ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Friday 10 December 2010

SANTAS BEEN (10/12/10)

Yesterday was an expensive day. So expensive that I just daren’t type the numbers. I update about every three years and this year is it. Out with the old and in with the new.

First expense was twenty kilos of wild bird food with loads of oily seed…………….reading from the sack here……I didn’t buy twenty kilos of meal worms as the feathered beggars go through them faster than I go through Marlboro. They can have twenty a day and be grateful.

New camera…………..well it’s now over twenty four hours old, looks like the old one but shiny. Adobe didn’t recognise it’s Raw format……………..bother, bother, blow!  I’ll be away to the bottom of me grandma’s alley!  Several similar expressions later…..which you don’t want to hear….Promise!  I’d downloaded adobes update.

Opened up Elements found the DNG exec files copied them to the desk top in case I’d got the wrong ones deleted them and pasted in the new files. Only afterwards did I think to open Elements , hit help and look for updates. What!…..Adobe can do it for you and in the blink of an eye….I’m going to swear…………..a Plonker!  I am. I’m so used to Adobe software being brilliant but not intuitive that I’ve stopped looking for the easy way. We are up and running and state of the art.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA              Here it is the E-5 same body but everything has changed. It’s propped up on another purchase a Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro lens. I love the E-3 for it’s take anything that comes attitude but it had one big failing Noise at anything over 600 ISO. Look at this shot………………

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA        My mucky trainers and Alfies duck shot at 6,400 ISO. Okay there is noise but I didn’t use noise reduction on the camera. If I ever loose anything in the dark I’ll be able to find it. Assuming I can find  the camera.

I’m happy! Just as well considering the outlay. This is the first new camera I’ve purchased and Harrison Cameras did me proud. I checked on the internet and they beat every price by fifty pounds, plus I get shown how to navigate it’s complex menu. Forgot all that of course………….we men know it all……….maybe………….never listen…definitely!

It also has HD Video and loads of other features that I’ll get to and disseminate on as I find them. One is it can process bracketed exposures in camera. I’ll give that a whirl. I’ll see if it’s the answer to dynamic range.

I know the camera doesn’t make the photographer……………Good lenses help.

Help!……I want to be good.

We are back in Derbyshire for a couple of days, it’s warm and foggy. Generally vile, not winter but depressing.

You all have a good weekend.

 

16 comments:

  1. New toys! Don't ya just luv Santa!
    Great stuff Adrian; I can feel your excitement here.
    I look forward to seeing the results.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yea, I look forward to seeing them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey , good evening!
    I have 4 cameras...ha ha
    Canon g9, Canon g11 ( I have always both of them in my bag or in my pocket) a DSRL (an old one) EOS 10 D (with SIGMA 18-125) and a new EOS 400D
    (with SIGMA 18-200)
    If I sell them I can buy a brand new Wrangler...ha ha!
    I have a problem with G11, with RAW format . On G11 RAW = CR2 and I can not open it with Photoshop so I have had to install Lightroom 2.
    Annoying!

    Anyway, in brief- I am still in love with my first camera EOS 10D and I still use it !

    I wish you a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  4. O you lucky old devil. Would love a nice macro like that. We are going to see some weird stuff in the future especially with the fish-eye lens.
    Looking forward to the Derbyshire test shots and your verdict on the new tools.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations! I'll be interested to see the difference.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Keith, like a dog with two tails. Good job I've only got me to buy for.

    Bob we'll see as soon as the fog lifts.

    Wind, they do seem to multiply. the difference between us is that you know how to use yours.

    Trevor, I went to a Sigma open day. Was looking at a proper Macro lens and could not leave that one alone. We'll see. I take a fair bit of macro but rarely post it as it's a devil to light.

    Jolynne, don't hold your breath...still be the same bumbling incompetence. Just shot at higher ISO numbers.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't know how to use it, Adrian!
    My best friend is called Recycle Bin...ha ha
    Al least I try...
    I wish you a happy day!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wind, your results say differently. Some days I think I should just reformat the card and start again. ave a good weekend yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds great Adrian - you must have been an exceptionally good boy this year lol.
    Look forward to the results once you have found out how to drive it. Each generation sees a reduction in noise at hight ISO settings.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Have fun with the new camera,look forward to more of your great photos.
    Perhaps a certain tobacco company will pay you a commission for the advert,to help recoup the cost of the new camera.!!!
    Have a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  11. John, I am pleased. I was thinking of switching to Cannon or Nikon but their weatherproof cameras are over twice the price of Olympus plus I have Olympus lenses. It seems to do more than I expected so I'm pleased.

    Matron, It is fun, when I get it set up and it becomes mine we'll be away. I suspect it will not be commission but a ban from blogger. I never think. the baccy was the first thing that came to hand.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Adrian, I hope you have a great time with it. You bring pleasure to many people with your pictures (and text) including myself.

    ( I just bought a new camera too, but the expense of a new lap top in the same year curtailed my spending power. I am honoured and embarrassed about mixing in circles like this compared to the hardware and armoury mentioned on this page !! After years of Pentax, i was forced into the digital age by a Canon birthday present. I have now dipped my toe into the Nikon market but have more basic problems such as not recognising the format of the card 3/4 the way through the day. Nikon problem I'm told. Hey ho. )

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jay, assuming you format the card in your camera evry time you have downloaded from it there shouldn't be a problem........If there is it's always worth checking for firmware fixes. Read the instructions. I suspect most cameras will require a fullish battery and should be switched off before you plug them in.
    It is an expensive business digital. I get much more fun from it than I ever did from film.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I agree wholeheartedly with your last sentence 'I get much more fun from it than I ever did from film.' Combine digital photography and Blogland and I think that a new life has emerged for many people. New friendships, too. (Sorry about the use of an isolated phrase. At least I ended with too and didn't write 'And new friendships'! I appreciate that standards are important on your blog.

    Seriously, though, I hope that your new camera gives you hours of pleasure although so much of producing photos as superb as yours is due to the person behind the lens and not just the equipment.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Imhkki, Thank you, I'm very pleased.

    ReplyDelete