Toys R US: creative effects

[Stephen Davee <davees@ucs.orst.edu>]

Howdy folks, 



I had a productive trip to TRU yesterday- FP Fun Photo Makers have just 

been marked down to $23.90, and the rebate still applies, so we're 

talking $18.90(!) for a rad camera in full Pixel tradition. This is an 

Albany Oregon store so I'm not sure it is a universal markdown but it is 

a sure sign that if it isn't marked down from your local TRU it will be 

soon- looks like they are being dumped. I went a bit overbaord and got 

two more cams for myself, which makes three, and a few more for friends 

of the Pixel Faith who really dig the Cam. It's been said before, But get 

one. If I had had similar foresight 10 years ago when I got my trusty 

Pixel for $100 at TRU.....



Also- The Tyco vid cams are down to $50 now, with out an orange tag yet so 

I'll bet they'll be going for $30-40 sometime soon, at which point I 

might get one to compliment my 2000. 



With multiple FPFPM's I can shoot with one while the other(s) print, and 

also experiment. Last night I took two cameras and made a decent 

fascimily of a 3D image by taking simultaneuos picture of an object with 

the lenses as close together as possible (somewhatclose to eye width with 

the cams placed top to top sideways). By placing the two pictures 

together, defocusing and refocusing my eyes, I could get a passable 3D 

effect (If anyone is familiar with how 3D images of proteins and 

molecules are published in bioscience journals, you know how this works)

As soon as I mount the cameras better and build or find a stereoscope 

viewer I think my results will improve. I'd be interested if anyone 

knoews more about this, and I'll update when I get it to work better. 



One camera has a few mods- all Pink is gone, replaced by super industrial 

perma marker black. The leash will go soon too- any outdoor supply store 

can cut and melt one of a diff color easily. A switch now turns of the 

delightful tune, which is especially useful when doing the dual camera 

thing, it's quite the cacophony when two are singing at once. I keep a 

laminated folder taped to the bottom to hold prints when they come out to 

keep them flat and protected. I usually leave the contrast switch to 

dark, contrary to the manual's instructions. (pseudo exposure bracketing 

becomes a little more possible on intermediate, but I find more images 

washed out than too dark usually. 



Anyway, even though I'm a perpetual grad student, I'm still a Toy's R Us 

Kid...



Steve