“Digiscoping”, based on methods of marrying your digital camera to a conventional optical device, is an off-the-shelf solution for TreeHugger closeups of birds, concerts, and sporting events. The better way is to adapt a decent digital camera, which you may already have and spent a lot of time learning to link to your computer, to fit with a decent spotting scope. Link and Link.
Digital microscopy systems can cost thousands of dollars but a very useful model can be assembled by using one decent compound microscope and consumer products that cost less than $150. Many hopitals and universities have retired micorscopes that can be adapted to this task. The plans found here show how to modify a commonly found microscope. Thanks Dan! Link.
A MAKER profile of Natalie Jeremijenko, building toxic sensing robot dogs from discarded toys, as read by Dale Dougherty, MAKE publisher. This is an enhanced podcast: it will play audio and show the actual pages of MAKE Magazine from volume 02 when you click on them. We hope to do more of these, so please let us know what you think. iTunes: Click this link and click SUBSCRIBE. View the comments for more info (the MAKE iTunes feeds has tons of free articles and more from the mag)…
Here’s how to make an ultra-cheap external cell phone antenna from coax cable and a hangar. You’ll need- A wire pants hanger. A length of coax cable (2′ should do). A plug that fits into your phone’s external antenna jack on your phone. (or be prepared to rig something together) Link.
The principles of its operation are simple: The fan creates an air flow which is cooled by contact with the 4 bottles full of ice. In this way, the temperature of the air flow is reduced to a more tolerable level. The more bottles the better… You must closely watch it unless you want a swimming pool on your carpet or floors. [via] Link.
I was bidding on a CVS camera to hack, and eBay pulled the auction. I am not sure why. Dear phillip m torrone- The following listing: 7536840005 – CVS One Time Use Digital Video Camcorder With Sound – has been removed from eBay for violating eBay policy. Since this listing was removed, you are not required to complete the transaction. For a complete list of eBay’s policies, please visit. Any ideas?
Great how to…I still enjoy the aesthetic of black and white a great deal, and of course have tried to get the “look” I like in digital as well. Thanks to a lot of experimentation, some reading up, and tips from people who are a lot better at it than I am, I’m finally starting to see the kinds of results I wanted. In particular, thanks to Jim Fuglestad, aka Shutter at DPReview, who thought up the “dodge and soft light” technique described in this essay. Link.
