one panasonical idea at DVinfo.net

Frank Granovski · April 30th, 2004, 01:12 AM

I have often wondered why there's never been a small hand-held shaped like a gun. We have everything else from poker to puffy and some that look like a bun. A pistol shaped cam would be easy to hold and easy to point (tripod sales would plummet). No need for a cam bag either; a holster would be all that you'd need. The stop/start button could be the trigger, so all you'd have to do is whip it out, point and shoot. Come on, this is one hell of an idea.

Rich Lee · April 30th, 2004, 01:57 AM

Thats a great idea Frank! I think news reporters should use them exclusively....or poparatzi, image some movie star running like a panzy at the site of a reporter with a dv hand canon shaped like a desert eagle. would be great for Reporters covering presidential campaings or inaugurations too.

Goodtimes...

How about a sony cam fit into the housing of an ak-47? Or maybe like this...

http://members.ams.chello.nl/a.wichmann2/konicaguncam.jpg

http://www.usia.com/Images/gun_camera_cord_big.jpg

Frank Granovski · April 30th, 2004, 02:27 AM

That's exactly one of the things I was thinking. If you wanted to go overseas for a holiday, all you'd need is a one-way ticket. CNN should outfit all of their camera people with one of these. Instead of talking heads, we'd see running puppets on CNN TV.

Rich Lee · April 30th, 2004, 02:56 AM

i often run around pretending my tripod is some sort of machine gun.

Frank Granovski · April 30th, 2004, 03:27 AM

And I pretend my cordless drill gun is a ray gun.

Federico Dib · April 30th, 2004, 08:03 AM

Somehow this idea makes me think that the number of casualties of reporters on war zones or a few conflictive cities will increase a "little bit".

Sorry if this takes the fun out of the idea.. but I just imagined myself "recording" a police "officer" in "duty" in my hometown with this camera... and I think those will probably be the last images I´ll ever shoot.

(notice al the " ".? .. these are used for "sarcasm"...)

Frank Granovski · April 30th, 2004, 11:05 AM

I still think a pistal-shaped cam is one bang of an idea.

Michael Wisniewski · April 30th, 2004, 11:22 AM

A pistol grip might work for smaller cams, but it would be hell on your wrists after more than 10 minutes, I might be able to manage a ZR60, but I can't imagine holding a VX2000 for long that way,

Not to mention the nauseating footage from the lack of stability.

Perhaps a rifle design would be better - something like an M-16 rifle, with the battery where the magazine cartridge is.

But then there's still the issue of getting mistakenly shot for carrying a "weapon".

Federico Dib · April 30th, 2004, 12:16 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Michael Wisniewski :
But then there's still the issue of getting mistakenly shot for carrying a "weapon". -->>>

That´s what I was talking about before... anyway...

The FrankCam (pistol Shaped cam) should have a 4:3 or 16:9 frame laser to select the exact point you want framed and a circular focus laser for.. well focus the shot.
This way there´s no need to use a viewfinder.

Of course the RIFLE VERSION should have more zoom and should be easier to have more stable shots.

Michael Wisniewski · April 30th, 2004, 08:20 PM

Federico,

The laser guided camcorder is a great idea!

I'm off to buy a laser pointer, then I'm going to duct tape it to my camcorder.

I figure if I aim the laser right above image (so it doesn't show up on tape) I can guesstimate most shots pretty accurately.

April 30th, 2004, 01:12 AM	#1
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	one panasonical idea I have often wondered why there's never been a small hand-held shaped like a gun. We have everything else from poker to puffy and some that look like a bun. A pistol shaped cam would be easy to hold and easy to point (tripod sales would plummet). No need for a cam bag either; a holster would be all that you'd need. The stop/start button could be the trigger, so all you'd have to do is whip it out, point and shoot. Come on, this is one hell of an idea.

April 30th, 2004, 01:57 AM	#2
Rich Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles Ca Posts: 126	Thats a great idea Frank! I think news reporters should use them exclusively....or poparatzi, image some movie star running like a panzy at the site of a reporter with a dv hand canon shaped like a desert eagle. would be great for Reporters covering presidential campaings or inaugurations too. Goodtimes... How about a sony cam fit into the housing of an ak-47? Or maybe like this... http://members.ams.chello.nl/a.wichmann2/konicaguncam.jpg http://www.usia.com/Images/gun_camera_cord_big.jpg __________________ Rich Lee http://www.rich-lee.com

April 30th, 2004, 02:56 AM	#4
Rich Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles Ca Posts: 126	i often run around pretending my tripod is some sort of machine gun. __________________ Rich Lee http://www.rich-lee.com

April 30th, 2004, 08:03 AM	#6
Federico Dib Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Barcelona Posts: 312	Somehow this idea makes me think that the number of casualties of reporters on war zones or a few conflictive cities will increase a "little bit". Sorry if this takes the fun out of the idea.. but I just imagined myself "recording" a police "officer" in "duty" in my hometown with this camera... and I think those will probably be the last images I´ll ever shoot. (notice al the " ".? .. these are used for "sarcasm"...) __________________ Messenger Boy : The Thessalonian you're fighting, he's the biggest man I've ever seen. I wouldn't want to fight him. Achilles : That is why no one will remember your name.

April 30th, 2004, 12:16 PM	#9
Federico Dib Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Barcelona Posts: 312	<<<-- Originally posted by Michael Wisniewski : But then there's still the issue of getting mistakenly shot for carrying a "weapon". -->>> That´s what I was talking about before... anyway... The FrankCam (pistol Shaped cam) should have a 4:3 or 16:9 frame laser to select the exact point you want framed and a circular focus laser for.. well focus the shot. This way there´s no need to use a viewfinder. Of course the RIFLE VERSION should have more zoom and should be easier to have more stable shots. __________________ Messenger Boy : The Thessalonian you're fighting, he's the biggest man I've ever seen. I wouldn't want to fight him. Achilles : That is why no one will remember your name.

April 30th, 2004, 02:27 AM	#3
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	That's exactly one of the things I was thinking. If you wanted to go overseas for a holiday, all you'd need is a one-way ticket. CNN should outfit all of their camera people with one of these. Instead of talking heads, we'd see running puppets on CNN TV.

April 30th, 2004, 03:27 AM	#5
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	And I pretend my cordless drill gun is a ray gun.

April 30th, 2004, 11:05 AM	#7
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I still think a pistal-shaped cam is one bang of an idea.

April 30th, 2004, 11:22 AM	#8
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	A pistol grip might work for smaller cams, but it would be hell on your wrists after more than 10 minutes, I might be able to manage a ZR60, but I can't imagine holding a VX2000 for long that way, Not to mention the nauseating footage from the lack of stability. Perhaps a rifle design would be better - something like an M-16 rifle, with the battery where the magazine cartridge is. But then there's still the issue of getting mistakenly shot for carrying a "weapon".

April 30th, 2004, 08:20 PM	#10
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Federico, The laser guided camcorder is a great idea! I'm off to buy a laser pointer, then I'm going to duct tape it to my camcorder. I figure if I aim the laser right above image (so it doesn't show up on tape) I can guesstimate most shots pretty accurately.