Ian_A
Avocadopearaphobe
Reged: 02/09/2002
Posts: 7897
Loc: Horwich UK
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I've been asked at work to look into the idea of photographing drawings using a digital camera in order to save costs on having thousands of scans done. My approach will be to do a few tests using a D200 and 50mm lens to get an idea of what can be achieved and if the quality is likely to be satisfactory.
If it's decided to go the photographic route, I'll be recommending my company buys a camera, macro lens and some lights to do the job - I'm not going to wear out my equipment for them!
Has anyone tried copying technical drawings with a digital camera? Would lines on a A0 drawing as thin as 0.18mm be visible on an 11MP camera?
It's said that people who ask for advice usually know the answer anyway. So just tell me I need a Nikon D3 with 105mm macro lens, and I promise to nurse it carefully in its dotage when the job is done ... 
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Ian A 
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daft_biker
Action Man!
Reged: 11/10/2006
Posts: 7697
Loc: Doon the glen
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You might be better with a Canon 1Ds mk3 and a 50mm macro unless you've got tons of room or are doing pics in sections?
Then again, doubt you'll really need a macro lens.....a nice tilt and shift lens would likely have good enough drawing and go close enough? 
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Andrew (BSRIPN) ... Pics.
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Siuya
Cool Hand Chris
Reged: 21/07/2001
Posts: 9767
Loc: Knackers yard!
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Unfortunately, 11MP is not enough 
The only solution is 31MP...
Get the right tool for the job - you know it makes sense - a snip at £18,000 odd 
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Chris
The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it (AA)
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Ian_A
Avocadopearaphobe
Reged: 02/09/2002
Posts: 7897
Loc: Horwich UK
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Quote:
You might be better with a Canon 1Ds mk3 and a 50mm macro unless you've got tons of room or are doing pics in sections?
Then again, doubt you'll really need a macro lens.....a nice tilt and shift lens would likely have good enough drawing and go close enough?
I don't want to hear that solution - I end up with a camera which isn't compatible with my existing system!
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Ian A
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Ian_A
Avocadopearaphobe
Reged: 02/09/2002
Posts: 7897
Loc: Horwich UK
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Quote:
Unfortunately, 11MP is not enough
The only solution is 31MP...
Get the right tool for the job - you know it makes sense - a snip at £18,000 odd
Now that's tempting but ... I don't think I could persuade the company to part with that much dosh ...
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Ian A
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daft_biker
Action Man!
Reged: 11/10/2006
Posts: 7697
Loc: Doon the glen
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Quote:
Quote:
You might be better with a Canon 1Ds mk3 and a 50mm macro unless you've got tons of room or are doing pics in sections?
Then again, doubt you'll really need a macro lens.....a nice tilt and shift lens would likely have good enough drawing and go close enough?
I don't want to hear that solution - I end up with a camera which isn't compatible with my existing system!
Ah but I was thinking about something like this in the 2nd part. I know I'd like one.....
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Andrew (BSRIPN) ... Pics.
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Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 20929
Loc: Currently Unknown!
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Ian,
Part of my last job was to copy drawings and maps. It all depends on what the drawings are of. If they are technical drawings you might be out of look.
For example: Trying to get a photo of a A3 hand printed map from the 1800's, so people could actually look at the details on the map proved impossible.
In the end they were all scanned on a A3+ scanner.
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Fen .......... My Galleries - My Blog - My Flickr
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Wheelman
Reged: 23/11/2002
Posts: 832
Loc: Kent/Sussex border
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What is the intended use of the computerised drawings Ian?
If they are to be used purely as a reference A4 copy you might get away with a camera but if they are to be used as the basis for new CAD produced drawings even a good flat bed scan requires a fair amount of work to make it useable.
We had some done for a hospital in Putney and while they were reasonably to scale in one direction, dims at 90 degrees were considerably out due to the paper of the original print/Negative stretching more in the long dimension than the short. In the end we ended up using them purely to write the dimensions on when we re-surveyed it all.....
What size are they? I have A1 here I can try and copy on my 5D and 20-35 to see if it's acceptable (or even the 17mm with an adapter)and as I use 0.1mm lines it should be a reasonably harsh test.
A lot will also depend on contrast of the original-older drawings may well have faded-particularly if they are dyeline prints
Edit
OOps just re-read orignal post and they are A0-so just have to stick two A1s together!
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Colin
IRIPN
When you don't know where you are going then any road will do
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Bawbee
Out on a whim
Reged: 06/05/2000
Posts: 7067
Loc: Dundee, Scotland, UK
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Ian,
Another consideration, for a true representation, is that you would need to ensure that the drawings are flat, without any folds and the camera positioned correctly. IMO this would be labour intensive and, therefore, more expensive than scanning.
Edit: I assume that the drawings are hardcopy and that no electronic copies are currently available?
Bob
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Bawbee BSRIPN
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
Bawbee Louis Stevenson 1850-1894
Edited by Bawbee (10/10/2008 20:26)
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GeoffR
Reged: 31/05/2003
Posts: 3837
Loc: Bucks
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We have several tens of thousand A4 pages scanned every year by a company that specialises in just this sort of work. This is far more efficient and accurate than using a camera could ever be and cheaper. I suggest that if the drawings are to be of any use scanning will prove to be the better solution. All our current drawings are CAD anyway so we only scan old drawings and hand written log pages.
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deddard
journeyman
Reged: 11/03/2008
Posts: 97
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Quote:
Quote:
Unfortunately, 11MP is not enough
The only solution is 31MP...
Get the right tool for the job - you know it makes sense - a snip at £18,000 odd
Now that's tempting but ... I don't think I could persuade the company to part with that much dosh ...
Show them this page, let their jaws drop whilst you explain why it's such a good deal.
Argue the point and then chuck in that you can actually get it for around £12k. I'm sure they'll think it's a bargain 
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staccato123
enthusiast
Reged: 06/09/2006
Posts: 205
Loc: Leeds, West Yorkshire
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I think that even the Hassleblad is unlikely to compete with a dedicated A0 scanner - apparently they're only about four grand
Edited by staccato123 (11/10/2008 08:48)
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Malcolm_Stewart
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2583
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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I know you said "digital" ...
Before digital hit the photography scene, we archived our data by microfilming to 16mm roll film, and to fiche for A4 documents; and a larger version, Aperture Cards (thin card about 8" x3" with a window), were used to hold a photograph of drawings up to A0. They're still available:-
See here
We used early databases to record what was on which film etc. and where stored. The beauty of any non digital method of recording is that the archival properties of the technique are well researched, and you're not at the whim of a change in digital OS / standard. In extremis an optical microscope can see what the data is.
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Malcolm Stewart
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IvorETower
Little Buttercup
Reged: 15/11/2006
Posts: 1760
Loc: Camberley, Surrey
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Have you looked at modern office photocopiers? Many have built-in scanning attached, outputting to a network. We have one at work; it's ace
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Too many cameras, too many lenses.......
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Bawbee
Out on a whim
Reged: 06/05/2000
Posts: 7067
Loc: Dundee, Scotland, UK
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Quote:
Have you looked at modern office photocopiers? Many have built-in scanning attached, outputting to a network. We have one at work; it's ace
Yes, they are good, but can the one at your work do up to A0 (841mm × 1189mm)?
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Bawbee BSRIPN
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
Bawbee Louis Stevenson 1850-1894
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Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 20929
Loc: Currently Unknown!
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Do you think the OP will ever come back?
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Fen .......... My Galleries - My Blog - My Flickr
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37887
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Quote:
Do you think the OP will ever come back?
Nah, looks like one of those fly-by posters to me.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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