Hi ... I am in Canada and the item being used here is a FLIP-PAL ... better than a wand as you don't need to drag anything over the document. As for using a digital camera, I find that a good one works without any problem. Most new ones will have enough megapixels to do well, some have a document setting. I also use my camera to take shots from the microfilm reader or computer. Ruth in Stouffville ON Message: 1 Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:15:13 +1000 From: slewi4@optusnet.com.au Subject: Re: [STAFFORDSHIRE] Taking digital shots in Record Offices To: staffordshire@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <201208110915.q7B9FDf5009928@mail01.syd.optusnet.com.au> Content-Type: text/plain I haven't seen any replies to this (maybe they went direct to the poster). I'm wondering if a portable digital scanner might be a better option - or would they not be allowed as they make contact with the document being scanned? I wanted to post a link to the style of scanner that I mean, but can't find any web pages that aren't overtly commercial. For those interested, try googling "portable digital scanner" without quotation marks, or wand scanner. You'll see what I mean. Sandra > Nickie Johnson <nickie@barnsoft.plus.com> wrote: > > Many thanks Margaret for your post on visiting Staffordshire RO. I was > there in February briefly and did feel slightly like a criminal being > checked over. Once signed in, staff very helpful. My day ended with an > expensive parking ticket (nothing to do with the record office) after > getting carried away at the William Salt Library. > > Does anyone have tips for taking good photos of documents - how far away > from the page, lighting etc - or recommend a good article on it? I'm > thinking of buying a new camera soon - can't decide what to go for. > Needs to be fairly simple to operate but adequate for what's needed for > documents. > > Nickie

Flip-Pal was on sale at Who Do You Think You Are Live at Olympia in February and at the York Fair in June here in the UK. Make sure you can turn the flash off your new camera and that the shutter is not noisy (Some SLR cameras 'clonk') Barbara St Albans UK Hi ... I am in Canada and the item being used here is a FLIP-PAL ... better >than a wand as you don't need to drag anything over the document.

Specifically relating to Staffs, using any sort of photographic equipment costs you £6.95/day or there are seasonal tickets, so unless you know that you have a couple of dozen images that you want to take, it is cheaper to pay for the fiche printouts. Oh, and if the printer decides that it has had enough at the end of the day, the nice people there will sort it out in the morning and post the page to you. Mine arrived yesterday after a printer jam on Thursday. And, if full tripods are not allowed, because of space, try looking for a Gorilla Pod (which is a massively useful bit of kit anyway, or see about a mono-pod which will give stability in at least one dimension. Cheers Steve On 13/08/2012 02:43, Ruth Burkholder wrote: > Hi ... I am in Canada and the item being used here is a FLIP-PAL ... better > than a wand as you don't need to drag anything over the document. > > As for using a digital camera, I find that a good one works without any > problem. Most new ones will have enough megapixels to do well, some have a > document setting. > > I also use my camera to take shots from the microfilm reader or computer. > > Ruth in Stouffville ON > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:15:13 +1000 > From: slewi4@optusnet.com.au > Subject: Re: [STAFFORDSHIRE] Taking digital shots in Record Offices > To: staffordshire@rootsweb.com > Message-ID: <201208110915.q7B9FDf5009928@mail01.syd.optusnet.com.au> > Content-Type: text/plain > > I haven't seen any replies to this (maybe they went direct to the poster). > > I'm wondering if a portable digital scanner might be a better option - or > would they not be allowed as they make contact with the document being > scanned? > > I wanted to post a link to the style of scanner that I mean, but can't find > any web pages that aren't overtly commercial. > > For those interested, try googling "portable digital scanner" without > quotation marks, or wand scanner. You'll see what I mean. > > Sandra > >> Nickie Johnson <nickie@barnsoft.plus.com> wrote: >> >> Many thanks Margaret for your post on visiting Staffordshire RO. I was >> there in February briefly and did feel slightly like a criminal being >> checked over. Once signed in, staff very helpful. My day ended with an >> expensive parking ticket (nothing to do with the record office) after >> getting carried away at the William Salt Library. >> >> Does anyone have tips for taking good photos of documents - how far away >> from the page, lighting etc - or recommend a good article on it? I'm >> thinking of buying a new camera soon - can't decide what to go for. >> Needs to be fairly simple to operate but adequate for what's needed for >> documents. >> >> Nickie > ****************************** > ATTENTION TO ALL:- When replying please remove the details that do not apply to your mail and change the SUBJECT LINE for best useage of ARCHIVED MATERIALS. > ****************************** > PLEASE keep your Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware software up to date. BEWARE of messages making it onto the List with a single URL. NEVER follow the link. It's usually from an infected source! > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to STAFFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >