What camera for pictures from a glider cockpit?

Hi Eric:

No longer satisfied with the Nikon F duct taped to the wings?

Here is an alternate approach to think about. Buy one or more miniature
television cameras. These things can be tiny and inexpensive (some are no
more than the size of a pencil eraser). Then mount one in the front of the
sailplane and run a cable back to your palm computer and use the palm
computer to record photos. You could have a camera in each wingtip and even
one in the tail. Total weight just a few ounces. Switch cameras with a
switch in the cockpit.

Regarding the polarizing filter, it needs to be rotated for maximum
effectiveness, depending upon the angle of the sun. If the filter is fixed,
you may have to rotate the sailplane for maximum effect. Polarizing
aerobatics, so to speak.

Colin

Eric Greenwell wrote:

I'd like to replace my current digital camera with one better suited to
pictures from my glider, but I'm having difficulty finding one with the
features I want.

You'll have to check many different tipes on dpreview.com
It will take a long time...

I suggest you check:
Nikon 8400, 8megapix, zoom 24-85mm
Canon S80, 8MP, zoom 28-100mm
Canon S70, 7MP " " "
Canon S60, 6MP " " "
Minolta A200, 8MP, zoom 28-200

and probably many others.
The latest prosumer is the gorgeous Sony dsc-R1 (10MP, zoom 24-120),
buti it won't pass through your canopy window for hand-held shots from
outside.

Aldo Cernezzi

COLIN LAMB wrote:

Hi Eric:

No longer satisfied with the Nikon F duct taped to the wings?

Here is an alternate approach to think about. Buy one or more miniature
television cameras. These things can be tiny and inexpensive (some are no
more than the size of a pencil eraser). Then mount one in the front of the
sailplane and run a cable back to your palm computer and use the palm
computer to record photos. You could have a camera in each wingtip and even
one in the tail. Total weight just a few ounces. Switch cameras with a
switch in the cockpit.

Poor image quality, unfortunately.

Regarding the polarizing filter, it needs to be rotated for maximum
effectiveness, depending upon the angle of the sun. If the filter is fixed,
you may have to rotate the sailplane for maximum effect. Polarizing
aerobatics, so to speak.

I'll probably just hold it in my hand to try at first, then try it on
the camera. Possibly one orientation might adequate, since the
reflections on the canopy always come from the same place (the
instruments), so sun position might not matter.

--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

I've had some good luck with a wing mounted camera using a Radio remote
control with a Harbortronics Digisnap 2200 controller and Nikon Coolpix
5400 digital camera.

examples:
http://www.ssa.org/sport/PhotoGaller...p?PhotoId=1026
http://www.ssa.org/sport/PhotoGaller...p?PhotoId=1028
http://www.chilhowee.com/DSCN0560%20e.jpg
http://www.chilhowee.com/DSCN0565.JPG
http://www.chilhowee.com/DSCN0567.JPG

hardwa
http://www.harbortronics.com/detail.php?id=19
http://www.harbortronics.com/

Their system works with a lot of Nikons and a few other brands.


another option outside the US:
http://www.jg-ic.com/jgrc1.html
This would work with a Sony DSC-V1 or other Sonys


with some cameras a systems such as this could be added to a radio
remote
http://wading-in.net/Remote.html

regards,
Chris

2cernauta2 wrote:
Eric Greenwell wrote:


I'd like to replace my current digital camera with one better suited to
pictures from my glider, but I'm having difficulty finding one with the
features I want.


You'll have to check many different tipes on dpreview.com
It will take a long time...

I suggest you check:
Nikon 8400, 8megapix, zoom 24-85mm
Canon S80, 8MP, zoom 28-100mm
Canon S70, 7MP " " "
Canon S60, 6MP " " "
Minolta A200, 8MP, zoom 28-200

and probably many others.
The latest prosumer is the gorgeous Sony dsc-R1 (10MP, zoom 24-120),
buti it won't pass through your canopy window for hand-held shots from
outside.

I've just been using dpreview.com, and it's a great site. It came up
with the Canon S80, Fujifilm E510, and some way too expensive Leica,
Ricoh, and Panasonic models. The S80 appears to do everything I want,
and reasonably priced at ~$470, except I can't be sure the LCD is bright
enough in sunlight. Probably have to look at one somewhere.

The A200 and 8400 are better functionally, but quite a bit heavier and
bigger. The prices are more, also, but not bad at about $150 more than
the S80. I'll keep them on the list, just in case the compact camera
idea doesn't work out.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

chris wrote:

I've had some good luck with a wing mounted camera using a Radio remote
control with a Harbortronics Digisnap 2200 controller and Nikon Coolpix
5400 digital camera.

snip

Some interesting equipment, and perhaps the camera I pick for external
glider pictures will have the inputs required.


--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

Hi,

Nine photos!

Paul Remde

"chris" wrote in message
oups.com...
I've had some good luck with a wing mounted camera using a Radio remote
control with a Harbortronics Digisnap 2200 controller and Nikon Coolpix
5400 digital camera.

examples:
http://www.ssa.org/sport/PhotoGaller...p?PhotoId=1026
http://www.ssa.org/sport/PhotoGaller...p?PhotoId=1028
http://www.chilhowee.com/DSCN0560%20e.jpg
http://www.chilhowee.com/DSCN0565.JPG
http://www.chilhowee.com/DSCN0567.JPG

hardwa
http://www.harbortronics.com/detail.php?id=19
http://www.harbortronics.com/

Their system works with a lot of Nikons and a few other brands.


another option outside the US:
http://www.jg-ic.com/jgrc1.html
This would work with a Sony DSC-V1 or other Sonys


with some cameras a systems such as this could be added to a radio
remote
http://wading-in.net/Remote.html

regards,
Chris

At 03:12 08 December 2005, Chris wrote:
I've had some good luck with a wing mounted camera
using a Radio remote
control with a Harbortronics Digisnap 2200 controller
and Nikon Coolpix
5400 digital camera.


I have the same rig, but find the 5400 hs too much
shutter lag and way too small an LCD for handheld shots.

The new Fujis get great reviews for near-zero shutter
lags and excellent high-ASA performance. Some have
2.5' LCDs. They don't have lots of manual features
and I doubt they have remote shutter releases.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf10zoom/

9B

Andy Blackburn wrote:

At 03:12 08 December 2005, Chris wrote:

I've had some good luck with a wing mounted camera
using a Radio remote
control with a Harbortronics Digisnap 2200 controller
and Nikon Coolpix
5400 digital camera.



I have the same rig, but find the 5400 hs too much
shutter lag and way too small an LCD for handheld shots.

The new Fujis get great reviews for near-zero shutter
lags and excellent high-ASA performance. Some have
2.5' LCDs. They don't have lots of manual features
and I doubt they have remote shutter releases.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf10zoom/

The Fuji models are quite attractive, but only two current models seem
to have the wide angle (28 mm equivalent) that I want. The E500 and E510
have most of want I want and are priced well, but appear to have long
shutter lag, no continuous or burst mode, and a 2" LCD monitor that is
alleged to wash out in sunlight. So far, the Canon S80 seems to be the
best fit, but I don't know for sure that it's LCD is any better (though
it's bigger at 2.5"). None of them have remote releases, unfortunately,
but I think this can accomplished with some tinkering, using a low cost
radio control system for model cars/aiplanes.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

2cernauta2 writes
Nikon 8400, 8megapix, zoom 24-85mm

I got one of these. Lovely camera, doesn't really fall into the small
and compact category though. Sort of a stepping stone hybrid between
compact and SLR. But it does hang on its strap quite nicely around your
neck - just make sure it's secured against bouncing off your forehead in
the event of a cable break if you launch on the winch!

A link to some pictures taken with it using a polarising filter a couple
of weekends ago over the Cotswolds here in the UK (not soaring - I was
ballast in a motor-falke :-)

http://j.domaindlx.com/scapegoatsanon/

--
Bill Gribble
http://www.harlequin.uk.net
http://www.scapegoatsanon.demon.co.uk
"Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" - Emerson