Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 16:18:07 -0400 To: [email protected] From: Rob Lancefield <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Digital camera use
Hi, Marla and fellow MCN'ers: Since I didn't post to the earlier thread, thought I'd chime in now. I've been using a Fuji DS-300 for direct capture of works on paper, and have found it to be a workable tool for basic web-worthy imaging. Chief advantages of this camera for our application: - user control over white balance, f/stop, and exposure duration - reasonably close focusing - reasonable cost (i.e., within our $2K budget for a capture device) - durable build - live NTSC video output, useful for rough framing when working close (since the DS-300 has a separate, non-SLR optical viewfinder, with the usual resultant parallax effects). Chief disadvantage of this camera for our application: - when the "macro" function is enabled for close focusing, the camera throws its fixed-mount lens to its widest focal length (no doubt an engineering decison in favor of depth of field, to ease the task of the auto-focus). This introduces noticeable barrel distortion, which has proven impractical to correct during image processing (no surprise: it's always best to address these issues as far upstream as possible, ideally at point of initial capture). Lack of lens interchangeability precludes use of a purpose-built macro lens (the reasonable way to attain better flat-field rendering without such visual artifacts). Despite its one shortcoming of close-focus barrel distortion, we'll happily keep using the DS-300 until the cost of interchangeable-lens digicams drops substantially. (If price were no object, we'd use a body that can take Nikon-mount lenses; but this would cost several times more than the DS-300. This differential primarily buys a higher resolution CCD, which--nice as it would be!--we don't need for this project, and can't afford. Maybe someone will bring to market a lower-cost back for Nikon lenses, but one that doesn't offer high-end resolution...hmmm, any digicam manufacturers lurking here??) If you're interested in our imaging workflow using the Fuji, it's summarized at http://www.wesleyan.edu/dac/ddii/process.html BTW, not long ago museum-l had a thread on even lower-end digicams for rough documentation as part of registration workflow; if those devices might be of interest, you might want to search their archives too. If you'd like a lead to a mail-order house with whom I've been satisfied re: pricing for the DS-300 and other gear (and efficient turnaround), feel free to contact me offlist (I'll forgo further testimonials here...). HTH, Rob > Hi everyone, > I know someone asked recently about what kinds of digital cameras people > were using, but we weren't actually buying one at that time so I ignored > the messages. Can someone either fill me in with recommendations or > direct me to the archive? Thanks > > Marla Misunas > Collections Database Administrator ============================================================== Robert Lancefield http://www.wesleyan.edu/dac/home.html Registrar of Collections <[email protected]> Davison Art Center, Wesleyan University tel 860.685.2965 301 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459 USA fax 860.685.2501 ==============================================================
