Ray --

This was very helpful and, for me, timely. Such a simple answer, and  
perfectly adequate for research.  Thank you so much. Can you tell me  
your resolution level? I assume as low as possible to make it  
possible to capture the maximum number of images. Is it just enough  
to read on screen, but  enough to print a clear image?

-- Stephan



On 1 Feb 2008, at 22:00, Ray Terry wrote:

>  Over the course of 4 days last year I took about 3000 images of  
> Civil War Pension files at NARA's Central Research Room on  
> Pennsylvania Ave., D.C.? My interest was to obtain quick, easy  
> copies of text, which could then be leisurely examined at home, the  
> limiting factors in the research being both the time and expense of  
> travel to the Research Room and the hours it was open. ? Here are  
> some details --
>
> - Camera: point and shoot Nikon Coolpix 5200 (about $250 new a  
> couple of years ago).
> - No flash necessary or desired, for the reasons stated in earlier  
> messages in this thread.
> - I sat at a table illuminated by daylight.
> - I did not use a copy stand.? I stood and leaned against the very  
> sturdy table, steadied my elbows against my body and shot straight  
> down at the pages.
> - Each shot took about 10 seconds to set up and snap.
> - I took 3 extra camera batteries with me plus a charger.?
>
> Taking photos avoids the examination of Xeroxed pages at the exit  
> of the Research Room and at the exit of the Archives building.
>
> NARA permits scanners as well as cameras (& battery charger) to be  
> brought into the building. They must be registered at the desk  
> inside the Pennsylvania Ave. researcher's entrance.? The equipment  
> is examined both upon entering and leaving the Central Research  
> Room.? They are looking for theft and for documents secreted within.?
>
> Sample photo image results can be viewed at?
>
> http://www.mitsawokett.com/MilitaryService/CW%20Pension%20File% 
> 20Images/CW_Pension_Files.htm
>
> which I have uploaded as examples for this thread.? These were  
> given a minimal Photo Shop enhancement by selecting "image - adjust  
> - auto levels", just enough to read them easily.
>
> Ray
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Susan Garfinkel <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 2:19 pm
> Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Cameras
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Professional scanning is done with overhead "scanners" that are  
> really digital
> cameras mounted on stands.  This is much, much better for the books  
> than to turn
> them over and press them onto glass.
>
> However, note that many archives will not allow patrons to use any  
> sort of flash
> or other additional lighting with their cameras. Strong light is  
> damaging to
> paper and ink (just one of the reasons why photocopy machines are a  
> preservation
> problem).  The reason digital cameras have become practical for  
> note taking is
> precisely because they can handle low light better than a  
> traditional film
> camera could.  Check with the archive before trying to bring in a  
> camera, and
> then either a tripod or a copy stand as well. In my experience, it  
> is harder to
> get permission for a copy stand because it is a bigger piece of  
> equipment. If
> you can use some sort of tripod to stabilize the camera, there will  
> be no
> shaking during a long exposure, so lighting is not a real issue in  
> terms of
> legibility. In any case, use a high resolution and get as close as  
> possible, and
> you should be able to make a readable print of your photo.
>
> For a print-quality reproduction you will want to use a copy stand  
> with
> additional lighting if at all possible.  And right--that light is  
> better if it
> comes in from the sides, and not directly overhead from the flash.   
> Sunlight
> works great!  You may want to use a piece of (well cleaned) clear  
> glass to lay
> over the book page to flatten it. What all this means is that for  
> print quality,
> if you can't control these conditions you may have to pay the  
> repository to
> create an image for you.
>
> Susan
>
> Susan Garfinkel
> Library of Congress
>
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