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  1. #1
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    Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    I am setting up my own small business over the next 2 months, photographing archaeological excavations mainly, at a maximum height of 10 to 60 metres. For obvious reasons with a new business idea, I can't go into too much detail, so I will simply list the specifications and if you have time, let me know what you think.

    Specifications
    Max weight = 600 grams
    Quality pictures at A4 size (this is what the customer is paying for)
    Shots from 10-60 metres overhead and oblique
    Good Autofocus
    Digital viewfinder (will be remote linked to T.V. monitor or laptop)
    Ability to stay switched on (not turn off if inactive for 10 seconds e.t.c.)
    Antishake and take shots possibly from irregular moving position (so I suppose highish speed)
    Used for earth tones (ie mud) and possibly green landscapes (grass)
    A possibility that the equipment could get dropped from 60 metres, so no £3000 camera's

    Additional Wishlist
    Changeable lenses (probably only need zoom and wide angle for this work)
    Under £1000; But because the business is new and I have no customers and could drop the camera, if by a miracle I could get something for £500-£750, hallelueah
    A rugged camera, it will be outside all the time on stripped sites/ in a potentially muddy/dusty environment


    ;)

  2. #2
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    i tried this kinda thing a few years back and got quite good results useing a cheap fixed focus film camera at 1/125 of a second.. shake is more down to the vehicle carrying the camera than anything else.. i dont think u need to spend that much on your camera.. as for dropping it.. he he.. i would imagine the camera would be the least of your worries..

    i think there are quite a few small cheapish 5 or 6 mega pixel cameras with enough definition out there that would do the job u require.. i cant see a need for anything other than wiide angle either.. u just fly lower.. i would also imaging the camera would (mostly) work best set on infinity as well

    RC electric heli... ????

    trog100

  3. #3
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    Hi Trog, No, not a R/C Helli but close enough, not worried about vibrations, but buffeting. As I said picture quality is important, as the pictures at A4 are what the customer is paying for. I think you are right about the infinity setting. However, I do like the idea of zoom, because it leaves my options open. i won't always be able to lower the camera, power cables etc, though weather I would get stable pictures at 60 metres, zoomed, with wind buffeting, is anyones guess.
    Camera suggestions anyone?

    Nik B

  4. #4
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    ah.. i think i know how u intend to do it.. he he..

    Quality A4 prints is your main concern.. basically i think any/most current mid priced consumer digicams arournd the 6 mega pixel mark will do a good enough job.. but quality is a relative term.. ??

    anything more is gonna crank up the price range and the weight..

    personally i think u are over complicating things camera wise.. and it is a bit of a specialist subject to expect anybody to actually come up with a "camera".. u might be lucky thow.. he he

    also the type of camera i am suggesting would accomodate your need for zoom.. DSLR plus lenses dosnt fit your weight or price requirments..

    what stops me coming up with a "camera" is more the practicalities involved with actually operating the camera than its photographic abilites..

    for what its worth.. weather was a major problem when i tried taking remote aerial photos to order.. pick a time and date to do the job and the weather just didnt seem to agree.. wind.. rain.. or just bad light buggered things up.. mind u i do live in England.. he he

    trog100

  5. #5
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    Well weather shouldn't be a problem for me, I ...err... live in sunny old Ireland...hmm...
    You might be right about overcomplication, when I first looked on the web 2 weeks ago, I was surprised at how cheap a decent non SLR digital camera has become. i thought about buying one about 18 months ago for site work, nearly bought a top of the range fuji, but reasoned that they would all get much cheaper, also that i shouldn't be paying for great pictures of my employers sites.
    On the forum, I am relying really on the fact that someone else may have taken similar kinds of photos and found through trial and error, what works.
    Silly though ot might sound, I do want to get a camera that looks the part, because as anyone who has worked for themselves will know, image counts for a lot. Personally, my only requisite for paying for a service, is that i get good service and quality service.

    Nik

  6. #6
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    best of luck with your venture anyways... i think u need a portfolio of good example shots.. if they are good enough your client wont be overly bothered about how you produce em.. u can always baffle em with the "wonders" of modern miniaturized digital technology.. he he

    the only real benefit with going DSLR is the ability to use much higher ISO settings.. in essence the ability to take pictures in the dark.. as long as u have reasonable light u do not need one..

    trog100

  7. #7
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    Very annoying, i just typed out a long reply, which got deleted. i have decided it is to be a prosumer compact. i looked at the reviews of all the 8mp contenders:-
    Canon Powershot Pro1, Sony DSC F828, Olympus C 8080, Minolta A200 and the Nikon Coolpix 8700. the Coolpix came out on top for my purpose, its only letdown is a 35mm lense, whereas all the others have 28mm.
    Most of these other cameras are also too heavy, whilst most people are looking for the longevity of all metal construction, I would be happy enough with plastic (lightweight.)

    Nik B

  8. #8
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    these are only my views Nik.. so just take em as that.. u are now at the top end of prosumers.. they certainly look the part.. but again i think u are over complicating things.. these cameras have bells and whistles that u dont need.. bells and whistles that might even get in the way..

    what i think u need is a less SLR shaped camera.. 4 x zoom at the max.. a good lense.. and a fastish action.. i think u could drop your mega pixel count slightly assuming the rest of the camera is good.. 8 mega pixels is more marketing stuff than anything else.. its part of the mega pixel race right on the edge and generates more noise.. it also tends to limit the abilities of the lense.. in short it sells cameras to people who know bugger all about cameras..

    if u keep away from the long zoom cameras u will also find it easier to get the 28mm u are after.. and a camera that is more squarish shape-wise will be easier to mount..

    the accepted print range mega pixel wise is 150ppi bottom end.. 300ppi top end.. something in the middle should give good results.. A4 is roughly 8 x 12.. so thats 1200 x 1800 up to 2400 x 3600.. 8 mega pixels is pretty close to the top end.. if i found the perfect camera and it only had 6 or 7 mega pixels up its sleeve i would certainly not be put off by it..

    in my view the cameras u have selected have only one thing going for em.. "they look the part".. he he

    as i say these are just my views.. take em for what they are worth.. he he

    sorrry about your lost post.. it has happened to me and it is bloody annoying..

    trog100

    ps.. the olympus C-8080 isnt a bad choice thow.. never noticed that one at first glance.. should be quite cheap as well.. assuming its not too heavy..
    Last edited by trog100; 02-25-2005 at 11:04 AM.

  9. #9
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    Tis true, tis true, but there are only 5 8mp cameras to look at! as opposed to 500. To be honest, none of them suits my purpose for one reason or another, and like with my trusty Laptop (Acer Ferrari 3200) I like to find the very best that has the specs I want, then drop down and buy their second best model. That way, I don't have to pay the 'silly' part of "silly money."

    Yeah the Olympus appears to be the best of the bunch, you will note that it has the shortest zoom, but rtes the highest image quality, go figure.

    It is interesting how the megapixel race mirrors the Megahertz race. My lappy is only 1.8mhz, but is faster than anything else I've seen (it is 64 bit, not 32.)

    I will have another look, but be warned, i am not reading 500 reviews!

  10. #10
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    Forums very often dont come up with the answer u want.. in fact very often they just add to the confusion.. he he

    finding the "best" camera.. PC.. car.. or whatever is impossible.. mostly cos there is no "best".. all u can do is find something that does the job u want it to and try not to pay that "silly price" u mention.. u are lucky in one respect.. at least u know what that job is.. most folks aint entirely sure of that.. he he

    the 8080 has been around for a while and has lost the "silly part" of the "silly price" which is one big thing in its favour.. i would go for it unless there is a genuine reason not to.. not being the "best" in every respect isnt a genuine reason.. just the road to another 499 reviews... he he

    best of luck..

    trog100

    ps.. just a thought nik.. but it occured to me that a modern digital cameras ability to keep taking pictures one after another on its own.. say one every 30 seconds until its card is full might remove the need for remote activation devices.. possibly even the need for a TV viewer.. dunno just something that crossed my mind i thought worth a mention..
    Last edited by trog100; 02-26-2005 at 08:33 AM.

  11. #11
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    Yeah, the Olympus is very nice, but 720grams, I can't mess with my weight limits, simply because my harness hasn't been built yet, so I can't know what it will weigh. As someone pointed out the wind is going to try and push my rig down as it will be tethered, so i will need every gram of spare lift I can give it.
    I am going to spend sunday going through Kelkoo, looking at the 6mp and above section, there are 54 digitals, and reading the reviews on I think it is DP, then narrow the field down a bit, and post some contenders on sunday night/monday morning

    NIK B

  12. #12
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    Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    okay.. wieght.. first thing is to go for a camera that has rechargable lithiums if possible.. four high capacity AA Ni-Mh batteries wiegh a ton...

    catch u later

    trog100

  13. #13
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    Talking Re: Aerial Photos (Which Camera? Help!)

    Hi, I have just been looking at the specs for the Olympus Camedia 7070 Wide Zoom. It has fab specs and got me really interested, but unfortunately,DPreview haven't reviewed it yet and since I have used their reviews to benchmark all the different camera's I have looked at, I am a bit stumped. It looks like being an absolute cracker, 420 grams! and I am excited as I write.
    The olympus C 8080 was the best in its class (part of the race for 8mp) but was a hefty 720 grams.
    Converter lenses/USB 2/3.3fps bursts/27-110mm/AV output/xD and CF(I+II) can be held at the same time

    Only limiting factor for my purposes is ISO 80-400, I am hoping that it turns out that it outperforms its ISO rating (I think the 8080 turned out nearer ISO 600.)

    Have a look and see what you think.

    Nik B

    http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/c7070.html

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