I'm happy to report that the new hi resolution digital camera worked flawlessly on our recent trip. I took over 900 photos during our exploration.
Our wonderful and fun field trip was documented in exquisite detail. Most of the photos were to capture details of construction and ideas to assist me in my designing adventure in the future. I took all photos without flash, both indoors and out. The camera just didn't neet the assistance a flash would have provided even in very poor light. With the spot metering and focus the camera performed beyond my wildest expectations. I even shot some normally impossible hand held night lit and fireworks shots with great success, something I have never managed with any success with a conventional camera.
I have downloaded, sorted, and cataloged about half the phtos so far and all are keepers.
I snapped continuously each day we went out. I carried three sets of AA rechargable batteries with me and they proved adequate. Each evening I recharged the batteries and quickly edited the photos, dumping the duplicates, out of focus, and other shots I deemed not worth saving.
With the photos captured so far, the digital format had paid for more than half the cost of film & printing in the first month.
I'm a believer!
-dan
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
I can relate to your excitement. I dropped $500 last night on my newest digital camera. I bought the Casio QV-R4 a 4 megapixel camera. I went with this particular camera because of its size and also that its constructed of an all metal case. The few photos I've taken last night and today are just short of superb. Im a photo nut and take pictures everywhere. Like you mostly for ideas but also for some creative photographic fun too.
I researched the camera as much as I could and so far no real negative comments and lots of positives. Its not Nikon 5700 but I made a choice between ultimate photo quality and convienance...I think I'll be happy wity my choice.
I would sooner go without a refridgerator than a digital camera.
I took it to dinner at my usual feeding spot. I asked a really cute very young waitress to pose for a picture. She obliged and asked me what I was going to do with the picture. I told her I had this really cool new software I wanted to try out. I told it was capable of removing all clothes from her picture therefore leaving her completely nude. I made up all this techno babble and she blushed and begged me not to look at her naked. I told her not to worry, I wouldnt show it to anyone else except her if she wanted to come check it out after work.
I think she seriously considered it!
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Dan, I'm happy to see the purchase is working well for ya and I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. We're in the process of updating our photo equipment and setting up a permanent photo shoot area in our shop. While it's primary use will be for cataloging our inventory in our warehouse, we do get the occasional request to photograph products for designs. So, I would like to ask a favor of you. Would you send me an unedited image to run a test print out on our large format printer? It would be greatly appreciated. If you say yes, I'll email you the details on where to upload it.
Thanks,
Checkers
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
Dan I can relate to the joys of the digital camera. I haven't bought any more film or developing since I got mine. It's just a Kodak 4900 4.0mp I know there some which are lot more dynamic.
Bob you mention the Nikon 5700. Have you checked out the Nikon D1x, now that's a Cadillac! Wish I had the extra money to throw down on that baby. If I was a more "serious photographer" I would go for a Medium Format camera with a "digital back" I think they are at 16mp. Now were talking bizness for the big format printers or billboards, at the same time were also talking BIG $'s. I guess it doesn't cost to dream huh? It's a trip how photography and the highway of technology has gone into a different world, for example with a cell phone now we can send a picture of a yard sale item or a custom designed sign made by...Atkinson or somebody of his caliber by email.
Dan I totally agree with you and your happiness with your camera.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Brian
The pics I took on our trip were at half the resolution that the camera was capable of. I ended up carrying 640 megs of storage with me without the ability to download while on the trip, and so was concerned about running out. But I am more than happy with the pics... once resized they reduced to 6"X4" at 300 dpi. The quality is better than if I took regular photos and scanned them at the same resolution.
Do you want a pic at this resolution or High res?? I can take a couple more and send these to you if you like or send along one I took on our sojourn at the reduced res.
Let me know.
-dan
[ February 14, 2003, 02:12 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Elaine Beauchemin (Member # 136) on :
Just got myself a new Olympus c-4000 4megapixels this week in replacement of a kodak dx215 and this newbie performs as a charm. Macro mode is awesome for details and the lenses are a-1. Details a crispier even in medium resolution images. Really happy with the $$ spent on this one.
É
Posted by AlanD (Member # 1461) on :
Dan,
what software do you use to organize your digital photos? I have an older(!) 2 megapixel Olympus that works ok, but is very slow in taking pictures as compared to a standard 35mm. I can't take the kind of spontaneous shots that I can with my Canon 35mm. How are the new cameras as far as speed in taking pictures? Can you post a sample picture from your collection?
Thanks for any info!
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Alan
The camera I am using is a Fuji S602Z FinePix. It is rated at 3. something or other but due to propietary hexigonal shaped sensors it performs much higher. It can produce 6 megapixel shots.
I am very impressed with the speed of the camera... both locking focus on something (even in very low light) and the speed to process the shot. My old olympus digital was poor in these departments. I did my homework before buying the camera as they are not at all the same in these regards.
On our trip I was using it on medium resolution which produced pictures which were 28.4" x 21.3" at 72 DPI. I take them to photoshop and resize them to 4" x 6" at 300 DPI to produce images slightly smaller in total pixelsize with no loss in quality.
I them name and number each photo for easy reference and burn them onto discs for storage(one for reference and one for backup) . I don't like to keep a lot of stuff on my hard drive... just don't trust it for the long term.
It does take a fair amount of time, but no more than sorting and placing normal photo prints in transparent sleeves and then into binders.
With the great viewers included with WinXP looking at the pics is easier than ever, complete with previews and slide shows should I desire. And up on my new digital flat screen the images are wonderful!
I generally don't do any retouching of photos unless I have specific need to do so.... such as client presentation or preparation for a web page.
I hope this answers your questions.
-dan
[ February 14, 2003, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
The shutter speed on mine is really fast. The auto focus is just as fast. Also the preview mode has no hesitation at all. You can scroll through the shots you've taken as fast as you can hit the button.
I would love to post a high image shot here but the file would be too big and to reduce it to a 75k jpg would do the actual image no justice.
Posted by Elaine Beauchemin (Member # 136) on :
I just can't resist... to put a link to an image I took with my camera yesterday night. there's a thumbnail...a resized image and the original taken with no flash
