Carroll's Consulting Corner
Data/Video Projectors
Data/Video projectors have become the slide projectors of today. Kodak stopped producing the slide projector as of October 2004 so slide projectors themselves are a dying breed.(*See Note) The good news is the fact that Digital Projection Technology has come a long way. The projectors of today come in all sizes from larger install units to under two pound portable units that will fit in your luggage for travel. Most of them are bright, easy to set up, and handle both video and data with equal ease. You can hook up both your computer and a video source at the same time and then simply use the remote to switch between the two sources.
Here at Cal Poly we have standardized by purchasing the Epson line of projectors. They use 3 Color LCD technology in their projectors which still beats the single chip DLP units for best overall color accuracy and does not give the annoying color shift you find in many DLP units. Many Professional Photographers choose LCD over DLP in their photography shows for just that reason.
For more info on the Epson line of products see:
Epson equipment link
If your department is thinking of purchasing a projector please contact MDS before purchasing so you can be sure to get the contract pricing if purchasing an Epson.
Projectors available for checkout are here.
Click here to read our reviews on various data/video projectors.
*Note if you are still using 35mm slides:
We recommend you convert your slides to digital as soon as possible with the discontinued production of slide projectors. Slide scanners that convert slide to digital format are also becoming hard to find so by doing this conversion as soon as possible you will be assured of being able to keep your irreplaceable images. MDS has a slide scanner for just this purpose located in Bldg. 2 Room 9. Stop by to find out how to convert your slides today.
Digital Still Cameras
Digital Still Cameras have become the camera of choice today. The ability to take pictures and then instantly review, discard, or retake until you get it correct makes both economic sense as well as being a great timesaver. With email being the favored communication means for rapid messaging, we can send pictures directly from the camera along with the message. No more waiting for the Postal Service to deliver that letter with the latest pictures of whatever is important to us in our lives.
With cameras available in all price ranges that will take decent photos, anyone can now afford a digital camera. With an ever increasing array of bells and whistles it can be very confusing for the first time buyer to pick a camera. Basically you want to choose a camera that is comfortable in your hand, has controls which are logical to you, simple to use and also has a menu system you can easily understand. Don't forget to purchase a larger memory card as the included one will only hold a few pictures.
A good Website for in depth camera reviews can be found at: http://dpreview.com/
MDS has digital still cameras you can check out to use for short periods of time (view models here). Try one to get an idea of the options available before purchase time. If you would like to talk about a particular choice or have questions on features email or call Carroll Baker at gcbaker[at]calpoly[dot]edu or 756-7680.
Camcorders in the Modern Era
From the dawn of the early days of the camcorder a format war has been raging just like with all other media related recording products (VHS, SVHS, VHS-C, 8MM, Hi8, Beta, Beta Pro, etc). As we have moved towards the digital era it has not gotten much better with Digital VHS, Digital 8, MiniDV, DVPro, DVD, etc. It is nice to have choices but it can be very confusing for the end user with all the choices available and the fact that they are NOT compatible with each other. Then to, even in the digital world all these devices still use some sort of media for storage of your movie footage.
Today, finally, you have another choice. Fully digital camcorders have hit the consumer market. These units record onto a built in Hard Drive and can then be downloaded to your computer via USB or Firewire (IEEE 1394) for non-linear editing, storage, or whatever. If no editing is needed you can also record your footage directly to DVD straight from the camcorder with the simple push of a button. At last, a no media needed recording solution has been achieved. If you are looking for a new camcorder take a look at he JVC Everio line. I feel they are well worth a look and will fill many of your shooting needs.
See: http://camcorder.jvc.com/product.jsp?productId=PRD1207000&pathId=119
Also see some Review Highlights on the JVC MG255U under Equipment Reviews.