dtic wrote: ↑29 Mar 2017, 03:36
The flexible arm could grip another table, or a stack of books on another table or something secured to a wall/ceiling.
That starts to complex matters and makes the scanner dependent on what the environment has to available to make it functional instead of being self-contained and requiring only the edge of a table (which is almost never an issue, especially at a library for example - where the tables are usually in the middle of the room).
Furthermore, the moment you have to touch the camera to adjust anything the vibration will set in again.
The reviews on Amazon about these flexible mounts is mixed when it comes to vibration so they will require testing, and all may not be the same too. I think the idea is good for certain situations if vibration is not an issue.
dtic wrote: ↑29 Mar 2017, 03:36
Don't move the phone or arm. Every 30-40 pages slide more and more sheets from a spiral notebook under the book, or between two rubbery mats under the book.
That will be much slower and more inconvenient than a quick, precise turn of a knob on the macro focus rail, which also lets you see the page image while making the adjustment so you can get the change just right without experimenting and fiddling. And, once again, moving the book means it will have to be re-positioned back in the field of view. I think image scale is just a compromise one will have to accept with these flexible mounts, assuming vibration is not an issue.
dtic wrote: ↑29 Mar 2017, 03:36
I wonder if there are battery powered LED lights with sufficient brightness and low weight to be clamped to the same arm as the phone. Or another such arm.
The LED outdoor lamp I use is 900 lumen and is sufficient from 18" away, but really two are needed if even lighting is needed. However, for text only books processed by Scan Tailor, almost any decently bright lighting is good enough.
I toyed with the idea of attaching a bike lamp to the platen handle, but the problem is it is too close to the platen so sets up a hot-spot reflection in the image. The lighting needs to be further away to avoid that. Even mine hanging at the top of the vertical post is a bit close for larger books and the horizontal support should be a 3 inches longer to eliminate hot-spot reflections in the platen. But there are many bike lamps with over 1,000 lumen and have clamps that can help with attaching them somewhere.
Another option are those ultra-bright LED flashlights advertised on TV (if they are re-chargable, else I can see them getting expensive). The Bell & Howell Tac Light is 600 lumen and not re-chargable. Others on Amazon are 800-1000 Lumen and re-chargable, but they'll need some kind of adaptor to hold them.
But these battery lamps (bike or flashlight) can be quite expensive, and more so if you have to also get separate rechargeable batteries, but they are an option.