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True factoid: one remarkably useless chindogu was a device that lets you hold a camera at arm's length so you can take a photo of yourself -- now known as the s

True factoid: one remarkably useless chindogu was a device that lets you hold a camera at arm's length so you can take a photo of yourself -- now known as the selfie stick. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfie_stick#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfie_stick#History

village-idiot 8y ago
I have a truly strange relationship with the selfie stick. On one hand, they are incredibly useful in some circumstances. On the other, I resent their existence and find anyone (else) using them obnoxious.
- jarfil 8y ago
  My stance is simple: selfie sticks are evil, reachie sticks and monopods are fine.
ardy42 8y ago
> True factoid: one remarkably useless chindogu was a device that lets you hold a camera at arm's length so you can take a photo of yourself -- now known as the selfie stick. A selfie stick with a film camera would have truly been useless. You'd probably only get a photo of some random thing behind you, and only learn of your mistake a week later. It took the invention of digital cameras with front-facing screens to make them practical.
- SamReidHughes 8y ago
  They could have some kind of alignment mechanism extending behind the camera mount.
- DenisM 8y ago
  Affix a small mirror to the camera and calibrate it such that if you see yourself in the middle of the camera you’re also in the middle of the frame.
  - zoul 8y ago
    As they really do with some Instax cameras: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/fujifilm_16513920_instax_mini_70_instant_1263521.jpg https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/fujifilm...
- falcrist 8y ago
  Manual focusing and metering means you'd be able to collect the necessary information about exposure, and set the camera up fairly accurately. Once that's done, simply aim the camera properly, and you'll get the shot. Minor corrections can be made in the darkroom. It takes more work, but that's the nature of film photography rather than the selfie stick.
- fipple 8y ago
  Lol! It's not digital cameras that created selfie sticks, it's social media. I had a Konica disposable super wide angle camera with a mirror on the front that showed the field of view. And an Olympus with a recessed LED that was only visible if your face was in the field of view. Self portraits are way older than digital cameras!
  - codedokode 8y ago
    Self portraits are even older than photography. For example, I saw a self portrait in a gallery painted 200 years ago and realized that it can be called a selfie too.
- ant6n 8y ago
  > A selfie stick with a film camera would have truly been useless. You'd probably only get a photo of some random thing behind you, and only learn of your mistake a week later. The way selfie sticks work, you holding it and the camera pointing back at you, they tend to put you nicely into the frame, even though you don't get to look at what you're taking a picture of. It's much much more accurate than holding a camera out with your arm. So I'd say they'd be exactly useful with film cameras, because you're going to be reasonably sure to be in the picture.
- cuboidGoat 8y ago
  >You'd probably only get a photo of some random thing behind you, and only learn of your mistake a week later. Instantly made me think of Buzz Aldrin's 1966 space selfie - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_selfie#/media/File:Buzz_Aldrin_self-photograph_during_Gemini_12_EVA_(S66-62926).jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_selfie#/media/File:Buzz_...
tokyodude 8y ago
The interesting thing about the Japanese invented selfie stick is that Japanese (in general) don't share selfies. The stick's point is to not have to bother a stranger not to take picture of yourself for self promotion. Culturally Japanese don't like putting pictures of themselves online
- GuiA 8y ago
  Anecdata, but I see selfie sticks in Tokyo used for group photos much more than individual selfies. One presumes that the resulting photo is then shared within the group.
  - severine 8y ago
    Right. I think the appeal was not letting the photographer out of the group picture, quite the polite reaction if you ask me.
  - tokyodude 8y ago
    most of the selfie sticks you see in Tokyo are most likely Asian tourists from other countries like China or Taiwan. Those Japanese that do use them would share with theur group but would likely not post publically. That means sharing via private messaging a not posting on a more public news feed
mdrzn 8y ago
https://web.archive.org/web/20150109130439/http://news.distractify.com/alex-scola/but-first/ https://web.archive.org/web/20150109130439/http://news.distr... Here's the story about it

village-idiot 8y ago

I have a truly strange relationship with the selfie stick. On one hand, they are incredibly useful in some circumstances. On the other, I resent their existence and find anyone (else) using them obnoxious.

jarfil 8y ago
My stance is simple: selfie sticks are evil, reachie sticks and monopods are fine.

ardy42 8y ago

> True factoid: one remarkably useless chindogu was a device that lets you hold a camera at arm's length so you can take a photo of yourself -- now known as the selfie stick. A selfie stick with a film camera would have truly been useless. You'd probably only get a photo of some random thing behind you, and only learn of your mistake a week later. It took the invention of digital cameras with front-facing screens to make them practical.

SamReidHughes 8y ago
They could have some kind of alignment mechanism extending behind the camera mount.
DenisM 8y ago
Affix a small mirror to the camera and calibrate it such that if you see yourself in the middle of the camera you’re also in the middle of the frame.
- zoul 8y ago
  As they really do with some Instax cameras: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/fujifilm_16513920_instax_mini_70_instant_1263521.jpg https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/fujifilm...
falcrist 8y ago
Manual focusing and metering means you'd be able to collect the necessary information about exposure, and set the camera up fairly accurately. Once that's done, simply aim the camera properly, and you'll get the shot. Minor corrections can be made in the darkroom. It takes more work, but that's the nature of film photography rather than the selfie stick.
fipple 8y ago
Lol! It's not digital cameras that created selfie sticks, it's social media. I had a Konica disposable super wide angle camera with a mirror on the front that showed the field of view. And an Olympus with a recessed LED that was only visible if your face was in the field of view. Self portraits are way older than digital cameras!
- codedokode 8y ago
  Self portraits are even older than photography. For example, I saw a self portrait in a gallery painted 200 years ago and realized that it can be called a selfie too.
ant6n 8y ago
> A selfie stick with a film camera would have truly been useless. You'd probably only get a photo of some random thing behind you, and only learn of your mistake a week later. The way selfie sticks work, you holding it and the camera pointing back at you, they tend to put you nicely into the frame, even though you don't get to look at what you're taking a picture of. It's much much more accurate than holding a camera out with your arm. So I'd say they'd be exactly useful with film cameras, because you're going to be reasonably sure to be in the picture.
cuboidGoat 8y ago
>You'd probably only get a photo of some random thing behind you, and only learn of your mistake a week later. Instantly made me think of Buzz Aldrin's 1966 space selfie - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_selfie#/media/File:Buzz_Aldrin_self-photograph_during_Gemini_12_EVA_(S66-62926).jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_selfie#/media/File:Buzz_...

tokyodude 8y ago

The interesting thing about the Japanese invented selfie stick is that Japanese (in general) don't share selfies. The stick's point is to not have to bother a stranger not to take picture of yourself for self promotion. Culturally Japanese don't like putting pictures of themselves online

GuiA 8y ago
Anecdata, but I see selfie sticks in Tokyo used for group photos much more than individual selfies. One presumes that the resulting photo is then shared within the group.
- severine 8y ago
  Right. I think the appeal was not letting the photographer out of the group picture, quite the polite reaction if you ask me.
- tokyodude 8y ago
  most of the selfie sticks you see in Tokyo are most likely Asian tourists from other countries like China or Taiwan. Those Japanese that do use them would share with theur group but would likely not post publically. That means sharing via private messaging a not posting on a more public news feed

mdrzn 8y ago

https://web.archive.org/web/20150109130439/http://news.distractify.com/alex-scola/but-first/ https://web.archive.org/web/20150109130439/http://news.distr... Here's the story about it