 |
tomservo33
Lives in
TX, United States
Works as a
Gov
Joined on
Nov 4, 2011
|
   |
|
Connect with dpreview
|
HL48: Does any camera have a macro bracketing routine? The photographer would indicate the front and back of the target using a touch screen for example and the camera would produce some small number exposures at intermediate positions?
Thanks,
Harry
Yes, It would be cool if the selectable focus points could be numbered and assigned to a series of shots, area 1 (shot 1) area 2 (shot 2) and so on, I'll bet some app developer is making it now!
Great article, and I agree with bobbarber that a P & S camera can be perfect for this kind of work. Lightweight, super shalow DOF, in particular, the Olympus XZ 1 and 2 are quite well suited and have sharp fast optics and good color. The issue is always taking even a few photos of the various regions of the insect before it moves, very frustrating, but pulling back or using a tripod can keep them calm; also good to have the magic hour afternoon sun at your back, blinding the creature to your advantage, works great with some furry ones.
tomservo33: Well, it is quite strange, how Sony can make such innovative, comfortable to use, generally feature rich cameras, that consistantly deliver SOFT images. I suspect that the issue is Software, not the sensor, lens, etc... Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it is not an "Issue" but an intentional feature/style. I have heard many discuss the AA, the agressive sony noise reduction; and compared to other APS-C cameras, and m4/3, the Sony shots all suffer from a general softness that seems to be caused by either aggressive and unnecessary noise reduction, or an odd JPEG engine. I feel that the RAW files are all quite good if I had to do Post-P. and I would have bought a Nex-6 if the Jpegs didn't look a little bit softer, consistantly.
Like many here, we rely on review data, samples, and user portfolios to inform our decision, since most of us cannot afford to spend big money on a new system without knowing if will be a satisfying improvement and a wise investment; over what we have sunk $$$ thousands into already...I would love to rent a Nex6 for a week but there are few shops left, and none of them rent anything other than Canon/Nikon system gear.
Well, it is quite strange, how Sony can make such innovative, comfortable to use, generally feature rich cameras, that consistantly deliver SOFT images. I suspect that the issue is Software, not the sensor, lens, etc... Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it is not an "Issue" but an intentional feature/style. I have heard many discuss the AA, the agressive sony noise reduction; and compared to other APS-C cameras, and m4/3, the Sony shots all suffer from a general softness that seems to be caused by either aggressive and unnecessary noise reduction, or an odd JPEG engine. I feel that the RAW files are all quite good if I had to do Post-P. and I would have bought a Nex-6 if the Jpegs didn't look a little bit softer, consistantly.
jonikon: I'm not impressed at all with the image quality of the Oly XZ-2. I see a lot of smearing of details, very poor IQ at high ISOs, a de-centered lens causing OOF areas, poor color rendition, poor micro-contrast, lots of distortion, etc.
Why in the world would anyone buy this camera when the excellent Sony RX-100 can be had for about the same price and blows the XZ-2's image quality away! This camera would not be desirable even if it was priced at the current XZ1 price of $200, IMO.
-Jon
You must be looking at the wrong photos, or your monitor is defective; since most of the comments here, and Robin Wong's blog shots, seem to give strong evidence of the exact opposite! Seriously, examine http://robinwong.blogspot.com/
You must be looking at the wrong photos, or your monitor is defective; since most of the comments here, and Robin Wong's blog shots, seem to give strong evidence of the exact opposite! Seriously, examine http://robinwong.blogspot.com/
InTheMist: There are... Um... No people watching her "attract attention".
Exactly what I noticed, unless they just do the presentations all day, every 2 hrs and try to attract attention, like the feeding of the dolphins at SeaWorld ;) Still, I feel kinda sorry for her, and the Casio photo division as a whole....it can't be selling many units, can it??
Seriously, I thought this story was a joke with cgi mockups and then I saw the photos of this absurd device, and to top it off, it has to use Sony Nex mount lenses!!! Wow....money well spent Hassy :)
The sale of these cameras seems to be some kind of half-hearted Beta-test for a very small test market? They can't really believe that they will recoup the R&D costs but perhaps they could stimulate interest with a limited time (holidays) price drop to $499 US and they could move some product. Or, maybe they need to just license this inovative sensor to the big boys who have great feature set cameras already...and it would be incredible for serious video applications, in the right body.
Donnie G: As a mirrorless compact, I think the camera would have as good a shot in the marketplace as its competitors if Sigma would come up with some type of high profile promotion that got people to actually go to a store and try one out. Both Sigma and Ricoh seem to suffer from a lack of consumer faith in their brands that could be remedied by more hands on exposure to their products.
Agreed, and have a limited time (holidays) price drop to $499 US and they could move some product....but this...no sale. They need to just license this inovative sensor to the big boys who have great feature set cameras already...and it would be incredible for serious video applications.
I Love the manual controls, looks, grip, and most everything about this camera, Except the image quality!!! Looking at the samples, there seems to be a striking dullness, and a blueish/green cast to nearly every image, or perhaps a lack of contrast...what is the deal with that...default settings for the jpegs? I wish Pany would learn from Olympus or copy the jpeg engine that Oly has developed for the PEN line. This could be a fantastic camera for a lot of enthuiasts if they could just get the software right!
Picked one up on sale, paid $110. So far, great little camera with a reliable JPEG engine, nice saturated colors, accurate auto WB, right amount of sharpening. I don't use most of the Art filters but a couple are pretty cool, sparkle and vivid. The Video recording is good too, however the MotionJpeg encoding is too bloated and you cant zoom when filming, not a big deal, so I convert all the vids later to MP4 for TV watching. The zoom range is excellent and with a mini-tripod or a good rest, very sharp at 10x! So, the dual IS works well handheld even at 5x. Focus is good in low light, at room range but shot to shot time is a little slow if you recompose (2sec) Super Macro mode is where this camera shines, but you will be very close to the target, 1cm, so bugs may get spooked. Still, fun to use and great colors outdoors. This is a camera that you can toss in a pocket and have with you all the time, and not have the worries that you would with a high end P&S or a PEN type camera.
DFPanno: I'm not sure what these grips are for other then to pull the camera from a vertical case.
I find that I:
Pick up the camera
Put my wrist strap on (I recommend the Olympus Adjustable)
Manipulate the camera and controls with thumbs and index fingers.
My right middle and ring fingers are at the front of the camera bracing it.
Where does a grip come in?
The only time I would see is if you walk around without a wrist strap but at $700.00 that's not me.
I guess other people handle their cameras differently.
DF, Wow, nice attitude, really helps the discussion to mock.
I for one am pleased that motivated people with actual machinist skills are out there creating products made in the USA.
Great shot! what camera model?
After reading everything and looking a a few lens reviews, of this 12-50. I am Stoked! I was ready to get a Pany G3, with the older/better 14-45, which would have been a compromise regarding certain features I wanted, like in-body OIS. so I could use leica and nikon legacy lenses, and macro ability in a Kit lens, but this camera fits the bill nicely. It has a fantastic feature set and very few shortcomings but I would like to see some image data on the 12-50 kit lens soon :)
Interesting new (shrunken) design based on the Schmidt-Cas telescope. So does this equate to 600mm in micro 4/3 ?
Big Texas Sunsets.