megapixel camera history image
cddzap
I've offered to help a rural historical society digitize and preserve their historical photos. They have a flatbed scanner and a nice camera with stand. I haven't seen or tested either one yet. What is standard protocol?
Answer
There are so many unanswered questions here that knowing where to start is difficult. The age, condition, and historical value of the documents should be considered before undertaking such a project. You donât want a situation where your actions cause harm to the original documents. And just handling old documents incorrectly can cause great harm. But there is immense value in getting digitized copies of such documents; not only from the preservation standpoint, plus creating the option to make them available online, and having the ability to have the originals stored properly in archival conditions.
Now to answer the original question! A typical camera would not be my first choice for document digitizing, mainly because of the fact that you need to contend with lighting and lens issues which are handled for you by the scanner. If the size of the document does not exceed the size of the flat scanner, then use the scanner. Even if you need to scan several portions of a large doc, then stitch together the pieces in an image editing program, Iâd still use the scanner. Very large, or three dimensional objects of course will require a camera.
A scanner with multiple thousands of samples per inch will be able to capture far more detail than a normal digital camera with 8 - 10 megapixel resolution, or a typical 35 mm film camera. The image size created by a camera is small compared to the image size that can be created by a scanner.
You will need to make a lot of decisions about how to scan; color or grey scale, what resolution, what bit depth, how the images are to be stored, which format (tiff, jpg, bmp, etc).
Having said all that, this is a very worthy project, and it can be educational from a technical standpoint, and from the point of learning more about the history you will be archiving! Good luck, and let us know how it works out.
There are so many unanswered questions here that knowing where to start is difficult. The age, condition, and historical value of the documents should be considered before undertaking such a project. You donât want a situation where your actions cause harm to the original documents. And just handling old documents incorrectly can cause great harm. But there is immense value in getting digitized copies of such documents; not only from the preservation standpoint, plus creating the option to make them available online, and having the ability to have the originals stored properly in archival conditions.
Now to answer the original question! A typical camera would not be my first choice for document digitizing, mainly because of the fact that you need to contend with lighting and lens issues which are handled for you by the scanner. If the size of the document does not exceed the size of the flat scanner, then use the scanner. Even if you need to scan several portions of a large doc, then stitch together the pieces in an image editing program, Iâd still use the scanner. Very large, or three dimensional objects of course will require a camera.
A scanner with multiple thousands of samples per inch will be able to capture far more detail than a normal digital camera with 8 - 10 megapixel resolution, or a typical 35 mm film camera. The image size created by a camera is small compared to the image size that can be created by a scanner.
You will need to make a lot of decisions about how to scan; color or grey scale, what resolution, what bit depth, how the images are to be stored, which format (tiff, jpg, bmp, etc).
Having said all that, this is a very worthy project, and it can be educational from a technical standpoint, and from the point of learning more about the history you will be archiving! Good luck, and let us know how it works out.
What kind of camera should I buy?
Jessica
I am an art history major and I travel quite a bit. I will be backpacking through Europe soon and would like a reasonably priced Digital SLR camera. I will be taking pictures in museums as well as outdoors.
What do you suggest?
Answer
If you are on a budget, checkout the Canon PowerShot SD1200IS which is a full-featured ELPH compact digital camera selling for around $200. It's highly rated by Consumer Reports (September 09 issue). When set to "P," "vivid" and 320X video format, the images are striking.
On the high end, check out the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 which has a very long zoom lense and also produces HD quality videos. It sells for around $500 at amazon.com. Again, the Leica zoom lense if the very best. Here's more info on it:
If you are really on a budget and want the best quality for the money, check out the P&S Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 [with a Leica lense and Live View] which has more features than most pro DSLRs that require auxiliary lenses not even equal to the single initial full-range lense that comes with the FZ28. It is reviewed at:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/panasonic/lumix-dmc-fz28/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz28-review-5.html
It's an all-in-one 10.1 megapixel digital camera which includes (i) built-in image stabilization and Live Action viewer; (ii) HD720 quality video [Quicktime] which permits zooming while videoing outdoor fashion shows, action sports; (iii) a 18x zoom [27 - 486 mm (35mm equiv.)] "Leica" lense for "nature" and concert photography; (iv) up to 0.39 inch macro option; (v) up to 6400 ASA; (vi) takes up to 380 pictures per 120 min. battery charge; (vii) has a "burst speed" of 13 fps; and sells new for $464 at amazon.com. in the U.S.
Here's an actual handheld picture of the moon:
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/bf/1b/a83ac060ada0881604bad110.L.jpg
Good luck!
If you are on a budget, checkout the Canon PowerShot SD1200IS which is a full-featured ELPH compact digital camera selling for around $200. It's highly rated by Consumer Reports (September 09 issue). When set to "P," "vivid" and 320X video format, the images are striking.
On the high end, check out the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 which has a very long zoom lense and also produces HD quality videos. It sells for around $500 at amazon.com. Again, the Leica zoom lense if the very best. Here's more info on it:
If you are really on a budget and want the best quality for the money, check out the P&S Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 [with a Leica lense and Live View] which has more features than most pro DSLRs that require auxiliary lenses not even equal to the single initial full-range lense that comes with the FZ28. It is reviewed at:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/panasonic/lumix-dmc-fz28/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz28-review-5.html
It's an all-in-one 10.1 megapixel digital camera which includes (i) built-in image stabilization and Live Action viewer; (ii) HD720 quality video [Quicktime] which permits zooming while videoing outdoor fashion shows, action sports; (iii) a 18x zoom [27 - 486 mm (35mm equiv.)] "Leica" lense for "nature" and concert photography; (iv) up to 0.39 inch macro option; (v) up to 6400 ASA; (vi) takes up to 380 pictures per 120 min. battery charge; (vii) has a "burst speed" of 13 fps; and sells new for $464 at amazon.com. in the U.S.
Here's an actual handheld picture of the moon:
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/bf/1b/a83ac060ada0881604bad110.L.jpg
Good luck!
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