fotocentre™
Whilst on my trip to Kenya, there were a number of practicalities relating to Digital SLR cameras that hit home to me.
With future trips already planned I decided that I would attempt to do something to overcome these difficulties. The result is, for want of a better name, the FotoCentre™.
My spring 2004 trip to Kenya raised a few frustrations and annoyances with the practicalities of a Digital SLR camera in such a remote location. These included:
- The small LCD screen on the camera - insufficient for providing adequate image review (Taking a laptop is not practical)
- The need to recharge camera batteries on a regular basis
- The desire to be able to check that Compact Flash cards have been reliably and correctly backed up to CD using a device such as a DiscSteno
- The extremely short battery life of backup devices, such as the Phototainer and DiscSteno
Wanting to try and overcome these, and to make the best of future safari's, I set about creating a 'solution'. The result was the FotoCentre™.
The FotoCentre™ is a combination of photographic, entertainment and electrical components which are all powered from a car 12V cigarette adaptor, or via a suitable mains power supply (shown in the cable diagram). In it's entirity it provides the following facilties:
- Portable DVD player. Battery powered (up to 4 hours), providing:
- Video input from Canon EOS-10D or Phototainer to enable larger 7" screen review of images
- JPEG playback function to allow verification of CD's produced with a DiscSteno or similar device
- Dual plate Canon BP-511 battery charger
- 7.4V DC output suitable for powering a Canon EOS-10D
- 5V DV output suitable for charging a Phototainer (see note 1)
- 12V DC cigarette lighter pass-through socket
Note 1: This DC output can be configured to provide different voltage outputs. This could, for example, be adjusted to provide a suitable charging feed for an alternate auxiliary device such as a DiscSteno.
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View into case (Review unit open) |
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View into case (all parts)
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FotoCentre™ cables & accessories
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All of the component are cross-wired and controlled via a central set of switches (Item 1 on the diagram). The unit is protected by a 5A anti-surge fuse, as well as having additional protection on a "per component" basis. The entire system is housed in a padded carrying case for convenience of transportation, and for protection of the components. To save "cigarette lighter hogging" a full pass-through connector is provided, thus allowing the daisy-chaining of cigarette lighter plugs.
The DVD player (image reviewer) will operate for up to 4 hours without any auxiliary power input, using the power feed to charge the battery when it becomes available.
The cables and power feeds are custom-made for the purpose. Good quality cables with gold plated connectors have been used to maximise signal quality. Using these cables it is possible to connect a weath of additional equipment to the system to either provide image review (via video input), or charging facilities (via power output).
The entire system cost about half the price of a Phototainer to source and build, and (I believe) will provide a wealth of benefits both on domestic trips and those abroad. Perhaps the only problem is the weight - it does weigh in at a few kilo's. However, there is little that can be done about this as components such as batteries and LCD's are, by their nature, quite weighty.
FotoCentre™ Back Panel
1. Left channel audio input for DVD player (gold-plated phono)
2. Right channel audio input for DVD player (gold-plated phono)
3. Video input for DVD player (gold-plated phono)
4. 12V DC input (2.5mm power socket, centre +ve)
5. 7.4V DC output (2.5mm power socket, centre +ve)
6. 5V DC output (2.5mm power socket, centre +ve). See note 1
7. 5A Anti-surge fuse
8. 12V DC pass-through Cigarette Lighter socket