G2: Kindergarten Halloween Party

I'd say the G2 and my Speedlite 420EX flash did pretty well this week. I was the only dad in attendance at my son's Kindergarten Halloween Party at Northpoint Elementary School in Normal, IL.

You'll want to look especially at the portrait shots toward the end of the pack of many photos. Jeez, I love just shooting and shooting with that microdrive and not worrying about how many I'm taking. It's wonderful!

I used the 420EX with the Lumiquest 80-20 and bounced the flash off the ceiling for most shots. I'm really pleased with the portraits... here's one terrific example (you may want to look at the full version of this one):



Full version here: http://www.pbase.com/image/509937/original.jpg

Wow!

The rest of the shots are at the following link:

http://www.pbase.com/bsiverly/halloween/

I can't believe I messed around with that stupid F707 for as long as I did... the G2 puts it to shame, and the colors, white balance, and exposure come from reality, not some other planet.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

Bryan

Absolutely wonderful. The colours and clarity are fabulous and you've captured the moment so well with so many of those shots - I'll bet you've a queue of parents wanting prints / copies! My favourite is IMG_4654.jpg.

I think I'm sold on a 420EX - it really does help make the lighting look natural.

Cheers
Martin

Really great stuff! I just got a 420EX to go with my G2...what a great combination!...as your photos clearly demonstrate!

Martin Eager said:

Absolutely wonderful. The colours and clarity are fabulous and
you've captured the moment so well with so many of those shots -
I'll bet you've a queue of parents wanting prints / copies! My
favourite is IMG_4654.jpg.

I think I'm sold on a 420EX - it really does help make the lighting
look natural.

Cheers
Martin

Click to expand...

Martin Eager said:

Absolutely wonderful. The colours and clarity are fabulous and
you've captured the moment so well with so many of those shots -
I'll bet you've a queue of parents wanting prints / copies!

Click to expand...

In anticipation of that, I've put the photos up on my homepage gallery and included a link to Photoaccess.com if parents want to order prints... if only I could get a cut.

http://www.siverly.net

Martin Eager56124 said:

I think I'm sold on a 420EX - it really does help make the lighting
look natural.

Click to expand...

The 420EX with the Lumiquest 80-20 gives an almost studio quality to photos, IMO. It's the best I've ever used.

Bryan

What....not blue cast in your shots.... wink . I may just have to cancel my 707 order even after the "fix". Your shots are very impressive and your gallery is even more. You do bring out some of the best quailties out of the G series. Thanks for sharing your work(or is it play).

Bryan Siverly said:

Martin Eager said:

Absolutely wonderful. The colours and clarity are fabulous and
you've captured the moment so well with so many of those shots -
I'll bet you've a queue of parents wanting prints / copies!

Click to expand...

In anticipation of that, I've put the photos up on my homepage
gallery and included a link to Photoaccess.com if parents want to
order prints... if only I could get a cut.

http://www.siverly.net

BryanS said:

I think I'm sold on a 420EX - it really does help make the lighting
look natural.

Click to expand...

The 420EX with the Lumiquest 80-20 gives an almost studio quality
to photos, IMO. It's the best I've ever used.

Bryan

Click to expand...

lucky for you, admin deleted your last post to this thread.

it amazes me how you stoop so low now to post someone elses work and bash it for the blue cast syndrome.

That racoon is in the shade and its a wonder why the background sunlight is not blue or the leaves are not blue. Whats your theory???

Let other people see the "whole' gallery to see that Sony does make a superb camera.
http://www.pbase.com/galleries/norman
The pictures speak for themselves.

ps: Oh Bryan, before you go and bash that racoon again.... i believe that racoon pic was taken with the Sony S75. Its a summer shot in a summer gallery. 707 wasnt released until October....or maybe you forgot and had another agenda

Bryan Siverly said:

I'd say the G2 and my Speedlite 420EX flash did pretty well this
week. I was the only dad in attendance at my son's Kindergarten
Halloween Party at Northpoint Elementary School in Normal, IL.

You'll want to look especially at the portrait shots toward the end
of the pack of many photos. Jeez, I love just shooting and
shooting with that microdrive and not worrying about how many I'm
taking. It's wonderful!

I used the 420EX with the Lumiquest 80-20 and bounced the flash off
the ceiling for most shots. I'm really pleased with the
portraits... here's one terrific example (you may want to look at
the full version of this one):



Full version here: http://www.pbase.com/image/509937/original.jpg

Wow!

The rest of the shots are at the following link:

http://www.pbase.com/bsiverly/halloween/

I can't believe I messed around with that stupid F707 for as long
as I did... the G2 puts it to shame, and the colors, white balance,
and exposure come from reality, not some other planet.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

Bryan

Click to expand...

ZipperZ said:

Its a summer
shot in a summer gallery. 707 wasnt released until October....or
maybe you forgot and had another agenda

Click to expand...

I asked Phil to delete that post when I saw that someone had cross-posted it into the Sony forum.

Daylight shots are far too blue on Sony cameras for my taste. I have no other agenda, but then again, I don't have a cousin who works for Sony or Canon, so I seldom get as worked up as you do.

Cheers,

Bryan

They're great and terrifically sharp. Does the 420EX helps with the focus as well?
Thx, Herbet.

Bryan Siverly said:

I'd say the G2 and my Speedlite 420EX flash did pretty well this
week. I was the only dad in attendance at my son's Kindergarten
Halloween Party at Northpoint Elementary School in Normal, IL.

You'll want to look especially at the portrait shots toward the end
of the pack of many photos. Jeez, I love just shooting and
shooting with that microdrive and not worrying about how many I'm
taking. It's wonderful!

I used the 420EX with the Lumiquest 80-20 and bounced the flash off
the ceiling for most shots. I'm really pleased with the
portraits... here's one terrific example (you may want to look at
the full version of this one):



Full version here: http://www.pbase.com/image/509937/original.jpg

Wow!

The rest of the shots are at the following link:

http://www.pbase.com/bsiverly/halloween/

I can't believe I messed around with that stupid F707 for as long
as I did... the G2 puts it to shame, and the colors, white balance,
and exposure come from reality, not some other planet.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

Bryan

Click to expand...

While I'll make no apologies for my post about no blue cast in Bryan's pictures (notice the wink ), it was said tounge-n-cheek and not intended to provoke or be incitefull. As a new admirer of digital photography and of these forums I am drawn to both the 707 and the G2. They both have strong points and weeknees in their own right even though they are in different categories except in price. I am sure that many other readers, of both the Sony and Canon forums, loking to purchase one of these fine cameras, find the decision is difficult and I, for one, benifit from galleries like Bryan's, other G2 owners and those of 707 owners to help me make a choice. I will continue to acknolwedge good work in both forums when I see it as I have no prejudice to either brand. It is hard not to like both cameras for their respective strenghts. Lets go out and "PLAY" now. .

ZipperZ said:

ps: Oh Bryan, before you go and bash that racoon again.... i
believe that racoon pic was taken with the Sony S75. Its a summer
shot in a summer gallery. 707 wasnt released until October....or
maybe you forgot and had another agenda

Bryan Siverly said:

I'd say the G2 and my Speedlite 420EX flash did pretty well this
week. I was the only dad in attendance at my son's Kindergarten
Halloween Party at Northpoint Elementary School in Normal, IL.

You'll want to look especially at the portrait shots toward the end
of the pack of many photos. Jeez, I love just shooting and
shooting with that microdrive and not worrying about how many I'm
taking. It's wonderful!

I used the 420EX with the Lumiquest 80-20 and bounced the flash off
the ceiling for most shots. I'm really pleased with the
portraits... here's one terrific example (you may want to look at
the full version of this one):



Full version here: http://www.pbase.com/image/509937/original.jpg

Wow!

The rest of the shots are at the following link:

http://www.pbase.com/bsiverly/halloween/

I can't believe I messed around with that stupid F707 for as long
as I did... the G2 puts it to shame, and the colors, white balance,
and exposure come from reality, not some other planet.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

Bryan

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

How much does the microdrive go for? i was thinking of getting the g2, haven't decided on which camera to still get or not? sony, canon? How many pics does it store w/o the microdrive?

Bob

Bryan Siverly said:

I'd say the G2 and my Speedlite 420EX flash did pretty well this
week. I was the only dad in attendance at my son's Kindergarten
Halloween Party at Northpoint Elementary School in Normal, IL.

You'll want to look especially at the portrait shots toward the end
of the pack of many photos. Jeez, I love just shooting and
shooting with that microdrive and not worrying about how many I'm
taking. It's wonderful!

I used the 420EX with the Lumiquest 80-20 and bounced the flash off
the ceiling for most shots. I'm really pleased with the
portraits... here's one terrific example (you may want to look at
the full version of this one):



Full version here: http://www.pbase.com/image/509937/original.jpg

Wow!

The rest of the shots are at the following link:

http://www.pbase.com/bsiverly/halloween/

I can't believe I messed around with that stupid F707 for as long
as I did... the G2 puts it to shame, and the colors, white balance,
and exposure come from reality, not some other planet.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

Bryan

Click to expand...

BryanS said:

I asked Phil to delete that post when I saw that someone had
cross-posted it into the Sony forum.

Click to expand...

haha, "Tweetybird...what Tweetybird"...devilish words from Sylvester, as he shrugs and looks slylishly as a yellow feather is peeking from right side of mouth.

A request for deletion is an admittance of wrongdoing...NOT an excuse because of cross-posing.
And if you think the deleted post wasnt wrong, post it again...dare ya!

and...pull up your pants ..your true colors are showing.

BryanS said:

Daylight shots are far too blue on Sony cameras for my taste. I
have no other agenda, but then again, I don't have a cousin who
works for Sony or Canon, so I seldom get as worked up as you do.

Click to expand...

oh yeah.....daylight shots are waaaaaay too blue...lol
http://www.pbase.com/norman/root

im soooo glad i have a cousin that works for Sony headoffice...i gets all my accessoreis really cheap. lol
...and whos worked up???....
Not you of course, you seldon let it happen...lmao

Bryan wrote:
"I can't believe I messed around with that stupid F707 for as long as I did"
"...come from reality, not some other planet."

BertD said:

I will continue to acknolwedge good work in both forums
when I see it as I have no prejudice to either brand. It is hard
not to like both cameras for their respective strenghts. Lets go
out and "PLAY" now. .

Click to expand...

Well said. I agree completely.

ZipperZ said:

A request for deletion is an admittance of wrongdoing...NOT an
excuse because of cross-posing.

Click to expand...

Zipper, I suppose you can believe whatever you want.

ZipperZ said:

and...pull up your pants ..your true colors are showing.

Click to expand...

Nah, I prefer to keep my zipper shut. Perhaps you might want to do the same?

ZipperZ said:

oh yeah.....daylight shots are waaaaaay too blue...lol
http://www.pbase.com/norman/root

Click to expand...

Perhaps you'd care to have a look at the blue seal? I'll let you find that one on your own.

ZipperZ said:

...and whos worked up???....
Not you of course, you seldon let it happen...lmao

Click to expand...

Glad you understand. Now, perhaps it's time to head back to your own forum for some more back-slapping fun? Who's on the roaster this week over there, now that Ron's fully cooked?

Bryan

herbet said:

They're great and terrifically sharp. Does the 420EX helps with the
focus as well?

Click to expand...

Some were sharp, and some were not. I'm still not pleased with the focus on the G2, and it's really my only gripe right now besides the features the G2 is missing (the lack of an EVF, longer zoom, etc.).

The 420EX doesn't help with focus, no.

Bryan

BryanS said:

BryanS said:

oh yeah.....daylight shots are waaaaaay too blue...lol
http://www.pbase.com/norman/root

Click to expand...

Perhaps you'd care to have a look at the blue seal? I'll let you
find that one on your own.

Click to expand...

The blue cast on the seal is from a blue lighting source or a reflection from a blue surface (water would stand to reason). If this were because of BFS, the entire picture would have a blue cast which it doesn't (see the right hand side).

Q.E.D.?

Roy.

Bryan

After seeing your post I decided to get the 420ex. Where can I get the 80-20?

Pro90
Steve

bryan,

i'm glad to hear that you are so happy with your G2. i remember reading a post from you when you first got your G2 about a month ago that you were getting a lot of out-of-focus shots ( http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&page=2&message=1587768 ) and were wondering if it just took awhile to get a hang of the new camera. i'm now in the same boat you were in and so i'm glad to see your sharp pictures. my first few dozen shots with my new G2 and 420ex were either completely out-of-focus or "soft" but i've continued to take pictures with it and things seem to be getting better so i'm pretty much convinced it was user error on my part although i still get the occasional, totally-inexplicable out-of-focus shot and a good percentage of my shots are still slightly soft, even when tripod-mounted, remotely triggered.

anyway, i love the shots you posted. i had initially feared that the lumiquest 80-20 would not provide enough direct light on the subject but your photos show me that is not a problem. i am concerned about the velcro used to attach the lumiquest...how far back from the top edge of the flash is the velcro secured? i am getting a sto-fen omnibounce and would like the lumiquest and the omnibounce to be able to still be used (not at the same time, of course). were all the shots handheld? did you adjust WB to the "flash" setting? i've been thinking of getting a monopod to take around with me as my G2 seems extremely sensitive to the slightest camera shake.

so, is it that it just took time to get used to the G2 for you? i posted some of my shots in a separate thread and would appreciate your comments as well. thanks.

Bryan Siverly said:

I'd say the G2 and my Speedlite 420EX flash did pretty well this
week. I was the only dad in attendance at my son's Kindergarten
Halloween Party at Northpoint Elementary School in Normal, IL.

You'll want to look especially at the portrait shots toward the end
of the pack of many photos. Jeez, I love just shooting and
shooting with that microdrive and not worrying about how many I'm
taking. It's wonderful!

I used the 420EX with the Lumiquest 80-20 and bounced the flash off
the ceiling for most shots. I'm really pleased with the
portraits... here's one terrific example (you may want to look at
the full version of this one):



Full version here: http://www.pbase.com/image/509937/original.jpg

Wow!

The rest of the shots are at the following link:

http://www.pbase.com/bsiverly/halloween/

I can't believe I messed around with that stupid F707 for as long
as I did... the G2 puts it to shame, and the colors, white balance,
and exposure come from reality, not some other planet.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

Bryan

Click to expand...

Hi Bryan,

I havn't posted anything for a while, but just had to say those shots are fabulous. Put together they really capture the mood of the party as well.

Photos like that are priceless (especially when they are your own children) and I reckon that even if you were to throw away your G2 now, those photos alone would have meant you've had your moneys worth (you may not agree with that now, but you will in 20 years time when you embarass your kids with the photos!!)

The lighting is great as well, did you adjust the flash exposure at all, or just leave it at the standard setting (I also have the 420EX with Lumiquest 80-20). I don't see how the lighting in your shots could be bettered without having a studio setup.

Great stuff.

Cheers,
Bernie

Bryan Siverly said:

I'd say the G2 and my Speedlite 420EX flash did pretty well this
week. I was the only dad in attendance at my son's Kindergarten
Halloween Party at Northpoint Elementary School in Normal, IL.

You'll want to look especially at the portrait shots toward the end
of the pack of many photos. Jeez, I love just shooting and
shooting with that microdrive and not worrying about how many I'm
taking. It's wonderful!

I used the 420EX with the Lumiquest 80-20 and bounced the flash off
the ceiling for most shots. I'm really pleased with the
portraits... here's one terrific example (you may want to look at
the full version of this one):



Full version here: http://www.pbase.com/image/509937/original.jpg

Wow!

The rest of the shots are at the following link:

http://www.pbase.com/bsiverly/halloween/

I can't believe I messed around with that stupid F707 for as long
as I did... the G2 puts it to shame, and the colors, white balance,
and exposure come from reality, not some other planet.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

Bryan

Click to expand...

Bernie Raffe said:

Photos like that are priceless (especially when they are your own
children) and I reckon that even if you were to throw away your G2
now, those photos alone would have meant you've had your moneys
worth (you may not agree with that now, but you will in 20 years
time when you embarass your kids with the photos!!)

Click to expand...

Thanks! I was really pleased with them.

Member said:

The lighting is great as well, did you adjust the flash exposure at
all, or just leave it at the standard setting (I also have the
420EX with Lumiquest 80-20). I don't see how the lighting in your
shots could be bettered without having a studio setup.

Click to expand...

I left everything in P-mode, and used auto-WB. That's pretty nice considering on the G1, I had to tweak the exposure settings a bit. And I like that on the G2, what you see on the LCD is what you get in the shot... on the G1, the LCD photo was always too bright.

I still had way too many out of focus shots that I had to sharpen somewhat, so I need to do some practice to see where exactly to point that focus target that is far too big. I'm going to try setting one of the side targets to see if that helps some.

Thanks.

Bryan

Awesome shots bryan.

Just curious Ive never used an external flash, does it take away some of the candidness of the shots. As in did you have to stuff about setting up each one?

Al