Laptop stand

[gleff]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has seen things like this sold here in australia.. or more importantly in sydney.

http://instand.com/CR3/cr3.html

I'm thinking of getting a laptop stand so I can set it up next to the camera (for night shots and sunsets), and then use the capture software to control the camera and download directly to the laptop.

Sort of like a pseudo PSD with a screen except it's the laptop running capture.

further to this.. I have also contemplated some kind of shelf for my existing tripod.. Can't find one though.

Just after opinions, or information if anyone has seen them around.

Thanks
Geoff

[Glen]

Geoff, as an alternative I have seen a laptopstand which fits on your existing tripod. It allows you to have camera and lappy operational at the same time. Can't remember at all where I saw it, maybe start at B&H?

[moggy]

Hi Geoff, it looks to me like a glorified music stand only twice the price! Might be worth checking this option out.

Bob.

[gleff]

Geoff, as an alternative I have seen a laptopstand which fits on your existing tripod. It allows you to have camera and lappy operational at the same time. Can't remember at all where I saw it, maybe start at B&H?

Even better.. I'll check it out.. if you ever remember what it's called.. let me know..

Thanks
Geoff

[gleff]

Hi Geoff, it looks to me like a glorified music stand only twice the price! Might be worth checking this option out.

Bob.

Aren't music stands rather vertical though.. and aren't they only meant for holding a few pieces of paper?

I'll investigate it though.. thanks for the idea.

Geoff

[gstark]

Geoff,

As Moggy suggested, it looks like a lightweight music stand.

Very lightweight.

I wouldn't be putting my laptop anywhere near anything like that. Perhaps a heavy duty music stand, such as they use in the SSO, but my option would be a portable TV table type of arrangement - the type that has four legs (just like a dog) and folds up (just like a cat) but is made of timber and when folded, takes up next to no space at all.

They're handy for keeping a laptop on while you're surfing while watching the box, and they would be equally useful within the context you're describing here.

Just add an inverter, and you can then drive everything off your car's lighter socket!

[gleff]

Geoff,

As Moggy suggested, it looks like a lightweight music stand.

Very lightweight.

I wouldn't be putting my laptop anywhere near anything like that. Perhaps a heavy duty music stand, such as they use in the SSO, but my option would be a portable TV table type of arrangement - the type that has four legs (just like a dog) and folds up (just like a cat) but is made of timber and when folded, takes up next to no space at all.

They're handy for keeping a laptop on while you're surfing while watching the box, and they would be equally useful within the context you're describing here.

Just add an inverter, and you can then drive everything off your car's lighter socket!

Hmm.. interesting idea.. I already have an inverter too

I'll look around..

Thanks
Geoff

[birddog114]

Get some wood and make youself one!

[sirhc55]

Try the Manfrotto site - they may have what you are after

[moggy]

Geoff, I have a heavy duty music stand (but not too heavy in weight) which would easily hold a lap top. Worth checking out in your local music store. I also did a google on stands/tripods and while there's plenty in the US I couldnt find anything in OZ.
Bob.

[rokkstar]

Geoff,

SOrry to go OT for a second, but what version of Nikon Capture allows you to control the camera?

[birddog114]

Geoff,

SOrry to go OT for a second, but what version of Nikon Capture allows you to control the camera?

NC 4xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[MattC]

Gleff, these might help in your search.

Look under Photographic > Accessories at http://www.gitzo.com



http://www.ccscentre.co.uk/

Cheers

[gstark]

Matt,

You run Nikon Capture Control .....

[birddog114]

I know he can't afford it! cos it costs nearly the same dollar of the d70 body with the setup in the photos

[gleff]

Get some wood and make youself one!

I thought of that, but then I remembered back to the days of wood shop and how bad I was at it.

Geoff

[birddog114]

Or switch to the iron or die cast or metal style, more solid

[ozimax]

I purchased one of these about 6 months ago, quality is superb and works very well with my laptop, external mouse, camera, adjustable height etc

Max

http://www.freedom.com.au/Wis/live/303/p/178.asp?productsearch

[gleff]

I purchased one of these about 6 months ago, quality is superb and works very well with my laptop, external mouse, camera, adjustable height etc

Max

http://www.freedom.com.au/Wis/live/303/p/178.asp?productsearch

Thanks Max, That looks like it will do. As long as it's easy and light to chuck in the back of the car etc.

Cheers
Geoff

[Hudo]

Geoff,

The videoguys sell a stand with a blackhood. Used for video work so you can have your laptop connected to your camera and have a hood / screen around it to keep dust out or sun light if used in the day. Check out there web site http://www.videoguys.com.au

Mark PS : I can't seem to find it on their web site but if E-mailed them they help you out. I have seen it set up in their showroom as recent as Monday.

[gleff]

Thanks everyone for your input. There's so many choices and ideas, it's hard to make a decision on what to do.

I found this cheap and nasty thing at freedom furniture.. I haven't seen it up close yet, but it may do the trick nicely. Ultimately, I only want something quick and easy to set up and carry (not heavy), that will allow me to place my laptop on, so I don't have to put it on the floor. It's probably not the most ideal solution for carrying but it'd be light, and sturdy enough for a laptop I would think.




Geoff

Edit: Hmmm.. maybe not.. just read the part about the steel base.. doh!

[gleff]

Hi All,

I was just looking through my crap in my apartment and came across a plastic lap table.. kinda ironic since I want to use it for a laptop

Anyway, it's not the most stable of tables, but perfectly suited for what I want to use it for.

Here is a quick photo of it.



Thanks to all that gave me ideas etc..

Geoff

[Matt. K]

gleff
I love your room! You are a real photographer!

[DaveB]

My experience with music stands would be to NEVER trust one with a laptop.

But I have to ask:

I'm thinking of getting a laptop stand so I can set it up next to the camera (for night shots and sunsets), and then use the capture software to control the camera and download directly to the laptop.

Why on earth would you need this? It seems like too much hassle. You'd need to trek an extra stand out to your location, along with power supply and laptop. And what would it give you that your camera doesn't already? You can check image histograms on the camera, hopefully you can get your composition and focus right, and hopefully you have big enough CF cards. Is it that there are no simple intervalometers available for the D70? (hooking one like the Canon TC-80N3 up to the Nikon IR remote wouldn't be too hard)
Sure it would give you the ability to "pixelpeep" and check focus in your images at 100%, but do you really need that? It would certainly slow your photography down a lot, although maybe that would be a good thing (compare with the advantages of working slow with the ground glass on a view camera)...

I'm curious as to what advantages you see in working this way. Just the intervalometer?

[gleff]

My experience with music stands would be to NEVER trust one with a laptop.

But I have to ask:

I'm thinking of getting a laptop stand so I can set it up next to the camera (for night shots and sunsets), and then use the capture software to control the camera and download directly to the laptop.

Why on earth would you need this? It seems like too much hassle. You'd need to trek an extra stand out to your location, along with power supply and laptop. And what would it give you that your camera doesn't already? You can check image histograms on the camera, hopefully you can get your composition and focus right, and hopefully you have big enough CF cards. Is it that there are no simple intervalometers available for the D70? (hooking one like the Canon TC-80N3 up to the Nikon IR remote wouldn't be too hard)
Sure it would give you the ability to "pixelpeep" and check focus in your images at 100%, but do you really need that? It would certainly slow your photography down a lot, although maybe that would be a good thing (compare with the advantages of working slow with the ground glass on a view camera)...

I'm curious as to what advantages you see in working this way. Just the intervalometer?

I would be using it when doing long exposure, or sunset shots, essentially to pixelpeep as you put it.. normal shooting I wouldn't drag it around. The other reason for it, is because the usb cable for the camera doesn't quite reach the ground from eye level, and even if it did, i'd have to place the laptop on the concrete, grass, etc, which i'm not keen on doing.

It's a bit of a nuisance, hence the reason for doing it only under the above circumstances.. The amount of times i've taken a shot and thought, damn that looks nice on the tiny lcd screen, only to get home and realise it was totally blurry etc.

Geoff

[birddog114]

gleff,
Get the good tripod with a center column,
get a piece of plywood, go to hardware store and buying few meters of chain not a big size, cut it by four lenghts equally and DIY a transportable table.
hook to the center column with the end of the chains, then you can place your lappy on it safely + get yourself a longer lenght of USB cable and you're in the game. Is it simple.

You can do it with an empty bean bag as well.

[gleff]

gleff,
Get the good tripod with a center column,
get a piece of plywood, go to hardware store and buying few meters of chain not a big size, cut it by four lenghts equally and DIY a transportable table.
hook to the center column with the end of the chains, then you can place your lappy on it safely + get yourself a longer lenght of USB cable and you're in the game. Is it simple.

You can do it with an empty bean bag as well.

hehe.. judging by my previous attempts in wood shop at school in making folding tables, I think i'm best to leave it to the experts...

Geoff

[birddog114]

gleff,
Get the good tripod with a center column,
get a piece of plywood, go to hardware store and buying few meters of chain not a big size, cut it by four lenghts equally and DIY a transportable table.
hook to the center column with the end of the chains, then you can place your lappy on it safely + get yourself a longer lenght of USB cable and you're in the game. Is it simple.

You can do it with an empty bean bag as well.

hehe.. judging by my previous attempts in wood shop at school in making folding tables, I think i'm best to leave it to the experts...

Geoff

As mentioned above, the empty bean bag can do the job as well.

[LOZ]

Sorry gleff I just could't resist.

only took 2 minutes to make and proably would win a Art prize LOZ

[leek]

 ROFLMAO

[birddog114]

LOZ,
Congrat!
You won the first prize of Art and New product invention! have it trademarked ready so I can sell more to other fellow members

[DaveB]

gleff, I came across the lap-pod [warning, web link requires Shockwave/Flash in your browser] today. I have no idea how much it costs, and in fact I'm not going to ask.

But it is an Australian site (Baltronics handle it).

[gleff]

gleff, I came across the lap-pod [warning, web link requires Shockwave/Flash in your browser] today. I have no idea how much it costs, and in fact I'm not going to ask.

But it is an Australian site (Baltronics handle it).

Funky.. but i'm sure it's expensive... I'll make do with my makeshift one

Thanks
Geoff

[DaveB]

They keep coming:

The Gitzo G065 is advertised as fitting any Gitzo tripod, but I'm pretty sure that means it has a standard 3/8" screw fitting. It's available at B&H for US$78.50 +shipping.

but i'm sure it's expensive... I'll make do with my makeshift one

Fair enough!