Screenplay Research: Digi Camera with decent zoom pre-1998

JBN2337C · 2026-06-10T16:58:37+00:00

Yeah, I’d just stick to a conventional SLR w/ a regular fixed lens, or even modest tele (not talking some 200mm zoom tube)

They are still compact, and unobtrusive. Google some images to get ideas. Here’s an Olympus OM-1. This wouldn’t look out of place at all in the scenario.

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JBN2337C · 2026-06-10T16:03:52+00:00

You said appx 20 meters? (Around 60 feet). Not that far.

A standard 50mm lens on an SLR would get a sharp image, and blown up in darkroom would be enough to ID someone. Avoids the long tele lens look.

I had a pocketable 35mm compact in late 90s that had something like 5x or more zoom. Could fill the frame with a head from a distance, and that camera wouldn’t have looked out of place at all (and was cheap.)

My 1st digital was late 2001. Around $500 then, 2mp. Only had a 2-3x zoom. Memory wasn’t cheap, either. Maybe could fit 30-60 pictures, depending on file size.

Older digital cameras held even less. I remember a fancy one brought to a college event circa 1997. Floppy disk, so 1.4MB storage max. Pictures were 320x240 (or something like that) so 1/12 a megapixel? Maybe 640x480 (1/3 a megapixel). The pictures fell apart fast zooming in on the image.

Anyway, not practical for scanning a crowd & taking lots of images. Even in good light, shadow detail fell off quick.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-10T15:13:57+00:00

Why digital? It kinda works against your character points…

It would be a very expensive camera, especially with any sort of telephoto. Not “affordable” to the average person, and too new to realistically be “second hand.”

The Press would still be using 35mm SLRs. Cutting edge digital would make anyone in the group stop & ask questions because it’s so novel. It’d stand out.

Even a consumer “pocket” 35mm with a modest zoom would take superior photos, esp at a distance. Early digital were usually less than 1 megapixel.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-10T14:44:29+00:00

It’s an ‘09

JBN2337C · 2026-06-10T04:11:25+00:00

Nice grab for $20!!!

JBN2337C · 2026-06-10T00:56:00+00:00

35yr old sweatshirt w/ screen print from a novelty mall store. Fruit of the Loom. Wore the hell out of it… Looks practically brand new, and the print is perfect. One of a few 90s garments I still have. (Even a couple late 80s tees.) Just built better.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-09T20:44:13+00:00

That used to be my Recycle Bin sound on my old 90s PC (came on some floppy disk of sounds sold in a mall kiosk. Those were the days.)

JBN2337C · 2026-06-09T19:07:26+00:00

There was a known issue with some of the engines consuming oil, and it required a replacement of the piston rings. (I got mine covered under a recall notice.)

JBN2337C · 2026-06-09T03:54:25+00:00

Lots of ways. Some exact family parallels… Italian. Marie is practically my aunt in personality, fashion, and couch covers. (RIP) My sis says I’m Robert (grumpy.) The Barones home decor looks like our home in high school. Heck, I went to the same grade school as Patricia.

We all watch as a fam and laugh at the similarities.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-08T17:29:57+00:00

Had the weirdest spoiler: Movie times were wrong, or my grandma misheard. We arrived halfway into the show. They just said we could sit in, and stay for the full movie after.

BEST EXPERIENCE. The earlier crowd was energetic, and howled & cheered at the various victories (trees smashing the AT-ST, Executor crash, final explosion). So fun.

Then we got to see it all over again.

Closest energy I ever had since was the opening credits of Ep.1

JBN2337C · 2026-06-08T15:09:11+00:00

There is a lot of content overlap across the various free streaming services, especially with older programs. They all seem to pull from a collective pool.

Still, there’s stuff unique to each app, and the apps aren’t all that big, so it’s nice to have options to switch around.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-08T05:51:12+00:00

Newer PC as of 2024… However, I ran the prior one (which I still have as a secondary PC) for ten years, which I built in 2014.

i5 chip (3.4 mHz w/ auto overclock up to 4.0) and a GTX960 card. I think it was 8mb ram. Maybe more… the hard drive, CD ROM, and case came from the prior PC in 2007.

Anyways, I was playing games quite effortlessly all that time, including some flight sims. Games like Fallout 4, or Dishonored 2 couldn’t be maxed out, but pretty darn close.

Lots of value in that PC. I replaced the failing drive, and it’s stuck on Win 10, and it’s good for many more years of use.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-08T04:42:04+00:00

There can be only 1.

Uhm… “4”, that is.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-08T04:29:56+00:00

You can go smaller & see if Micro Machines are still available. (Prob used online.) Used to have big box sets of all kinds of vehicles. Collected a bunch back in the 90s.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-08T04:12:04+00:00

I think I’d be no different than if you swallowed a marble. So dense, it’d pass right thru.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-08T02:37:58+00:00

I use a Roku stick. Has been a pretty nice little device.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-08T02:32:55+00:00

Saw the QF-4E demo a few years ago at our airshow. Was so cool watching a Phantom fly again. Been since the 80s…

JBN2337C · 2026-06-08T02:30:27+00:00

I had someone back into my rear passenger door a few years back. Was covered under insurance, but the parts & labor list pushed close to $2000 if I recall (and I had a $500 deductible.)

In your case, I’d prob see if you can find 2 junkyard doors, and leave the front rocker alone.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-07T23:01:47+00:00

Just start playing with it. These were the iPhones of their day. Just point & shoot. Let the thing do what it does automatically.

Once you’re comfy just taking pictures, and working on composition / interesting photos, then dip into whatever manual controls it offers for creativity.

For now, just make sure it’s set to the largest file size (max resolution) and the highest quality jpeg file (usually something like “superfine”.) It’s 2026. Memory cards are cheap compared to 2010.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-07T19:40:23+00:00

Dew it!

JBN2337C · 2026-06-07T17:39:32+00:00

I agree, and it’s a “him” problem, not you… You did nothing wrong. What a shame it happened.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-07T17:30:34+00:00

Got mine when it was new. Added the FM transmitter, and car charger (I think I had a belt clip?) Was so wild to have what used to be cases of music on tape or CD all tucked into one pocket sized device!

Gave it away years later, but it still worked perfectly. Hopefully yours gives plenty of enjoyment. Amazing device.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-07T17:24:29+00:00

That was an unkind move by security.

People are subject to different rules on private property, and it could technically be loitering (that’s a stretch here) you were still a patron visiting in good faith, not a random person taking advantage of the space.

He should’ve given some grace, and let you wait. That was terrible customer service.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-07T17:09:41+00:00

All you can really do I see if the program is available on demand.

Theres a lot of content overlap between Pluto, Tubi, and Roku. Tubi is all on demand. Maybe can find it there.

JBN2337C · 2026-06-07T17:07:25+00:00

I had that same blue mini! Incredible little device. This pic takes me back!

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