Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Digital Cameras & Shooting Techniques => Topic started by: gryffyn on March 04, 2006, 10:03:31 am

Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: gryffyn on March 04, 2006, 10:03:31 am
Upon looking at the FunkyCam images that Michael posted here:

   http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/funkeycam.shtml (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/funkeycam.shtml)

I think that the camera is faulty and needs to be replaced!  At 1000% magnification, there are obvious signs of banding and a number of stuck pixels.

It's obvious that the manufacturer needs to be seriously slapped on the many pixel peeping forums for letting such shoddy quality control slip through the cracks.

Maybe Nikon or Canon should buy out the FunkyCam vendor.  Just think of what this rig could do with a full frame, larger 350K sensor or what marvelous colours would come of using Nikon Capture raw processing power on the images?

<wide grins>

That was one of the most entertaining reviews posted by Michael in a LONG time!  I gotta get me one of these FunkyCams!
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: georgewa on March 05, 2006, 09:34:41 pm
Quote
Upon looking at the FunkyCam images that Michael posted here:

   http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/funkeycam.shtml (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/funkeycam.shtml)

I think that the camera is faulty and needs to be replaced!  At 1000% magnification, there are obvious signs of banding and a number of stuck pixels.

It's obvious that the manufacturer needs to be seriously slapped on the many pixel peeping forums for letting such shoddy quality control slip through the cracks.

Maybe Nikon or Canon should buy out the FunkyCam vendor.  Just think of what this rig could do with a full frame, larger 350K sensor or what marvelous colours would come of using Nikon Capture raw processing power on the images?

<wide grins>

That was one of the most entertaining reviews posted by Michael in a LONG time!  I gotta get me one of these FunkyCams!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59515\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Does anyone have any idea where to buy the FunkyCam? I tried a quick online search on google, officemax, officedepot, staples, and I couldn't find this one. Also a search on the name funkycam lead me right back here.  It would be great if someone could post where to buy these things!

Walter
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: michael on March 05, 2006, 09:37:47 pm
I added links to two places that sell it to the article yesterday.

http://store.yahoo.com/glob2000/mico64usbked.html (http://store.yahoo.com/glob2000/mico64usbked.html)

Michael
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Morris Taub on March 06, 2006, 12:24:34 pm
Quote
I added links to two places that sell it to the article yesterday.

http://store.yahoo.com/glob2000/mico64usbked.html (http://store.yahoo.com/glob2000/mico64usbked.html)

Michael
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59588\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

It's very frustrating that this funkycam doesn't come with mac compatible software and a raw converter, I'm not about to go pc for this...so I've set my trusty d60 on it's smallest quality setting 1536x1024, pushed the iso up to 1000 and tomorrow i'm gonna head out and see if i can get something as nice as michael did with his funkycam...wish me luck...

 

m
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: kaelaria on March 06, 2006, 12:57:29 pm
Are you guys serious that you think those are 'good' pictures?  The traffic pic looks just like a live traffic webcam...I would never look at anything like those and think they were anything more than a snapshot from a webcam or picture phone.

I don't get it in the least...
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: michael on March 06, 2006, 01:50:03 pm
You might want to research the concept of simply having fun.

Try it some time.

Michael
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: macgyver on March 06, 2006, 03:42:49 pm
Michael, my respect for you just increased further.
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 06, 2006, 06:02:34 pm
Quote
It's very frustrating that this funkycam doesn't come with mac compatible software and a raw converter, I'm not about to go pc for this...so I've set my trusty d60 on it's smallest quality setting 1536x1024, pushed the iso up to 1000 and tomorrow i'm gonna head out and see if i can get something as nice as michael did with his funkycam...wish me luck...
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59610\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
You might want to put a gob of petroleum jelly on the lens, too, to simulate that truly arty look.  


Of course, you could always buy a $3000 top-of-the-line Dell workstation and a separate PSCS2 license just to work on your funkycam images.

(U.S. price seems to be $12.95, so I'm planning to get one. But I still want to ask whether I can give up the free key-chain, and instead settle for the sticker that says "As reviewd by MR on LL"!)

Eric
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: jtranter on March 07, 2006, 05:49:40 am
I found and bought a "funkycam" in Sydney: they're called NIKKAI Mini Digital Camera, and cost AUD$29.90.

Unfortunately the software needed to transfer the images from the camera to the computer fails to install under WinXP SP2.

Can anyone help?

It's okay for the camera to be klunky, but when the software is klunky, you can't use it!

 
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Morris Taub on March 07, 2006, 06:32:25 am
Quote
You might want to put a gob of petroleum jelly on the lens, too, to simulate that truly arty look.   
Of course, you could always buy a $3000 top-of-the-line Dell workstation and a separate PSCS2 license just to work on your funkycam images.

(U.S. price seems to be $12.95, so I'm planning to get one. But I still want to ask whether I can give up the free key-chain, and instead settle for the sticker that says "As reviewd by MR on LL"!)

Eric
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59638\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

ooohh, i never thought of that, i've got vaseline here someplace...i know, buy cheap clear filter and put a layer on that...ooh, ooh...that's exciting...

i'm even having thoughts of going back to film part time...lomo, lomo...can you say lomo?...

i just love these kinds of images...granted, sharp, clear, perfect (perfect : totally subjective) color/contrast/saturation, etc. totally has it's place...but so does gritty, moody, dark, weird, mysterious, fuzzy, wuzzy...it's all photography...the art of making images...pick your poison  
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: gryffyn on March 07, 2006, 09:39:35 am
Quote
ooohh, i never thought of that, i've got vaseline here someplace...i know, buy cheap clear filter and put a layer on that...ooh, ooh...that's exciting...

Umm...momo2...you're supposed to put the vaseline on the lens....not bend over and...

   
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Morris Taub on March 07, 2006, 10:02:51 am
Quote
Umm...momo2...you're supposed to put the vaseline on the lens....not bend over and...

  
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59681\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]



 
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 07, 2006, 11:04:30 am
Quote
i just love these kinds of images...granted, sharp, clear, perfect (perfect : totally subjective) color/contrast/saturation, etc. totally has it's place...but so does gritty, moody, dark, weird, mysterious, fuzzy, wuzzy...it's all photography...the art of making images...pick your poison 
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59676\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Another idea: You might want to add an "IU" device, too (that's "Image Unstabilizer" to the uninitiated). Use duct tape to attach a small, vibrating device to your camera. A "Shake-awake" alarm clock for the hard-of-hearing works just fine for this (you can make the alarm vibrate instead of ring).

Of course, the photographer's stance is important, too. Best to stand on one leg while twirling a hula-hoop on the other leg while photographing.

These techniques are guaranteed to add that sense of mystery, fuzziness, weirditude, and "what the h--- is it?" to your photos with your D60 FunkyCam substitute.

Eric
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: joedevico on March 07, 2006, 11:21:26 am
Just thought I should add that I've been doing some formal testing on lens quality of current handheld devices. I have a vivitar keychain cam and a SONY TJ27 handheld with built in camera. (In all seriousness I've actually used the SONY to capture some cute moments). For the Pixel Peepers, the three test shots below are unretouched straight from the device. They were taken right outside my studio a few minutes ago and show that the SONY - although lacking in the saturation department and with it's poor corner performance, clearly out resolves the FunkyCam and the Vivitar.  

Please give the post the full value it deserves.  

[attachment=306:attachment]
[attachment=308:attachment]
[attachment=307:attachment]

Joe DeVico
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Morris Taub on March 07, 2006, 11:59:52 am
Quote
Another idea: You might want to add an "IU" device, too (that's "Image Unstabilizer" to the uninitiated). Use duct tape to attach a small, vibrating device to your camera. A "Shake-awake" alarm clock for the hard-of-hearing works just fine for this (you can make the alarm vibrate instead of ring).

Of course, the photographer's stance is important, too. Best to stand on one leg while twirling a hula-hoop on the other leg while photographing.

These techniques are guaranteed to add that sense of mystery, fuzziness, weirditude, and "what the h--- is it?" to your photos with your D60 FunkyCam substitute.

Eric
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59687\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

although the d60 as funkycam substitute has possibilities it just isn't tiny and pocketable...but thanks for the idea eric, besides, the alarm would attract too much attention in bars and concert halls...i've got my own method for the fuzz technique anyway and it's more fun...bordeaux, lots of it...i've been enjoying some from 2003 of late...adding a bit of hula-hoop sounds interesting...

hey, can we sell this idea to canon?...a digital lomo,...with mac and windows software...i'd buy one if it wasn't more than thirty or forty bucks...hula-hoop included
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Morris Taub on March 07, 2006, 12:03:22 pm
"although lacking in the saturation department and with it's poor corner performance, clearly out resolves the FunkyCam and the Vivitar."  

I kind of like the corner stuff happening...maybe a dab or two of the infamous petroleum jam around the center?  



excellent :  
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Sukhumvit on March 07, 2006, 12:36:45 pm
The two vendors linked to the article are already sold out  

But a cursory web search indicates there are many other versions of the funkycam in different guises but with the same basic innards.  The buttons are all in the same place, the specs are the same, and the battery is the same.  Only the case is not transparent.  

Some versions are:

Bell+Howell mini digital camera
Innovage mini digital camera
Nexxtech mini digital camera

Easiest way I found was to go on EBay and search for the Nexxtech cameras.  There's a couple vendors with dozens of them for about $13.50.

And my favorite VGA toy camera site:  www.640x480.net
but it's resolution is still decidedly higher than funkycam.
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: David Mantripp on March 07, 2006, 01:27:05 pm
I dunno what the big deal is.  I get those sort of results with ANY camera....
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Dave New on March 07, 2006, 02:49:49 pm
Looks just like the images we get now from my wife's defunct Minolta Dimage X, after the grandkids dropped it.  
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 07, 2006, 02:53:57 pm
Quote
"although lacking in the saturation department and with it's poor corner performance, clearly out resolves the FunkyCam and the Vivitar."   

I kind of like the corner stuff happening...maybe a dab or two of the infamous petroleum jam around the center?   
excellent : 
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59696\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Me, too. My favorite is the middle one. The brick wall clearly symbolizes the stubborn refusal of some pixel-peepers to understand True Art. I agree that a dab or two of petroleum jeely would really clinch it's place as a timeless masterpeice.

Eric
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 07, 2006, 02:56:50 pm
Quote
I dunno what the big deal is.  I get those sort of results with ANY camera....
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59705\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Then maybe you and I could collaborate on a best-selling book on how to achieve these stunning results without having to invest $13 to $20 in a FunkyCam.

I'd suggest tentatively pricing our book at $39.95.

Eric
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: David Mantripp on March 09, 2006, 09:30:27 am
Quote
Then maybe you and I could collaborate on a best-selling book on how to achieve these stunning results without having to invest $13 to $20 in a FunkyCam.

I'd suggest tentatively pricing our book at $39.95.

Eric
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59718\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Good idea, I suggest:

"Throwing good money after bad: the art of prosumer photography"

:-)
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 09, 2006, 10:23:19 am
Quote
Good idea, I suggest:

"Throwing good money after bad: the art of prosumer photography"

:-)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=59875\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
I like it! That's an area I really feel I have some expertise in.

Eric
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: SoBeachKid on March 09, 2006, 10:40:53 am
Did the article start a FunkyCult ? Looks like the FunkyCam is no longer available on neither one nor the other website.
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: matt8000 on May 12, 2006, 04:08:47 am
.876
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: dwdallam on May 14, 2006, 03:44:09 pm
Those pictures are cool. I'm with M on this one. It's the style and the photographers skill, not the technical aspects of photography. Those images have character. But then M can have fun like that because he's accomplished and all that. Now for the rest of us, back to the wheel baby!

But really, that was a nice way to show skill with low tech, and it works, at least for me. I think the traffic and rain is the best example, but they are all nicely composed. There is a lot, on the fine art side, to say for that exhibition.
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: CUclimber on May 19, 2006, 08:19:02 pm
Eh, why not-- I just ordered one on eBay (I searched for "Nexxtech camera" to find it).  My 20D has 26x the resolution of the Funky, but as much as I enjoy my 20D I have no doubt that snapping a few shots here and there with the Funky will turn up some fun results.

I can't wait to see the looks on my friends' faces when instead of pulling out the big ole' SLR with a white 'L' lens I whip the Funkycam out of my pocket.
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: Wuyuan Sun on August 22, 2006, 01:47:27 am
Quote
I found and bought a "funkycam" in Sydney: they're called NIKKAI Mini Digital Camera, and cost AUD$29.90.

Unfortunately the software needed to transfer the images from the camera to the computer fails to install under WinXP SP2.

Can anyone help?

It's okay for the camera to be klunky, but when the software is klunky, you can't use it!

 
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=59675\")
Nikkai Mini Digital Camera's chip code is 0X2770:0x905c.

Below cameras are using same chip:

Vivitar ViviCam35
Radio Shack Digigr8
NHJ Soundstar TDC35

The Vivitar ViviCam35's driver can find in:

[a href=\"http://members.driverguide.com/drive...riverid=589073]http://members.driverguide.com/drive...riverid=589073[/url]

Done!
Title: FunkyCam defective....
Post by: macgyver on August 22, 2006, 10:59:17 pm
The real question is when they will come out with a full frame version of the funky cam.  Although, that might tax the lens...