Camera around the world

I have seen something done on another forum site, that I want mention by name, that I would like to try here. If enough PR members want to try it. I want to buy an inexpensive P&S digital camera, less than $100.00, and mail it around the world thru PR members. When the PR member gets the camera in the mail, keep it a couple of days, take some pictures, post them in viewfinder or even another forum and then mail the camera to the next PR member on the list. There will be no time limit in keeping the camera as long as it is mailed again in a short period of time. I want the camera to reach as many PR members as possible, and go all the way around the world and back to me, sooner or later. If you live in the same town as another PR member just drive across town and give it to them. The longer it takes to go around the globe the better. Good idea or not? But I would like a specific list of where it goes and not just be at random. Maybe everyone that wanted to do it could sign up before a specific time. Any ideas on this?
Greg

I like this idea. If the ciggycam took better pictures, I would offer it in service. But I think a $100 p&s would work better. DIBS on being the first addressee!! LOL

I think this sounds like a neat idea...I would probably participate...I think that one of the pics you take should be a self-portrait...
Ken

I would love to make this work, I would like the camera to visit many countries...
Greg

that would be really cool, hope it's a Canon :D

Cant say I'd mind doing this, but its the parents. Giving a random person my adress isnt exactly the smartest thing ever.

Wow, what a great idea. I'd be behind this 100%

My main concerns would be:
Whoever donated the camera would have to sign a release stating that if the camera got lost or ruined, they wouldn't file suit against anyone (including this site)
If it's a digital, you would also have to ship the battery charger with it (might get lost or forgotten)? Which also gets into the voltage differences on the different continents.

That being said, would a disposable film camera be more appropriate? It might add to the spontaneity of the project since we wouldn't be able to delete pictures :) Whoever finished the roll would send the camera back to the one who started the project, who would then develop and post the shots? Then a new one could start.

Just thinkin out loud. I'd like to see this happen.

Rick

lots of cameras take AA batteries.

This is a great idea, and count me in!! Maybe someone on the site has an older, surplus to requirements, camera they could donate? Otherwise I certainly wouldn't mind donating to the cost. And I agree that, from a practical point of view, a cam that uses AA batteries would be best.

Cheers
Mike

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Originally Posted by walterick

Wow, what a great idea. I'd be behind this 100%

My main concerns would be:
Whoever donated the camera would have to sign a release stating that if the camera got lost or ruined, they wouldn't file suit against anyone (including this site)
If it's a digital, you would also have to ship the battery charger with it (might get lost or forgotten)? Which also gets into the voltage differences on the different continents.

That being said, would a disposable film camera be more appropriate? It might add to the spontaneity of the project since we wouldn't be able to delete pictures :) Whoever finished the roll would send the camera back to the one who started the project, who would then develop and post the shots? Then a new one could start.

Just thinkin out loud. I'd like to see this happen.

Rick

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I thought about the disposable but I don't think any one would want to deal with the film. I would gladly donate the camera and would not hold any one liable for it's condition or it's return. I thought about getting one with litioum batteries, if everyone only took 10 or less pictures it would last a very long time. At some point someone will just have to be willling to buy batteries though. I am sure the particapants woudn't mind.
Greg

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Originally Posted by Tel

Cant say I'd mind doing this, but its the parents. Giving a random person my adress isnt exactly the smartest thing ever.

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Being a parent I understand that statement well. I thought that the addresses could be PMed and not posted..
Greg

There are also shipping charges and custom papers when sending items to other countries, everyone that wanted to do this would just have to be willing to put up with. But I have shipped overseas and it's really not as complex or expensive as one would think.
If enough people respond I will shop around for a camera...
Greg

I am in, count on me.

What a great idea. I'd love to do it.

i say that all shipping in the USA should be done via UPS since you automatically get coverage for 100$ and the package wouldn't be that big or heavy so shipping charges will be minimal ....

shipping overseas needs to be done via USPS best and easiest way to ship ... i think your best off starting there ... and have it shipped back to you after it has made its rounds .. then start the round over here ....

I also agree with the AA powered camera ... universal power supply ... ship with no batteries included .. person receiving it puts their own batteries in it and does there thing then remove and ship on ...

this would be a cool project:thumbsup:

AA batteries are a great idea. A used Canon A60 would be really cheap and use these batteries, as well as a c/f card. With that 2mp camera, a 128mb c/f card would be more than enough for a few shots. One hangup would be the download cable from the camera, but if you have a c/f card reader (less than $20) you won't need it.

I took a quick look at ebay and the A60's are very inexpensive. I'll pop for the camera unless someone has one that they want to donate to the cause (with the intention of being returned to the owner at the end of the project).

At first I thought it wasn't really much different than "a day in the life" sort of thing, and almost all of us have a way of posting the shots that we take so why should we send a camera all over the world? However, I think it's a really great idea for a project. We could have a "sticky" thread here in Viewfinder specifically for the images taken with this camera as it makes it's way all around the world. It's a look into the life of whoever has the camera, plus an interesting journey. Count me in!

PS - I agree about PM'ing your address to only the person sending you the camera.

I'd be in for this, it would be really fun to see all the images from it

We should get a list at least of who would be interested, and then we would then be able to figure out how to get adresses from whom and when

Good idea, Greg. Count me in.

It's like the gnome in the movie Amelie. Maybe, to add a twist, we should send some other small object (with the camera) and then include it in at least one photo taken by each person. Does anyone have a Photography Review snowglobe? :D Or, that could be a different project. Heh...just an idea.

Practical stuff: It would be nice if the packaging was durable and could be reused by each person. I agree about AAs and PMing addresses.

Paul

Count me in. I also agree with Steve about give your address to a single person. We could get a list of all who want to play, and from there, put them in a specific order of who gets the camera next. That way, I could send my address to the person who has the camera before me, and the person who gets it after me, and send me their address.

I also like the idea of including something else in the package. Either a single object to go to everyone, or you could keep whatever is sent to you, and send something different. Say something specific to your state, or town. Just a thought.

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Originally Posted by photophorous

Maybe, to add a twist, we should send some other small object (with the camera) and then include it in at least one photo taken by each person.

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I like the idea - kind of like geocaching. I'd vote for keeping what's sent to you, then adding something else - otherwise if we all just added to it, someone will get stuck sending a 100lb package! :eek:

Looks like we have a possible way to get a camera for this project, so this might be in the works soon.

It would be interesting to keep a record of all the places it ends up. If I could only have the frequent flyer miles from it...

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Originally Posted by another view

I like the idea - kind of like geocaching. I'd vote for keeping what's sent to you, then adding something else - otherwise if we all just added to it, someone will get stuck sending a 100lb package! :eek:

Looks like we have a possible way to get a camera for this project, so this might be in the works soon.

It would be interesting to keep a record of all the places it ends up. If I could only have the frequent flyer miles from it...

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And how many miles it travels....
Greg

I was thinking it would be neat to see the same object in all of our photos, from all around the world. One unique object that traveled with the camera, sort of a form of proof that it was THE camera that took the picture...not that I think anyone would cheat, but then there would be no doubt to the outside observer. Still...this is just an idea and I don't want to change the plan if nobody else does.

The idea of sending little gifts to each other is a good one too, just not exactly what I was thinking.

Paul

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Originally Posted by photophorous

One unique object that traveled with the camera, sort of a form of proof that it was THE camera that took the picture...

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...like that idea too, it would also be interesting to see how that object is photographed.

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Originally Posted by photophorous

I was thinking it would be neat to see the same object in all of our photos, from all around the world. One unique object that traveled with the camera, sort of a form of proof that it was THE camera that took the picture...not that I think anyone would cheat, but then there would be no doubt to the outside observer. Still...this is just an idea and I don't want to change the plan if nobody else does.

The idea of sending little gifts to each other is a good one too, just not exactly what I was thinking.

Paul

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I already have an object in mind I want to send. I am going to the local gift shop and get a gift that has something to do with my home town.
Greg

I don't see why we can't do both and send two things, as long as the objects we are sending are small.

One as a gift for the person receiving the camera, and one to be included in a photo and to be sent to the next person.