ben_roubin

<p>I know it's for mounting accessories, but what mounts will they accept? Type, brand?</p>

<p>This thing was attached to leg of a used Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod I bought. The shop owner had no idea what it was. The thing on top seems to be on a home made bracket and added on, but the lower one looks factory.<br>

Tell me what it is and what it's used for and win some free advice about anything under the sun (except what to do with this gizmo).<br>

<a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j61/mbr12/vw/?action=view&current=Tripodthig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j61/mbr12/vw/Tripodthig.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

Lola did say "no SANE person".

A used Canon A80,85,90 would fit the bill. They also use AA batteries, a big plus.

Is it possible the battery no longer holds a charge? Turning on the lcd draws more power. If the battery can't supply it, the whole cames shuts down. Is the battery old or new? Does the camera work without using the lcd?

The Cokin holders can hold several filters at one time. Stacking them is the whole idea. I'm not familiar with HiTech, but if they fit the holder, go for it.

A lot of the Canons have remote shooting, via usb cable. Realtime view and control over most parameters.

It doesn't look like there is a light source in the lid of my scanner, but I know there were film and slide adapters for it. I doubt I'll ever find those.

So there has to be a second light source above the transparency as well as below? The white lid doesn't reflect the light back through the slide?

Is there a way to scan negatives and transparacies on a flatbed

without the adapters?

I use the PDA protectors on my A80. I don't put it directly on the screen. I cut it oversize and applied it to the area surrounding the lcd, so there is a space between the protector and screen. Works fine.

It functions normally, but I haven't left it on for long. If the adapter is not providing the required current continuously, but only for a short time on start-up, that could be why the power light blinks. The adapter is a Maxell universal. It has a 4.3 volt, positive tip setting which is correct for the a-80 and says it outputs 1.8 amps, but it is very small and light. It can't posibly put out that much amps steadily.

I know from my power tools, if the motor doesn't get the current it demands, it will get hot and be damaged.

I was just wondering if anyone has the Canon adapter with any A-series camera, if they can plug it in and tell me if the power light blinks after it has been on for a minute.

As usual, Canon tech support is less than useless.

Thanks,

Ben.

When I use the ac adapter with my Canon A80, after a minute of being

on the power light blinks and the low battery indicator in the lcd

flashes. Is it normal?

If the pictures appear with the other card, the lcd would appear to be ok. The problem is elsewhere.

Manufacturers make two kinds of cameras.

One is the technical tour-de-force. The very expensive camera that will give the best image and the most bragging rights, even if very few are sold. It also serves as a launching pad for cutting edge technology that will trickle down the less expensive models of the future.

The second is the camera that will sell in huge numbers. They have to pay for all that R&D. The cameras that sell will have a lot of MPs, with little regard to the sensor size or actual picture quality. People can't really see the sensor, but they can see "8, 10 or 12 MEGAPIXELS!" in the ad copy, and if the pics aren't that great they'll think it's their fault.

Bigger is better, more is better. It's the American way. Whether it's horsepower, tv screens, houses or the Christmas tree.

The Epson RD-1 is a manual focus only rangefinder digital camera that uses Leice M lenses.

That doesn't mean you're not also insane. :)

You're welcome. It probably isn't mentioned because the reviewers don't know what it is or they don't consider it important. I think it's an incredibly useful feature.

Digital cameras, especially the consumer models, don't take kindly to dusty environments. You might look into a waterproof housing. I think there's one for the A series Canons. Don't know who makes it. Even a clear plastic bag over the camera would be better than nothing. Perhaps a filter rigged up to the bag and placed over the lens wouldn't distort the picture. Just a thought.

The Canons can be operated by the computer when the camera is connected via the usb cable and the camera is set for review, not shooting. The software that came with the cam has remote capture.

I didn't mean wireless remote control, perhaps I should have been more clear.

I use a usb 10' extension cable + the 4' that came with the cam so I can set the cam away from the computer. You can control all settings and trip the shutter from the computer and see what the camera sees on the monitor. The pic is immediately downloaded onto the computer and is not recorded onto the cf card.

My A80 has it and the A70 I used to have has it too.

My Canon A80 has remote operation. So does the A70 and I suspect the others in the series also.

Has anyone used an aftermarket ac adapter for the a80 successfully.

The Canon unit is too expensive.

If the scratches aren't too deep, maybe one those gadgets that restores music cds would help. Try a library that lends cds. They usually have the thing and might let you use it.

Turn off as much automation as possible. If the P&S has a "custom" setting, set the aperture, shutter speed and focus point in advance.

The same thing happened to me , but with PNY. Finally Best Buy honored the rebate instead of PNY.I contacted the Attorney General of PNY's home state. After six months PNY sent the rebate as well.

If Best Buy got screwed for so heavily promoting rebates and/or PNY got screwed---GOOD! Screw them ALL!

The point is, make it unprofitable for them to operate this way. If you cause them more trouble than they cause you, you cost them money. They may eventually get the message. But not if it's still profitable.

As Dear Abby always said, "Nobody can take advantage of you without your permission".

Porter's always has handy stuff like that.

In addition to using the lens mount and not extending the center column,not extending the legs all the way also helps. Leave an inch or two unextended. This is why I always look for tripods that extend higher than what in actually needed.

Extend the legs all the way, put your ear to the camera mounted on the head and tap the leg. Listen and feel for how long the vibrations last. Then push each leg back in a couple of inches, tap the leg and listen again. You'll find the vibration doesn't last as long. It's free and it couldn't hurt.