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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