Wireless camera

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GeoSpectrum
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Wireless camera

Post by GeoSpectrum »

I'm looking for a wireless camera that I can mount on the ceiling, looking directly down onto a work bench to capture images of artworks that come in. Has anyone got something like this or have any experience in using one?

thanks
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by IFGL »

For visualisations?
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by GeoSpectrum »

Yes.but I also want it to capture HD video.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by JohnMcafee »

I have looked at these WiFi cameras, but am sticking with USB tethering for now.

Since I don't want a ceiling mounted appliance to rely on its battery, it isn't usually a big deal to run a USB cable along with the external supply. So I don't see any advantage for me.

Always interested to learn more about how we might use WiFi cameras though, there could well be benefits that outweigh the disadvantages.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by GeoSpectrum »

Well a little more googling has suggested that tethering is probably better so im probably going to go for that. Which camera do you use and what is the quality like?
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by JohnMcafee »

We use a Canon PowerShot SX100 IS (among others) and have found it reliable, meeting or surpassing our quality requirements.

We've added a couple of cheap strobes to the set-up to eliminate reflections when the subject is glazed - see below.
CameraSetup.jpg
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Reflections are controlled by the use of the strobes.
Sample.jpg
Sample.jpg (57.32 KiB) Viewed 21810 times
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by GeoSpectrum »

Thanks John. I've decided ill use the family camera which is a little underused since the arrival of iPhones. So I have a Panasonic DCM-FZ450 at my disposal. I just need to figure out the tethering cabling, ceiling mount and software control now!
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by Trinity »

I use a Canon S5 is and took a chance on ebay.
For my ceiling mount I bought a length of 28mm copper tubing, some elbows and end caps and made up a fairly rigid mount system, screwing through the end caps beofre assembly. The mount for the camers is a standard cycle handlebar camera mount.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by Trinity »

PS I also got a repeater gizmo from Maplins that extended my usb cable to 15m as I couln't get a good link with just the cable alone. It works very well.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by Jamesnkr »

Would you please explain why a strobe light reduces reflections? Surely it's the angle between the light and the glass and the camera, not the power of the light that makes the difference?

Anyway, handlebar cycle mount on way... thanks for that!
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by guzzijim »

Would you please explain why a strobe light reduces reflections? Surely it's the angle between the light and the glass and the camera, not the power of the light that makes the difference?
If the strobes are those in the ceiling then they look as if they are angled at 45%, the type/power of light makes little difference.

On second thoughts I would have perhaps add a diffuser to soften the shadows.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by JohnMcafee »

Yes, we make use of a basic rule of physics, angle of incidence of a beam of light equals angle of reflection, to ensure that we do not capture the glare from the strobe reflecting off the glass. This allows us to streamline the visualisation experience for the customer by being able to photograph a framed subject without the palaver of having to deframe it first.

Also, for our purposes, there is no need to diffuse the light in order to eliminate shadows as we are only interested in the picture within the frame, and thanks to the set-up, the frame’s shadow can never fall there.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by Jamesnkr »

There's a small reflection there; you might benefit from a sheet of black card in front of the camera to restrict reflections further.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by IFGL »

I just tried your suggestion James, I fail to see how putting black card in front of the camera can help, here is my photo, definitely no reflection though.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by Framie »

:giggle: :giggle: :giggle:
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by JohnMcafee »

Aren't you supposed to cut out a hole for the lens though, IFGL. :)

I've seen this notion bandied about before, however this solution only stops those reflections that would have originated from the area now covered by the card. In order to be certain of catching all possible reflections, your black card needs to be four times the area of the largest object you intend to photograph.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by Steve N »

The black card/curtain method is used when photographing highly reflective objects such as silver/gold cups and trophies, basically the photographer/camera is not reflected in the object.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by Jamesnkr »

IFGL wrote:I just tried your suggestion James, I fail to see how putting black card in front of the camera can help, here is my photo, definitely no reflection though.
No reflection; as promised. Who is the artist?
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by IFGL »

Not sure, there is not a signature, looks like it's about £700 worth from a certain high street gallery chain.
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Re: Wireless camera

Post by mho »

IFGL, is it a limited edition or an original ?.
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