Nikon Capture.

I

Ian Field

Guest
It would be handy to stick one of my Nikon cameras on a tripod and use it to
capture snapshots on the PC of things on the bench - but Nikon charge rather
a lot of money for their Capture software suite.

Is there a generic type capture util that will work with the Nikon?

The cheap & nasty Vivicam had this included with the drivers already in XP,
but its not so good with no optical zoom.

Any help appreciated - thanks.
 
Ian Field wrote:

It would be handy to stick one of my Nikon cameras on a tripod and use it
to capture snapshots on the PC of things on the bench - but Nikon charge
rather a lot of money for their Capture software suite.

Is there a generic type capture util that will work with the Nikon?

The cheap & nasty Vivicam had this included with the drivers already in
XP, but its not so good with no optical zoom.

Any help appreciated - thanks.
Click to expand...
Linux seems to let you download pictures from nearly all cameras
without installing any software. You plug in the camera, and a
box pops up notifying you a camera has been detected, and asks if
you want to download images.

Jon
 
This is odd, because my Olympus and Canon DSLRs came with free software that
lets you download from the camera.

When you say "capture", do you mean something other than a simple download?
Are you looking for software that lets you control the camera from the
computer?
 
Ian Field <gangprobing.alien@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> Is there a generic type capture util that will work with the Nikon?

To clarify, are you looking for a workflow about like this:

---
You plug your camera into your PC, probably via USB.

A window pops up on your PC that lists the pictures already on the
camera, if any.

You point the camera at something interesting.

On the PC, you click a "take a picture" button.

The camera takes a picture.

The window updates itself to list the newly taken picture on the camera.

You can then download the newly taken picture from the camera to the PC
for further use.
---

A little Googling suggests that Breeze Systems' "NKRemote" might do
what you want on Windows, if you have a Nikon DSLR, but it costs $175,
not too different than the $180 Nikon wants for Capture NX 2. Breeze
offers a trial version of their software. I have never used Breeze's
software (or Nikon's, for that matter.)
http://www.breezesys.com/NKRemote/index.htm

I don't *think* the "camera and scanner wizard" that comes with Windows
can do this. At least I don't think the XP version could - maybe more
recent versions can. I have used this to download photos from a digital
camera but not to do live captures.

On Linux, gtkam (the UI for the gphoto library) can do this. You
connect your camera to the PC, usually via USB, and it can tell the
camera to take a picture. It works with the Nikon Coolpix L19 I have,
but most cameras capable of PTP should work, and there are drivers for
other cameras as well. http://www.gphoto.org/

Note that you usually have to set up the zoom, flash, etc on the camera
itself, not on the PC. For a few cameras, you can set up the camera
parameters from the PC; the gphoto docs call this "remote controlling
cameras". You also don't usually get a live preview on the PC of what
the camera is seeing.

Unfortunately, gtkam/libgphoto is not available for Windows. If you
don't have a Linux box, and depending on budget, time, and your Linux
experience, you might consider running Linux in a virtual machine on
Windows; I usually use Sun/Oracle VirtualBox for this. VirtualBox can
"pass through" the USB connection from the Windows host to the Linux
guest, so Linux will see the camera over USB like normal.

You might also ask over in news:rec.photo.digital .

Standard disclaimers apply: I don't get money or other consideration
from any companies mentioned.

Matt Roberds
 
On 11/13/2013 11:44 AM, Ian Field wrote:
It would be handy to stick one of my Nikon cameras on a tripod and use
it to capture snapshots on the PC of things on the bench - but Nikon
charge rather a lot of money for their Capture software suite.

Is there a generic type capture util that will work with the Nikon?

The cheap & nasty Vivicam had this included with the drivers already in
XP, but its not so good with no optical zoom.

Any help appreciated - thanks.
Click to expand...

The screenshot that comes with XP (ctrl + Prnt Scrn) makes an
uncompressed bit map which you can open and Zoom directly in MS Paint,
or do as I do and tweak it in GIMP.
 
On 11/13/2013 01:59 PM, Jon Elson wrote:
Ian Field wrote:

It would be handy to stick one of my Nikon cameras on a tripod and use it
to capture snapshots on the PC of things on the bench - but Nikon charge
rather a lot of money for their Capture software suite.

Is there a generic type capture util that will work with the Nikon?

The cheap & nasty Vivicam had this included with the drivers already in
XP, but its not so good with no optical zoom.

Any help appreciated - thanks.
Linux seems to let you download pictures from nearly all cameras
without installing any software. You plug in the camera, and a
box pops up notifying you a camera has been detected, and asks if
you want to download images.

Jon
Click to expand...
This works on XP as well. I just get a folder called DCIM, which
contains contents of Camera.
 
"dave" wrote in message
news:ysOdnTmfTpRjQBnPnZ2dnUVZ_oWdnZ2d@earthlink.com...

The screenshot that comes with XP (CTRL+PrtScn) makes an uncompressed bit
map [on the Clipboard] you can open and
Zoom directly in MS Paint, or do as I do and tweak it in GIMP.
Click to expand...

This feature has been available in just about every version of Windows.
 
"dave" <ricketzz@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:ysOdnTifTpSiQxnPnZ2dnUVZ_oWdnZ2d@earthlink.com...
On 11/13/2013 01:59 PM, Jon Elson wrote:
Ian Field wrote:

It would be handy to stick one of my Nikon cameras on a tripod and use
it
to capture snapshots on the PC of things on the bench - but Nikon charge
rather a lot of money for their Capture software suite.

Is there a generic type capture util that will work with the Nikon?

The cheap & nasty Vivicam had this included with the drivers already in
XP, but its not so good with no optical zoom.

Any help appreciated - thanks.
Linux seems to let you download pictures from nearly all cameras
without installing any software. You plug in the camera, and a
box pops up notifying you a camera has been detected, and asks if
you want to download images.

Jon

This works on XP as well. I just get a folder called DCIM, which contains
contents of Camera.
Click to expand...

On one of the cameras I have, it can be plugged in and used exactly like a
webcam - alternatively, the shutter can be controlled by clicking the mouse
for single shot capture. It has some very basic controls like brightness &
contrast etc - something that basic would be good enough, even better if it
works with any camera that I've installed the basic drivers for.
 
"William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:l610ei$5f5$1@dont-email.me...
This is odd, because my Olympus and Canon DSLRs came with free software
that lets you download from the camera.
Click to expand...

One of the Vivitar cameras does that without even running the driver install
disk - when you plug the USB cable in, it displays a USB symbol and a webcam
symbol, the default is USB and it just turns up as a removable drive in
explorer.

What I'm after allows shutter control with a mouse click - any other
controls would be a bonus.
 
"Ian Field" wrote in message news:m08hu.119064$5L5.79473@fx17.am4...

What I'm after allows shutter control with a mouse click --
any other controls would be a bonus.
Click to expand...

I checked, and the EOS Utility that came with my Canon DSLR, for free, lets
you shoot photos from your computer.

I can't believe Nikon doesn't have a comparable free application.
 
On Thu, 14 Nov 2013, Ian Field wrote:

"dave" <ricketzz@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:ysOdnTifTpSiQxnPnZ2dnUVZ_oWdnZ2d@earthlink.com...
On 11/13/2013 01:59 PM, Jon Elson wrote:
Ian Field wrote:

It would be handy to stick one of my Nikon cameras on a tripod and use it
to capture snapshots on the PC of things on the bench - but Nikon charge
rather a lot of money for their Capture software suite.

Is there a generic type capture util that will work with the Nikon?

The cheap & nasty Vivicam had this included with the drivers already in
XP, but its not so good with no optical zoom.

Any help appreciated - thanks.
Linux seems to let you download pictures from nearly all cameras
without installing any software. You plug in the camera, and a
box pops up notifying you a camera has been detected, and asks if
you want to download images.

Jon

This works on XP as well. I just get a folder called DCIM, which contains
contents of Camera.

On one of the cameras I have, it can be plugged in and used exactly like a
webcam - alternatively, the shutter can be controlled by clicking the mouse
for single shot capture. It has some very basic controls like brightness &
contrast etc - something that basic would be good enough, even better if it
works with any camera that I've installed the basic drivers for.
Click to expand...
That Intel camera I pulled out of the garbage was mostly a webcam, with
the ability to be used off batteries as a standalone digital camera.

The problem with webcams is of course lower pixel count compared to the
average current digital camera. I'm not sure how that works out in this
sort of application.

I just saw something suggesting taking a webcam and reversing the lens, so
it works better for close up work. That might be something worth trying,
webcams are something easy to find in the garbage.

Michael
 
"Michael Black" wrote in message
news:alpine.LNX.2.02.1311141503030.22053@darkstar.example.org...

I just saw something suggesting taking a webcam and
reversing the lens, so it works better for close up work.
Click to expand...

How do you intend to reverse a lens that presumably cannot be removed from the
camera?

The camera is already designed for "close ups", so I don't see how that would
help.
 
"William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:l6346d$ima$1@dont-email.me...
"Ian Field" wrote in message news:m08hu.119064$5L5.79473@fx17.am4...

What I'm after allows shutter control with a mouse click --
any other controls would be a bonus.

I checked, and the EOS Utility that came with my Canon DSLR, for free,
lets you shoot photos from your computer.

I can't believe Nikon doesn't have a comparable free application.
Click to expand...

Apparently its on special offer - Ł119.
 
"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message news:l63b6n$sd$1@dont-email.me...

"Michael Black" wrote in message
news:alpine.LNX.2.02.1311141503030.22053@darkstar.example.org...

I just saw something suggesting taking a webcam and
reversing the lens, so it works better for close up work.
Click to expand...

How do you intend to reverse a lens that presumably cannot be removed from
the
camera?

The camera is already designed for "close ups", so I don't see how that
would
help.




William, you have a habit of spouting off ignorant garbage at anything you
are not familiar with.

Please stop that, and do a little research first before posting, eh.



Gareth.
 
"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message news:l63b6n$sd$1@dont-email.me...

"Michael Black" wrote in message
news:alpine.LNX.2.02.1311141503030.22053@darkstar.example.org...

I just saw something suggesting taking a webcam and
reversing the lens, so it works better for close up work.
Click to expand...

How do you intend to reverse a lens that presumably cannot be removed from
the
camera?

The camera is already designed for "close ups", so I don't see how that
would
help.





By the way, if you have an old 35mm camera to hand, try taking a 50mm lens
and reversing it.

You can get the same effect by simply holding the lens reversed in front of
any digital camera lens.



Gareth.


Gareth.
 
"Gareth Magennis" wrote in message news:uybhu.119977$xp2.94421@fx19.am4...
"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message news:l63b6n$sd$1@dont-email.me...

"Michael Black" wrote in message
news:alpine.LNX.2.02.1311141503030.22053@darkstar.example.org...

I just saw something suggesting taking a webcam and
reversing the lens, so it works better for close up work.

How do you intend to reverse a lens that presumably
cannot be removed from the camera?
The camera is already designed for "close ups", so I don't
see how that would help.

William, you have a habit of spouting off ignorant garbage
at anything you are not familiar with.
Please stop that, and do a little research first before posting, eh.
Click to expand...

Ignorant garbage, eh? You have really stepped into it.

More than 40 years ago, I owned a 52mm reversing ring for my Nikon. It was a
handy way to take a quick close-up.

It was generally felt that reversing the lens produced better image quality
than using plus lenses. The tradeoff was that the reversing ring wasn't usable
over as wide a range.

I would like to know how one would remove the lens from a Webcam and reverse,
without tsuris.
 
"Gareth Magennis" wrote in message news:9Jbhu.31417$Mn5.10105@fx25.am4...

By the way, if you have an old 35mm camera to hand,
try taking a 50mm lens and reversing it.
You can get the same effect by simply holding the lens
reversed in front of any digital camera lens.
Click to expand...

Well... no. That's not at all the same thing.

What you're doing is using the camera lens (reversed or not) as a plus lens to
allow the Webcam to focus closer.
 
"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message news:l63j84$jbe$1@dont-email.me...

"Gareth Magennis" wrote in message news:uybhu.119977$xp2.94421@fx19.am4...
"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message news:l63b6n$sd$1@dont-email.me...

"Michael Black" wrote in message
news:alpine.LNX.2.02.1311141503030.22053@darkstar.example.org...

I just saw something suggesting taking a webcam and
reversing the lens, so it works better for close up work.

How do you intend to reverse a lens that presumably
cannot be removed from the camera?
The camera is already designed for "close ups", so I don't
see how that would help.

William, you have a habit of spouting off ignorant garbage
at anything you are not familiar with.
Please stop that, and do a little research first before posting, eh.
Click to expand...

Ignorant garbage, eh? You have really stepped into it.

More than 40 years ago, I owned a 52mm reversing ring for my Nikon. It was a
handy way to take a quick close-up.

It was generally felt that reversing the lens produced better image quality
than using plus lenses. The tradeoff was that the reversing ring wasn't
usable
over as wide a range.

I would like to know how one would remove the lens from a Webcam and
reverse,
without tsuris.




William, you really haven't researched this at all.

Why not Google for a few minutes.
You might actually find out things that you never knew was possible, rather
than just relying on the "truth" that resides soley in your own rather
outdated head.


Gareth.
 
> William, you really haven't researched this at all.

Oh, but I did. I asked the direct question as to how one was supposed to
reverse a presumably non-removable lens. All you need have said was that some
cameras have the lenses mounted with screws that can be removed. The
discussion would have ended amicably at that point.

I assume this is what you are talking about.

http://diybio.org/2009/12/13/webcam-microscope-hacks-at-bosslab/

I do not see what connection this has with the subject of the original post.
 
"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message news:l63of6$kdq$1@dont-email.me...

> William, you really haven't researched this at all.

Oh, but I did. I asked the direct question as to how one was supposed to
reverse a presumably non-removable lens. All you need have said was that
some
cameras have the lenses mounted with screws that can be removed. The
discussion would have ended amicably at that point.

I assume this is what you are talking about.

http://diybio.org/2009/12/13/webcam-microscope-hacks-at-bosslab/

I do not see what connection this has with the subject of the original post.




No William, you researched that link after I had made my post, and now you
are trying to suggest that that was part of your pre-posting research.

William, I believe you are a liar and a fraud.



Gareth.
 
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