DiyPhotoBits.com

A few bits and pieces about photography

DiyPhotoBits.com header image 4

Entries Tagged as 'Ideas'

Want Voice Activated Shutter Release for a Nikon?

December 28th, 2008 · No Comments

The software you need is:

  1. Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1
  2. DIYPhotobits.com Camera Control 2.1

Then to get voice activated shutter release:

  1. Install both.
  2. Turn on the Language Bar (in control panel, regional and language, languages, details, language bar)
  3. (Optional) Train Microsoft Voice recognition (in control panel, speech)
  4. Turn on the microphone (click the mic icon in the language bar)
  5. Run DIYPhotobits.com Camera Control 2.1
  6. Say “Voice command”
  7. (optional) Say “What can I say” then scroll down to the bottom of the list where it says “Menus and Buttons” and expand that list, ensure that “Shutter release” is one of the listed commands

[Read more →]

Tags: Ideas · Software

Sorry, no LiveView — but here is a thought

December 17th, 2008 · No Comments

I’m afraid I’m probably not going to be able to support Nikon LiveView in DIYPhotobits.com CameraControl. It isn’t available via PTP or WIA but only via the Nikon SDK which I don’t have access to (and probably couldn’t program even if I could).

However here’s an great thought to get a similiar experience - at least in a studio situation.

Basically use the video out of the camera to to send to another monitor, while at the same time also tethering.

I haven’t tried this — nor I suspect has the person suggesting it — but it sounds like it would be good, presuming you have the two monitors required.

[Read more →]

Tags: Ideas · Not mine

Tethering unplugged

December 12th, 2008 · 10 Comments

So exactly what should happen if you are in the middle of a tethered - via usb cable - shoot and someone trips over the wire?

First, it shouldn’t rip the cable out of the camera and damage the usb connector on either camera or computer.

To that end it helps to put some sort of knot or fastening at both ends so the strain will not be taken by the USB connectors.   For the camera end it probably makes sense to attach to the camera strap or perhaps a tripod head plate, while on the PC end it may be as simple as clamping to the table.

[Read more →]

Tags: Ideas

DIY Grey Card

November 27th, 2008 · 2 Comments

I was checking out Profotolife’s list of cheapo photo gifts and one of the suggestions was a set of grey cards, and that reminded me I always wanted to do a print my own grey card.  Now a grey card, like the “real” Kodak Gray Card 18% R-27 or the cheapie Mennon ones I use, are actually painted pieces of card that are of exactly neutral grey (18% aka Zone 5) and are used for two purposes:

 

  1. To set Exposure — because meters are expecting 18% grey
  2. To set White Balance — because they are designed to be of completely neutral colour

[Read more →]

Tags: Ideas

Stereoscopic Time laps Movies

October 9th, 2008 · 2 Comments

Just saw this great time laps video, via Chase via Savan, via Gizmodo, which gives me an idea as to what one would actually use an intervalometer for.  So I’m one step closer to writing that intervalometer script I’ve been meaning to do.  I mean really it is just remote shutter release on a timer, though one could spice it up with tethered downloading and maybe deletion from camera to prevent a small memory card from limiting the idea.  battery power is still going to be a limit though — A/C adaptors are available I know but never seen anybody who had one.  

[Read more →]

Tags: Ideas