Hardware
Resources
Image Capturing Devices
While I enjoy writing, sometimes
it is just impossible to convey the message of the moment as I really
see
it. Until I began publishing on the Web, a 35mm Canon, a NEC Video
Camera and a color scanner were enough to capture the the important
scenes
in my life. Now, I have quite a collection of devices to capture and
convert images.
Digital
Cameras
Minolta
Dimage 7
In September 2001 I bought
a Dimage 7. This camera gave me the capability to shoot up to 5.2
megapixel stills. With it I am able to produce up to 11x17 prints
for sale. It will be a while before I upgrade again as the Dimage
is still versatile enough to meet my needs.
Kodak
Digital Science™ DC 40
Out of desperation in October 1996
I bought the Kodak Digital Science™ DC 40 Camera to speed the process
of image capture to web publication. I really wanted the DC 50 Zoom
version but there weren't any in town at the time. Because the 40 featured
37mm filter threads, I've since been able to satisfy most of my close-up
needs by adding a 2X Tele Conversion Lens. Since 1996 digital technology
has improved substantially and along with it, a number of new, more
powerful digital cameras have been introduced by Kodak® as well
as others. I rarely use the DC 40 anymore and would be happy
to sell it to a technology trivia buff. If you run on to someone
please let me know.
- Technical Support
- FAQs
- DC
40 Driver Updates
- Examples
of the DC40 Usage on the Web
- Tom
Kumpf's DC40 Tips and Tricks
- Kodak
Digital Learning Center
- Media
Minds Digital Camera Guide
- Company Info
- Website
address: www.kodak.com
- SONY® Digital
Video Camera Recorder (DCR-TRV310)
I picked this camera up on June 6, 1999. It's become my favorite
camera to work with to for my online work. The drawback in using this
type of image capture for print applications, however, is the resolution.
While I can use manipulation software such as Genuine
Fractals, the results are never satisfactory enough for rendering
larger sizes. I anticipate getting a new video camera once the manufacturers
get the resolution up to par with still digital photo gear. Following
are the links I've collected so far to help me in using the DCR-TRV310:
Back
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Scanners
Kodak
Professional RFS 3600 Film Scanner
In August 2001 I met Spencer Cummings,
a professional photographer willing to spend some time in helping me
resolve all my digital image capture dilemmas. As a result of our many
conversations, I ended up purchasing the Kodak Professional RFS 3600
Film Scanner to convert our slide inventory to digital format. It is
a noisy scanner but certainly produces the best scans. So far, I've
been able to get it to work with all but our newest computers running
Windows XP. Hopefully that issue will be resolved soon.
Technical Support
& Company Info
Website address:
www.kodak.com/go/RFS3600
HP
ScanJet IIcx
I bought this scanner in the spring
of 1995, primarily to help me with the task of scanning over 900 balloon
images I put on the web that year for the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta®. Up until I bought the HP OfficeJet
last fall, I also used the IIcx for OCR scanning but I've since found
the character recognition results of the HP OfficeJet to be far more
accurate.
Software Upgrades
- HP
Deskscan II Software
- Back
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Personal
Video Recorders & TV Tuners
If you want to watch television on
your computer and it is not equipped with the appropriate hardware a
personal video recorder/TV tuner may be a satisfactory solution.
Hauppauge WinTVPVR
To get TV reception and convert analog video recordings to digital format,
I chose the Hauppauge WinTVPVR to use with my laptop and older computer
systems. It is a USB plug-in device and includes:
- 125 channel cable ready TV tuner
- Composite and s-video inputs to
connect to VCRs, camcorders or satellite TV receivers.
- High quality hardware MPEG-2 video
and audio encorder
- DBX-TV stereo decoder
- FM stereo radio receiver
Technical Support
& Company Info
Website address:
www.hauppauge.com
Snappy
If you don't have digital camera gear with
convenient output channels to your computer, this is a great tool to
complement your video camera or VCR. Recently the software was
upgraded to enable you to capture images in millions of colors.
Technical Support
& Company Info
Website address:
www.play.com
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