ipad equivalent - perhaps tablet

fannyanna

I'm looking to get some form of gadget that I can use for my digital photography.

The issue that I have is sometimes it is hard to establish whether or not a photograph I have taken is sharp just from looking at the LCD screen on my camera. It's only when I load the pictures onto a laptop that I notice the pictures are no good - and by this time it's too late.

What I would like to get is some form of gadget that is small enough for me to take out when I'm doing some photography so that I can download my pictures onto the gadget and review them. To me something like the ipad seems ideal but my budget would ideally be around the £15 mark.

I'm not really technically minded and I've had a quick look at things and it seems a tablet would be an ideal solution but I'm not really sure what I shuld be looking for from a technical point of view.

I did wonder if I could use the kindle but it wasn't clear to me whether you can download things onto it like pictures rather than just books.

Can anyone offer me any guidance?

Dave_C_2

fannyanna wrote: »

I'm looking to get some form of gadget that I can use for my digital photography.

The issue that I have is sometimes it is hard to establish whether or not a photograph I have taken is sharp just from looking at the LCD screen on my camera. It's only when I load the pictures onto a laptop that I notice the pictures are no good - and by this time it's too late.

What I would like to get is some form of gadget that is small enough for me to take out when I'm doing some photography so that I can download my pictures onto the gadget and review them. To me something like the ipad seems ideal but my budget would ideally be around the £15 mark.

I'm not really technically minded and I've had a quick look at things and it seems a tablet would be an ideal solution but I'm not really sure what I shuld be looking for from a technical point of view.

I did wonder if I could use the kindle but it wasn't clear to me whether you can download things onto it like pictures rather than just books.

Can anyone offer me any guidance?

You are trying to cure the symptoms, not the disease. Any digital camera in daylight should take sharp pictures. It sounds like your camera is not set-up correctly - or you are holding it wrongly.

Never hold any camera with just your finger tips at arm's length - it makes me cringe very time is see this. Then they wonder why the photos are blurred!

What sort of camera is it?
Have you tried zooming in on the picture to check the sharpness?

Dave

fannyanna

Dave_C wrote: »

You are trying to cure the symptoms, not the disease. Any digital camera in daylight should take sharp pictures. It sounds like your camera is not set-up correctly - or you are holding it wrongly.

Never hold any camera with just your finger tips at arm's length - it makes me cringe very time is see this. Then they wonder why the photos are blurred!

What sort of camera is it?
Have you tried zooming in on the picture to check the sharpness?

Dave

Thanks.

It's a canon DSLR - have to look through the viewfinder to take the piccie.

It's not the quality of the screen it's the size. Sometimes a pictures may look ok on the screen but once you look at a larger image it doesn't look as good.

I can zoom in on the pic to check sharpness but sometimes it's just easier and quicker to review them on the computer.

paddyrg

You can use a field monitor - a bigger screen plugged into the output. I do that with a Canon 550D to help check for sharps in video mode.

But for stills, yes, some kind of laptop/tablet and moving over the SD card would work, if be a bit slow. However, an iPad would be useless twice over as it has no SD slot, and it costs 30-40 times what you say your budget is. There is nothing at the £15 end of the market that can do what you're after.

I think the closest you can get is one of those digital photo frame things - some of those have better resolutions, take SD cards, and you can show them around. £15 won't happen, but £50 might.

fannyanna

Haha - I actually meant to put £150 in my original post. What a dope

fannyanna

Been looking around and I wondered if something like this would be any good.......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tabtech-M009S-Google-Android-Tablet/dp/B004RAN7VI/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1305129833&sr=1-3

Dave_C_2

When I first got my Nikon DSLR I had similar problems. What had happened was that it was on ISO 3200 all of the time. Since then I get paranoid about checking all of the shooting settings before a session.

Also on the Nikon there is a two-button reset, to reset everything back to default. I image Canon will provide something similar.

Just saying...

Dave

peteb23

Maybe a lcd viewfinder might help. They're mostly used by film makers to ensure perfect focus but should help you if you can get one to fit you camera.

Zacuto's Z finder is regarded as the best - but it's not cheap. Other alternatives are available: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=lcdvf&!!!!!googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=9553408196&ref=pd_sl_33ch8olyfo_e

Fifer

I think post 2 hit the nail on the head. It really shouldn't be necessary for most photographers to take a large screen into the field. I suspect the problem is to do with settings (ISO, shutter speed, resolution) or technique (shakey posture, loose grip, trying to take pictures handheld when a tripod or other support needed).

I suggest the OP tries to analyse what type of situation produces pictures of unacceptable sharpness to narrow down the issue.

Yolina

Don't rely on the LCD... you can try:
- adjusting the diopter to suit so that the viewfinder picture matches your eyesight, instructions will be in your user guide
- making sure you're using the focus points correctly in the viewfinder (do you leave the camera to select it automatically or do you manually select the point you want?)
- checking your settings iso/shutter speed/F stop combination and also making sure when hand-holding that your speed is high enough in relation to the lens you're using (because obviously, a 300 lens will require a higher speed than a 50 for a sharp result!)
- checking your shooting technique
- getting a tripod
- using a laptop and shooting tethered

Apologies if some of these sound really obvious but you haven't stated if you're a beginner or not

NeverAgain_2

Would a new Kindle work?

It comes with a USB cable, and they brag about its super screen.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Wi-Fi-6-Ink-Display/dp/B0051QVF7A?ie=UTF8&qid=1317225976&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&!!!!!jobsforyou-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738