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Thread ID: 97171 2009-02-06 05:32:00 USB extension cable for 'live' photography R.M. (561) Press F1
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745445 2009-02-06 05:32:00 I want to use my digital SLR camera to pics of birds in the tree next to the house . Now, these birds a pretty smart and very skittish! I plan to use my camera on a tripod with the usb cable through the window to my lappy - where I can use Canon software to control the camera . However, the usb cable is quite short and I really haven't got enough distance (and yes, I've tried crawling on my belly through the conservatory . . . But the little dears caught sight of me and departed rapidly) .

What sort of extension cables are there available for this, and what are the restrictions? I had a look quickly in DSE this afternoon, but felt I didn't have enough info to make an informed decision!

As always - thanks for your help . :)
R.M. (561)
745446 2009-02-06 05:46:00 USB extension cables are pretty cheap, you can get them off trademe easily.

Or, if you want I got two 65cm ones you can have for free, totalling 120cm if thats enough. Just PM and give me the postage money.

Blam
Blam (54)
745447 2009-02-06 05:48:00 Cant the cam record to a memory card or something??

Then you can transfer the video / pic to the laptop (if the laptop has a card reader)

That would probably be better than using USB extension cables
Speedy Gonzales (78)
745448 2009-02-06 05:50:00 It can record to a memory card. She/he just wants to control the camera with her PC Blam (54)
745449 2009-02-06 05:50:00 USB has a distance restriction of about 5m.

You could try one of these (www.trademe.co.nz) if the distance is more than 5 meters.
davidmmac (4619)
745450 2009-02-06 05:54:00 Get a power extension cable then, move closer to them. Then you wont need USB extension cables Speedy Gonzales (78)
745451 2009-02-06 06:14:00 DSE has this (www.dse.co.nz) - it looks a bit the same. Good length.

The reason for the USB cable is to try to get out of their sight - I tried sitting in the car in the driveway (I got cold and bored - they obviously could see me). The 'other half of the household' says I lack patience - that may well be so!

The other thing I could do is to hang a blanket alongside the window (so they can't see me -but I could see them on my lappy screen!)...
R.M. (561)
745452 2009-02-06 06:25:00 DSE has this (www.dse.co.nz) - it looks a bit the same. Good length.

The reason for the USB cable is to try to get out of their sight - I tried sitting in the car in the driveway (I got cold and bored - they obviously could see me). The 'other half of the household' says I lack patience - that may well be so!

The other thing I could do is to hang a blanket alongside the window (so they can't see me -but I could see them on my lappy screen!)...

That is very much the same, only after 5 meters you need another one.
davidmmac (4619)
745453 2009-02-06 06:34:00 Some dSLRs has wireless - maybe your model not support it. Wifi I think.

Failing that, you can get things like Pocket Wireless, they stick on your hotshoe and you use a transceiver to fire it ... using radio technology. You can get trademe or ebay cheaper types to do the same job.
Nomad (952)
745454 2009-02-06 06:34:00 That is very much the same, only after 5 meters you need another one .

Five metres would be plenty . So that looks like my solution - all this effort to get a close-up of a sparrow!

What I'm really after is the greenfinches and the yellow hammers I see at times (greenfinches more often) . Sparrows would ok to 'practise' the setup on though! (And I have to persuade the cat to stay inside with me . . . ) .

Thanks . :)
R.M. (561)
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