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Totally relevant, even in 2014

Started Feb 17, 2014 | User reviews thread
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ragmanjin
ragmanjin Contributing Member • Posts: 959
Totally relevant, even in 2014
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I just wanted to say that even nine years after the release of this camera, it remains a totally relevant part of my gear list. The only camera I know of that allows the user to choose between the big, bright rear LCD, a top-notch (for the era) EVF and a waist-level electronic viewfinder, it's more of a pleasure to use than all my other cameras combined.

I know it's only 8 megapixels, all crammed onto a sensor the size of my pinky fingernail, but with an ISO range of 50-400 (100 and 200 are useable with good light), it's still a valuable asset during the day. That said, an 8mp camera got me through journalism school, and is the perfect resolution for printing at native resolution at the industry standard 200dpi to full-page tabloid newspaper size. And to be honest, with a set of studio strobes at ISO 100, it still kicks the pants off of my wife's Canon SX40.

Plus, if you're a fan of the film look, two minutes with a RAW file in Lightroom and you can pull off a more convincing film-replicating jpeg than most Fuji cameras nowadays. For the dual-media shooters among us, that's a pretty good walkaround.

Sure, it has its quirks — and by that I mean a very delayed shutter, LONG processing times (upwards of eight seconds in RAW), CF card slot and a thoroughly outdated GUI. But between the excellent ergonomics, awesome viewfinder, film-grain-like rendering and crisp Schneider lens, I believe this is truly a camera for the ages.

Happy shooting,
Raj.

-- hide signature --

< / sarcasm>

Samsung Pro815
8 megapixels • 3.5 screen • 28 – 420 mm (15×)
Announced: Jun 2, 2005
ragmanjin's score
5.0
Average community score
4.2
bad for good for
Kids / pets
okay
Action / sports
bad
Landscapes / scenery
excellent
Portraits
good
Low light (without flash)
bad
Flash photography (social)
great
Studio / still life
excellent
= community average
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