Download Camera Alternative
Mardell Lessig
Camera Alternative is free and easy to use. It records everything your camera can record. You can take photos, video, and even edit them. It also controls the flash, allowing you to capture the perfect moment. However, it lacks image enhancement features and is incredibly lightweight. You'll find that many other software applications offer similar features, but at a lower price. A free version of Camera Alternative is available online. If you'd like to try it, click the button below.
I am working on a project that requires a custom camera view in react-native. And the best option I found is react-native-camera but lack of maintenance, it is deprecated now. So I searched a lot of libraries in react-native but did not found.
Hey all - thinking about live streaming with PS4. Do I need to get the Playstation Camera (not cheap at $40) or can I hook up a regular webcam to my PS4 and do the same thing? Any affordable alternatives to the Playstation Camera?
Does anyone have a good alternative to what used to be "snap camera" for a PC? Something that has a LOT of makeup, lipstick, hair, eyelash, skin filters? I've found a couple but they only have about 10 filters.
I want to make subtle exposure modulations in the white dress in the center of this image where there are shadows inside the blue box. I would normally use the paintbrush in Adobe Camera Raw but this image is too big. I tried making a selection of the dress and making that a Smart Object and adding Camera Raw Filter but it must be referencing the entire file as it says it's still too big. For most things where I can't use Camera Raw Filter I have figured out alternatives using adjustment masks but I can't do that here. I want to lighten the shadows so they blend in with the rest of the dress. I tried creating a selection of the dress; adding a Curves adjustment layer; lightening the selection; selecting the paintbrush and painting over the parts of the dress I don't want to be lightened (the non-shadows part) but this didn't work well, I couldn't get fine enough control over the shadows. Can anyone suggest a way to achieve this objective? Thank you.
You just need to copy the layer or area in question, mask it, then use Shadow/Highlights. I find that it provides a good start point before curves, however, unlike a raw camera image, it will not perform "magic" if the highlights are blown out.
Thanks Chuck. I watched a video by Aaron Nace on Curves and am using the technique he showed: 1. create the curves layer; 2. make the adjustment; 3. fill the mask with black to hide the adjustment; 4. paint with white where you want the adjustment to show up. I am having to add successive layers to create value shifts from the shadow area to the non shadow area as it is gradual; but I am getting better at it. I think it justs takes practice. It's the layer alternative to adding new pins in Camera Raw Filter where you can paint with varying values.
I've been contemplating getting an inexpensive medium format film camera, just to test the water, as it were (haven't used film since high school), and the Holga 120N is rather attractive because of the price ($25) and the format (6x6).
The optics and quality of the camera body aren't big selling points for me though, and I was wondering if anyone could recommend an alternative camera for around the same price, but with a better quality build and optics (something on ebay maybe?).
Any particular camera bodies that you're a fan of that take a readily available and fairly inexpensive medium format B&W film?
4:54AM, 10 February 2008 PST(permalink)
Agfa Isola II. Just bought one on eBay but haven't used it yet. You can also get some older TLRs and old Russian cameras that are reasonable. Do seacrh on "medium format".
ages ago(permalink)
Rolleicord II with a Triotar lens.
Because of the Triotar lens, which was bottom of the Zeiss range for Rollei TLR models, there's less ridiculousness of demand, so the prices for such items are surprisingly low. I paid about 20 for mine a few years ago, which is marginally but distinctly less than a Holga would've been. The lens quality far outstrips a Holga, and also a Lubitel, and has proved to be one of the better bargains I've experienced. Luckily it all works fine, and despite being about 60 years old, probably will continue to (it's pretty simple construction, but very solid).
It's only when you're comparing a Carl Zeiss Triotar to a more premium lens on a higher model of Rollei that it may (or even may not) prove lacking, but for most photography it's perfectly ideal, and does the job nicely. I like it. But just because it was the bottom of the Carl Zeiss range doesn't mean it's bad - it can probably outperform many competing mid-range lenses with ease. It really is a nice one, and because it's not sought-after, the price is comfortable too. I've got a fair few pics in my photoblurt, if you search on "Rolleicord II" or Triotar or such.
I used to have a Lubitel many years ago and I would regard it as a waste of film - you'd be better off putting that film in a decent camera. I've never owned a Holga, but I suspect I'd think the same thing, perhaps more pronounced.
ages ago(permalink)
Many years ago in the before-digital time, I read an article in American Photographer - they shot the same test shots with a Holga and a Hasselblad. At print sizes under 11x14" you could hardly tell the difference - certainly at the 5x7"-ish print reproduction in the magazine they were identical - which suggests that most inkjet prints up to about 8x10" would show no difference in image quality between a Holga and a 'Blad.
The Holga had a bit of distortion at the edges, so you may need to crop if it bothers you.
On the other hand- the 'Blad and similar cameras take more lenses, and other bits, and is definitely better built.
And worth saying - there was some difference - just not as much as they expected, and the 'Blad is several thousand % more money for a not very large increase in image quality.
Since you can get a Rollei TLR for next to nothing, I 'd go for that, but Holga may be worth a try anyway.
ages ago(permalink)
Any type of Rolleicord or Rolleiflex would be your best bet in the long run. But that also depends on whether you're thinking long term or short term.
Why throw your money away on an inferior camera when you can either save up, or if you've got it now, just go ahead with a proper TLR.
Personally I don't believe a word as Holga vs Hassy. There is no way on Earth a plastic lens in a plastic camera can beat Zeiss glass. Period.
Do a search on ePay, and see what you can come up with in your price range. You may be pleasently surprised. But if you're looking to only spend around $40, I'd have to say you'd most likely be out of luck, and would need to save up more.
Rolleijoe
ages ago(permalink)
I'm looking for something that's cheap that I can play around with, not really a serious hardware investment of any sort at the moment. Something that doesn't have a plastic lens would be nice, but anything above US $45 is too much. Which kind of eliminates a large number of the nicer medium format cameras some of you have been mentioning heh :(
ages ago(permalink)
I suspect that you can either have cheap OR quality... Having said that, I picked up a near-perfect Yashica-Mat for 5 just before Christmas.
As Ian Tindale says, the Rolleicord II is not a bad choice, the Triotar lens is uncoated so will lend a certain look to pictures, but they're certainly built well (I have a 'cord 1 model 2 from the mid 1930's, and the lens is definitely uncoated).
I find the Lubitel not bad - yes it's a 'toy' camera, but the lens is coated and can be bitingly sharp (although not all the way across a frame unless stopped down!). Not as sharp as the Mamiya C33 which I also use....*
Just keep your eyes open, you may be surprised as to what you might pick up - there are always plenty of 120 folders available at boot-fairs (UK) - check garage sales in your area :-)
*(yes, I have too many TLRs! Mamiya C33, Yashica-Mat, Lubitel 166B, Rolleicord 1m2)
ages ago(permalink)
Hmmm, some of those folders do indeed look quite nice. How do I go about buying one off ebay that is actually functional and doesn't have a set of broken / leaky bellows? (*has visions of someone selling their grandfather's camera on ebay without knowing if it works at all or not*) Any particular tips or recommendations on that front?
ages ago(permalink)
There are also plenty of other odd box and folding cameras out there. I'd go to a flea market or swap meet and actually look at the thing. On the other hand, I've bought several 120 cameras on ebay and had good luck overall. My favorite bargain was a Japanese folder from the 50's that is called the Zenobia. It was a bit rough but it took little effort to clean it up.
ages ago(permalink)
"just that it was surprisingly close at small enlargements."
Huh? Holga images are just too distinctive for that to be believable. I'd the camera in a totally different category from 'normal' 6x6 cameras. I can easily tell the difference between my Holga and Bronica SQ-A shots at screen resolution. If those results were really that similar at common print sizes, Hasselblad users and Holga users would BOTH be very dissapointed...
Now if they were talking about Yashicamat (or Autocord, etc) vs Hasselblad with a normal lens, then yes, the differences would probably be imperceptible at common print sizes.
ages ago(permalink)
TLR's are IMHO the best bang for buck in medium format. Some have awesome lenses and due to the lack of moving mirrors and removable backs tend to be lighter and more compact. My rolleiflex is small, light at 1 kg and seamingly invisible when hanging round my neck with the viewfinder down. Also (and this is more important than I ever dreamed) they have Wee Feet. Yes, little feet on the bottom which you can sit the camera on any flat surface and have rock steady pictures. I cannot tell you how useful this is!!
I have heard that the Minolta Autocord is of the TLR's the best value for money and that the rokkor lenses are great. I love my rollei, though (and it cost less than my Canon 50mm F1.8 markII !!)
ages ago(permalink)