. Once again, USB control would be a winner. I can buy them used on eBay, or another thought would be some brand where refurbs could be bought in bulk from some supplier. However, if I need 16 cameras, that restricts the cost. Might go 12 cameras in landscape mode, or 12 cameras with 28mm equiv lens. -- Visit my blog, "Brad Ideas" -- http://ideas.4brad.com |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
In article , says...
I shoot a lot of panoramas ( http://www.templetons.com/brad/pano/ ) Using a variety of techiques. But some times because the platform is moving or a lot of people or cars are moving, you just can't shoot a panorama over the period of time it typically takes. You can do one-shot panos with fish-eyes and curved mirrors, but these are not hi res. (I do very hi-res, such as 1/4 gigapixel.) I have also shot some from a helicopter ( http://www.templetons.com/brad/pano/sfba.html ) but it was lots of work to get this to work at all. So one possible solution, build a wheel of cheap cameras. Get from 12 to 16 cameras and arrange them in a circle, and put them on remote control so you can fire them off at once. You would have some paralax but I don't plan to shoot things that are really close. I plan to shoot from the top of long poles, from kites, from planes etc. So I see that older generation digital cameras, not viewed as being of much value, will often sell for quite cheap, and the price keeps dwindling. But getting 12 (landscape) or 16 (portrait) with the typical 35mm-equiv 35mm focal length lens found on these cameras is still daunting. So I am looking for votes from people who have used some of these older generation cameras on what cameras to possibly seek. One would imagine the "disposable digital" found at Ritz might be suitable but in fact it's only 2MP, and you pay $30 for 25 shots by the time you are done. You also have to remove the cameras from the wheel, which means re-aligning with each new batch. Plus no remote, I think. Requirements a a) Fixed focal length lens, as wide as possible. Generally that's a 35mmEq of 35mm, though there have been some cameras at 28mm. Fixed lenses are much better than zooms, though in a pinch a zoom with a decent wide end (rare) could do the job. b) A good lens, of course. c) I think at least 3MP. What matters actually is the height. I like my panoramas to be hi-res (3500 pixels on my 20D) but I would like to see almost 2,000. 2MP would give me about 1,500 in portrait, and perhaps I can consider that. d) Some means of remote control. Perhaps they will all go at once from the same IR? Or USB remote control with a big hub is also possible and might even be preferable if you can then suck down the pictures so that memory is not an issue. However, in a pinch, I can break-open these cameras and solder wires onto the shutter release! e) Enough memory to take a couple-dozen shots at full res, since transfer will be a pain if I have to remove flash cards. USB control, where I can wire them all one a giant hub, could make this easier. f) The kicker -- manual exposure mode. I want all shots at manual exposure. Once again, USB control would be a winner. I can buy them used on eBay, or another thought would be some brand where refurbs could be bought in bulk from some supplier. However, if I need 16 cameras, that restricts the cost. Might go 12 cameras in landscape mode, or 12 cameras with 28mm equiv lens. -- Visit my blog, "Brad Ideas" -- http://ideas.4brad.com I know you are looking for a digital solution, but have you though about one of the Globus film cameras? Most of the older models could be set to pull the film past the slit aperture, or to rotate the camera around the film. Once leveled, and set for rotation, they did a wonderful 360 pano. Used the other way, on a moving cart, timed to the speed of the film's passing the slit, they did a great static pano, as along the face of a very long building. Just a thought - though not digital, Hunt |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
In article , Hunt wrote:
I know you are looking for a digital solution, but have you though about one of the Globus film cameras? Most of the older models could be set to pull the film past the slit aperture, or to rotate the camera around the film. Once leveled, and set for rotation, they did a wonderful 360 pano. Used the other way, on a moving cart, timed to the speed of the film's passing the slit, they did a great static pano, as along the face of a very long building. You may have missed the part about wanting an instantaneous exposure, because the camera is not on a stable platform (plane, helicopter, kite, pole) etc. or there are many moving things in the picture (cars, people.) The camera can't spin. I want the whole shot in a tiny fraction of a second. That's not going to work with a slit camera or scanning digital camera. Of course my first thought in the old days was funsavers, which are cheap, and hi-res. However, they don't tend to auto-wind nor do they have an electronic shutter I can simultaneously trigger. On the other hand, if I could get Olympus Stylus Epics for cheap, they would be a fine camera, though there would be some downsides. You would need to wait for a whole roll of shots to get out the picture, and you would have to pay for processing and do a whole _mess_ of scanning. -- Visit my blog, "Brad Ideas" -- http://ideas.4brad.com |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Have you seen this software? It looks interesting.
http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=257&p=1 Brad Templeton wrote: I shoot a lot of panoramas ( http://www.templetons.com/brad/pano/ ) Using a variety of techiques. But some times because the platform is moving or a lot of people or cars are moving, you just can't shoot a panorama over the period of time it typically takes. You can do one-shot panos with fish-eyes and curved mirrors, but these are not hi res. (I do very hi-res, such as 1/4 gigapixel.) I have also shot some from a helicopter ( http://www.templetons.com/brad/pano/sfba.html ) but it was lots of work to get this to work at all. So one possible solution, build a wheel of cheap cameras. Get from 12 to 16 cameras and arrange them in a circle, and put them on remote control so you can fire them off at once. You would have some paralax but I don't plan to shoot things that are really close. I plan to shoot from the top of long poles, from kites, from planes etc. So I see that older generation digital cameras, not viewed as being of much value, will often sell for quite cheap, and the price keeps dwindling. But getting 12 (landscape) or 16 (portrait) with the typical 35mm-equiv 35mm focal length lens found on these cameras is still daunting. So I am looking for votes from people who have used some of these older generation cameras on what cameras to possibly seek. One would imagine the "disposable digital" found at Ritz might be suitable but in fact it's only 2MP, and you pay $30 for 25 shots by the time you are done. You also have to remove the cameras from the wheel, which means re-aligning with each new batch. Plus no remote, I think. Requirements a a) Fixed focal length lens, as wide as possible. Generally that's a 35mmEq of 35mm, though there have been some cameras at 28mm. Fixed lenses are much better than zooms, though in a pinch a zoom with a decent wide end (rare) could do the job. b) A good lens, of course. c) I think at least 3MP. What matters actually is the height. I like my panoramas to be hi-res (3500 pixels on my 20D) but I would like to see almost 2,000. 2MP would give me about 1,500 in portrait, and perhaps I can consider that. d) Some means of remote control. Perhaps they will all go at once from the same IR? Or USB remote control with a big hub is also possible and might even be preferable if you can then suck down the pictures so that memory is not an issue. However, in a pinch, I can break-open these cameras and solder wires onto the shutter release! e) Enough memory to take a couple-dozen shots at full res, since transfer will be a pain if I have to remove flash cards. USB control, where I can wire them all one a giant hub, could make this easier. f) The kicker -- manual exposure mode. I want all shots at manual exposure. Once again, USB control would be a winner. I can buy them used on eBay, or another thought would be some brand where refurbs could be bought in bulk from some supplier. However, if I need 16 cameras, that restricts the cost. Might go 12 cameras in landscape mode, or 12 cameras with 28mm equiv lens. -- Visit my blog, "Brad Ideas" -- http://ideas.4brad.com |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Have you seen this software? It looks interesting.
http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=257&p=1 Brad Templeton wrote: I shoot a lot of panoramas ( http://www.templetons.com/brad/pano/ ) Using a variety of techiques. But some times because the platform is moving or a lot of people or cars are moving, you just can't shoot a panorama over the period of time it typically takes. You can do one-shot panos with fish-eyes and curved mirrors, but these are not hi res. (I do very hi-res, such as 1/4 gigapixel.) I have also shot some from a helicopter ( http://www.templetons.com/brad/pano/sfba.html ) but it was lots of work to get this to work at all. So one possible solution, build a wheel of cheap cameras. Get from 12 to 16 cameras and arrange them in a circle, and put them on remote control so you can fire them off at once. You would have some paralax but I don't plan to shoot things that are really close. I plan to shoot from the top of long poles, from kites, from planes etc. So I see that older generation digital cameras, not viewed as being of much value, will often sell for quite cheap, and the price keeps dwindling. But getting 12 (landscape) or 16 (portrait) with the typical 35mm-equiv 35mm focal length lens found on these cameras is still daunting. So I am looking for votes from people who have used some of these older generation cameras on what cameras to possibly seek. One would imagine the "disposable digital" found at Ritz might be suitable but in fact it's only 2MP, and you pay $30 for 25 shots by the time you are done. You also have to remove the cameras from the wheel, which means re-aligning with each new batch. Plus no remote, I think. Requirements a a) Fixed focal length lens, as wide as possible. Generally that's a 35mmEq of 35mm, though there have been some cameras at 28mm. Fixed lenses are much better than zooms, though in a pinch a zoom with a decent wide end (rare) could do the job. b) A good lens, of course. c) I think at least 3MP. What matters actually is the height. I like my panoramas to be hi-res (3500 pixels on my 20D) but I would like to see almost 2,000. 2MP would give me about 1,500 in portrait, and perhaps I can consider that. d) Some means of remote control. Perhaps they will all go at once from the same IR? Or USB remote control with a big hub is also possible and might even be preferable if you can then suck down the pictures so that memory is not an issue. However, in a pinch, I can break-open these cameras and solder wires onto the shutter release! e) Enough memory to take a couple-dozen shots at full res, since transfer will be a pain if I have to remove flash cards. USB control, where I can wire them all one a giant hub, could make this easier. f) The kicker -- manual exposure mode. I want all shots at manual exposure. Once again, USB control would be a winner. I can buy them used on eBay, or another thought would be some brand where refurbs could be bought in bulk from some supplier. However, if I need 16 cameras, that restricts the cost. Might go 12 cameras in landscape mode, or 12 cameras with 28mm equiv lens. -- Visit my blog, "Brad Ideas" -- http://ideas.4brad.com |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
I saw a website of a person doing that sort of thing....maybe someone can
help me remember it. By setting cameras in line he got a variety of effects....including a scateboarder going off some steps into the air....and stopping in mid-air....and the camera view went around him....the camera seemed to move even though the scateboarder did not. Of course the camera realy didn't move....it was a different camera in sequence. He got other effects by doing just what you suggest. Has anyone else seen that site? I go now to Google! If not back in an hour....send the sniffer dogs. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Gene Palmiter wrote:
I saw a website of a person doing that sort of thing....maybe someone can help me remember it. By setting cameras in line he got a variety of effects....including a scateboarder going off some steps into the air....and stopping in mid-air....and the camera view went around him....the camera seemed to move even though the scateboarder did not. Of course the camera realy didn't move....it was a different camera in sequence. He got other effects by doing just what you suggest. Has anyone else seen that site? I go now to Google! If not back in an hour....send the sniffer dogs. Well, Gene, we sent in the sniffer dogs... what'd they do? eat your homework? -- jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
In article ,
Brad Templeton wrote: One would imagine the "disposable digital" found at Ritz might be suitable but in fact it's only 2MP, and you pay $30 for 25 shots by the time you are done. You also have to remove the cameras from the wheel, which means re-aligning with each new batch. Plus no remote, I think. I would not be quite so quick to eliminate the disposable digital option The hardware and firmware have been hacked and you can down-load the pictures by USB. http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/11/12/2354206 http://cexx.org/dakota/ http://www.maushammer.com/systems/dakotadigital/DakotaDigital.html This page describes the Hardware connections I would be surprised if you couldn't hack an external shutter switch... http://revjim.net/wiki/DakotaDigitalCamera -- Michael ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ NPC rights activist | Nameless Abominations are people too. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
In article ,
Mr. M.J. Lush wrote: In article , Brad Templeton wrote: One would imagine the "disposable digital" found at Ritz might be suitable but in fact it's only 2MP, and you pay $30 for 25 shots by the time you are done. You also have to remove the cameras from the wheel, which means re-aligning with each new batch. Plus no remote, I think. I would not be quite so quick to eliminate the disposable digital option The hardware and firmware have been hacked and you can down-load the pictures by USB. http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/11/12/2354206 http://cexx.org/dakota/ http://www.maushammer.com/systems/dakotadigital/DakotaDigital.html This page describes the Hardware connections I would be surprised if you couldn't hack an external shutter switch... http://revjim.net/wiki/DakotaDigitalCamera Yes, I am aware of this. But it's just 2MP, and the lens is reportedly unexciting to say the least. And don't forget the need for manual exposure. No, I'm more looking for the experiences of folks with the older generation of what were once higher-end digicams, but now, because they are only 3MP and prime lens, are cheap in the used market. -- Let's return privacy to E-mail http://www.templetons.com/brad/crypt.html |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
perspective w/ 35mm lenses? | PrincePete01 | Digital Photography | 373 | August 10th 04 02:21 PM |
New Leica digital back info.... | Barney | 35mm Photo Equipment | 19 | June 30th 04 12:45 AM |
Which is better? digital cameras or older crappy cameras thatuse film? | Michael Weinstein, M.D. | In The Darkroom | 13 | January 24th 04 09:51 PM |