PC monitor as SLR viewfinder?
in [Digital Cameras]
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From: runcyclexcski on 18 Jul 2007 23:46 I need to set up a digital SLR on a stand to take images of relatively small objects (say, 2 by 3 inches). The camera is set up above the surface of a table, with the lens pointing down. I want to place small objects on the table and take pictures using a cable switch. Since the camera is set high above the table surface I can't see the LCD viewfinder to focus/zoom, so I want to hook up the camera to a PC with a USB cable or smth to stream the image to the comp's monitor "in real time" (a ~0.3 sec response time is OK) to be able to zoom, focus and then take images. Is there an SLR that can do that (real-time image streaming)? What lens would you recommend to be able to image ~2 by 3 inch objects, with some zoom capabilities (if the object size increases/ deacreases by a factor of 2).
From: Pete D on 19 Jul 2007 01:19 <runcyclexcski(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1184816777.299478.28800(a)e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com... >I need to set up a digital SLR on a stand to take images of relatively > small objects (say, 2 by 3 inches). The camera is set up above the > surface of a table, with the lens pointing down. I want to place small > objects on the table and take pictures using a cable switch. Since the > camera is set high above the table surface I can't see the LCD > viewfinder to focus/zoom, so I want to hook up the camera to a PC with > a USB cable or smth to stream the image to the comp's monitor "in real > time" (a ~0.3 sec response time is OK) to be able to zoom, focus and > then take images. > > Is there an SLR that can do that (real-time image streaming)? > > What lens would you recommend to be able to image ~2 by 3 inch > objects, with some zoom capabilities (if the object size increases/ > deacreases by a factor of 2). > What you want to do cannot be done unless you set up some sort of mechanical device to do the zooming. Why must it be a D-SLR?
From: John Bean on 19 Jul 2007 04:42 On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:46:17 -0700, runcyclexcski(a)yahoo.com wrote: >I need to set up a digital SLR on a stand to take images of relatively >small objects (say, 2 by 3 inches). The camera is set up above the >surface of a table, with the lens pointing down. I want to place small >objects on the table and take pictures using a cable switch. Since the >camera is set high above the table surface I can't see the LCD >viewfinder to focus/zoom, so I want to hook up the camera to a PC with >a USB cable or smth to stream the image to the comp's monitor "in real >time" (a ~0.3 sec response time is OK) to be able to zoom, focus and >then take images. > >Is there an SLR that can do that (real-time image streaming)? Not in the way that you mean. There are cameras with "live view" tilt/swivel LCDs that would let you do what you need to do without a PC, and there's an add-on device called a Zigview that will do the same for pretty much any SLR. One version of the Zigview allows you to remove the screen from the camera and use it as a "remote" monitor. -- John Bean
From: Alan on 19 Jul 2007 07:43 The new EOS 1d-mkIII has the capability to live view through the lens via a cable to a computer but at $4500 US that is probably beyond your needs. An angle finder might be more appropriate. I recently had an occasion where I needed to shoot an object straight down from a heighth of over 6 feet with a 1d-mkII on a tripod and my angle finder "c" enabled me to do this fine. runcyclexcski(a)yahoo.com wrote: > I need to set up a digital SLR on a stand to take images of relatively > small objects (say, 2 by 3 inches). The camera is set up above the > surface of a table, with the lens pointing down. I want to place small > objects on the table and take pictures using a cable switch. Since the > camera is set high above the table surface I can't see the LCD > viewfinder to focus/zoom, so I want to hook up the camera to a PC with > a USB cable or smth to stream the image to the comp's monitor "in real > time" (a ~0.3 sec response time is OK) to be able to zoom, focus and > then take images. > > Is there an SLR that can do that (real-time image streaming)? > > What lens would you recommend to be able to image ~2 by 3 inch > objects, with some zoom capabilities (if the object size increases/ > deacreases by a factor of 2). >
From: SMS on 19 Jul 2007 09:53 runcyclexcski(a)yahoo.com wrote: > I need to set up a digital SLR on a stand to take images of relatively > small objects (say, 2 by 3 inches). The camera is set up above the > surface of a table, with the lens pointing down. I want to place small > objects on the table and take pictures using a cable switch. Since the > camera is set high above the table surface I can't see the LCD > viewfinder to focus/zoom, so I want to hook up the camera to a PC with > a USB cable or smth to stream the image to the comp's monitor "in real > time" (a ~0.3 sec response time is OK) to be able to zoom, focus and > then take images. > > Is there an SLR that can do that (real-time image streaming)? > > What lens would you recommend to be able to image ~2 by 3 inch > objects, with some zoom capabilities (if the object size increases/ > deacreases by a factor of 2). Sounds like you need a Zigview S2, a computer with a video-in jack, plus an autofocus lens with a motorized zoom. While these are common in C mount, you can't use these lenses on an SLR. You could try one of the old Canon EF 35-80mm f4-5.6 Power Zoom lenses, and modify it so you can control the zoom motor buttons remotely via wires connected to the two buttons (this is the hard part). Good luck finding one of these lenses, you'll have to go on eBay and buy an EOS-700 which came with that lens (the lens wasn't sold separately). This assumes that the lens will work and focus on a Canon EOS digital, but I think it should work. You probably want to use a 5D or other full-frame sensor Canon D-SLR to avoid the crop factor so you get a true 35mm. Not a great lens, but maybe good enough for what you want to do. You could buy a board for the PC that would let you simulate the button pressing remotely, i.e. "http://www.ieci.com.au/products/Product_Page2.asp?Product_ID=431" It all depends how much you have to spend, and how mechanically inclined you are. Of course with the proper non-SLR all this would be very easy.
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