Electronics and Water

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Ed

Never a good idea.

The Ixus 70 point and shoot we’ve had for years took one too many nose-dives and I’d recently replaced it with a Canon Ixus 115 HS. One cool feature of this P&S is it records in 120fps slow-motion. Fun!

On Saturday it took a dive off my belt, pouch and all, into the (thankfully clean) pisser. It didn’t hit the side of the bowl, it fell straight into the water. It took me 3 seconds to realise it by which time the pouch was soaked through and the camera was wet too.

I didn’t try to turn it on. Wiped it down and sat it, the battery and SDCard in a sealable popcorn container with a Thirsty Hippo desiccant.

Two days later, fingers trembling and all, turned it back on. It powered up! And a test shot.

Note to self: hang the pouch on the belt AND secure it to a belt loop. It doesn’t need to be load-bearing – a loop of string should do it.

Circular Polarising Filters

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Ed

This is often what you see in the viewfinder when using CPLs....

But these can be the results. The Salisbury Cathedral.

Camera Bag Insert for Timbuk2

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Ed

Another iteration of a camera bag hack for my Timbuk2 Commute 2.0… This one is by a Korean manufacurer on eBay. USD23.55 includes worldwide shipping. The model name is FOSSOUX LC Partition padded bag.

Timbuk2 doesn’t make camera bags, although they say they have one in the pipeline. Photographers have used inserts from different manufacturers to convert Timbuk2 messenger bags for camera usage. A discrete messenger bag setup would allow you to get the equipment out without having to remove the bag from your shoulder.

Domke inserts – http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/cms/hackKits/camera_bag.htm
Tenba inserts – http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeguy/3129894296/
Lowepro inserts – http://www.digitalslrguru.com/timbuk2-camera-bag-hack/

There are also DIY versions which I was very tempted to attempt, but… I admit it… I sold out.

Update: Timbuk2 has just released their Snoop Camera Messenger. It is insert based, so you can even remove the insert for regular messenger bag duty, or move the insert over to a backpack style bag for even load distribution. Woot.

Lenses for Travel – National Geographic

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Ed

National Geographic’s Jim Richardson shares a few thoughts on Lenses for Travel.

I just wish he’d written this sooner – when I was doing my research on equipment. Yes I know these are relatively simple ideas – range, light levels, weight, etc etc – but Jim’s explanations are succint to a point where simpletons (like me) can understand.

I’d already bought my stuff, but he’s confirmed my n00bie research. For me.. the EOS500D with 17-55 f2.8 lens, and maybe the 55-250mm if I’m willing to mule it about.

Check this article out from his blog… amazing.

I’m a fan already.

Wrist Strap for DSLR V2

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Ed

So this was V1. These are Version 2.

3 variations this time...

Bottom is the V2 wrist strap, achieved without sewing, using 3/4″ webbing this time. The 1.5″ webbing used to stick a little at the joints when i put it on or off. The sewing in V1, while not a disaster, was something I wasn’t particularly pround of… This is lower profile, and I’m sure just as strong.

Middle is an across-the-chest slidey strap like the Black Rapid and the Luma Loop. 1″ straps, buckles, a shoulder pad scavenged from a notebook bag. No sewing.

The thing about these across the chest straps is that it won’t work with a load at the end of it. If you retrofitted this “slidey” arrangement on say a small camera bag, you would end up “lifting” the bag whenever you used the camera. These loop slings have a place, but I notice that you’re almost always not carrying anything else for example in the demo videos…

Top is the pièce de résistance. A similar arrangement to the loop style slidey sling, but adapted to my Timbuk2 messenger. Lets me carry my crap. The camera is slung at navel level, in front of me. Still no need for a neck strap.