All Forum Comments
Comment by mattie posted on Decent cheap trail camera at 27/09/2021 - 11:05
davidwozhere wrote:
If this quality is suitable I will root the thing out and see what it is. It cost just under £50.
Looks entirely suitable for purposes I had in mind - getting the kids interested in photography and animals. I'm not quite sure what to expect in terms of IR, was half-wondering if putting together an IR conversion of a DSLR with an IR sensor for trigger would be viable weekend hobby!
If this quality is suitable I will root the thing out and see what it is. It cost just under £50.
Comment by mattie posted on Decent cheap trail camera at 27/09/2021 - 08:57
Lubbyman wrote:
I got a couple for hedgehogs from naturespy. They only sell brands that they use prefessionally and do their own testing. I won't recommend a specific camera or brand, but some things to consider:
- Maximum range for detecting a hedgehog is about 20ft. Ignore anything bigger, that's either marketting hype or for detecting bigger things like a deer.
- 'Low-glow' is OK for hedgehogs and cheaper than 'no-glow'. You need 'no-glow' for animals that can be spooked by a dull red light (e.g. deer).
- A built-in timer is useful but not a necessity.
- Don't bother with rechargeable batteries unless the camera has been specifically designed for them, and then use eneloops. Best non-rechargeables are Energiser Ultimate Lithium Pro and similar. Expensive but worth it. Avoid Duracell. It's something to do with battery chemistry and voltage.
- Wifi costs! It's a lot cheaper to just check the memory card once in a while...
- Decent quality nocturnal video and 'cheap' don't go together.
- Try to fit the camera low down, no more than 2 ft above ground. Be prepared to experiment with height and angle.
Have fun. And if you're lucky, you'll end up with more gigabytes of hedgehog videos than you know what to do with (the voice of experience speaking!).
Steve
Ta Steve - many thanks for advice, I'll give naturespy a lookI got a couple for hedgehogs from naturespy. They only sell brands that they use prefessionally and do their own testing. I won't recommend a specific camera or brand, but some things to consider:
- Maximum range for detecting a hedgehog is about 20ft. Ignore anything bigger, that's either marketting hype or for detecting bigger things like a deer.
- 'Low-glow' is OK for hedgehogs and cheaper than 'no-glow'. You need 'no-glow' for animals that can be spooked by a dull red light (e.g. deer).
- A built-in timer is useful but not a necessity.
- Don't bother with rechargeable batteries unless the camera has been specifically designed for them, and then use eneloops. Best non-rechargeables are Energiser Ultimate Lithium Pro and similar. Expensive but worth it. Avoid Duracell. It's something to do with battery chemistry and voltage.
- Wifi costs! It's a lot cheaper to just check the memory card once in a while...
- Decent quality nocturnal video and 'cheap' don't go together.
- Try to fit the camera low down, no more than 2 ft above ground. Be prepared to experiment with height and angle.
Have fun. And if you're lucky, you'll end up with more gigabytes of hedgehog videos than you know what to do with (the voice of experience speaking!).
Steve
Can I ask - do you set the flash on these cameras? I'd expect the IR lens still needs an IR light source - I ask as I know some animals can see into IR wavelength and worry I'll startle them, might be the wavelength is still out of visible spectrum.
I was contemplating a wired camera - there are a few which look like a cross between the google/ring style and a security camera - as the hedgehog house is about 30-40 ft from the corner of the house, but it's still too far despite zoom and it would limit options.
Comment by mattie posted on Decent cheap trail camera at 27/09/2021 - 08:53
Hi all
We've just put a hedgehog house in the garden and want to set up a camera for the kids to watch if any hedgehog actually moves in, has anyone had any luck with trail cameras? Recommendations for cheap but functional appreciated - I'm expecting the real bargain basement types to not be up to scratch so not quite sure what I should budget.
This would be fitted to the trees near the tunnel entrance to the home, not inside it, although I may look to that in time.
It'll mostly be in front garden so might even be worth wifi etc?
Apols, a bit non-Pentax, unless Pentax actually make any that I'm unaware of!
All advice gratefully received
We've just put a hedgehog house in the garden and want to set up a camera for the kids to watch if any hedgehog actually moves in, has anyone had any luck with trail cameras? Recommendations for cheap but functional appreciated - I'm expecting the real bargain basement types to not be up to scratch so not quite sure what I should budget.
This would be fitted to the trees near the tunnel entrance to the home, not inside it, although I may look to that in time.
It'll mostly be in front garden so might even be worth wifi etc?
Apols, a bit non-Pentax, unless Pentax actually make any that I'm unaware of!
All advice gratefully received
Comment by mattie posted on Decent cheap trail camera at 26/09/2021 - 19:22
Mike-P wrote:
Ta for link Mike (apols - was reading another post whilst replying!)mattie wrote:
Have you seen this youtube video linkFlan wrote:
There’s a video on the other side Pentax forums with a photographer first initial experience, clarity in the viewfinder and rear screen on a different level also high iso performance is also major step forward
It looks a decent step up in quite a few areas, but it's the AF that would make me think seriously about an upgradeThere’s a video on the other side Pentax forums with a photographer first initial experience, clarity in the viewfinder and rear screen on a different level also high iso performance is also major step forward
My GH5 has the joystick controller for AF point and it's so much easier than any other method I've tried. The choice of a load more AF point is an added bonus, and the joystick will really help exploit these.
The promise of the tracking is the real standout for me, I've just never had any real joy with any Pentax body (admittedly the lenses are older sigmas but they're decent primes) so getting that functioning - and the critical focus more consistent - wold be such a bonus. My GH5 is much better than my K3, despite being contrast focus, so really keen to see how the K3III goes. Much as I llke the GH5 it's just not the same as looking through a real viewfinder.
Comment by mattie posted on Pentax K3 iii Next Week at 31/03/2021 - 18:24
Flan wrote:
There’s a video on the other side Pentax forums with a photographer first initial experience, clarity in the viewfinder and rear screen on a different level also high iso performance is also major step forward
It looks a decent step up in quite a few areas, but it's the AF that would make me think seriously about an upgradeThere’s a video on the other side Pentax forums with a photographer first initial experience, clarity in the viewfinder and rear screen on a different level also high iso performance is also major step forward
Comment by mattie posted on Pentax K3 iii Next Week at 31/03/2021 - 18:12
Looks a lovely camera, but it ain't cheap!
I'll be keeping a very keen eye on comments around the AF performance in all upcoming reviews, really think this is where a telling difference to earlier models could be made. All the current noises coming from Ricoh suggest it will be notably improved.
I'll be keeping a very keen eye on comments around the AF performance in all upcoming reviews, really think this is where a telling difference to earlier models could be made. All the current noises coming from Ricoh suggest it will be notably improved.
Comment by mattie posted on Pentax K3 iii Next Week at 31/03/2021 - 17:23
Many thanks, I'll give that a go!
Comment by mattie posted on Servicing for Pentax cameras at 15/10/2020 - 21:54
Thanks Peter
The camera needs a service in general, it looks like I've been hammering nails in a swamp with it, but the focus issue is a bit vexing.
Basically, the image can look perfectly focused through the viewfinder, I've lined up the AF sensor exactly over the (for example) eyes of the subject, and yet once closely inspected the point of focus is either ahead of or behind the intended. This is a classic use case for the focus adjust, but I still seem to suffer these problems - it might be that I'm not following the correct procedure, I usually try to take a photo of something with lot of contrast at wide aperture, and then increment the adjust until I get a sharp image. The problem is, this doesn't always seem to translate to sharp images when out and about. Is there a more 'scientific' way of doing this? I was wondering if a good service would help, as something may be out of alignment.
I'll contact John Pye Technical re a service as it's long overdue anyway, but any advice on getting better critical focus would be greatly appreciated. Losing what could be good images as the subject isn't quite sharp is infuriating!
The camera needs a service in general, it looks like I've been hammering nails in a swamp with it, but the focus issue is a bit vexing.
Basically, the image can look perfectly focused through the viewfinder, I've lined up the AF sensor exactly over the (for example) eyes of the subject, and yet once closely inspected the point of focus is either ahead of or behind the intended. This is a classic use case for the focus adjust, but I still seem to suffer these problems - it might be that I'm not following the correct procedure, I usually try to take a photo of something with lot of contrast at wide aperture, and then increment the adjust until I get a sharp image. The problem is, this doesn't always seem to translate to sharp images when out and about. Is there a more 'scientific' way of doing this? I was wondering if a good service would help, as something may be out of alignment.
I'll contact John Pye Technical re a service as it's long overdue anyway, but any advice on getting better critical focus would be greatly appreciated. Losing what could be good images as the subject isn't quite sharp is infuriating!
Comment by mattie posted on Servicing for Pentax cameras at 15/10/2020 - 11:27
Hi all
My local camera shop doesn't service/repair Pentax cameras, suggesting I go direct to Pentax. Are there any local alternatives, or is going through Pentax/Ricoh the only option?
I was hoping to get some help with a few focus issues, which I wonder may be down to the mirror assembly needing a good service and the focus adjust needing a competent hand to sort, but I'm not likely to get the latter from a mail-in service centre.
I'm in Edinburgh, just for context, but keen just to know if it's a general thing or not.
My local camera shop doesn't service/repair Pentax cameras, suggesting I go direct to Pentax. Are there any local alternatives, or is going through Pentax/Ricoh the only option?
I was hoping to get some help with a few focus issues, which I wonder may be down to the mirror assembly needing a good service and the focus adjust needing a competent hand to sort, but I'm not likely to get the latter from a mail-in service centre.
I'm in Edinburgh, just for context, but keen just to know if it's a general thing or not.
Comment by mattie posted on Servicing for Pentax cameras at 15/10/2020 - 09:51
Can I ask - do you set the flash on these cameras? I'd expect the IR lens still needs an IR light source - I ask as I know some animals can see into IR wavelength and worry I'll startle them, might be the wavelength is still out of visible spectrum.
My earlier comment about 'low-glow' or 'no-glow' relates to your concern about animals seeing an IR flash. 'Low-glow' is definitely visible to some animals, including humans. However, hedgehogs and a lot of other garden wildlife (including mice and rats) aren't bothered. 'No-glow' uses a different part of the IR spectrum which is almost invisible to most animals and humans. I went for 'no-glow' because I hoped to go looking for deer etc. on Scottish holidays, but it definitely isn't necessary for hedgehogs.
Davidwozhere's picture is the sort of thing that a friend showed me a few years ago which got me started. He was using a £50 Chinese thing. Perfectly OK for close distance in a fairly sheltered garden. They tend not to have as long a detection range as more expensive, big brand models, and are not as robust, but if you're going to put the camera 10ft from the hedgehog in your garden, that's not a problem. Incidentally, all of these cameras are fixed focus, fixed aperture, with minimum focus distance about 6ft.
Steve
I'll report back if we have any luck with it