Wick Smith
Senior Member
I waited a long time for this camera to be released. It seemed to have everything I was looking for. No question, the sensor is quieter than any other similar camera I have owned (10 and counting).
The image quality is not quite what I had hoped. I get a fair number of pictures that appear not to be in focus -- especially those where the main subject is less that 10 feet from the camera.
Outdoors, there is a tendency to overexpose, so I rely heavily on exposure comp. The LCD is too bright, so it also has to be adjusted darker. Compounding this problem is the lack of a histogram. I am so used to evaluating exposures with the histogram that I feel lost without one.
As a previous poster described, the ability to take two shots in quick succession with and without flash is a nice touch. You can then just discard the worse of the two. I have been occasionally surprised by which I prefer. It often wasn't the one I would have taken.
One good point is that flash shots do show more background than the usual P&S, due to the camera's ability and auto-tendency to raise the ISO to get a more balanced flash picture. This works well most of the time, though I should occasionally remember to set the ISO manually to take more control of this myself.
Problems:
Close focusing (not macro) has been a disappointment.
Lack of histogram
Slow writing and transfer speed of xD Picture Card.
Not exactly tack sharp (yet. still working on my technique)
The image quality is not quite what I had hoped. I get a fair number of pictures that appear not to be in focus -- especially those where the main subject is less that 10 feet from the camera.
Outdoors, there is a tendency to overexpose, so I rely heavily on exposure comp. The LCD is too bright, so it also has to be adjusted darker. Compounding this problem is the lack of a histogram. I am so used to evaluating exposures with the histogram that I feel lost without one.
As a previous poster described, the ability to take two shots in quick succession with and without flash is a nice touch. You can then just discard the worse of the two. I have been occasionally surprised by which I prefer. It often wasn't the one I would have taken.
One good point is that flash shots do show more background than the usual P&S, due to the camera's ability and auto-tendency to raise the ISO to get a more balanced flash picture. This works well most of the time, though I should occasionally remember to set the ISO manually to take more control of this myself.
Problems:
Close focusing (not macro) has been a disappointment.
Lack of histogram
Slow writing and transfer speed of xD Picture Card.
Not exactly tack sharp (yet. still working on my technique)