I think they have tried (and failed) to rationalise a complex problem (but at least they allow SOME cameras). It will be good to hear what you find out. They probably had so many people wanting to use compact cameras, many of which cannot focus closer than 2m, have flash, and cannot make use of the low light in search rooms, that they felt it easier to ban them as a class. It would be interesting if someone involved in setting the rule could comment... Until you mentioned SLRs I had always thought the leniency towards digital cameras was that they (used to) lack the resolution to make a copy which could be illicitly exploited commercially, but all the same, usually did provide staff with the means to check what had been photographed. It is such a pity (as those who follow parliamentary debates must often feel), that the basic purpose of a rule should not be given more prominence, the better to inform the rule-makers and those who have to interpret the rules. For example (I made this up, of course, but it should cover the ground): "use of cameras should be permitted if: documents are neither exposed to lighting other than that provided in the office, nor handled in a way that stresses them more than they would be by reading them; noise nuisance is avoided; safety or convenience of staff and other users is unaffected." Rules about which kind of cameras or supports fitted the bill would then be aids to interpretation. Most film cameras with built-in flash cannot inhibit the flash in dark conditions. Most Digital cameras can inhibit flash, as can those few SLRs with built-in flash. A tripod on the floor would pose a tripping hazard; a tripod on the reading table *may* intrude on your neighbour, and if copying large-format documents, the temptation to stand a small tripod ON the map or document would be high (for those who simply did not realise the damage that coud result). Motor-rewind is a noise nuisance, as can be the focussing noise of some cameras. BUT: The rewind noise of a compact film camera may be loud and embarrassing, but nothing compared to the "kerplock" noise of a SLR, or possibly the "kerplock-whheech" noise of a motordriven SLR. A digital camera cannot easily cope with very low light, which a film camera can easily do by lengthening the exposure time. For example, my compact 35mm film camera (made by Minox) has no flash, is as silent as it is possible to be, has automatic exposure which will run for a minute or more, if the lighting is dim, and can with a supplementary lens copy an A4 sheet. It would probably not be allowed, but I have never asked to use it. Another camera (contemporary with mine) had the type number "A4", because it could focus on and copy an A4 page. Obviously, using any kind of camera in the light of a search room requires a support of some kind, but the kind of "G-shaped support" cited elsewhere on this list would probably involve resting the document ON the baseplate of this device. This in itself may pose a risk, as this will not be the same material as used for the table-tops (even if it were, you'd have the problem of proving it). Dave Beakhust -----Original Message----- From: Peter Amsden [mailto:amsden@btinternet.com] Sent: 22 March 2005 19:30 To: SOG-UK-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SoG] Scanning an old book The actual words used on the NA web site are: "Records copying by readers with own cameras The National Archives provides a service whereby readers are permitted to make copies of records using their own digital and Single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. There is no charge for this service." So you can use a film camera if it is an SLR. Very odd - what is wrong with a none SLR camera? I shall find out. No flash, light or tripods of course. Peter Amsden Argyll, Scotland > From: Brian Randell <Brian.Randell@newcastle.ac.uk> > Reply-To: SOG-UK-L@rootsweb.com > Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 18:01:11 +0000 > To: SOG-UK-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [SoG] Scanning an old book > Resent-From: SOG-UK-L@rootsweb.com > Resent-Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 11:14:16 -0700 > > Hi Tim: > > At 3:54 pm +0000 22/3/05, Tim Powys-Lybbe wrote: >> Yes. Many libraries will now allow you to photo pages of (old) books >> instead of paying for expensive photocopies. > > Intriguingly, the National Archives at Kew will allow you to > photograph documents as long as you use a *digital* camera (without > flash or tripod). Why the restriction to digital cameras is beyond > me, and beyond the member of their staff who remarked on it to me > when I was registering my digital camera with them. > > cheers > > Brian Randell > > > -- > School of Computing Science, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, > NE1 7RU, UK > EMAIL = Brian.Randell@ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 222 7923 > FAX = +44 191 222 8232 URL = http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/~brian.randell/ > ______________________________ This email has been scanned for viruses by NetBenefit using Sophos anti-virus technology