Topic: FunkyCam defective.... (Read 17959 times)

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

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!

georgewa · « **Reply #1 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

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

michael · « **Reply #2 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

Michael

Morris Taub · « **Reply #3 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

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

kaelaria · « **Reply #4 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...

michael · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2006, 01:50:03 pm »

You might want to research the concept of simply having fun.

Try it some time.

Michael

macgyver · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2006, 03:42:49 pm »

Michael, my respect for you just increased further.

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #7 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

jtranter · « **Reply #8 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!

Morris Taub · « **Reply #9 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

gryffyn · « **Reply #10 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...

Morris Taub · « **Reply #11 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]

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #12 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

joedevico · « **Reply #13 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

Morris Taub · « **Reply #14 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

Morris Taub · « **Reply #15 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 :

Sukhumvit · « **Reply #16 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.

David Mantripp · « **Reply #17 on:** March 07, 2006, 01:27:05 pm »

I dunno what the big deal is. I get those sort of results with ANY camera....

Dave New · « **Reply #18 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.

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #19 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

Author Topic: FunkyCam defective.... (Read 17959 times)