James Baxter
New member
Purchased this camera as a point-and-shoot camera, as well as a camera to obtain high-quality photos for my instructional images (I'm a geology professor). Specifically I wanted excellent picture quality, good low-light capabilities (for inside caves), portability, close macro, manual focus, and the ability to manage exposure/white balance. I was also intrigued by the 3D features, as I thought I could use it to make stereogram images of rock/mineral specimens and fossils for teaching purposes. This is my second digital camera (my first is an aging Agfa ePhoto 307), otherwise I use a Nikon FtN, Pentax K1000, and (sometimes) my Leica IIIC from the early Pleistocene.
So far I'm very pleased with this camera, the image quality is outstanding and the menus are very intuitive and easy to use. Low light photography (using the "night scene" mode) is absolutely stunning. Macro capabilities are also quite good-- I even tested the camera on printed matter and it works quite well (better than some scanners)... I find the manual focus is helpful for low light situations. This camera will definitely give me the detail I need for photographing small structures in rocks/minerals.
Shutter response is good (well, compared to my Agfa) and battery life has been good as well. I like that it uses AA batteries, since I'm in the field from time to time and not near any power.
Personally, the 3D feature is everything I expected it to be-- and initial reviews from colleagues have been favorable. It is easy to use-- though I recommend a tripod to facilitate image alignment. The 3D is not limited to close images either, I tried it on my house with good results (just need to remember the 1/40 ratio). So, I consider the 3D feature to be an ATTRIBUTE, not a useless selling feature.
So far I haven't used the bundled software much because I already have some photo organizing and editing programs that I'm used to. I appreciate the fact that I can get the images off this camera without having to bog my computer down with more software because the USB drivers are separate from the other software.
I spent considerable time shopping for a new digital camera before buying this one (including many hits to this site). This camera has fulfilled my every expectation, and then some.. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
Problems:
16 Meg card kind of small (isn't that everyone's complaint). I'm also concerned about the somewhat fragile door to the Flash card compartment, but I'll just have to be careful
So far I'm very pleased with this camera, the image quality is outstanding and the menus are very intuitive and easy to use. Low light photography (using the "night scene" mode) is absolutely stunning. Macro capabilities are also quite good-- I even tested the camera on printed matter and it works quite well (better than some scanners)... I find the manual focus is helpful for low light situations. This camera will definitely give me the detail I need for photographing small structures in rocks/minerals.
Shutter response is good (well, compared to my Agfa) and battery life has been good as well. I like that it uses AA batteries, since I'm in the field from time to time and not near any power.
Personally, the 3D feature is everything I expected it to be-- and initial reviews from colleagues have been favorable. It is easy to use-- though I recommend a tripod to facilitate image alignment. The 3D is not limited to close images either, I tried it on my house with good results (just need to remember the 1/40 ratio). So, I consider the 3D feature to be an ATTRIBUTE, not a useless selling feature.
So far I haven't used the bundled software much because I already have some photo organizing and editing programs that I'm used to. I appreciate the fact that I can get the images off this camera without having to bog my computer down with more software because the USB drivers are separate from the other software.
I spent considerable time shopping for a new digital camera before buying this one (including many hits to this site). This camera has fulfilled my every expectation, and then some.. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
Problems:
16 Meg card kind of small (isn't that everyone's complaint). I'm also concerned about the somewhat fragile door to the Flash card compartment, but I'll just have to be careful