Copying maps to a camera

[rjb]

Is there an easy way of copying a digital map from a site like Bikehike to a digital camera. Once on the camera you can use the digital zoom facility to view the map. This would mean that one could than dispense with all the hassle of paper maps.

[meic]

The rather obvious one of taking a photograph of your computer screen.
I dont know enough about cameras to know if this doesnt work for some reason.

Years ago I met an American who was touring Britain and he went everywhere by taking photos of maps at YHAs etc and using his camera as the map.

[alicej]

The rather obvious one of taking a photograph of your computer screen.
I dont know enough about cameras to know if this doesnt work for some reason.

I think this wouldn't work because computer screens run on A/C, which means that they flicker, which will probably stop your camera correctly exposing for a photograph. Don't know if it would work if you used a laptop running on D/C battery power.

What you could do is get the maps you want as JPG files, plug your camera into your computer, and transfer the files onto your camera. Don't see why that wouldn't work, let me know if you need more click-on-this-click-on-that-instructions.

Remember to think about how you will keep your camera charged while you're away.

[snibgo]

Photographing the screen is the obvious way. Try it and see! I've snapped LCD and CRT screens, no problem. Make sure the flash is off. It may be best if the camera is on a tripod (because of the long exposure, and it's easier then to align the camera square to the screen).

The other way is to make a JPG file on the computer and copy that to a folder on the camera. However, the camera may expect the image to be of a certain size, and may also expect it to have an embedded thumbnail, also of a certain size. You might use tools such as ImageMagick for this.

[rjb]

Iv'e tried the obvious ways, photographing a computer screen is a ok but when you zoom the image it becomes unreadable, Is the term for this pixalated or something ?. I have tried making a jpeg image and transferring this to my camera but my camera then appears to be unable to read it ? The only method which has worked so far is to take a photo of a map. This is no good if you only have a computer map. I have read on this forum that you can download free maps to Ipods so is it possible to do it this way ? My camera is a Fuji S1500 with a X10 zoom. Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

[snibgo]

With my Lumicron LDC-825Z3, about £80 ten years ago, shooting my laptop screen works fine, on macro mode, no flash. Viewing the map on the camera's screen, it is readable at all magnification levels.

There is a grey banding caused by screen's fluorescent light, and some interference because the camera's pixels don't match up to the screen's pixels, but it is usable.

Camera screens have very few pixels compared to a laptop or better still a printer, so I would always prefer a printout. But it does work.

[fausto copy]

I've tried photographing PC screens before but not with much success.
Also, when using Bikehike and such like, I've never been able to save the file as a jpeg.
I believe you used to be able to right click on OS maps online and "save image as" a jpeg,
but for obvious reasons this facility has been removed.
Any other methods gratefully received.

[alicej]

I have a Fuji too. If yours has SR AUTO mode, try using that. Don't zoom in on the computer screen with the camera to take the picture - move the camera closer to the screen to fill the viewfinder. Don't use "Digital Zoom" at all if your camera has it ("Optical Zoom" is OK). Set the camera to auto flash, and if the camera does flash then turn up the brightness of your computer screen and try again. Set the camera to take the best quality/biggest photos you can.

What maps do you have on the computer? How big are they, and what kind of scale? How pixellated are they - they'll need to be better resolution than you need on your computer if you're going to be able to see them on your camera.

[alicej]

Failing this, pop into Waterstones or WHSmiths, find the route you want in a map there, and subtly take photos of it in the shop so you don't have to buy it

[snibgo]

Also, when using Bikehike and such like, I've never been able to save the file as a jpeg.
I believe you used to be able to right click on OS maps online and "save image as" a jpeg,
but for obvious reasons this facility has been removed.

In Windows, press the "Prt Sc" (Print Screen) button to copy an image of the screen to the clipboard. Then open Paint and hit ctrl-V (or select "paste"), then save as a JPEG.

However, when I download it to the camera, the camera can't read it. Perhaps it needs the embedded thumbnail.

[andrew_s]

Camera sensors (5 to 15 megapixels) are higher resolution than computer screens (1 to 2), so you are better off taking pictures of paper maps rather than the screen.

I tried an image file that had never been near a camera in a couple of my cameras, just by copying them onto the card with an appropriate name using a card reader. In the G11, the original 4000x4000 pixel jpeg gave an error "image too large" when I tried to view it, and "incompatible jpeg" after I'd trimmed it down to size. The Fuji F30 just gave a blank screen.
I would guess that most cameras won't process jpegs other than ones they have produced because they will be looking for image numbers, exposure info, shooting date/time etc in the EXIF section of the file, and these won't exist on a non camera image file.

[alicej]

I've just taken a photo of this page with my Fuji camera, which I'd meant to do last night but had to recharge the battery.

It came out really well, first time. If I zoom I can read all the text and see the expressions on the faces of the emoticons

I wonder, if I took photos of them, whether your Fuji camera would show them OK?

Tell me which maps and send me a PM with your email address if you want to try, I could take the photos, email you the files and you could upload them to your camera.

[Drunkon2wheels]

Hi,
I am a press photographer and do this all the time. You don't need anything other that a steady hand. Get the map up on screen fill the frame, make sure the focus confirmation light comes on and take the picture. For more detailed sections of the map i would use the macro setting, this will obviously give even more detail when you zoom in.
Peter

[reohn2]

Just photographed the 'pooter screen (LCD) with 6meg Lumix TZ2 camera this is the result:-



I tried photographing a map just laid out on the desk top:-



Which hasn't come out too good on the screen but on the camera LCD its very readable even when zoomed in on.This has good potential IMO.

[al_yrpal]

Any Android mobile and you have both of these map formats on it free. With the big amoled screens you would get a more readable map too. Orange san Francisco is less than £100. There's a half decent free sat nav too.

Al