Shooting at National Archives
Dec 12, 2013 10:14:09 #
Long time reader, first time poster.
Equipment: Olympus E-410 and MacBook Pro running Lion.
Question: I need to shoot copies of B/W photos of some large railroad maps at Nation Archives II in College Park, MD. What I want to do is tether my Olympus to my Mac to use the computer as a monitor of what the camera is seeing.
I have made a trip to the Archives only to find after I got home (800 miles away) that I had some out of focus products. (I cannot look through the viewfinder or look at the video screen on the camera because I am having to stand on a roll-around stair case to get high enough to shoot down at the 5' long map on a table).
Is there a way to tether the two together? :D
Equipment: Olympus E-410 and MacBook Pro running Lion.
Question: I need to shoot copies of B/W photos of some large railroad maps at Nation Archives II in College Park, MD. What I want to do is tether my Olympus to my Mac to use the computer as a monitor of what the camera is seeing.
I have made a trip to the Archives only to find after I got home (800 miles away) that I had some out of focus products. (I cannot look through the viewfinder or look at the video screen on the camera because I am having to stand on a roll-around stair case to get high enough to shoot down at the 5' long map on a table).
Is there a way to tether the two together? :D
Dec 12, 2013 10:38:12 #
Dec 12, 2013 11:08:41 #
Dec 12, 2013 11:47:05 #
13oct1931 wrote:
Have you thought about getting a wide angle lens? Alyn
But would that not distort my picture? These maps are very large 2 1/2 ft x 5 feet or so. I cannot stand on the floor and shoot them. I have to climb up 2 steps on one of those roll around steps like they use at Home Depot to get things off the high shelves.
Dec 12, 2013 11:48:18 #
St3v3M wrote:
Welcome to UHH
Thank you.
I have been reading for a couple of months, just not posted
Dec 12, 2013 11:54:54 #
You did not say what lens(es) you were using. This might have an impact on the photos. You are looking for a flat DOF. A lot of lenses do a bit of fisheye, so while the center of a five foot mat might be in focus the outer edges might be out of focus and a little warped.
This can be compensated for by adjusting your fstop and by using a flash (if that is allowed.) If you can't use a flash you may have to shoot wide open, which will reduce you depth of field.
How far from the map are you? Just 3 or 4 feet?
This can be compensated for by adjusting your fstop and by using a flash (if that is allowed.) If you can't use a flash you may have to shoot wide open, which will reduce you depth of field.
How far from the map are you? Just 3 or 4 feet?
Dec 12, 2013 12:09:07 #
Oddly a true maco lens has a flater field. If you can find one that focuses from that distance it might help keep the edges in .
Dec 12, 2013 12:14:37 #
Train, welcome to the Hog.
Is there no way you can put them on a wall? Or at least rig up some kind of easel? I realize they may not allow that, but it could be good if possible.
Again, welcome and good luck.
SS
Is there no way you can put them on a wall? Or at least rig up some kind of easel? I realize they may not allow that, but it could be good if possible.
Again, welcome and good luck.
SS
Dec 12, 2013 12:16:13 #
Dec 12, 2013 15:30:05 #
dsmeltz wrote:
You did not say what lens(es) you were using. Thi... (show quote)
I am using the original lens that came with the camera. 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6.
When standing on the steps, I would be as you indicated about 3-4 feet above the plane of the paper surface.
Dec 12, 2013 15:41:19 #
SharpShooter wrote:
Train, welcome to the Hog.
Is there no way you can put them on a wall? Or at least rig up some kind of easel? I realize they may not allow that, but it could be good if possible.
Again, welcome and good luck.
SS
Is there no way you can put them on a wall? Or at least rig up some kind of easel? I realize they may not allow that, but it could be good if possible.
Again, welcome and good luck.
SS
I cannot place these things on a wall or easel. I cannot take a flash at the Archives.
I do appreciate all the suggestions but think that all are missing my main point. Even with a wide angle lens I doubt that I can shoot these maps standing on the floor. This causes me to have to get up on the steps. Up there, I have to lean out with my arms to center over the maps and thus I cannot look through the view finder or even see the digital screen plainly enough to see if I am focused on the maps. I tried to take a clamp-on tripod to clamp the camera to the steps but this did not work as the image on the maps varied and I had to keep moving the things around. (way too much trouble when shooting over 300 maps). This is why I need to tether the camera to a monitor such as my MacBook Pro.
Dec 12, 2013 16:12:49 #
Amtrain wrote:
I cannot place these things on a wall or easel. I ... (show quote)
So, you're handholding the camera over the maps?
Would something along these lines be better?
http://home.earthlink.net/~quadrapod99/id1.html
It's primary use is in forensic photography, like taking pictures of shoe impressions. But it keeps the distance constant and the camera parallel to the surface. By doing that, you could make several exposures and stitch them together like a panorama. Which also has the benefit of higher resolution.
Dec 12, 2013 18:15:07 #
Dec 13, 2013 06:43:57 #
Jeez, the OP's not asking about lenses or easels or copy stands :)
Can he tether his Olympus E-410 to a MacBook Pro running Lion? That's it.
I have no idea, but maybe someone here can actually answer the question.
Can he tether his Olympus E-410 to a MacBook Pro running Lion? That's it.
I have no idea, but maybe someone here can actually answer the question.
Dec 13, 2013 06:54:27 #
Boy! Talk about off-topic! I'm pretty sure there's a way to do what you are asking about. Perhaps call B & H and ask them. I think your primary issue is just going to be getting the right cable. Good luck!
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