Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Digital Cameras & Shooting Techniques => Topic started by: BobDavid on July 03, 2013, 03:23:02 pm
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I photograph a lot of stuff close to the ground. I am wondering if there is a light-weight 5" LCD monitor that I may attach to the D800 either on the hot shoe or onto a strobe bracket. I am too creaky to lie prone and stare through the viewfinder of a camera for durations of up to twenty minutes.
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Samsung Galaxy S4?
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Samsung Galaxy S4?
Yep. Or Note 2. Or many of the other higher end Android phones available. There are plenty of apps that let you control the camera from the device and not have to lie on the ground in contorted positions.
For Nikon, I'd recommend either Helicon Remote or DSLR Dashboard.
Sadly, it's not easy to use an iPhone for this purpose because Apple, in its infinite wisdom, limits the power that can be drawn by USB-connected devices so it won't work in USB host mode. I've heard that the Lightning port on the iPhone 5 will work in USB host mode but have seen no evidence of anyone trying it. For Apple, Camranger is the way to go.
Triggertrap and its mobile app is another option but with Triggertrap you don't get the Live View on the device screen so can't use the phone for composing the image, which is what you're looking for.
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I do not want to use a phone. I want continuous live view and to be able to trip the shutter on the camera, not the phone.
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The apps do give you continuous live view. Why is it important to fire the camera from the camera rather than the phone/remote?
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I photograph animals. They are twitchy. I have been thinking about a 5" LED monitor. I like the haptic quality of directly triggering the shutter button on the camera. I really don't want to use a phone--small image and my fingers are not nimble.
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A phone with a 4.7" screen isn't a lot different from the 5" screen you're wanting. Your fingers don't have to be that nimble to use a phone.
If you don't want to use a phone, then one of the available HDMI monitors that are used for video may be possible. Not sure there are smaller than 7" versions though.
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Google search brought this (http://ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=563) up, and this (http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/388/lilliput-5-hdmi-monitors/p1).
The search was for: '5" HDMI monitors' if you want to look for yourself.
Cheers,
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Google search brought this (http://ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=563) up, and this (http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/388/lilliput-5-hdmi-monitors/p1).
Cheers,
Seems like these monitors have less resolution than the monitor on the back of your DSLR... Maybe the good little monitors are indeed the phones and tablets...
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I've decided on a 7" Marshall. I played around with a 5" monitor and the image was too small by the time it was set for a 2/3 aspect ratio.
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I do not want to use a phone. I want continuous live view and to be able to trip the shutter on the camera, not the phone.
The CamRanger gives you continuous live view and and nearly full camera controls (including ability to focus anywhere in the frame, magnified view, focus anywhere in the frame , shutter speed, aperture, ISO, bracketing, white balance, focus stacking, HDR, focus stacking+HDR, intervalometer, long exposure, live histogram, etc.) but yes it requires either an iPhone, iPad, or an OS X 10.6 or more recent Mac, and now Android. Yo ucan trip the shutter on the camera if you want to or on the computer/smart phone/tablet with virtually no lag. http://www.camranger.com/
I have been using one for seven or eight months and it works great . The full resolution files stay on the media in the camera unless you choose to import them to the tablet/smartphone/computer.
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Ellis
CamRanger is pretty cool and full featured, but $300 is a bit steep. If I had a compelling reason, I guess I would jump on it even at that price.
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Ellis,
this camranger looks indeed very cool.
Could you tell me ;
how far can you use it from the camera?
Did you use it on an iPhone? - that would be the easiest thing for me...
If you happen to use it with a d800 ; any problems?
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Pieter:
how far can you use it from the camera?
I have used it at up to roughly 200~250 feet away, indoors in a radio and electronics intense environment- more details below.
Did you use it on an iPhone? - that would be the easiest thing for me...
Previously used it with an iPhone 4, since last week I am now using it with a fourth generation iPad as well.
If you happen to use it with a D800; any problems?
I've only used it regularly with Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III and 1D X cameras. The distance test may also have been done with a D800, I'm not sure as this was back in January. The distance test was done indoors at a pro shop /print studio / rental studio facility and I wanted to see how it worked in that environment. The cameras were set up up at the front of the store and I went all the way back to the rear of their largest studio at the back of their building. It was a WiFi rich environment in a metal framed building with at least four walls, a printing/ retouching studio, multiple offices, a lot of flash rental gear, and at least two bathrooms between the iPhone running the CamRanger app and the CamRanger equipped cameras.
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Thanks for the info! I maybe could use it for my 40ft tripod...
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Ellis,
this camranger looks indeed very cool.
Could you tell me ;
how far can you use it from the camera?
Did you use it on an iPhone? - that would be the easiest thing for me...
If you happen to use it with a d800 ; any problems?
I'm testing out the Android version and have used it with a D800. No problems. Haven't tried it with my D700 yet.
As an aside, the reason Apple users need something like the Camranger wireless device is because Apple doesn't include USB Host capability in the iPhone and severely limits it in the iPad. I've heard rumours that the iPhone 5 has USB Host functionality through the new Lightning port but have seen no evidence of it working. With Android, on the other hand, many devices do have USB Host functionality so can achieve much the same with a wired connection and an app. The apps range from free to about $10. The wireless + distance capability of the Camranger is nice though.
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I purchased an Ikan VK7i-SU 7" HDMI Field Monitor With the Nikon EN-N Battery Plate. It has HDMI in and HDMI out, 1280 X 800 resolution, and it runs off either an AC adapter or a Nikon EN-EL 15 battery. $450. My decision required a lot of research. I hope it works out.
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The CamRanger gives you continuous live view and and nearly full camera controls (including ability to focus anywhere in the frame, magnified view, focus anywhere in the frame , shutter speed, aperture, ISO, bracketing, white balance, focus stacking, HDR, focus stacking+HDR, intervalometer, long exposure, live histogram, etc.) but yes it requires either an iPhone, iPad, or an OS X 10.6 or more recent Mac, and now Android. Yo ucan trip the shutter on the camera if you want to or on the computer/smart phone/tablet with virtually no lag. http://www.camranger.com/
I have been using one for seven or eight months and it works great . The full resolution files stay on the media in the camera unless you choose to import them to the tablet/smartphone/computer.
CamrRanger sounds great for situations where the camera is on a tripod or not easy to handhold. I don't think it would work for photographing most dogs. http://www.topdogimaging.net/dog-photos.html
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Why do you need a large monitor to handhold the camera to photograph dogs?
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Why do you need a large monitor to handhold the camera to photograph dogs?
I am 54-years old with an autoimmune disease similar to rheumatoid arthritis. I have had to give up my MO, which involved lying prone for periods of up to 30 minutes peering through the viewfinder while observing pet dogs that are more likely to be twitchy than not. My style is to observe carefully and to shoot as few frames as possible--usually less than 12 frames per round. Some dogs require three rounds before they get into the mindset of having their pictures taken. I take a calculated approach to photographing pet dogs. It has taken years to hone my craft. I am no longer able to lie prone for more than five minutes without experiencing pain and fatigue that lingers on for a day or two. A seven inch monitor attached to custom bracket will enable me to continue working. Instead of lying prone, I will be able to sit on a low stool. This workaround will enable me to continue honing my craft, serve clients, and get through a session without aggravating my muscles and joints.
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OK, so how do you get down to the required level and still handhold the camera? I'm not trying to be critical, I'm trying to understand your setup.
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Why do you need a large monitor to handhold the camera to photograph dogs?
Judging by your website, I see that you are a tripod kind of photographer.
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Judging by your website, I see that you are a tripod kind of photographer.
The low stool is adjustable and on wheels.
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Judging by your website, I see that you are a tripod kind of photographer.
Yes and no. There's plenty of handheld stuff on there as well.
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Thanks for the info! I maybe could use it for my 40ft tripod...
I have a friend who uses Camranger to control his Nikon D2S on top of a 50ft tripod and it works very well.
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I purchased an Ikan VK7i-SU 7" HDMI Field Monitor With the Nikon EN-N Battery Plate. It has HDMI in and HDMI out, 1280 X 800 resolution, and it runs off either an AC adapter or a Nikon EN-EL 15 battery. $450. My decision required a lot of research. I hope it works out.
The Ikan VK7i arrived and broke the second I attached the battery plate to the monitor. The actual picture was beautiful, but the hardware components are cheaply built. I sent it back and am expecting delivery of a 7" Marshall monitor. At over twice the price, I'm expecting a better piece of kit. To be continued...
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The Marshall is great, better than I expected. Too bad it's impossible to shoot action stills in real-time with live view on the d800. It's very handy for copy stand work and great for reviewing photos with clients. I also like it for setting up still life pictures.
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CamRanger sounds like a great tool.
I tried to use the Eye-Fi but wasn't happy with the flakiness of the connection - one minute everything seemed fine, and the next day I couldn't get it to connect no matter what I tried.
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here's a production shot from yesterday. To clearly show what is going on I cheated and had the camera I took the photo with trigger the lights instead of the one in the picture. The white background is the fill light: a 6 x 6 foot Chimera frame with a 1/2 stop scrim and behind that is an Einstein 640 monolight firing into an umbrella. The spotlight on the flies is a Lumopro LP 180 in a mount I made to use battery powered flash with a Plume,ltd. Chimney grid holder/reflector. A speedotron 3 degree grid is mounted in the Chimney.
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I'm late to the party as usual but have you looked at the offerings from Small HD? I have the DP6 and use it primarily for video but have used it for stills off a D600 flown on a 15 foot boom (trigger is FW) 2 stories up. Worked great.