> > No, leave it on auto but with the flash off. Somewhere on one of > > the menus (sorry, the camera's at work and I'm not) there's a mode > > feature that brings up a couple of little clocks at the bottom of > > the screen. The symbol on the left is instant, then there's a clock > > with a 2 and one with a 10 - these are 2 and 10 second delays, > > choose them with the arrow keys. > > > > "Lesley Robertson" <[email protected]> > > OK, I've got my hands on my work Powershot (which is a A85, but > Canon's fairly conservative about symbols so it shouldn't matter). > There's a button labelled FUNC (also has a curious symbol like a bit > of paper going into a bin. Push that in photo-taking mode and it > offers you all sorts of opportunities including DRIVE MODE, which is > what I was talking about above. > > "Lesley Robertson" <[email protected]> Aha! Thanks!

I am attending a genealogy conference for the first time and wondered if anyone had any suggestions on what to bring, what to leave at home, what to pack, etc. <[email protected]>

> -snip- > > Another thing I'd like is a really good up-to-date (i.e. published > within the last year) book on digital photography. Then I wouldn't > have to pester people here. :) > > "John Nichols" <[email protected]> Digital Photography might be the only frontier changing faster than computer technology. The basics, however are still covered by the same techniques as 35mm photography. But for some pointers to current 'good books' and a wealth of other info - be sure to subscribe to rec.photo.digital. Jim [email protected]

> No, leave it on auto but with the flash off. Somewhere on one of > the menus (sorry, the camera's at work and I'm not) there's a mode > feature that brings up a couple of little clocks at the bottom of > the screen. The symbol on the left is instant, then there's a clock > with a 2 and one with a 10 - these are 2 and 10 second delays, > choose them with the arrow keys. > > "Lesley Robertson" <[email protected]> OK, I've got my hands on my work Powershot (which is a A85, but Canon's fairly conservative about symbols so it shouldn't matter). There's a button labelled FUNC (also has a curious symbol like a bit of paper going into a bin. Push that in photo-taking mode and it offers you all sorts of opportunities including DRIVE MODE, which is what I was talking about above. Lesley Robertson "Lesley Robertson" <[email protected]>

"John Nichols" <[email protected]> declaimed the following: > I don't have a set budget on the tripod issue. I own a ProMaster > mini-tripod. I used that as a test on document I have, and didn't > feel that it was all that steady. However, I'm going to try what > you suggest with the zoom, and see what kind of results that gives > me. With self-timer or remote, indoors should be okay (wind is another matter, when outdoors). I still have my first tripod, from 1971... It looks like a typical table-top model (6-8" legs, ball-head). I showed it to someone at a photo store once, and they wanted to buy it. Not the most stable, but those legs extend to make it a waist level tripod. The Slik U112 I own is nice in that it has a reversible column -- the tilt/pan head unscrews, and can be mounted on the bottom of the column. Also short enough to bungie onto the seat of my Vespa without being a danger to others <G> I also have a more recent tripod that was on sale at $70 -- again, not the most stable, but the column extends enough to put the camera over my head. Useful for getting over the crowd with a video camera. > I am not sure if it has infra red capability (for what I assume you > mean is remote operation), I'm finding both the Basic and Advanced > manuals singularly unhelpful in regards to my questions. Yes, I did mean for a remote. I have a Canon G2 (really obsolete, only 4MP and the G6 is 7MP) came with an IR remote, that could even control the zoom. Strangely, while my Canon EOS 10s (film, 1990 period) had an IR remote, my EOS 20d requires a wired remote (at $$$ -- the 10s also had a built-in interval timer, the 20d needs the fancy remote for that function). [You may notice that I seem to be a Canon fan: A-1, EOS 10s, G2, EOS 20d, and an Optima-40 video; though I do have my father's old (1955) Agfa Karat rangefinder, a 1970 Mamiya/Sekor 528TL, and a Polaroid] > I'll have to check the Adorama Camera link out, I've purchased I'd just done a quick search for tripods, may be other places to shop... > Another thing I'd like is a really good up-to-date (i.e. published > within the last year) book on digital photography. Then I wouldn't If it's been published, it's out of date <G> Most any fairly recent digital camera book should be applicable, if one can get past the "high resolution models have 3MP" Mastering Digital Photography, 2nd Ed. (David, D. Busch, 2006, Thomson Course Technology) may be of interest (he also has an SLR specific version -- Mastering Digital SLR Photography -- which is thinner, and maybe older). Don't let the title fool you, it's classed as "beginner to intermediate". -- bieber.genealogy Dennis Lee Bieber HTTP://home.earthlink.net/~bieber.genealogy/ Dennis Lee Bieber <[email protected]>

> Is it possible to create a list of surnames that would all have the > same soundex. I'm trying to cover various spelling of Searle or > > Mark This will give suggestions on alternatives http://www.imagepartners.co.uk/ Ron Lankshear - Sydney Aust (from London- Shepherds Bush & Chiswick) http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~lankshear/ Ron <[email protected]>

> Is it possible to create a list of surnames that would all have the > same soundex. I'm trying to cover various spelling of Searle or > Searles and thought that this may help! > > Mark Sorry, I read too fast and didn't grasp what you were trying to achieve when I sent my first posting through. Mea culpa. Michele's reply to you about the Soundex calculator at RootsWeb is much more apropos. It yields 14 variations of the two names. Again, apologies! LGO LGO <[email protected]>

>>>>>>>And finally, I am always very wary about any organization/site >>>>>>>which Ancestry has its fingers in. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>[email protected] >>>>>> >>>>>>However, you will probably find that most other people researching >>>>>>the surname will be reluctant to "donate" their research data to >>>>>>another person for what could be their personal gain. One thing >>>>>>about a company like Ancestry/RootsWeb that attracts contributors >>>>>>and posters on their lists is that the data they post there doesn't >>>>>>belong to the list "administrator" or the company--the AUP assures >>>>>>us all of that. The data you post to a RootsWeb mailing list >>>>>>remains the property of the author/poster who is merely giving >>>>>>permission for the company to house and archive the data for future >>>>>>researchers to find. >>>>>> >>>>>>Joan <[email protected]> >>>>> >>>>>Under international copyright laws what you say is true of ANY list >>>>>so stop being stupid. >>>>> >>>>>Ye Old One <[email protected]> >>>> >>>>Copyright law is almost entirely irrelevant with respect to *who* >>>>has *what* rights with respect to content posted at most non-hobby >>>>sites. >>>> >>>>"Dr. Brian Leverich" <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>Copyright always rests with the author, that is a matter of >>>international law. >>> >>>Ye Old One >> >>UNLESS the author assigns that copyright to someone else. You can >>assign your copyright intentionally for fee, or accidentally for >>free. You have to read the fine print *before* you upload anything. >> >>However, this is a peripheral issue, but by now I've lost track of >>what your original question _was_... >> >>Cheryl Singhals <[email protected]> > > What confuses me is to what benefit the periodic rhetoric about what > my copyrights are, when the there is little, if any enforcement and > for certain there is less than a whisper of a chance that I could > afford to litigate. > > A. John Birkholz [email protected] In US and British law there's a provision that a right not claimed or exercised ceases to exist -- it's why the neighbor behind us made a point of mentioning once a month that our garden shed was too close the property line. (g) And, of course, if one were to pony up the Registration fee, there is a statuatory fine for violation. Most folks can't afford to fight a losing battle, so an hour of legal-time just for him to write a letter ...? Cheryl singhals <[email protected]>

> Thanks, Lesley. To use the delay shutter feature, you select TV > mode? (Not finding the manual's index that helpful.) > > "John Nichols" <[email protected]> No, leave it on auto but with the flash off. Somewhere on one of the menus (sorry, the camera's at work and I'm not) there's a mode feature that brings up a couple of little clocks at the bottom of the screen. The symbol on the left is instant, then there's a clock with a 2 and one with a 10 - these are 2 and 10 second delays, choose them with the arrow keys. Lesley Robertson "Lesley Robertson" <[email protected]>

> Thanks, Lesley. To use the delay shutter feature, you select TV > mode? (Not finding the manual's index that helpful.) > > "John Nichols" <[email protected]> Tv is "TimeValue" -> aka Shutter Priority Automation (you set the desired shutter speed, the camera picks the best aperture for the correct exposure). You want the self timer. Look for a symbol like a stop- watch dial. (circle with a pointer) Typically that will give you a 10-second delay between press and exposure. -- bieber.genealogy Dennis Lee Bieber HTTP://home.earthlink.net/~bieber.genealogy/ Dennis Lee Bieber <[email protected]>

> "John Nichols" <[email protected]> declaimed the following: > > > I've been given a Canon PowerShot A620 which has a macro mode, > > making it possible to take pictures of text that's clear enough to > > be useful. I've tried this with a few things at home, but I'm > > fairly certain (okay, hoping) that people here have some advice on > > how to best use this feature when doing research. > > 7MP... You may not need macro mode... Back up and use the zoom to > fill the LCD panel. > > With ~3000x2300 resolution, you have ~270DPI on an 11x8.5 page. > "NLQ" on printers in the mid-80s was a mere 180DPI, and > letter-quality laser printers were 300DPI. > > Macro, on these cameras, typically means focusing under 7-12 > inches. Using wide-angle and macro means getting so close you get > distortion -- the corners of a "page" (say) will look smaller than > the center. Say 7 inches for example. > > From camera to center of page is 7". From center to corner is: > sqrt((11 / 2) ^ 2 + (8.5 / 2) ^ 2) => 6.9" making camera to corner: > sqrt(7 ^ 2 + 6.9 ^2) => 9.8". The corner is 40% further away from > the camera, so the text near the corner will also look like it is > 40% further away. > > OTOH; if the telephoto end of the zoom lets you back up to, > say 20" for the same coverage, you get: sqrt(20 ^ 2 + 6.9 ^ 2) => > 21.2, or a mere 5% distance increase. > > > > Also, can anyone recommend a tripod that is rock solid stable in > > order to eliminate camera shake when taking pictures in macro mode? > > What's your budget? (Actually if it is just document pages you > intend to work with, a "copy stand" might be better). None of my > tripods is really rated for the types of cameras I put on them, and > mine are in the $100 range. > > http://www.adorama.com/SLU212D.html > > Prices have come down some... I paid more like $120 for a U112 > 15-years ago. > > However, of more use -- use the self-timer (or a remote; does > the A620 have infra-red capability). > > "Dennis Lee Bieber" <[email protected]> Hi Dennis, good to see you again. I don't have a set budget on the tripod issue. I own a ProMaster mini-tripod. I used that as a test on document I have, and didn't feel that it was all that steady. However, I'm going to try what you suggest with the zoom, and see what kind of results that gives me. I am not sure if it has infra red capability (for what I assume you mean is remote operation), I'm finding both the Basic and Advanced manuals singularly unhelpful in regards to my questions. I'll have to check the Adorama Camera link out, I've purchased several astronomy items from them over the last two years via Amazon.com, and have so far been very pleased. Right now I've got things like my mother's will, marriage licenses of other relatives, etc., that are really two big for my Canon scanner that I'd like to photograph and put in my database. I also figure that if I can get proficient at working with what I already have this way then I'll be more confident of getting good results out in the field. Another thing I'd like is a really good up-to-date (i.e. published within the last year) book on digital photography. Then I wouldn't have to pester people here. :) "John Nichols" <[email protected]>

> > John Nichols at [email protected] wrote: > > > > > I've been given a Canon PowerShot A620 which has a macro mode, > > > making it possible to take pictures of text that's clear enough to > > > be useful. I've tried this with a few things at home, but I'm > > > fairly certain (okay, hoping) that people here have some advice on > > > how to best use this feature when doing research. > > > > If, as you say, the text is clear enough, you may be able to use an > > OCR (optical character reader) program to convert the photo into > > usable text. > > > > > > > Also, can anyone recommend a tripod that is rock solid stable in > > > order to eliminate camera shake when taking pictures in macro mode? > > > > Vivitar makes several tripod models that are quite sturdy. My $0.02 > > is to head for a Photo store for this purchase. You will get better > > advice and a wider selection. > > > > AEP > > I used a phone cam for some useful pictures > > see http://karl-dane.blogspot.com/ > for some examples > > for OCR you need 300dpi and a clean copy > > otherwise quicker to type it in > > "Hugh Watkins" <[email protected]> I have a SuperPen that I use for scanning. It's pretty good, but you're right, there are times when it's just quicker to type it in. I'm thinking the camera is for those times I don't have my pen scanner with me, the document in question is probably not something I want to scan (for lots of reasons, like legibility, condition, etc.) I can always attempt to scan from a photo later, or just extract information from the photo I've made, and insert the picture into my database. "John Nichols" <[email protected]>

> Is it possible to create a list of surnames that would all have the > same soundex. I'm trying to cover various spelling of Searle or > Searles and thought that this may help! > > Mark In Sydney at [email protected] If you want an all encompassing list, no, that's impossible. If you have access to Ancestry.com Census you can do a search in the 1930 census (the census that has the most entries in it) by inputting the last name and then changing the SPELLING section from "Exact" to "Soundex." Your local LDS Family History Center may have access to Ancestry.com, or possibly a local university or large public library may have the access. A caveat, I input my surname as well SEARLE in a test and both came back with just under 45,000 hits (or course, many are duplicate Surnames). It makes me think there's a limit to the number of hits so you may have to go state by state (instead of all states at once) to compile as complete a list as possible. Alternatively, if you don't have access to Ancestry.com, the closest I could suggest is to order microfilm from your nearest LDS Family History Center of the 1920 U.S. Soundex for the state of New York and peruse through the various surnames listed for the soundex codes you're interested in. New York was the most populated state in the U.S. and would therefore (in theory) contain the most variations within a soundex code. Since Searle = S640 and Searles = S642 you would have to order at least two microfilms. Here's the URL for the page containing the two microfilms you'd need to order. http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?first=750&display=titlefilmnotes&titleno=534331&disp=New%2BYork%252C%2B1920%2Bfederal%2Bcensus%2B%253A%2Bsoun%2B%2B&last=849&columns=*%2C0%2C0 Regardless of which method you're able to use, it's a pretty intimidating task. Make sure the effort is worth it. Good luck, LGO LGO <[email protected]>

> Is it possible to create a list of surnames that would all have the > same soundex. I'm trying to cover various spelling of Searle or > Searles and thought that this may help! > > Mark Mark, The Soundex converter at Rootsweb.com could offer alternate spellings for S640 and S642 for you: http://resources.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/soundexconverter -- Michelle Tucker Chubenko Professional Genealogist: http://www.chubenko.us/profgen/index.htm "Things don't turn up in this world until somebody turns them up." - James A. Garfield ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NJGenWeb: Monmouth County - http://www.rootsweb.com/~njmonmo2 OKGenWeb Adair Co.: http://www.rootsweb.com/~okadair/adaircty.htm AdairCoArch: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/adair/adair.html Michelle Chubenko <[email protected]>

> > > > > > And finally, I am always very wary about any organization/site > > > > > > which Ancestry has its fingers in. > > > > > > > > > > > > [email protected] > > > > > > > > > > However, you will probably find that most other people researching > > > > > the surname will be reluctant to "donate" their research data to > > > > > another person for what could be their personal gain. One thing > > > > > about a company like Ancestry/RootsWeb that attracts contributors > > > > > and posters on their lists is that the data they post there doesn't > > > > > belong to the list "administrator" or the company--the AUP assures > > > > > us all of that. The data you post to a RootsWeb mailing list > > > > > remains the property of the author/poster who is merely giving > > > > > permission for the company to house and archive the data for future > > > > > researchers to find. > > > > > > > > > > Joan <[email protected]> > > > > > > > > Under international copyright laws what you say is true of ANY list > > > > so stop being stupid. > > > > > > > > Ye Old One <[email protected]> > > > > > > Copyright law is almost entirely irrelevant with respect to *who* > > > has *what* rights with respect to content posted at most non-hobby > > > sites. > > > > > > "Dr. Brian Leverich" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Copyright always rests with the author, that is a matter of > > international law. > > > > Ye Old One > > UNLESS the author assigns that copyright to someone else. You can > assign your copyright intentionally for fee, or accidentally for > free. You have to read the fine print *before* you upload anything. > > However, this is a peripheral issue, but by now I've lost track of > what your original question _was_... > > Cheryl Singhals <[email protected]> What confuses me is to what benefit the periodic rhetoric about what my copyrights are, when the there is little, if any enforcement and for certain there is less than a whisper of a chance that I could afford to litigate. A. John Birkholz [email protected]

Hi fellow researchers. Is it possible to create a list of surnames that would all have the same soundex. I'm trying to cover various spelling of Searle or Searles and thought that this may help! Regards -- Mark Searle Arncliffe, Sydney http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~onenamestudy/ons-p/index.htm "Mark" <[email protected]>

> > can anyone recommend a tripod that is rock solid stable in > > order to eliminate camera shake when taking pictures in macro mode? > > > > "John Nichols" <[email protected]> > > Can the camera take a cable release, or does it have a timed > release? With either of those you don't need an extra-stable tripod. > > Dale H. Cook i do a lot with a cell phone cam in poor light the trick is to breathe out and relax and be still Hugh W -- new computer = new blog http://mac-on-intel.blogspot.com/ daily blogs with new photos http://snaps2006.blogspot.com/ http://slim2005.blogspot.com/ family history http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ Hugh Watkins <[email protected]>

> John Nichols at [email protected] wrote: > > > I've been given a Canon PowerShot A620 which has a macro mode, > > making it possible to take pictures of text that's clear enough to > > be useful. I've tried this with a few things at home, but I'm > > fairly certain (okay, hoping) that people here have some advice on > > how to best use this feature when doing research. > > If, as you say, the text is clear enough, you may be able to use an > OCR (optical character reader) program to convert the photo into > usable text. > > > > Also, can anyone recommend a tripod that is rock solid stable in > > order to eliminate camera shake when taking pictures in macro mode? > > Vivitar makes several tripod models that are quite sturdy. My $0.02 > is to head for a Photo store for this purchase. You will get better > advice and a wider selection. > > AEP I used a phone cam for some useful pictures see http://karl-dane.blogspot.com/ for some examples for OCR you need 300dpi and a clean copy otherwise quicker to type it in Hugh W -- new computer = new blog http://mac-on-intel.blogspot.com/ daily blogs with new photos http://snaps2006.blogspot.com/ http://slim2005.blogspot.com/ family history http://hughw36.blogspot.com/ Hugh Watkins <[email protected]>

> > Maybe not. Not many non-apple resellers out there, she could just > > have been getting honest advice. I'd look at it this way - if it's > > a G4 iMac, it's perfectly fine for OSX (I'm sitting at one right now > > and it meets my needs just fine). If it's a G3 iMac (the kind with > > the CRT built in), then yes, OSX would be straining the system's > > abilities, and unfair to the user. > > > > > > > My main computer for Genealogy use is a Pismo which is a G3 > > > from 2000 and it has over 90,000 people on in and is quite > > > satisfactory. > > > > Sure, but are you running OSX on it? If so, you'd be stunned by how > > much difference it makes on, say, a $600.00 Mac Mini that you could > > buy today. It comes down to how much slowness you can tolerate, or > > something will change or break or not work on the old one that you > > want to do, and _that_ is the time to upgrade. If OSX is the thing > > she wants to do, and it's a G3, this might be the time. > > > > Dave Hinz <[email protected]> > > It is a G3 iMac with DVD player that came out in 1999. If I didn't > have broadband I probably would have upgraded by now. I'm running > out of space on the hard drive too. Reunion 8 works fine on it but > I can't upgrade Internet Explorer until I go to OSX and some sites > don't work well with my version of IE. It is time to upgrade. > > The Mac salesman told me his mom had tried OSX on her iMac and it > didn't work well. I felt like he was being honest with me. > > Edith Fensom there used to be an apple page recommending which OS for which older mac an early iMac is best on 9.2 ish with all fixes Hugh W new computer = new blog http://mac-on-intel.blogspot.com/ daily blogs with new photos http://snaps2006.blogspot.com/ http://slim2005.blogspot.com/ family history http://hughw36.blogspot.com Hugh Watkins <[email protected]>

>From an earlier post: > > ... > > Don't talk rubbish. > > > ... > > Under international copyright laws what you say is true of ANY list > so stop being stupid. Aren't ad hominem attacks off topic on this list? [ Yup, sorry, moderator error. It happens so infrequently that I'm not used to screening for it. I'll be more careful about this for awhile ... - Mod ] "An Anonymous Poster" <[email protected]>