Photographic Equipment...

[Torurot]

Donnnny check out http://www.orbisflash.com/
Designed by a Kiwi guy

As soon as it's released I have one. Sign up to the mailing list

[Beavis]

(Looker @ Aug. 22 2008,12:10)

(rxpharm @ Aug. 22 2008,19:26) There is also Corel Paintshop Pro - easier to use than Photoshop, and does all the essential things.

Thanks. Sure will take a look. It costs only 80 USD. Photoshop costs an eye!!

Not if you got your copy from TukCom in Pattaya ! 150 Baht including keygen and it has worked flawlessly. Getting the hang of it is another matter !

[Looker]

(rxpharm @ Aug. 22 2008,22:53) Looker, the 18-70 is ok if you get a good copy.

Thanks RX. I have read very mixed reviews about SONY lenses and, in particular, this 18-70 lens. Some said it's a cheap plasticky bad lens when others say it's a good upgrade of an older Minolta..go figure.
Same about SONY bodies..there seem to be quite a divided categories of people liking it or hating it.
Perhaps because, like Olympus, it's the brand that has more sales after Nikon/Canon..maybe?!?!

Given the (relatively) low price they are selling it, I would just espect mediocre performances from this 18-70mm.

Leica lenses are nice but they do not come cheap and choice is limited, also they (obvioulsy) tend to be on medium heavy side I noticed. http://www.digitalrev.com/en/sony-5-167-category.html
The 16-80 is quite reasonable in fact.

[Looker]

(Torurot @ Aug. 23 2008,07:50) Not sure the fascination with live view.  

I'm not sure either, Tourot.
I did not have chances to try and I also read about the  poor visibility of the LCD particular in strong sunlight where you must shade it with something.

I'm attracted by the the possibility of using chest/waist hight focusing when necessary, instead of creeping down to look in the viewfinder. I like to take close-to-floor shots.

I've always found the viewfinder to be the most awkward part of any camera to use, as absurd as it sounds. It should be the opposite but it seems so difficult for the manufacturers to come up with something that is really comfortable to use!

Except for precision pictures where I need to control exactly what comes in to the shot, like for example takings pics of paintings, I just quickly check the exposimeter needle and shoot. In a way or another the picture never really comes up as you have in mind or as you've just seen in the viewfinder.

So, I'm thinking if live view through a tilting LCD could be a solution to my problem. Unless of course, it doesn't really dry batteries up after 10 minutes!  

[Torurot]

The new Sony lithium batteries are rated for 750 shots. (raw) That's a lot of data! Pretty good with all that screen going.

As for 18-70, my one is perfect!

As for non Photoshop, here's a recent article on alternatives
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008....otoshop

[Looker]

Thanks Tourot.
I'll be dead tired longer before I'll ever shoot 750 pics in one day
But then, why are some people buying the extra battery mounted on bottom..what for?

Yes..Photoshop will be too troublesome for me to learn and too $$$. I already tried to learn the Illustrator 8 and AutoCAD few years ago. Just don't have the patience anymore to undergo such painful tutorials
RX sugegsted the Corel which is not so expensive, about USD 80, but "bleeding" away USD 600 + for Photoshop doesn't do for me.

So, you have a Minolta or an earlier Sony? I guess I didn't read some of your postings carefully.

[rxpharm]

Hi Looker, Tourot shoots with a Konica/Minolta 5D, the same camera I have. At the time it was one of the better value for the money DSLRs. It is 6 MP, but that is good enough for prints up to 18x20 without a problem.

I like it a lot as it is more compact than other DSLRs - not as bulky, and it does quite well with low light photos that require higher ISO (not very noisy), with the help of the in body image stabilization.

Tourot, thanks for the comments about the photos. That ring flash adapter sounds quite promising - I hope it works well for macro, which is requires that kind of specialized lighting.

Looks like the flash may require a PC cord to trigger while attached to the adapter - but maybe the remote wireless feature might work too for the Sony/Minoltas.

This the link for the diffuser I use - Demb Flash Products

I did have the Omni-bounce, but I have found the "Flip-it" much better and flexible to get the well lit look without using flash.

[marshal]

Some nice work back there rxpharm

Nice to see an lb shot that is elegant rather than the normal, every thing hangs out!

[Torurot]

Rx I intend to use it entirely for Macro work.

OK I realise this is Sony biased, but for Looker and others looking to resume, or upgrade their photography it has some great basic advice and ideas.

http://backstage101.learningcenter.sony.us/index.j.....111238

[Torurot]

>>This the link for the diffuser I use - Demb Flash Products

Rx, I've got a "similar" one made out of high grade 120g/m2 Hi Lustre Bright White paper A4 paper folded to a special pattern found on Gary Friedmans site, attached to my flash with an extra wide rubber band found in postal supply shops. It works pretty good, folds down to nothing, and if I lose it I can fold up another in under two minutes. Sometimes simple is nearly good enough.

[Looker]

(Torurot @ Aug. 23 2008,18:08) OK I realise this is Sony biased, but for Looker and others looking to resume, or upgrade their photography it has some great basic advice and ideas.

This is the best review I have found so far. Very complete and seemingly quite unbiased, and they have videos too on YouTube:
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/So...00/index.shtml

Probably with the Alpha 350 using Zeiss lenses will make full use of the 14.2 Mpixles, but worthy?

[rxpharm]

Looker, if you mean is the Sony Alpha 350 using Zeiss lens worthy of taking excellent photos, the answer is yes. The problem with "noise" comes about when using higher ISOs. Most photos don't require ISO higher than 800, so most of the time you will be fine.

Have a look at the Dyxxum galleries and you will see just what kind of photos can be produced, even with the older high end Minolta lenses. Dyxum Forum Galleries Some of the older photos were taken with the Konica Minolta 7D/5D both 6 MP cameras.

[Looker]

(rxpharm @ Aug. 23 2008,22:12) Looker, if you mean is the Sony Alpha 350 using Zeiss lens worthy of taking excellent photos, the answer is yes. The problem with "noise" comes about when using higher ISOs. Most photos don't require ISO higher than 800, so most of the time you will be fine.

Have a look at the Dyxxum galleries and you will see just what kind of photos can be produced, even with the older high end Minolta lenses. Dyxum Forum Galleries Some of the older photos were taken with the Konica Minolta 7D/5D both 6 MP cameras.

Yes, RX, that's what I meant and that is my impression. Having a good load of Mpixels with an average/standard lens perhaps is a slight mismatch.

I never used 800 ISO on films..at most 400 maybe pulled up by a bit.

Is the ISO used on a digital actually corresponding, as final image result, to the same ISO used on a film camera.
I'm noticing that quite a bit of standards used on film cameras are assuming different dimensions on digital, as format, lenses focus range, other??

[Torurot]

My image browser, cheap but effective. used to use Picasa but this one is better for me
http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

[Looker]

Seems a bit like GIMP, whcih you also recommanded if I rememeber well.
And it's free    
Picasa it's quite basic, but very easy to use. Have been playing with some pics friends sent me  
Any LB hiding in that jungle? Yuhuuuu!!