16 MP?

[dpc]

To acceptably scan a text book you'll need AT LEAST 300 dpi for an 8.5x11" page,...

Why can't you get 300 DPI on that size page with a 10MP camera?

[Tim]

any more news on high mp p&s cameras? For textbooks 10mp isn't going to cut it... Thats really the only thing holding me back from building a scanner is that either I have to spend a couple grand on good SLR cameras or accept I can't scan anything but mass-market paperback size books. To acceptably scan a text book you'll need AT LEAST 300 dpi for an 8.5x11" page, ideally more since diagrams and fine mathematical algorithms are going to need sharp high resolution scans...

One option is to use whatever camera you have and take two pictures of each page and stitch them together. It would get you the 300 dpi you need, but be tedious. Another option is to use a manual triggering method such as the bike cable method in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=910

Of some concern for the cheap 16mp cameras is the cheap optics. Cheap optics leads to more aberration, etc.

I did check for the Canon Powershot A3300 IS listed above at least and it does not have remote shutter release capability unless it could be added by some sort of hack.

[ryanb]

Hello,

I have recently purchased 2 digital cameras they were on sale for 49.99 each and it is Fuji FinePix AX350 16mp.

I was wondering if there is a way to have a trigger on them.
The cameras were shipped and i should receive them this week.

[TomHorsley]

any more news on high mp p&s cameras?

The newly announced, but not available till maybe April Polaroid SC1630 (16MP android camera) I posted a note about a few days ago is apparently going to be about $300 from the rumors I've found on the web. I also got an email back from them when I asked saying that they definitely intend to provide android developers full access to control the camera. The only problem with it seems to be that you can't get one yet .

[dansheffler]

I use two Canon a480s at 10 megapixels and get 310 dpi at z-level 1. On my machine, this can easily accommodate an 8.5x11 page. Just FYI.

[bonesgeorge]

Considering Daniel's viewpoints below, I found some cameras that match some of them, but not all of them, though I'd still need some suggestions, or help.

Well, until I understood somewhat about CHDK, the best match, first, seemed to be a FujiFilm FINEPIX JX300 (14MPX) I could get my hands on a pair for only €99 (~$133) from Germany, but now I'm a bit unsure because of the options and powers that the CHDK may unleash. This one's gotta have optics and sensors that will do the job; has the tripod mount hole. I'm not sure about the manual settings, I mean I don't what it means. If nice to have number 4 "remote triggering with no hacks" means some electronical support not the mechanical trigger we have on the standard book scanner then you may buy some controllers to it, but I don't think I'd need it as I'd prefer to have a trigger on the book lifting lever; DC power -- I hope Marcos's hack could help me out here. PTP support (is it Peer-to-peer?) I don't now, and last but not least it's quite cheap.

My additional need is to be able to make shots fast. I'd prefer some that focuses fast, and gets prepared for another shot fast, like in 3-3,6 seconds, regarding this it's indeed promising, it can take 1.2 shots in 1 second, so even if it can't do more than a few couple of frames with this speed it should be able to handle it in 3-3,6 seconds/frame. Could someone affirm me in this?

One more thing, the scanner is supposed to have one 700 lumen LED; is it enough with ISO 1600 or 3200 if ISO 3200 is "effective in S mode; (Standard Output Sensitivity)"?

This the rough plan, but I'm not sure about the CHDK. The worst is that I couldn't really find budget Canon cameras supporting CHDK on the German Amazon where I can get stuffs with a 20% discount, and I have to keep the expenses for cameras under €100.

What Canon PowerShot am I supposed to buy to get a massive CHDK support, and match all the former criteria, and my biggest dilemma is: what do I benefit from CHDK firmwares?

I don't think an Eye-Fi is a must, for example. Cheap SDHC cards even around class 10 are really cheap, around €10 each, so it should be okay to put them in the computer after each book. I don't want my to link my cameras to the PC during scan operation to store pictures there, as you still have to turn pages and pull the lever on and on, so you won't be able to handle, like a mouse or something.

Other upgrades, like faster exposition may be unnecessary if I got enough light, but this is still a question whether it's gonna be enough, or not.

Basically, if I got some good points supporting the acquisition of cameras supporting CHDK, I would like to know which I am supposed to buy, what the minimum requirement is that I've got to match.

That's all, hope someone can help me out here!

Any helps will be much appreciated, thanks in advance,
George

P.S.: yeah, I read somewhere that you can synchronize the video capturing on two Canon PowerShot of the same kind almost perfectly, so that you can take 3D shots both photos and videos, that may be something that I'd be interested, if I pay for new cameras now.

Great question.

Why don't we compile a list of 16mp compact cameras and then do a quickie comparison in one post? I mean, our needs are easy to define.

The perfect camera:

Must haves.
1. Good-enough optics/sensor. (this is a moving target but it leaves out webcams/etc)
2. A 1/4 20 tripod mount hole.
3. Manual settings.

Nice to haves:
4. Remote triggering with no hacks.
5. DC power input. (Marcos outlined some hacks for this)
6. PTP support. (is occasionally implemented in CHDK)
7. Cheap.

Here's a search that finds many 16MP cameras. Here's a really nice chart. Let's get each interesting one, with a picture, in one post and compare on 1-5 (or other features if you like).

When we're done, it will be perfect Wiki-fodder.

[Heelgrasper]

When I looked for Canon compacts with CHDK available here in Denmark I was only able to find one (1) model currently for sale. And that was just before the new PowerShots went on sale not long ago. So I've pretty much given up on CHDK since the people working on it don't seem to able to work fast enough to keep up with Canon putting out new models annualy. It's fair enough that they can't keep up with that but just makes it a bit worthless to take into account when buying new cameras.

Otherwise, the new Canon models Powershot A810 and Powershot A1300 (extremly little difference) seems like good candidates for a scanner with 16 MP as well as focus- and exposure-lock.

BTW, one thing to be aware of that some might have missed: To double the DPI you need to quardrople the MP. This means that you get very little extra DPI even if you get a camera with extra MP. And the law of diminishing returns will set in at some point.

For example, going from a 10 MP camera to a 12 MP camera could increase the DPI from 300 to 329 while if you're at a 16 MP camera going to a 18 MP camera will "only" make you go from 300 DPI to 318 DPI.

This also means that if you "only" get 250 DPI with a 10 MP camera you would have to move up to a 14.4 MP to get 300 DPI. And if you get 250 DPI with a 12 MP camera you will have to move up to a 17.28 MP camera to get 300 DPI.

Or in other words: The last couple of MP is always going to be one you really pay for and at the same time the ones that get you the least increase in DPI.

[bonesgeorge]

Thank you for the answer!

Actually, it really seems that the one I'm about to buy is soon gonna have the CHDK, and I wouldn't buy one for more, this is the top end of my budget, so the only question is: CHDK or not?

Pros and cons in respect of not needing Eye-fi...

MP's? Well, I'm not really into buying some high-end stuffs with chillions of megapixels, though it was still useful to mention the relation between DPI and MP's.

For me, 14 should do. I worked with a 5MP Nokia N95 with many succes. Comparing to that, it is almost 4 times more, and now that is indeed a leap in DPI's. Going cheaper, for me, would mean a decision of buying some second hand cameras, which was rather a waste of time, as I indeed will buy cameras of the same kind.

Anyway, yet I'm still undecided about the two!

George

[rob]

I still like the mechanical triggers. I kept getting missed pages with my electronic trigger. Using a mechanical trigger lets me also use EyeFi cards. Also, without having to worry about CHDK, I chose this camera which has manual focus, which is great for fixed-platen book scanners.

[bonesgeorge]

Ah, got it, thank you! I'm not really into compact or any cameras, I supported mobilephones for everyday use, so... Now I see, if I got manual focus, I once set it up and then no need for pressing half-way down and pressing again for taking a shot, but only pulling the trigger when the book fits the platten skipping one step and saving pricless time.

Actually, we rather plan to buy some budget cameras, that you can get two of for a hundred Euros, but I bet I can't get no cameras in this range with manual focus, 14mpx, and even CHDK... :/

I had something off topic here, I, as an EU-citizen, I can make an account of my process so far through out I have already met a few couple of difficulties that we easily can make out for the future builders, and I think, on this forum my suggestions are very welcome in this manner.

First and foremost, the standard plywoods here are 18 or 20 mm thick; the tools, screws and other stuffs measured in inches cannot be found only the skateboard bearings which follows the US standards all around the world. In the EU, except the UK, the metric system is used which leads to difficulties. If I may, I suggest here to make a mirror file pack for the EU standard sized screws, plywoods and stuffs, that will be really helpful. To this, I can offer my help, though it is limited in sense of competence of CAD and stuff.

I still like the mechanical triggers. I kept getting missed pages with my electronic trigger. Using a mechanical trigger lets me also use EyeFi cards. Also, without having to worry about CHDK, I chose this camera which has manual focus, which is great for fixed-platen book scanners.