How to hide Camera

This thread seems to be going the same direction as a bus stuck on left hand lock.
 
cosmicma said:
the more i read this thread the more it sounds like a wind up
i have a friend who is very clued up on bus history he's even wrote a few books about the subject and he has never heard anything like the subject matter of this thread
http://www.mdsbooks.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/8322/s/Super Prestige 31 Independent Buses in North West England/

it might be worth while having a look at this site
http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/

it might give you some inspiration :)
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You wait for one link about busses then two turn up at once. Typical!
 
Allow me to turn this thread around

Anyone care to read my previous post, I updated my situation (MOD EDIT:see below, in case you missed it!)

Professor1991 said:
After seeing someone walking around with a DSLR taking photos of buses in town centre without a care for anyone else, I've decided to implement the advice of my peers on this site.

I like the idea of a project and taking photos to supplement it. Can anyone expand on that, I'd like to be covered in case !
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I'd forget the "project" idea, just turn-up with your camera, notebook and cagoule, be very smiley and wavey, and all "Hello mate, mind if I take a couple of shots of the buses for my collection?"

There are dozens of bus special interest groups on Flickr, I imagine all the bus garages and bus stations are quite used to it. You could even write to the bus company and ask if they do tours or an open day.
 
But remember that bus garages are workplaces, with big, heavy buses moving in a confined area. Be sensible, don't wander into areas you shouldn't.
 
Hey all, just providing an update, it was daunting at first but with time, I'll get used to it.

I just wanted advice, I've managed acquire a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60. Its a great camera although I'm having trouble with certain aspects. I cant seem to set the control ring to manual focus. Another thing is, in the custom mode I add digital zoom and whilst it gets saved initially, when I switch between modes, it doesn't seem to have been saved
 
Not familiar with the Panasonic TZ60 but I'll bet there's a page in the manual (possibly only available online or on the disk in the box) that'll tell you how to go about it. As for digital zoom, you're probably better off shooting without it then zooming in on whatever area you want to have closer up afterwards.
 
Nod said:
Not familiar with the Panasonic TZ60 but I'll bet there's a page in the manual (possibly only available online or on the disk in the box) that'll tell you how to go about it. As for digital zoom, you're probably better off shooting without it then zooming in on whatever area you want to have closer up afterwards.
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I cant find it within a manual, I managed to get into the settings and the manual focus option isn't their.
 
Sounds like you've moved on from concealing to using super distance zoom. Get closer, join a street walk with others to get used to it. Long distance zoom is just a creepy as concealing it.

You seem to be making this unnecessary hard for yourself. Honestly nobody care about you taking photos of buses when do it obvious. You are not drawing attention to yourself at all. On the contrary the more obvious the less people notice you.
 
dejongj said:
Sounds like you've moved on from concealing to using super distance zoom. Get closer, join a street walk with others to get used to it. Long distance zoom is just a creepy as concealing it.

You seem to be making this unnecessary hard for yourself. Honestly nobody care about you taking photos of buses when do it obvious. You are not drawing attention to yourself at all. On the contrary the more obvious the less people notice you.
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I've moved on from the concealing, if anything the zoom is done in a more blatant fashion as to capture whats in the background and further away.

This is my first proper camera hence I'm trying to mess around with its features
 
Professor1991 said:
This was my worry about posting this question ! Essentially today I visited a few bus garages and while I don't mind walking up and past them, Its a different thing to pull out a bridge camera and start shooting, I'm not 1 who likes to draw attention to himself which was the case. My idea of hiding a camera would be probably on my bag so I'll pretend on I'm on my phone walk past, admire yet also be be taking shots on my phone by manipulating the camera via the app. I hope that makes sense

Im fully aware of spy kits but thats not what Im after !
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...aside from everything else, your photos would likely be crap. Composition is pretty important!
 
Professor1991 said:
Hey all, just providing an update, it was daunting at first but with time, I'll get used to it.

I just wanted advice, I've managed acquire a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60. Its a great camera although I'm having trouble with certain aspects. I cant seem to set the control ring to manual focus. Another thing is, in the custom mode I add digital zoom and whilst it gets saved initially, when I switch between modes, it doesn't seem to have been saved
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I wouldn't bother with digital zoom. Why would you?

If you need to "zoom" further past the optical zoom, just crop in post processing :)
 
Professor1991 said:
I've moved on from the concealing, if anything the zoom is done in a more blatant fashion as to capture whats in the background and further away.

This is my first proper camera hence I'm trying to mess around with its features
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The tz60 has the equivalent of a 24-720mm zoom lens. Being fully at 720mm is extreme, very few people with a dslr have such capability. Having a tz70 myself as a pocket backup, the extreme end of the zoom is not great, but also covers a huge distance away. Not very sharp unless brilliant light and using a tripod. I'd stay away. Unless you want to read what it says on their notice board ;)
 
dejongj said:
The tz60 has the equivalent of a 24-720mm zoom lens. Being fully at 720mm is extreme, very few people with a dslr have such capability.
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umm that's 35mm FoV equivalence, so anyone with a 500mm (or a zoom with 500mm like the 150-500 etc) on a crop body has that capability
 
dejongj said:
The tz60 has the equivalent of a 24-720mm zoom lens. Being fully at 720mm is extreme, very few people with a dslr have such capability. Having a tz70 myself as a pocket backup, the extreme end of the zoom is not great, but also covers a huge distance away. Not very sharp unless brilliant light and using a tripod. I'd stay away. Unless you want to read what it says on their notice board ;)
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I don't really use the full extent of the zoom, even when I use the zoom, its just to capture the buses parked at the back
 
you are better off using the optical zoom than only using part of it and adding digital zoom though
 
Saw a topless bus in town yesterday, and I immediately thought of this thread.

Wonder how the bus photos are coming along ?
 
jonbeeza said:
Saw a topless bus in town yesterday, and I immediately thought of this thread.

Wonder how the bus photos are coming along ?
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Topless??

That's a whole new level of bus photography :)
 
One thing that you didn't consider.....how many bus enthusiasts work at bus garages. You will be amongst friends and like minded people!
 
As a bus driver perhaps I can offer my bit!

If you take my bus garage as an example all staff have to wear a hi viz jacket in all bus movement areas and all members of the public have to report to reception. If you wish to take picture of buses inside at the depot you would need to write to the depot manager for permission. Alternatively you could always stand across the road from the garage and take pictures as they come in and out of the bus garage.

One other thing please don't use a flash when photographing buses! Had one bad example once. As I was pulling out of a bus station in service this guy, on the other side of the road, got his camera out. It was dark. First of all camera produces a red light pre flash. Then the camera flash gun fired again and again. I got it right in the eyes and it affected my eyes for several minutes and I had passengers on board the bus!

Most bus drivers, me included, don't mind people photographing buses but please always think of safety.
 
I remember the old bus terminal at the Pier Head in Liverpool, it had a good backdrop of the Liver buildings. Rows and rows of buses all parked up with the driver having his/her break reading the paper at the wheel. I remember as a kid, how fascinating it was reading their destinations on the front of the bus. Not sure if there are any places left like this :thinking:
 
Allow me to give an update, I decided to go all out and go for it. I've been to a few garages and while I dont come across as some type of professional photographer, I'm making it known all I'm doing is photographing buses. I occasionally wear a hood, I took that off to make myself known to CCTV, otherwise a cloaked man with a camera isnt an image I want to convey !
 
I do a lot of street photography. No one has ever objected, the idea is to see interesting things or situations and take a image to catch the moment. However, the only time I have had an adverse reaction was from a bus driver who agressively give me the V sign, which made a great photo. The thing was I wasn't photographing him, he just happenned to drive into my frame.
Good look with your photography, if you get serious try he Canon 5D3 its superb in my opinion.
 
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