Thread: Digital Cameras

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

Hence Kodak's advice to let the camera "sit" undisturbed for 24hrs to see what happened. .

Ah yes..the old "let it sit for a while" trick ..
..that's tech speak for.... "let the bloke on the next shift sort out the problem because I don't have a clue"

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

I've tried once already to attach an image to an email but the computer changed a jpeg to a gif and I can't see if, it fact, I sent anything as the attachment.
You people are so reasonable and helpful.

Whatever you're using to email should not be changing the format of your images...

Are you using a program or webmail ?

Also watch out for the file size of the pictures when emailing, typically at their standard resolution off the camera they are massive in size and they're usually not needed to be that large as you don't need to see that much detail. I typically resize to 25-50% of the original if I'm sending by email or uploading it. They then are at a better size in dimensions for viewing and a smaller file size so quicker for you to upload (ADSL has much slower upload speeds vs download) and given many email accounts have limits, I know mine from memory is 10MB, so you can add more pictures per email.

Am I making any sense here ?

I hesitate in telling you that though as I don't want you to resize the originals and save it. You want to keep the original as is, but create a copy that you will shrink down for the purpose of emailing or uploading onto the internet. I typically just use the same name as the original and add the size or resize in brackets or some other note for myself. You can then delete the copy later if you have no need to resend or upload it.

There may be a better way but that's how I do things.

All's well that ends well. I refer you to
"The Ookpik Project" and "The Raven Project"

Hi Robson Valley,
Digital cameras are fantastic and produce quality results and you do not have to spend a lot of money on camera. In order to find your photos on your PC and file them in some sort of order 1/ ask your grandkids to do it for you 2/ Ask the neighbours kids to do it for you 3/ Go and do a basic computer course and before you leave the classroom, make sure you know how to do it.
Cheers

This thread is dead.
Kodak explained to me how the camera upscrewed.
I've posted dozens and dozens of pix since then.
Even better, my Ricoh decided to wake up as well (no shutter lag time.)

I still think that 4x5 B&W, pure silver, razor sharp and NO GRAIN is the only way to go.
Little prints are 16" x 20" but I prefer 32" x 40" although glass and mattes are scarce.
But for superficial, short-term images, digital is fine.

I'm taking a stab in the dark that you have successfully used a non digital camera in the past, if so then there is little actual difference to digital. They are both boxes with a hole in one end and light sensitive material in the other. The lack of focus is probably caused by button/shutter lag, most digital (non slr) cams are slow to react to pushing the "take the pic" button as they are busy focussing as the button is partially depressed. If you force the issue it can still take a photo but the camera has not had enough time to focus. I had a Minolta that could take up to 5 sec before triggering the shutter, useless for sport but still OK for studio. Of course you could be one of those weird folks who have an electronics destroying aura (sort of a psychic Luddite).

PS totally agree that silver is better, thats what I trained on, but expensive and hard to come by, maybe I'll go and try cyanotyping (blueprinting).

Still don't reckon digital cameras get the subtle tones in shadows yet...just in case you're into photographing shadows

Ilford used (?) to make the D400 in 4x5, fantastic shadow detail, souped it in Kodak D76.
Photographed an old, 3-storey house on a stinkin' hot summer day. Fine.
Took the first proof print out into the light and saw 2 dogs under the front steps!
Never saw them on the day.

But, for these forums, I've got the digital thing running well enough that you can see my carvings.
Must admit that for the purpose, it is amazing.