return 950 for C2020 or get ext. flash?

[Audrey]

There is so much knowledge here, and I need some help in making a decision.

I own the 950 and have real problems with the red eye issue. This camera was quite costly and I am trying to decide if I should return it and get the Oly C2020. Other than red eye the 950 has great output of pictures.

The other alternative is to break down and add additional moneys to this camera and purchase the external flash SB28, $280.00, plus the SKE900 for $58.95.

I guess my question is, which would be a better decision? I am so tired of thinking about this, and my husband doesn't want to hear it any more! Ha!
It could make you crazy!

Thank you for helping me.--Audrey

 

[Steven14724]

There is so much knowledge here, and I need some help in making a decision.
I own the 950 and have real problems with the red eye issue. This camera
was quite costly and I am trying to decide if I should return it and get
the Oly C2020. Other than red eye the 950 has great output of pictures.
The other alternative is to break down and add additional moneys to this
camera and purchase the external flash SB28, $280.00, plus the SKE900 for
$58.95.

I guess my question is, which would be a better decision? I am so tired
of thinking about this, and my husband doesn't want to hear it any more!
Ha!
It could make you crazy!

Thank you for helping me.
--
Audrey

Hello Audrey,

I think I can help you. I had that entire combination and I have to say the results where amazing. I shoot for a major NY newspaper and I was actually shooting a lot of jobs with the combo. But I recommend using a Stofen (I believe its spelled this way) white diffuser plastic cap (I'm not sure what they call it, but a good camera store will carry it and know what its called) over the flash. This way shooting in a small room with a low white ceiling you're able to turn the flash head up and bounce the light around the room and forward. The results are great. The light fills the room, hits the subect and no red eye what so ever.

 

[Tyler Monson]

I, too, have been deliberating over the SB-28, but I don't think I will be putting my money there because practically none of its features are supported by the 950. In particular, you can't use the low light focusing feature, which would be a great help at times. And none of my film cameras are Nikon.

After searching the Nikontech Web site for information, I learned of two other shortcomings of the SB-28:

• After a period of time, the flash goes into standby mode and the 950 doesn't wake it automatically. The poster complained about many lost photo opportunities due to this.

• The redeye reduction feature on the SB-28 is not supported by the 950. I believe that this is a real feature (pre-flashing the subject, not the tiny blinking light joke of the 950).

Go to http://www.globaldialog.com/~biggers/index.html and check out Brian's experiments with a $50 Sunpak electronic flash. This may be the way I'll go.

Cheers,

Tyler Monson
Seattle, Washington

 

[David]

I recently bought a Nikon SB-18 online for $36 and I got the SK-E900 locally for a 10% holiday discount many use the SB-22 also and they can be bought used or online.

BUT- if you do post-processiog before printing you MUST have Qimage. This is the BEST printing program AND it has the EASIEST red-eye fix ever! It takes me about 30 sec to fix both eyes with Qimage. This really should not be a problem. I only got the BIG flash for stopping action and larger rooms, etc.

Try Qimage on a trial
http://www.charm.net/~mchaney/imaging/index.html (no affiliation)

David

 

[Mark W.]

There is so much knowledge here, and I need some help in making a decision.
I own the 950 and have real problems with the red eye issue. This camera
was quite costly and I am trying to decide if I should return it and get
the Oly C2020. Other than red eye the 950 has great output of pictures.
The other alternative is to break down and add additional moneys to this
camera and purchase the external flash SB28, $280.00, plus the SKE900 for
$58.95.

I guess my question is, which would be a better decision? I am so tired
of thinking about this, and my husband doesn't want to hear it any more!
Ha!
It could make you crazy!

Thank you for helping me.
--
Audrey

This is a very EASY answer. If you can, take back the Nikon CP950 and get the Olympus C2020. All your problems will be solved just that easy. The Nikon CP950 has one glaring problem and that is the red-eye problem. If your going to be using it to take pictures of the family a lot of the time then this camera can drive you crazy with its red-eye. It is an otherwise great camera. The Olympus C2020 is this cameras match, but it shines when using it to take pictures of your family when using the flash. If you can't take the camera back then you will have to use other means such as what the other posts have suggested.

 

[Tyler Monson]

"...If you can, take back the Nikon CP950 and get the Olympus C2020. All your problems will be solved just that easy..."

Ahh, if only the Olympus 2020 would accept CF cards (even just type I), I would seriously consider it, especially for external flash since it has a wider range of f/stops, I think.

Cheers,

Tyler Monson
Seattle, Washington

 

[Robert Jeantet]

"...If you can, take back the Nikon CP950 and get the Olympus C2020. All
your problems will be solved just that easy..."

Ahh, if only the Olympus 2020 would accept CF cards (even just type I), I
would seriously consider it, especially for external flash since it has a
wider range of f/stops, I think.

Frankly, except for the flash thing the Nikon is either superior or at the very least equal to the Olympus. For me, the CF/SmartMedia issue is an important one; I also find the ergonomics of the Nikon extremely useful; the fact that one can hold the camera at all kinds of unconventional angles is also a determining factor for me.

In my opinion, if anyone is going to get seriously into photography, he/she is going to need a good flash setup that surpasses any built-in flash system (whether it be Olympus' or anyone else's.)

I think that getting a flash, bracket and whatever cables...is probably the best solution if the end goal is to get the best possible images.

just my opinion.

regards
Robert Jeantet

 

[Audrey]

Hi David,

I tried the Qimage program and downloaded the trial version, and it worked fine. When I purchsed the program had internal problems, showing illegal action and had to shut down. I played with it for ever with no luck. I deleted it from my computer until I can find out why this keeps happening.
Thanks for the help though, I appreciate it.

Audrey

I recently bought a Nikon SB-18 online for $36 and I got the SK-E900
locally for a 10% holiday discount many use the SB-22 also and they
can be bought used or online.

BUT- if you do post-processiog before printing you MUST have Qimage.
This is the BEST printing program AND it has the EASIEST red-eye fix
ever! It takes me about 30 sec to fix both eyes with Qimage. This
really should not be a problem. I only got the BIG flash for stopping
action and larger rooms, etc.

Try Qimage on a trial
http://www.charm.net/~mchaney/imaging/index.html (no affiliation)

David

 

[Tyler Monson]

In my opinion, if anyone is going to get seriously into photography,
he/she is going to need a good flash setup that surpasses any built-in
flash system (whether it be Olympus' or anyone else's.)

Hey, Robert, do you want to buy my 2000 watt/second Norman studio flash system? It's a serious setup!

I agree with you on the SmartMedia issue—nothing but CF for me.

Actually, I'd planned to use the 950 with the studio flash...until I discovered the limited range of f/stops after I'd already bought the camera. Lens manufacturers seem to have no trouble making 7-10mm cine lenses that go from f2 to f22, so what's the problem here?

Wish I were rich enough to own one of each of the digital cameras so I could find out for myself which is best for what.

Happy New Year!

Tyler Monson
Seattle, Washington

 

[Audrey]

There is so much knowledge here, and I need some help in making a decision.
I own the 950 and have real problems with the red eye issue. This camera
was quite costly and I am trying to decide if I should return it and get
the Oly C2020. Other than red eye the 950 has great output of pictures.
The other alternative is to break down and add additional moneys to this
camera and purchase the external flash SB28, $280.00, plus the SKE900 for
$58.95.

I guess my question is, which would be a better decision? I am so tired
of thinking about this, and my husband doesn't want to hear it any more!
Ha!
It could make you crazy!

Thank you for helping me.
--
Audrey

Hello Audrey,
I think I can help you. I had that entire combination and I have to say
the results where amazing. I shoot for a major NY newspaper and I was
actually shooting a lot of jobs with the combo. But I recommend using a
Stofen (I believe its spelled this way) white diffuser plastic cap (I'm
not sure what they call it, but a good camera store will carry it and
know what its called) over the flash. This way shooting in a small room
with a low white ceiling you're able to turn the flash head up and bounce
the light around the room and forward. The results are great. The light
fills the room, hits the subect and no red eye what so ever.

Hi Steven,

Does this mean that you own the SB28 and that is what you but the Stofen on? Sorry for my lack of knowledge. I just wanted a camera that I could use without having to make major adjustments.

Others have posted that they feel the C2020 would be a similar camera without the red eye problem and without having to purchase an external flash.
Don't know if I want to invest that much more into this camera. Sigh.....

Thank you for your input, it is appreciated.

These three look like something from another planet!

 

[Michael Klein]

I tried the Qimage program and downloaded the trial version, and it
worked fine. When I purchsed the program had internal problems, showing
illegal action and had to shut down. I played with it for ever with no
luck. I deleted it from my computer until I can find out why this keeps
happening.
Thanks for the help though, I appreciate it.

Audrey

I recently bought a Nikon SB-18 online for $36 and I got the SK-E900
locally for a 10% holiday discount many use the SB-22 also and they
can be bought used or online.

I use MGI Photosuite 3 for Red eye it does a great job...takes about 10 seconds for pics messed up...
BUT- if you do post-processiog before printing you MUST have Qimage.
This is the BEST printing program AND it has the EASIEST red-eye fix
ever! It takes me about 30 sec to fix both eyes with Qimage. This
really should not be a problem. I only got the BIG flash for stopping
action and larger rooms, etc.

Try Qimage on a trial
http://www.charm.net/~mchaney/imaging/index.html (no affiliation)

David

 

[Mark W.]

There is so much knowledge here, and I need some help in making a decision.
I own the 950 and have real problems with the red eye issue. This camera
was quite costly and I am trying to decide if I should return it and get
the Oly C2020. Other than red eye the 950 has great output of pictures.
The other alternative is to break down and add additional moneys to this
camera and purchase the external flash SB28, $280.00, plus the SKE900 for
$58.95.

I guess my question is, which would be a better decision? I am so tired
of thinking about this, and my husband doesn't want to hear it any more!
Ha!
It could make you crazy!

Thank you for helping me.
--
Audrey

Hello Audrey,
I think I can help you. I had that entire combination and I have to say
the results where amazing. I shoot for a major NY newspaper and I was
actually shooting a lot of jobs with the combo. But I recommend using a
Stofen (I believe its spelled this way) white diffuser plastic cap (I'm
not sure what they call it, but a good camera store will carry it and
know what its called) over the flash. This way shooting in a small room
with a low white ceiling you're able to turn the flash head up and bounce
the light around the room and forward. The results are great. The light
fills the room, hits the subect and no red eye what so ever.

Hi Steven,

Does this mean that you own the SB28 and that is what you but the Stofen
on? Sorry for my lack of knowledge. I just wanted a camera that I could
use without having to make major adjustments.
Others have posted that they feel the C2020 would be a similar camera
without the red eye problem and without having to purchase an external
flash.
Don't know if I want to invest that much more into this camera. Sigh.....

Thank you for your input, it is appreciated.

These three look like something from another planet!

I'm sure you have notice that about 80% of your flash shots of your family look like this. This is just a waste of a very expensive camera for you. This camera is terrible for this use. You will not have this problem with the Olympus C2020. It is just that easy to correct your problem. The 950 is so bad at red-eye it goes beyond the pupil in many shots and destroys the iris also! You just can't use a red-eye reduction program for those. You actually have to rebuild the color of the iris also if you really like the picture and want to keep it.

 

[Dave Baginski]

Audrey,

Mike releases new version of QImage every couple of days. I had a similar problem that was corrected by deleting the program files and reinstalling QImage. The registration remains in tack as this is store elsewhere. The red-eye reduction of QImage is good although it desaturates the eye a bit too much turning it nearly black. However, it does retain the highlights and beats the alien look!

-Dave

I tried the Qimage program and downloaded the trial version, and it
worked fine. When I purchsed the program had internal problems, showing
illegal action and had to shut down. I played with it for ever with no
luck. I deleted it from my computer until I can find out why this keeps
happening.
Thanks for the help though, I appreciate it.

Audrey

I recently bought a Nikon SB-18 online for $36 and I got the SK-E900
locally for a 10% holiday discount many use the SB-22 also and they
can be bought used or online.

BUT- if you do post-processiog before printing you MUST have Qimage.
This is the BEST printing program AND it has the EASIEST red-eye fix
ever! It takes me about 30 sec to fix both eyes with Qimage. This
really should not be a problem. I only got the BIG flash for stopping
action and larger rooms, etc.

Try Qimage on a trial
http://www.charm.net/~mchaney/imaging/index.html (no affiliation)

David

 

[Cris14766]

Audrey,

I am debating between the Coolpix 950 and the Epson 850. Because of the severe red-eye problem of the Coolpix, I am leaning towards the Epson. I would prefer compact flash storage over smart media, so the Olympus 2020 would be my third choice. (I used an Epson 750 for several months and got very nice shots with it.)

Cris

 

[Jason Stoller]

Audrey,

I am debating between the Coolpix 950 and the Epson 850. Because of the
severe red-eye problem of the Coolpix, I am leaning towards the Epson. I
would prefer compact flash storage over smart media, so the Olympus 2020
would be my third choice. (I used an Epson 750 for several months and got
very nice shots with it.)

Cris

 

[Bill14816]

There is so much knowledge here, and I need some help in making a decision.
I own the 950 and have real problems with the red eye issue. This camera
was quite costly and I am trying to decide if I should return it and get
the Oly C2020. Other than red eye the 950 has great output of pictures.
The other alternative is to break down and add additional moneys to this
camera and purchase the external flash SB28, $280.00, plus the SKE900 for
$58.95.

I guess my question is, which would be a better decision? I am so tired
of thinking about this, and my husband doesn't want to hear it any more!
Ha!
It could make you crazy!

Thank you for helping me.
--
Audrey

Audrey,

I'll give you my two cents, for what it's worth. I bought the SB28 despite acute sticker shock, and am very pleased with the results. Of course, as a former newspaper and portrait pro, I have always been reticent to use any on-camera flash. I always thought they all produced red-eye (but it's been years... I'm an old fogey.)

Since I hate the look of on-camera flash (those shadows behind the subjects really bug me, red-eye or not) I always use bounce or some combination of diffusion and bounce on the flash head. For that, you need a more powerful flash to be able to shoot any distance. I can't confirm that the SB28 goes into sleep mode and can't be wakened by the 950, but that would explain why the flash failed to fire on several occasions. I thought it was a firmware problem per the original review of the 950 on this site, as I haven't yet upgraded for fear of giving up ISO control. (I barely got the flash in time for Christmas, so was very pleased that it worked as well as it did without my having a chance to practice first--I used to have to calculate flash exposures in my head.)

I have used the SB-28 for both macro close-ups and the obligatory Christmas recording and am satisfied that it is an excellent choice, but it's a costly solution if you just want to take snapshots of the kids. (My fantasy is to go back to some professional work again, so I rationalized the expense.) Don't get me wrong--I'm not belittling snapshots of the kids and have the pictures to prove it. But an external flash & bracket is a cumbersome way to take snapshots if you're not used to the trouble. If the C2020 works as well as the others say it does (can't prove it by me, I remain skeptical about any on-camera flash avoiding red-eye) that may be the way to go. I can promise that you won't have the red-eye problem with the SB-28 and your pictures will look far more natural if you take advantage of its automatic bounce capabilities. The exposures are superb.

I'll be happy to email you a sample of the natural flesh tones you can expect if you like. Best of luck with your decision. I love the 950 for its versatility and its superb macro capabilities. But the red-eye makes the on-camera flash unuseable for people/animal portraits, IMHO.

 

[Jim S.]

There is so much knowledge here, and I need some help in making a decision.
I own the 950 and have real problems with the red eye issue. This camera
was quite costly and I am trying to decide if I should return it and get
the Oly C2020. Other than red eye the 950 has great output of pictures.
The other alternative is to break down and add additional moneys to this
camera and purchase the external flash SB28, $280.00, plus the SKE900 for
$58.95.

I guess my question is, which would be a better decision? I am so tired
of thinking about this, and my husband doesn't want to hear it any more!
Ha!
It could make you crazy!

Thank you for helping me.
--
Audrey

I purchased an SB-24 on ebay.com for $180 - it was in the original pouch and

came with a copy of the original instruction book - the flash was in mint condition - not a scratch or a mark - I have seen many SB-22's on ebay go for

$80 - $100 - my SB-24 took care of the red eye problem - these 2 flashes are very viable alternatives to the $280+ SB-28

 

[Audrey]

Hi Bill,

Thank you for helping me make this decision.

I would appreciate it if you would email me the photos that you spoke of, that would help.

Most of the photos will be of my work, which I need exceptional macro shots to send to clients.

Thanks again!

There is so much knowledge here, and I need some help in making a decision.
I own the 950 and have real problems with the red eye issue. This camera
was quite costly and I am trying to decide if I should return it and get
the Oly C2020. Other than red eye the 950 has great output of pictures.
The other alternative is to break down and add additional moneys to this
camera and purchase the external flash SB28, $280.00, plus the SKE900 for
$58.95.

I guess my question is, which would be a better decision? I am so tired
of thinking about this, and my husband doesn't want to hear it any more!
Ha!
It could make you crazy!

Thank you for helping me.
--
Audrey

Audrey,

I'll give you my two cents, for what it's worth. I bought the SB28
despite acute sticker shock, and am very pleased with the results. Of
course, as a former newspaper and portrait pro, I have always been
reticent to use any on-camera flash. I always thought they all produced
red-eye (but it's been years... I'm an old fogey.)

Since I hate the look of on-camera flash (those shadows behind the
subjects really bug me, red-eye or not) I always use bounce or some
combination of diffusion and bounce on the flash head. For that, you need
a more powerful flash to be able to shoot any distance. I can't confirm
that the SB28 goes into sleep mode and can't be wakened by the 950, but
that would explain why the flash failed to fire on several occasions. I
thought it was a firmware problem per the original review of the 950 on
this site, as I haven't yet upgraded for fear of giving up ISO control.
(I barely got the flash in time for Christmas, so was very pleased that
it worked as well as it did without my having a chance to practice
first--I used to have to calculate flash exposures in my head.)

I have used the SB-28 for both macro close-ups and the obligatory
Christmas recording and am satisfied that it is an excellent choice, but
it's a costly solution if you just want to take snapshots of the kids.
(My fantasy is to go back to some professional work again, so I
rationalized the expense.) Don't get me wrong--I'm not belittling
snapshots of the kids and have the pictures to prove it. But an external
flash & bracket is a cumbersome way to take snapshots if you're not used
to the trouble. If the C2020 works as well as the others say it does
(can't prove it by me, I remain skeptical about any on-camera flash
avoiding red-eye) that may be the way to go. I can promise that you won't
have the red-eye problem with the SB-28 and your pictures will look far
more natural if you take advantage of its automatic bounce capabilities.
The exposures are superb.

I'll be happy to email you a sample of the natural flesh tones you can
expect if you like. Best of luck with your decision. I love the 950 for
its versatility and its superb macro capabilities. But the red-eye makes
the on-camera flash unuseable for people/animal portraits, IMHO.

 

[Denis Fortin]

I'm sure you have notice that about 80% of your flash shots of your
family look like this. This is just a waste of a very expensive camera
for you. This camera is terrible for this use. You will not have
this problem with the Olympus C2020. It is just that easy to correct
your problem. The 950 is so bad at red-eye it goes beyond the pupil in
many shots and destroys the iris also! You just can't use a red-eye
reduction program for those. You actually have to rebuild the color of
the iris also if you really like the picture and want to keep it.

I must admit that the red-eye effect is very noticeable on the 950.

I love the camera, but I've had to reconstruct a number of eyes in Adobe PhotoShop
that had been completely turned red, including the irises. It is annoying.

On the other hand, I love the camera and have been having an immense amount of
fun shooting anything that's interesting in my environment.

Denis

 

[Mark W.]

Hi Bill,

Thank you for helping me make this decision.
I would appreciate it if you would email me the photos that you spoke of,
that would help.
Most of the photos will be of my work, which I need exceptional macro
shots to send to clients.

Thanks again!

Audrey you didn't state that you needed an excellent macro capable camera in your original post. In that case, definitely keep the Nikon CP950 and get the external flash. There is not a camera that comes close to this camera for macro shooting in this price range.

There is so much knowledge here, and I need some help in making a decision.
I own the 950 and have real problems with the red eye issue. This camera
was quite costly and I am trying to decide if I should return it and get
the Oly C2020. Other than red eye the 950 has great output of pictures.
The other alternative is to break down and add additional moneys to this
camera and purchase the external flash SB28, $280.00, plus the SKE900 for
$58.95.

I guess my question is, which would be a better decision? I am so tired
of thinking about this, and my husband doesn't want to hear it any more!
Ha!
It could make you crazy!

Thank you for helping me.
--
Audrey

Audrey,

I'll give you my two cents, for what it's worth. I bought the SB28
despite acute sticker shock, and am very pleased with the results. Of
course, as a former newspaper and portrait pro, I have always been
reticent to use any on-camera flash. I always thought they all produced
red-eye (but it's been years... I'm an old fogey.)

Since I hate the look of on-camera flash (those shadows behind the
subjects really bug me, red-eye or not) I always use bounce or some
combination of diffusion and bounce on the flash head. For that, you need
a more powerful flash to be able to shoot any distance. I can't confirm
that the SB28 goes into sleep mode and can't be wakened by the 950, but
that would explain why the flash failed to fire on several occasions. I
thought it was a firmware problem per the original review of the 950 on
this site, as I haven't yet upgraded for fear of giving up ISO control.
(I barely got the flash in time for Christmas, so was very pleased that
it worked as well as it did without my having a chance to practice
first--I used to have to calculate flash exposures in my head.)

I have used the SB-28 for both macro close-ups and the obligatory
Christmas recording and am satisfied that it is an excellent choice, but
it's a costly solution if you just want to take snapshots of the kids.
(My fantasy is to go back to some professional work again, so I
rationalized the expense.) Don't get me wrong--I'm not belittling
snapshots of the kids and have the pictures to prove it. But an external
flash & bracket is a cumbersome way to take snapshots if you're not used
to the trouble. If the C2020 works as well as the others say it does
(can't prove it by me, I remain skeptical about any on-camera flash
avoiding red-eye) that may be the way to go. I can promise that you won't
have the red-eye problem with the SB-28 and your pictures will look far
more natural if you take advantage of its automatic bounce capabilities.
The exposures are superb.

I'll be happy to email you a sample of the natural flesh tones you can
expect if you like. Best of luck with your decision. I love the 950 for
its versatility and its superb macro capabilities. But the red-eye makes
the on-camera flash unuseable for people/animal portraits, IMHO.