> "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]>