On 17/08/2013 16:55, Richard van Schaik wrote: > I mostly do it out of hand as most (Dutch) archives won't allow tripods > and do not like monopods either. Fixed setting at ISO 400, no flash on a > very simple 5MP camera gives me mostly very well readable and sharp > pictures. Only wintertime later in the afternoon light might get so low > that it becomes more difficult. I have thought of trying a cheap multi-LED light to illuminate the subject, you can get proper ones for the camere but plenty of cheaper general purpose ones around.

On 8/18/2013 6:51 AM, MB wrote: > On 17/08/2013 16:55, Richard van Schaik wrote: >> I mostly do it out of hand as most (Dutch) archives won't allow tripods >> and do not like monopods either. Fixed setting at ISO 400, no flash on a >> very simple 5MP camera gives me mostly very well readable and sharp >> pictures. Only wintertime later in the afternoon light might get so low >> that it becomes more difficult. > > > I have thought of trying a cheap multi-LED light to illuminate the > subject, you can get proper ones for the camere but plenty of cheaper > general purpose ones around. You have to be careful with artificial light. If positioned improperly, you can end up with worse results than if you used no light at all. Improperly placed, the picture can actually be washed out, making it difficult to read.

On 18/08/2013 11:51, MB wrote: > On 17/08/2013 16:55, Richard van Schaik wrote: >> I mostly do it out of hand as most (Dutch) archives won't allow tripods >> and do not like monopods either. Fixed setting at ISO 400, no flash on a >> very simple 5MP camera gives me mostly very well readable and sharp >> pictures. Only wintertime later in the afternoon light might get so low >> that it becomes more difficult. > > > I have thought of trying a cheap multi-LED light to illuminate the > subject, you can get proper ones for the camere but plenty of cheaper > general purpose ones around. The snag with the cheap ones is that the light output is very non-linear and can confuse the camera sensor. You can get odd colour spikes that may obscure parts of the document you are trying to photograph. -- Graeme Wall This account not read, substitute trains for rail. Railway Miscellany at <http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail>

In message <Me-dnTccafS7Oo3PnZ2dnUVZ8qednZ2d@bt.com>, MB <MB@nospam.nospam> writes: >On 17/08/2013 16:55, Richard van Schaik wrote: >> I mostly do it out of hand as most (Dutch) archives won't allow tripods >> and do not like monopods either. Fixed setting at ISO 400, no flash on a >> very simple 5MP camera gives me mostly very well readable and sharp >> pictures. Only wintertime later in the afternoon light might get so low >> that it becomes more difficult. > > >I have thought of trying a cheap multi-LED light to illuminate the >subject, you can get proper ones for the camere but plenty of cheaper >general purpose ones around. Surely a film viewer is basically a projector? Won't any sort of extra lighting just reduce the contrast, like in the old days when people tried to photograph their TV screens with flashbulbs? -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ... would have me up before Lord Justice Leveson before you could say "I simply can't recall". - Eddie Mair, Radio Times 14-20 July 2012

On 18-08-2013 17:23, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote: > In message <Me-dnTccafS7Oo3PnZ2dnUVZ8qednZ2d@bt.com>, MB > <MB@nospam.nospam> writes: >> On 17/08/2013 16:55, Richard van Schaik wrote: >>> I mostly do it out of hand as most (Dutch) archives won't allow tripods >>> and do not like monopods either. Fixed setting at ISO 400, no flash on a >>> very simple 5MP camera gives me mostly very well readable and sharp >>> pictures. Only wintertime later in the afternoon light might get so low >>> that it becomes more difficult. >> >> >> I have thought of trying a cheap multi-LED light to illuminate the >> subject, you can get proper ones for the camere but plenty of cheaper >> general purpose ones around. > > Surely a film viewer is basically a projector? Won't any sort of extra > lighting just reduce the contrast, like in the old days when people > tried to photograph their TV screens with flashbulbs? Never use extra lighting when making a photograph from a viewer for just the reason above. Even take care with light from outside as that might mirror in the glass of the projector and also reduces contrast. When photographing originals or copies thereof light from outside (especially on cloudy days) works best. Richard -- Richard van Schaik f.m.a.vanschaikREMOVE@THISgmail.com http://www.fmavanschaik.nl/ The world is one big madhouse and this is main office.

On 18/08/2013 16:23, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote: > Surely a film viewer is basically a projector? Won't any sort of extra > lighting just reduce the contrast, like in the old days when people > tried to photograph their TV screens with flashbulbs? I was talking of photographing a document like a newspaper.