Advanced Point and Shoot for elevated shots - Any advice?

Interesting Deena,

In real estate it's very difficult to get good pictures of small rooms and the elevated shot and sometimes going low to high to get a better perspective helps.  I've never used a pole, but interesting concept.  We have a semi-pro photographer that shoots our virtual tours, I think good photography is critical.

This is good information today....I'm thinking of getting a new camera so I'm always looking for advice.

Thanks,

Patricia/Seacoast NH

Deena, you idea of shooting from a pole is brilliant. As a newspaper photographer for many years, I would always try to find the high vantage point to shoot from. I have stood on newspaper boxes, electrial boxes, ladders and whatever else was available..

As for your too much green in the browns. I think the green grass is having an effect on the browns. This is because your angle gives the green grass more dominance. If you have a photo program, you can decrease the green. Or if you have photoshop you can decrease the green saturation.

One more point. The human eye is more sensitive to the color green than any other color, so this is also contributing to the too much green perception.

Good luck!

Steve

I first suggest the Aerial Photography group which includes Pole Aerial Photography (PAP).  Then I suggest you read a blog I wrote some time back (my system has changes some since the writing).  I think the LX3 will produce superior pictures for a number of reasons, but what I don't like about it is there's no easy way to get remote shutter release.

The S series power shots are also great for PAP.  I used to use a Coolpix 5400, but since the arrival of my Nikon D5000, I stick it on the pole now.  I do think the D5000 is a bit heavy, but I really like the APSC sensor.  If budget allows, you might look into the Micro 4/3rds such as the Panasonic GF1 (a slightly bigger, but much better LX3).

Just be very conscious about power lines around you.  Yes, that's me tempting fate.  The pole I use was designed for working with power lines, so it's not supposed to conduct electricity.

Here's an example of the difference between taking the photo from the ground and elevated.

Feel free to contact me by email or phone if you want more of what I know about elevated photography.  I've only been doing it for years.  Just be warned that I love to talk about this stuff and I may keep you longer than you wanted.

Wait a minute, you have a 50D?  It's perfect if you can control it atop the pole.  I've been doing it so long I don't worry much about the camera.  You really have more control than you think.  Maybe you can strap a weight equal to your 50D atop the pole and swing it around some to build your confidence.  I don't know, just a thought.  Your 50D isn't all that much heavier than my D5000.  You can do it.

I'm reminded that the Hokkanen's put their 5D atop a pole...I'm only taunting you.  Don't put any camera on a pole unless you are certain you can do it without endangering yourself, others, or your equipment.

A few thoughts:

- the color on your pics looks fine to me but I'm on my laptop right now & the color on this monitor isn't quite as good as my desktop (of course that's another issue - every monitor is a little different on color so your pic is going to look just a little different to just about every buyer out there)

- the SX100 has a half dozen white balance settings including a custom white balance. It would certainly be cheaper to play with those than buy a new camera.

- the S90 is getting some very good early reviews. see www.kenrockwell.com for his take on it so far including some high ISO pics

- for 10' aerial shots, just use the 50D on your tripod and hold the tripod over your head. Much sturdier & lighter than any of the pole setups however you are limited to about 10' that way. I use this in place of pole photography if I just want that mid-point shot for 2 story houses. (actually I find it good for 1 story houses as well as long as there are no 2 story houses behind). Also easier to haul around since I don't really have to carry anything I'm not taking anyway.

- I use a telescoping aluminum pool pole for my aerial shots - sturdier than a painters pole and not any heavier. I put a D40 and a fairly heavy Sigma 10-20 up there and have no problem. This gets me 20' without a ladder or standing on anything.

Now that I had a chance to look at the pics on my home monitor, I see what you're saying. There is just a little green in those brown walls but not much. It looks like you might be using the Vivid setting on the SX100 - you might try the neutral setting.

Another S90 review: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/s90.shtml

Deena,  I've been watching your dialog and know the LX3 has no simple remote shutter release available.  From what I've read about the S90, it doesn't either, but with the timer's ability to take multiple shots it could work well for you if you keep the pole length below about 15 feet.  In that case, I would wire a simple monitor at the bottom of the pole, set the timer to take about 3 to 5 shots and lift the pole watching the monitor to frame the required shots.  I think you would find this method to be efficient and quite effective.

Your biggest expense and hassle would then be a remote monitor.  I have an extra monitor if you want it.  It's a 2" screen which will show very little detail and it's not very bright, bit I use it only for framing the shot.  It's so bad that often I get the camera back down to see that power lines run through the middle of the photo when I never saw them on the monitor.  However, if you keep the pole under 15' you shouldn't even have that problem.  Contact me if you want it though.

BTW, I just looked at the S90 at B&H and saw that it was only $70 shy of the G11.  At that point, I'd go for the G11.  There is a port for remote shutter on the G11.

I think that when you start using a remote monitor, you'll wonder why you went so long without it.  And I hadn't plan on giving it to you.  I'd hope you would pay the shipping and reimburse the $14 I paid for it.  That's still not a bad deal.  They are $55 retail and the next best monitor you can get is just under $100.  The monitor I like is around $400, but I can't justify the expense right now.

As far at the research I've done, there is an iPhone app, but it requires tethering the camera to a computer which defeats the purpose of portability we are striving for.  Check out the Phottix Hero.  Not cheap, but just about what I've been looking for these past few years.  You should be able to use it with your 50D as well.

Deena,  I just read this review from Ken Rockwell about the S90.  He didn't care much for the G10 and likes the G11 even less.  I see his points.