Using RMC as the minimum recording in Mode 6, I can record more than 2880 hours of data with more than 1,040,000 data points. In this configuration, each log is written to the device every 10 seconds – plenty for a land safari. The next post will walk you through down loading and processing for display on Google Earth.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

So how do I use this device?  I simply turn it every morning, about 5 minutes before we leave our safari camp, and leave it on until we return at the end of the day.  Using lithium batteries, I can usually get three full days, before battery replacement.  During the day, should something come my way that I want to “mark” along our path, I simply push the waypoint button and a manual waypoint is placed on the track.   The AMOD generates a new log every time the unit is turned off and on, which means you will have  a new track for each day.  Although you can assemble these tracks to make one entire trip log, I find the daily separation much better to manage and it corresponds to the daily log that I try to keep from each day.  Next posting on the AMOD will deal with the settings that I use and how they match up to the various NEMA sentences.  The final posting on the AMOD will provide instructions and demos of getting these files into Google Earth for viewing, so stay tuned.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

Head on over to The Photographer’s Ephemeris and run the tutorials, download the application.  If you like it be sure to come back and toss the author some coins for his efforts.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

Although I try very hard to support my local brick and mortar camera store, it is not uncommon for me to order from B&H Photo for a number of items.  I first ordered from B&H when I was in Iraq.  Ten days after placing an order, my 70-200 showed up.  Not bad considering where I was.  I accidentally ordered two of the same lenses over the next three weeks (I guess I was really tired or maybe the internet button just suckered me).  I wrote B&H from Iraq and asked to return one of the two.  To my surprise they said return it AFTER I returned home from my assignment.  Now that was service.  I have been with them ever since.

Back to my original point……… Everyone wants a deal, but a deal is not always a deal.  I’ve heard of bait-and-switch scams out of New York before but never with any details.  This summer I ran across some news which highlighted the NY Attorney Generals Attempts to bring a stop to this tactic.  With Christmas just around the corner, I thought it would be good to mention this.

“Attorney General Cuomo’s investigation revealed that these seven companies would advertise consumer electronics, such as cameras, camcorders, projectors, and related accessories online at prices significantly lower than their competitors to induce consumers to place orders via the internet. Once an order was placed, the companies would call consumers and try to sell them additional or “upgraded” merchandise at inflated prices. If the consumer refused to purchase the additional merchandise, the companies would cancel the sale or claim the item was backordered for months. If the consumer did agree to purchase the additional merchandise, the companies would send them lower quality merchandise than what was promised, or merchandise that the consumer never ordered in the first place. When customers tried to return the items, they would either be denied or be slammed with undisclosed fees. “

As first reported by the Consumerist, a listing of the stores and instructions for filing a claim are posted here. The bottom line is to pay attention to and buy armed with knowledge. If you are shopping on line, then you already know what the price should be.  Remember, a deal is seldom a real deal.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

I have read numerous times about the success of washing your Compact Flash cards and up until last weekend, I always called BS on being able to use a CF card after washing.  Last weekend I left a Hoodman CF card in my jeans pocket after shooting in the studio (yes I had backed up the card before I left the studio); into the wash the jeans went.  I realized what I had done when the card fell out of the pocket as I was putting them into the dryer.  Following a one day air drying, into the camera she went.  I hit play back and up came all of the images.  I then downloaded them into LR and determined that there was no damage to the files.  Even now that I know that I can do this, I don’t intent to make washing my cards a standard operation.

I started using Hoodman cards sometime ago shortly after their introduction of their 300x card.  Yes, they are more expensive than SanDisk however, they are made in American and they are the only card that is tested three times before leaving the factory.  According the local Hoodman representative, they have yet to record a failure, either before departing the factory or from the field.  Some can argue that these cards are not as fast as the ScanDisk IV’s but I seldom find myself in a shooting situation in which I am filling up the buffer.  At the end of the day, I want dependability rather than speed; of course the best of both worlds would be greatly appreciated.  Bottom line, I’m a Hoodman kind of guy;  too bad they never go on sale.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

Cheers and happy photo’ing

Randy

Every now and then, I come across products that just make my life so much better.  When I travel to Africa to lead one of my safaris, I am very hard on my equipment and so is the environment.  So you can image my thrill when I discovered (thanks to a safari traveler that will be joining my January 2009 group), a killer duffel bag that carries a lifetime warranty and is made right here in good ‘ole Seattle.  We have to use duffel bags on our safari trips due to the inter-county flight back from the Serengeti to Arusha.  For this flight, we use a Cessna 208 with a cargo pod.  Hard sided luggage simply will not fit into the cargo hold of the aircraft.  OK, back to the bags.  After talking to the owner, Malcom, I took a risk and ordered three different sizes of his bags.  I don’t know what I was more excited about, receiving my bags or a new camera lens that came at the same time.  Funny thing, the bags were opened first.  Holy smokes, these are beauts and are made like a tank.  The zippers are industrial strength, and the bags are constructed from 1,000-denier CORDURA®, a nylon fabric that despite its brushed-cotton appearance has been generously coated with urethane and DWR (durable water-repellent finish) for abrasion- and water-resistance.  Every BAD BAG is double-stitched and seam-taped to resist pressure, both internal (your overstuffed load) or external (beefy baggage handlers).  From the zippers to internal compartments to the built in compression straps, these bags rock to the point that I now strongly recommend them to all safari goers, as well as anyone else that is sick of buying bag after bag.  These bags come in sizes ranging from 10.5 by 7.5 to 36 by 18 inches and can carry up to 7800 cubic inches of stuff.  I’ve stepped up to the Best American Duffel and I can’t wait to hit the Serengeti with them.  Contact BAD here.

Press Release

UPDATE:
US DOT Hazmat Safety Rule to Place Limits on Lithium Batteries Carried by Passengers Aboard Aircraft Effective January 1, 2008Passengers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage beginning January 1, 2008, once new federal safety rules take effect.  The new regulation, designed to reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, will continue to allow lithium batteries in checked baggage if they are installed in electronic devices, or in carry-on baggage if properly protected from short circuiting in their original packaging or by placing them in individual plastic bags or a protective travel case.   Common consumer electronics such as digital cameras, cell phones, and most notebook computers are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage.  Moreover, any number of spare batteries for these devices will be allowed in carry-on baggage if they are properly protected from short circuiting and do not exceed 8 grams (~100 watt hours) of equivalent lithium content.  All lithium-ion cell phone and standard notebook computer batteries are below 8 grams (~100 watt hours) of equivalent lithium content.  Batteries not installed in electronic devices are not permitted in checked baggage.The rule limits passengers to not more than two large spare rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in carry-on baggage.  This applies to batteries that exceed 8 grams (~100 watt hours) of equivalent lithium content and less than 25 grams (~300 watt hours) [see attached illustration].  Batteries with more than 25 grams (~300 watt hours) are not allowed in either checked or carry-on baggage. “Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires,” said Krista Edwards, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.  Lithium batteries are considered hazardous materials because they can overheat and ignite under certain conditions.  Safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression system would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight.   This rule aims to reduce the risk of fires involving lithium batteries in the cabin of passenger aircraft.“This rule protects the passenger,” said Lynne Osmus, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assistant administrator for security and hazardous materials.  “It’s one more step for safety.  It’s the right thing to do and the right time to do it.”  In addition to the new rule, PHMSA is working with the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the battery, consumer electronics and airline industries, airline employee organizations, testing laboratories, and the emergency response communities to increase public awareness about battery-related risks and developments. These useful safety tips are highlighted at the public website:  http://safetravel.dot.gov.