Re: [Hampshire] Digital Cameras

Regarding using PTP etc to transfer files from th Camera over USB.

In a few words, Don't do it.
Why?
1) It drains your camera battery like there is no tomorrow.
2) USB is not the greatest medium for transferring files especially if
one end (the camera) is distinctly underpowered.
3) It is far easier and more reliable to use a Card Reader plugged
into the PC/Laptop to copy the files. This way, you can be shooting the
next set while the first set are being copied.

I tried a USB connection once. It worked but it is not the way I want
to operate.
That said, with some software, you can control the camera from the PC
using a USB Connection. This has it uses.

LI-IOn Batteries.
I have taken something over 100,000 Digital Pictures over the past 8+
years. The batteries I bought for my D100 in 2003 are still going strong
(now used in a D70). Replacement batteries from places like 7DayShop.com
are also pretty cheap.

Field of View.
If you google for the above I'm sure that you can
find a chart that describes it all. Just as a quick reference, I just
did a test.

Camera Nikon D200, 24-120 Lens at 24mm.
I was able to see all of a A3 document a little over 2ft from the doc
surface. This lens will focus down to 20in.
A 24MM focal length on this camera is equivalent to 36mm in 35mm film
camera term ( 1.5 magnifier).
Canon DSLR's (aparf from the Full frame ones generally have a 1.6
multiplier)

A 'Standard' lens in 35mm Film Camera terms is 50MM. Less than this is
wide angle. More is Telephoto

As I said in a previous email, if you would like to try out a DSLR at
the next meeting then I'd be willing to bring along my 'kit'. This
should give you a better idea than relying on reviews. You could also
bring along a sample document and take a few pictures and thus see for
yourself the amount of Mpixels I really need.

Stephen Davies