cx interval shooting

[wymjym]

Hi,
Yesterday it started to snow and for us in south central Texas, that is something to behold.
At any rate, I set up the little CX1 and started firing off shots every five minutes, hoping to get a nice time lapse sequence. The oem, freshly charged battery went dead in @ 3 hours time. I had the lcd off. I replaced the battery with an generic, fully charged and it went dead in two hours...put the freshly charged oem back in a got three hours...got tired of this and quit.
Is there any way I can power the CX series other than via battery?
wj

 

[odklizec]

Hi wj,

Yes, it's very unfortunate the Ricoh cameras are dead so soon in the timelapse mode. It's evident that the CPU/sensor and other electronic are still under the power and so the battery does not last very long. Your only hope is an optional power adapter described here:
http://ricoh.com/r_dc/option/ac/

Looking at the below table of compatible adapters and cameras, AC-4g is the only compatible option for CX1/2 (CX1/2 are directly compatible with R10).
http://ricoh.com/r_dc/option/ac/adapt.html

The problem is, that these adapters are usually not in stock anywhere outside the Japan. You can ask your CX seller (popflash?) about the actual availability of this adapter and if he can order it.

 

[wymjym]

Hi Pavel,
Thanks for the info. Looking closer at the adapters they appear to require the battery door to remain open…tricky trying to mount camera on tripod or even set on a table top while using the interval shooting settings.
So what to do? Look more closely at my NikonnDSLR manual only to discover that is the better solution for me.
I’m still closely following CX3 postings…….I’m most interested in seeing just how significant the nr controls are on the images.
Re: fur and feathers
This is my most trusted test of detail rendering.
I have found that the CX1, if set at iso80 and requiring a longish shutter speed will have less detail (especially my kitties fur) than if set at iso auto in the same situation. Not camera shake but rather the nr must be smoothing details, not what I prefer.
wj

 

[odklizec]

Hi Pavel,
Thanks for the info. Looking closer at the adapters they appear to require the battery door to remain open…tricky trying to mount camera on tripod or even set on a table top while using the interval shooting settings.

Nono, this is one of the clever small details of Ricoh cameras There is a small plastic tab at bottom of each Ricoh camera. If open, it allows lead the adapter wire through a small hole usually covered by this tab. So the battery compartment door can be safely closed.

 

[wymjym]

thanks again, my old eyes missed that and I assumed the worst.....sad that I have started to accept all of the short comings of 'new improved' cameras as part of the upgrade.
Once again, these small CX units should get more press in the USA...I know that every person (with photo interests) I have shown the CX1 to (and some of its abilities)
have come away thoroughly impressed. As a matter of fact my CX1 is promised to a relative rather than going out onto the chopping block called Ebay.
wj

 

[tolomea]

If you lock down as much of the settings as possible it will increase battery life.
The notion here is that unless your subject requires it you don't want the camera recalculating exposure, focus, aperture, white balance etc per shot. Focus in particular as it requires driving the lens motors.

 

[rui fernandes]

Nono, this is one of the clever small details of Ricoh cameras There is a small plastic tab at bottom of each Ricoh camera. If open, it allows lead the adapter wire through a small hole usually covered by this tab. So the battery compartment door can be safely closed.

Pavel, thanks for clarifying this. Coming from the R/4 to the GX200 I wasen't awere of that "little" improvment. Imagine what I felt looking at the little plastic cover hanging out one of this days... so I went to Ricoh site checking teh external parts and found it. But I wasen't sure about how it works... clever solution, yes! When did it was introduced?

Re: fur and feathers
This is my most trusted test of detail rendering.
I have found that the CX1, if set at iso80 and requiring a longish shutter speed will have less detail (especially my kitties fur) than if set at iso auto in the same situation. Not camera shake but rather the nr must be smoothing details, not what I prefer.
wj

wj, I've learned how to use flash to do it.. Of course its not as natural as without it, but the flash can be controled to a minimum power and allows the tricky shots like these. I use it a lot for macro too ;-)

 

[wymjym]

Rui,
yep, the flash does work quite well in the CX line. My kitties have a hard enough time without me blasting their eyes but in some macro flower shots I've been thrilled with the results.
The CX line is small enough that I can hold,prop and lean it in such weird angles that I find some interesting shot opportunities which probably would not exist (or at least work) with a larger body (GXR).
So..for the time being I'm happy with the CX3.

Pavel,
Is there any rumor of a wireless remote on the horizon?

wj