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Looking for a camera I can mount to the ceiling to photograph large rugs

Customer Request: Looking for a camera I can mount to the ceiling to photograph rugs.
Ceiling height = 16 feet
Largest Rug dimensions = 12’x15′
Budget: $1000

RECOMMENDED SOLUTION:

Disclaimer#1, this is not the “cheapest solution”, but it’s the solution that I have on hand and can test to make sure the concept works.

Disclaimer#2, you won’t be able to zoom, so you’ll have to set the zoom manually for the larger rugs, and then use digital cropping for the smaller rugs. But you should have plenty of quality, so the cropping won’t hurt the quality much. If you want to find a camera with an electric zoom, you might be able to find one, but I’m not sure if you can find one that has the software as functional as the EOS Utility, which is compatible with these cameras: https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/self-help-center/eos-utility. The EOS Utility is the magic that will make this solution work. With the EOS Utility, you can set the camera on manual settings, and be able to control all the settings from computer. If you are lazy, you can even set the camera to automatic mode. But I would avoid this since if you want to change it to manual mode later, you’ll have to climb up to the camera again.  This EOS tool will let you change the focus point, use auto focus, adjust the whitebalance (if needed), adjust the camera ISO, the Camera Shutter, and the Camera Aputure.  It can obviously take photos and you can see the photos on your computer immediate (and it’s saved on your computer too).

Disclaimer#3, Please use the links below when ordering, these are affiliate links that doesn’t costs you anything extra, but earns this utechpia.com blog a little cash 🙂

The recommend camera (see link below) has a 1.6x crop factor.  With the included 15mm-45mm kit lens, you can set it to 15mm, which will yield a window of 24′ by 16′ when the camera is 16′ away from the rug.

15mm should be plenty wide enough.  Calculator: http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm

You can even shoot at 17mm (to avoid edge distortions):  (everything same as the above calculation, except at 17mm to get a tad better quality and reduce edge distortions).  You will get a window of 21′ x 14′

Canon M50 with included 15mm-45mm kit lens: $699
https://amzn.to/2mP2rHL

AC Adapter (this is great because you can unplug the camera to turn it off, and plug it to turn it on), always keeping the camera switch to ON. $14.99
https://amzn.to/2AcL8tE

You need a long MicroUSB cable. (or use a MicroUSB cable + extensions). Here’s a nice cable that’s 25ft: $14.99
https://amzn.to/2uS23fP

You’ll want something like this to mount the camera to the ceiling: $6.69
https://amzn.to/2uS9OlP

NOTE: Camera will save the files directly to the computer even w/out a memory card. So you don’t need a memory card.

Lastly, you may want some of these nails to run the cable along the ceiling and walls: $4.85

https://amzn.to/2AlrZG3

Looking for a camera camera for basic everyday use, for photos and videos. Cheap and compact.

Kevin: What’s a good camera to have around for basic photos and for some videos.  Under $1000

David:  Hi Kevin, in a nutshell, you have two choices:

  • The Canon G7x Mark II (around $500).  Which is a nice compact point-and-shoot that does fairly good photos and solid videos.  It can fit in your jacket/jeans pocket.  You don’t need to buy any extra lens or any additional accessories (other than memory card and batteries).  All-in-one package that works great, and is compact!  I almost always bring this with me everywhere I go.
  • The other choice is the Canon M50, which does everything that the above camera does, but BETTER.  With the trade-off of being a little BIGGER and more expensive.  If you want the M50, I would recommend you get the kit which comes with the Canon EF-M 15mm-45mm lens (Kit price around $700).
    • Then I’d suggest adding a Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 lens (Around $230)which will give you a shallow depth of field on all your photos and videos, plus it will be great for low light indoor situations.
      • AND/OR adding the Canon EF-M 11-22mm Lens (Around $350), if you want to have wider type of shots.  (great for vlogging).
So those are your two choices that I would recommend.  If you want a more detailed discussion and comparison, please see this blog post https://www.utechpia.com/best-vlogging-cameras/
Let me know if you have any questions!

How to add an email profile picture to any domain email address

Last updated February 2, 2022

If you have a custom email like yourname@yourdomain.com and you send an email to a Gmail user, you’ll notice your email comes in without a profile photo (or profile picture)!  As a business, you’ll certainly want to have a profile photo, either your company logo or your face profile, whatever it is, this helps makes your email more authentic.

In this post, I will show you how to setup your yourname@yourdomain.com account so that when you send an email to a Gmail account, your profile photo will show up!  It does not matter if your email is hosted via hostgator, bluehost, ipage, etc or any webhosting or email hosting solution!  It doesn’t matter if you are sending your email from Gmail, horde, roundcube, SquirrelMail, or any other webmail client!

Bonus tip: did you know you can use your gmail account to send and receive emails from yourname@yourdomain.com email address?  Yep, it’s easy!  You can setup a Gmail account and have it import your yourname@yourdomain.com emails; your Gmail account will also have the option to set emails “as alias” and recipient of your emails will see that it was sent from yourname@yourdomain.com.  Most hosting company will show you how to setup google mail POP3 access like this article for hostgator users: https://support.hostgator.com/articles/google-mail-fetcher

Advertisement: The easiest way to create an email address and use all of Google’s feature is by creating a G Suite Account for your domain email address. I.E. yourname@yourdomain.com. Here’s how to setup a G Suite account .  NOTE: I can generate you a 20% off code, simply email me at david@utechpia.com and ask me for a G Suite Code, let me know if you want a coupon code for G Suite Basic or G Suite Business, and I’ll send you over a 20% off code!

So you probably came to this blog because when you send an email to a Gmail user, the receiving party doesn’t see a profile photo.

The receiving party will see something like this:

What you WANT to see is something like this:

I’ve searched long and hard to find the solution (other than paying for a Gsuite Account)! The solution is simple!

SOLUTION: Simply go to google.com, sign-out of your account. Create a NEW google account, and make sure to select the option to create it using your existing email address. Then use the yourname@yourdomain.com email address. This will create a Google account for your yourname@yourdomain.com. Now that you are sign in, go to google.com and click on the upper right hand corner Icon, it will let you change your profile of your Google account (which is now your Google Plus account linked to yourname@yourdomain.com). In the Google Plus account, simply update your profile photo and save it. It takes a few hours to update, and then BOOM, you’re done! That profile photo will show up as your email profile photo when you send emails as yourname@yourdomain.com!

After doing that, when you send emails, your email profile photo will finally show up! The email avatar is now the Google Plus Profile Photo! Yay!

Step-By-Step Solution:

So the problem we have is that the receiving party does not see a profile image when they receive your email.  Let’s update your profile photo, here are the step-by-step instructions:

Create your Google+ account to setup your email profile photo
  1. Go to Google.com and Sign out of your gmail account.
  2. Go back to Google.com and Click Sign in
  3. Click on the arrow drop down so you can select “other account”
  4. Select the option to Use another account.
  5. Select the option to Create account.
  6. Make sure to click on “Use my current email address instead”
  7. Put the email address you want to use.
  8. Google will send a verification email to your email.
  9. Open the verification email Google sent to your personalized business email (yourname@yourdomain.com) email.
  10. Now go back to your google account creation page, and use the verification code provided in the email to confirm.
  11. Fill out the profile information for your new Google Plus Account!
  12. Read through the Privacy and Terms, and then agree to move forward.
  13. Go back to Google.com, then on the icon on the upper right hand corner, now select it, and then click on the “change” button to change your profile photo!
  14. This step may take a while (maybe up to an hour!), to speed things up, try sending and receiving email for the new email account (back and forth with any gmail account).
  15. After about an hour, you should see the profile photo get updated!
  16. And now when you send an email, your receipt will see the profile photo.

The steps below include photos if you are a more visual person:

1. Go to Google.com and Sign out of your gmail account.

2. Click Sign in

3. Click on the arrow below so you can select “other account”

4. Select the option to Use another account.

5. Select the option to Create account.

6. Make sure to click on Use my current email address instead.

7.  Here’s where you put the email address you want to use.  Also note, if you don’t want a space between your First name and Last name, then just use the First name field and leave the last name blank.  I need up using RareUnicorns for the First name, and left the Last name blank.  So my email name shows up as “RareUnicorns” instead of “Rare Unicorns”.

8. Google will send a verification email to your personalized business email (yourname@yourdomain.com) email.

9. Open the verification email Google sent to your personalized business email (yourname@yourdomain.com) email.

10. Now go back to your google account creation page, and use the verification code provided in the email to confirm.

11. Fill out the profile information for your new Google Plus Account!

12.  Read through the Privacy and Terms, and then agree to move forward.

13. Go back to Google.com, then on the icon on the upper right hand corner, now select it, and then click on the “change” button to change your profile photo!

14. This step may take a while (maybe up to an hour!), to speed things up, try sending and receiving email for the new email account (back and forth with any gmail account).

15. After about an hour, you should see the profile photo get updated, like I see in the above image!

16. And now when you send an email, your receipt will see the profile photo:

I hope this article help!  If you find this article helpful, please share it with family and friends!  Also, feel free to post me a comment below.  If you’re not already subscribed to my YouTube Channel, please consider doing so!  Thanks!

Great Deal on a Canon M50 with 15-45mm lens for $513.31! (or as cheap as $350!)

Last updated May 25, 2018

If you are looking for a brand new Canon M50 (which makes a remarkable Vlogging camera!), you can get a great deal on one right now!

This is the Camera most vloggers have been waiting for! It seriously packs tons of features for an amazing price, it’s also relatively compactly too! This camera is tied as my TOP pick. I have a hard time deciding between the Canon G7x Mark II and the Canon M50. The Canon M50 is a bit larger than the G7x Mark II, and requires the extra complexity of having an interchangeable lens. Here’s where the M50 shines, it has an incredible auto-focus system (Similar video auto-focus performance to the one in Canon’s top of the line 1Dx Mark II which sells for $6000)!, it has an external microphone jack, it has a flip-out screen, and it can record in 4k! However, note that it’s 4k recording mode adds a 1.6x crop and goes back to the old non-reliable contrast detection auto-focus system (similar to that in the G7x Mark II)!

Here’s how to get a GREAT deal on one!

It is selling for: $599.00 on eBay, and with the discounts below, you can get it for as low as $513.31 shipped to your door.  Or get it as cheap as $350!  By taking advantage of eBay Bucks, also, get $150 cash back if you open a new Chase Freedom card (using my referral link), finally get $10 off if you Open a new eBay account (using my referral link)

$599.00 for Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 15-45mm EF-M IS STM Lens Black.  Here’s the item: https://www.ebay.com/itm/332619779080 .  If you don’t have an eBay account, open a new one using this referral link and get $10 off future eBay order: I love eBay and I think you will too! Make your first purchase by May 31 using my referral link and we’ll both get $10 to spend on our next orders! Check it out—fashion, tech, vehicle parts and accessories and more brand new items under $10!- https://ebay.us/E81DXa

-$50.00: using eBay PMEDDAY Coupon.  Use 15% off coupon code, make sure you enter this at checkout!.  The coupon has a maximum discount cap of $50.  So you’ve save $50 with the discount code.  Ends 5/25, 11:59pm PT.

-$27.45: via Chase Freedom PayPal Discount.  If you have a Chase Freedom card, you can active to get 5% cash back if you use PayPal: https://creditcards.chase.com/freedom/activate and pay via PayPal.  If you don’t have a Chase Freedom card, open one using my referral link and get an ADDITIONAL $150 cash back after spending $500!!!  https://www.referyourchasecard.com/2/I4I39NSH1D

-$8.24: via MrRebates.com.  Remember with eBay, you can also sign up for mrrebates.com and get an additional 1.5% rebate.  Please use my referral link:  http://www.mrrebates.com?refid=434661, I’ve earned nearly $10,000 in rebates over the past 10 years!  (although I do spend a lot via online shopping).

Final Cost: $513.31 with FREE Shipping!  (you will also get some eBay Bucks to use for you future eBay purchases too, but I won’t count that into the discount because sometimes people forget to use their eBay Bucks.)

 

The Canon M50 is the best vlogging camera!

Last updated June 2, 2018

After owning and using the Canon M50 for the last few weeks, I can say it’s truly a great value and a marvelous tool for vloggers.  Right now it is on sale on for $200 off!  This deal will NOT last long, especially since this camera was just recently released!

The previous best Vlogging Camera (IMO) is the Canon G7x Mark II.  Which still has it’s PROS and CONS over the Canon M50.  Personally, I have both the Canon G7x Mark II and the Canon M50, and feel they both have their unique purpose, while both overlap as the best Vlogging Cameras out there.

Canon G7x Mark II PROS: everything is builtin, and thus making it easy and error-proof to turn on and start recording.  The G7x Mark II can fit in my jeans pocket!

Canon G7x Mark II CONS: 24mm-100mm effective focal length sometimes isn’t wide enough.  Has a slow and dated autofocus system, does not have an external microphone jack.

Canon M50 PROS: Has the best Autofocus system in the market today, has an External Microphone Jack, has better lowlight capabilities.

Canon M50 CONS: larger than the G7x Mark II, and cannot fit in my jeans pocket anymore.

NOTE: It’s great for 1080p vlogging.  Although it does have the capabilities to record 4K@24fps, this mode is not ideal for vlogging because in 4K mode the camera does not have the Dual Pixel AF system enabled (it goes back to terrible contrast detection), the other disadvantage in 4K is that it adds a 1.6x crop factor (which makes it tricky to get wide shots since you now have an effective 2.56 crop factor). With the effective 2.56x crop factor, the widest EF-M lens, the 11-22mm lens, effective will be a 28.2-56.3mm.
Here's are 11 reasons why this is the perfect camera for vlogging!
  1. Amazing Dual Pixel AF, this is the best autofocus system on any camera right now!  The face tracking mode works wonders (in 1080p mode).  This is the same autofocus system found in Canon’s flagship Canon 1Dx Mark II, a $6000 camera!
  2. It has a flip-out Screen, so you can see yourself, check exposure, check battery life, make sure you are ACTUALLY recording!
  3. It has an external microphone jack for better audio.  I personally use the Rode Video Mic Pro, but the Rode Video Micro, or the Rode Video MicGo all work great too!
  4. Even if you don’t use an external Microphone, the on-camera Microphone is actually really good!
  5. It’s compact and lightweight!  If you detech the lens, it can easily fit in your jacket pocket!
  6. It can capture 1080p at 60fps or 30fps, and it can do 720p at 120fps for some sweet slow motion!
  7. Has great low light capabilities and ability to create creamy blurry backgrounds using the APS-C sensor (which is a 1.6x crop sensor, the same sensor found in the Canon 80D, a $1200 camera).
  8. It’s priced very well.  The Canon M50 with the EF-M 15-45mm Imaged Stabilized Lens retails for $899, but Canon usually puts these on sales twice a year for around $699!  Check Amazon for the latest price.
  9. You have lens options!  For $400, you can get the EF-M 11-22mm Imaged Stabilized Lens which is even better for vlogging if you want to capture a wider shot (although the kit lens, the 15-45mm lens works fine for vlogging).  Another option, if you want some nice blurry background effect and/or better low light capabilities, you can check out the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 for about $250.
  10. The batteries (Canon LP-E12) are small, you can fit a few in your pocket!  Each can last about 1.5 to 2 hours of video recording per battery.  They take about 2 hour to fully charge.
  11. The camera uses SD cards which are inexpensive and compact!  The SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SD cards are the best bang for the buck, but they also come in 256GB and 512GB.  Personally I use a MicroSD card with an adapter since I have a lot of MicroSD cards which I use in my Mavic Pro, GoPro Cameras, and other devices.
  12. As with any Canon camera, the Canon Color science always looks great!
  13. If you add a EF-M to EF lens adapter, you can attach ANY of Canon EF lens lineup!  Like the Canon 15mm Fisheye, 24mm L Mark II f/1.4, Canon 50mm f/1.2 L, Canon 85mm f/1.2 L Mark II, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS Mark II, just to name of few of my favorites!