Re: [Talk-GB] Cameras?
On Mon, 8 Sep 2008, Ed Loach wrote: I'd like a cheap digital camera to use when I'm out noting things for mapping purposes; our existing camera eats batteries. I have an old Canon IXUS 400 that I picked up off ebay, which I find is pretty reasonable as a simple and small point shoot for when I don't want to lug around my SLR. I do tend to find that the battery life of the camera is the limiting factor when I'm mapping on foot (camera turned on the whole time), but the batteries are quite small so carrying a spare wouldn't be a problem. Pretty robust, optical viewfinder, takes compact flash, rechargable lithium ion battery, a bit of optical zoom, 4 megapixels and the lens seems good enough to make use of the resolution. I think the newer IXUS models have removed the optical viewfinder though, which is a shame. Can anyone suggest either a camera or a good comparison website. http://www.dpreview.com/ is pretty good for comparing cameras. Alternatively if anyone can recommend some good quality, reasonably priced, high capacity rechargeable AA batteries that work well in their digital camera then that may work out a cheaper option. I used to use 4 AA size NiMh cells in my old HP Photosmart 850, which seemed to last well enough and you can now get some fairly high capacity (2800mAh or more) cells. NiMh cells do suffer from a short shelf-life though, so it is very much a charge just before you need them option, whereas lithium ion batteries will hold their charge for ages when not in use so your camera can always be ready for use. But you won't get AA size lithium ion cells, so NiMh is about your best option. - Steve xmpp:[EMAIL PROTECTED] sip:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.nexusuk.org/ Servatis a periculum, servatis a maleficum - Whisper, Evanescence ___ Talk-GB mailing list Talk-GB@openstreetmap.org http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-gb
Re: [Talk-GB] Wales mapping action
Nick Black wrote: Sent: 08 September 2008 9:33 AM To: Talk GB Subject: [Talk-GB] Wales mapping action Hello, Its only a few days until the eagerly anticipated Welsh mapping weekend. I don't know about you guys, but my preparations are well underway - pumping bike tyres, charging batteries... I have a few ideas / questions: * Where exactly is the cottage? Is there an address / postcode? * BBQ - how about a BBQ on the Sat evening or Sun afternoon? It may rain, but thanks to the awesomeness of cheap mass manufacturing, Argos sell gazeebos for £9.99, which make a great BBQ shelter. Its more fun than cooking indoors and I bet there are some great butchers in the area. * Mapping planning - I've updated the wiki page to include a mapping planning section to organise areas to map, preferred mapping regions * Lifts - I can still give a lift from central London on the Friday evening, returning Sunday evening. And I have room for someone from Birmingham on Friday early evening if anyone wants a ride. Also there is still one space left in the cottage, would be great to fill it if someone wants to get in touch with Nick Whitelegg who can't make it now. Cheers Andy ___ Talk-GB mailing list Talk-GB@openstreetmap.org http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-gb
Re: [Talk-GB] Cameras?
Have you tried joining your local Freecycle http://www.freecycle.org/ group and asking if anyone has a camera? If you mention OSM that spreads the word to a wider audience too. Cheers, Chris Ed Loach wrote: I'd like a cheap digital camera to use when I'm out noting things for mapping purposes; our existing camera eats batteries. Features I'd like: * Rechargable battery * Optical viewfinder - I struggle to see the LCD display on our current camera in high light levels. * Optical zoom higher if possible. * Takes memory cards rather than relies on internal memory * Megapixel isn't really too important. As long as I can take a photo of a streetsign with optical zoom from the opposite side of the road, that should probably be fine. I don't intend printing these images after all. * Splashproof would perhaps be useful if cycling in the rain, though I guess this adds to cost and low cost is important (after all - I do have *a* digital camera, and have to justify the cost of any other). Can anyone suggest either a camera or a good comparison website. I tried Jessops who are overpriced, Amazon that don't have optical viewfinder as a data item and Dabs whose website was down. The Jessops site suggested that I can probably do without the splashproof requirement... Alternatively if anyone can recommend some good quality, reasonably priced, high capacity rechargeable AA batteries that work well in their digital camera then that may work out a cheaper option. Thanks Ed ___ Talk-GB mailing list Talk-GB@openstreetmap.org http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-gb
Re: [Talk-GB] Cameras?
My specs were about the same as yours though I had to drop the Optical viewfinder - they are now rare at the lower end. For brand new cameras, I came up with lower cameras in the Canon range (IXUS range and/or A450 or some such purely from memory) and in the Nikon LX range. Sony Cybershots are also worth looking at if you can live with the proprietary memory sticks. I ended up with a Nikon Coolpix LX18 and am extremely happy with it for OSM. The LX16 is slightly cheaper and identical except for lower Megapixel. Operatable one handed on a bike and has a neat BSS feature where you just keep pressing the shutter and it takes several pictures and saves the least blurred - great for OSM mapping as you don't have to steady your hand when pressing the shutter down, it just throws the first one away. - Lower end cameras are improving very quickly. If you see a camera in a shop, check model number on the manufacturers web site. If it is not there it probably superceded by a better camera for the same price. - Megapixel. Yes, you can save money here. 2M pixel is perfectly adequate for street signs across the road - you probably won't even be able to buy that low now. I normally set my camera down to this value as I can take more pictures faster and, I think, with lower battery drain storing the photo. - The newer the camera, but the better the battery life generally - Optical zoom - I ran some tests and found that x3 is adequate for zooming in on street signs across a wide street or average junction (at 2M pixel). - Splashproof - My very ordinary camera is usually useless due to rain splash on the lens before I start worrying about it getting wet. Just carry a plastic bag. Mike At 02:15 AM 9/8/2008, Ed Loach wrote: I'd like a cheap digital camera to use when I'm out noting things for mapping purposes; our existing camera eats batteries. Features I'd like: * Rechargable battery * Optical viewfinder - I struggle to see the LCD display on our current camera in high light levels. * Optical zoom higher if possible. * Takes memory cards rather than relies on internal memory * Megapixel isn't really too important. As long as I can take a photo of a streetsign with optical zoom from the opposite side of the road, that should probably be fine. I don't intend printing these images after all. * Splashproof would perhaps be useful if cycling in the rain, though I guess this adds to cost and low cost is important (after all - I do have *a* digital camera, and have to justify the cost of any other). Can anyone suggest either a camera or a good comparison website. I tried Jessops who are overpriced, Amazon that don't have optical viewfinder as a data item and Dabs whose website was down. The Jessops site suggested that I can probably do without the splashproof requirement... Alternatively if anyone can recommend some good quality, reasonably priced, high capacity rechargeable AA batteries that work well in their digital camera then that may work out a cheaper option. ___ Talk-GB mailing list Talk-GB@openstreetmap.org http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-gb
