dragons den moment

good idea or bad idea?

  • good idea

    Votes: 5 33.3%

  • bad idea

    Votes: 10 66.7%
  • Total voters
    15
J

joescrivens

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Name
Joe
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Yes
Ok,

does this exist and if so is it any good?

When trying to get children to look right in the camera and laugh it can be a challenge. People have assistants to try and get them to laugh or the parents etc. Sometimes it works a treat.

But what about if you don't have an assistant. How about a series of toys that wrap around your camera lens or the body that shoot up or play silly noises right at the moment you need them to.

Maybe they could be just battery controlled with a button near where the DOF button is on the camera so you can press it with your lens holding hand as and when you need to.

Good idea? Bad idea?

I made a crude mockup to show what i mean


Screen shot 2011-10-18 at 12.25.24 by MrJoeBoy, on Flickr
 
Been done before.....I will try and find the link
 
Oooh.. A free red ring! Magic....
 
I would be nervous standing in front of Duncan Bannatyne with it (or the scary new woman!)..
 
looking forward to the link!

i don't want to create it, i just want it
 
hmmm, unless i'm missing something. Those don't look like what I described. They just look like a soft toy that goes around the lens and would get in the way of the metering.

I'm talking about something with a button that popps up, whizzes, spins or makes a sound or any of the above to make them laugh. It needs to be something that happens on demand not just something that is there all the time - would get very dull very quickly

edit - i suppose it has a squeeker. Still not exactly what i mean
 
I have Dave the funky shoulder Monkey.

He sits on my shoulder and talks farts and moves around controlled by the remote in the palm of one hand

http://www.davemonkey.com/
 
joescrivens said:
hmmm, unless i'm missing something. Those don't look like what I described. They just look like a soft toy that goes around the lens and would get in the way of the metering.

I'm talking about something with a button that popps up, whizzes, spins or makes a sound or any of the above to make them laugh. It needs to be something that happens on demand not just something that is there all the time - would get very dull very quickly

edit - i suppose it has a squeeker. Still not exactly what i mean
Click to expand...

how do they get in the way of metering?

These are one version but I have deffo seen one from a UK company too, just can't seem to find it.
 
tiler65 said:
how do they get in the way of metering?

These are one version but I have deffo seen one from a UK company too, just can't seem to find it.
Click to expand...

doh, didn't mean metering, i meant focussing. Like manually it must get in the way of the focus ring cos they are so large. But i suppose it you put it on a lens hood it wouldn't

i'm liking dave the monkey - can you put him on your camera? I want the whole looking down the barrel effect
 
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Never tried puttin him on the camera but I find the shoulder works fine.

He has a velcro bum and a shoulder harness so I guess with a bit of a play he should sit on a lens.
 
PsiFox said:
Never tried puttin him on the camera but I find the shoulder works fine.

He has a velcro bum and a shoulder harness so I guess with a bit of a play he should sit on a lens.
Click to expand...

and the remote - how do you find holding it and the camera and lens at the same time?
 
Not too bad but I have large hands. Some of the functions require 2 button presses but the basic 4 are instantly available. I tend to use the 2x presses to initially attract attention and then 1of the 4 basic presses whilst composing waiting for the moment to shoot.
 
sounds good.

My idea is a little clown or monkey that lays flat on the lens or shrunk down somehow and there is a button on the right hand side of the strap where your thumb sits for a right handed person or is moved to the left for a left handed person.

You press with your thumb to control the pop up and funny noise. What do you think?
 
I think that people could probably just improvise with an existing child's toy and a bit of velcro/duct tape/elastic bands...problem solved for 5p etc...

I suppose the market would be quite small too.

Perhaps you'd consider wearing a clown's nose & big hair?

For your young persons photography I mean :D
 
Lbm said:
I think that people could probably just improvise with an existing child's toy and a bit of velcro/duct tape/elastic bands...problem solved for 5p etc...

I suppose the market would be quite small too.

Perhaps you'd consider wearing a clown's nose & big hair?

For your young persons photography I mean :D
Click to expand...

a clowns nose would be no good, you can't see my nose when i am taking the photo! :lol:
 
joescrivens said:
a clowns nose would be no good, you can't see my nose when i am taking the photo! :lol:
Click to expand...

Ah good point. I'm such an amateur :bonk::D

Ok, how about a special headwand with a toy attached?

...and my work is done.
 
again they are then looking at the top of your head, not down the barrrel

back to the drawing board!
 
Sorry sir, I'm not very good at this. I'm out :)
 
I just play peek-a-boo around the camera body... works for me LOL

Edit:
I think anything that makes your camera look like a great toy will be something you regret when they make a grab for it :eek:
 
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theres a photographer on here that uses them (i think she makes them too). She takes great pics of babies and kids, can't seem to remember her username...
 
she mainly takes photos of newborns asleep though, so not sure these toys are much use to her are they?
 
tiler65 said:
Here you go Joe...I have done more work for you......lol

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BowtiesnFlutterbies/sold

She has about 4 on her page.....maybe you should direct call or mail and ask about her experiences with them.
Click to expand...

I have one of these with a squeeker in. Fits snugly on my 24-70 F2.8L and having used it for a pre-school shoot it does the job, where the squeeker really gets them looking down the lens. Even works on adults too!

Good idea but been done before. I'm out. :bonk:
 
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