Yes I Finally Bought A Digital Camera - Orchid Board

golforchid · #1 09-22-2012, 05:17 PM

As per my other posts on this forum, I have been a long term user of film and film cameras. I carted my Contax RTS with winder and glass lenses with me to Peru last year, and I haven't parted with them. I'm off to Ecuador at the end of Oct... decided to go as light as possible with camera equipment, and also to make an initial small monetary investment. So I bought myself what is termed an "all in one" - Fujifilm Finepix HS30 EXR.
Still learning to use it and of course, there are limitations
to what it can do...I'm used to looking through a viewfinder and setting either shutter speed or lens aperture myself...but I'm enjoying it...and here are a few of my initial efforts.

WhiteRabbit · #2 09-22-2012, 05:57 PM

Nice!

Carpe Diem · #3 09-22-2012, 06:59 PM

Looking good!

tropterrarium · #4 09-22-2012, 09:15 PM

Looks like a good start. The close ups are quite nice. Notice with the heron, that the background is in focus, but the bird is blurry. Autofocus often leads to those problems. The deliberate focus that you are used to with the RTS and MF lenses is gone. Some digicams permit to adjust focus manually, even with some all in one cameras (old Nikon Coolpix I have used in the past). Worth exploring a bit.

That problem extends also to highend cameras and lenses. Was shooting today some cats in a zoo setting with a Canon 5DmkII with 300 2.8 IS lens. Most shots I did in MF mode. Also shot some deer a couple of days ago, there even without the problem of cage wires, and still AF was pretty useless. I mainly use MF lenses anyway even on an AF body.

Have fun in Ecuador.

golforchid · #5 09-23-2012, 11:33 AM

Thanks Trop - the photo of the heron was taken at almost sunset...after I had followed it around the pond attempting to get close enough for a photo. At least twice the darn thing swqonked at me and flew off. Finally extended the Fuji lens about as far as it would go and put camera on EXR mode. Not enough light to use the electronic viewfinder or manual focus. Also handheld- no tripod. I don't have much experience with bird photography and am trying to practice because part of my Ecuador trip is to Tandayapa Valley which is full of orchids and birds. One thing I like about this new little camera is that it has menu settings to mimic old Fuji films including Velvia which gives really saturated colors. One thing, however, is that I'm having trouble uploading these new digital files as attachments to Orchidboard.
golforchid's photosets on Flickr The set Summer Day was taken with the new camera.

lostonthebeach · #6 09-23-2012, 01:38 PM

Nice shots.

RosieC · #7 09-25-2012, 10:28 AM

Nice shots. I was unsure about going digital but haven't regretted it. I've only ever used a compact camera in the film world but a DSLR has let me experiment in a way I never could have done with a film SLR (take masses of pics and instantly see what works and what doesn't).

Quote:

Originally Posted by golforchid

One thing, however, is that I'm having trouble uploading these new digital files as attachments to Orchidboard.

The most likely reason is that they are too big. Pretty much all digital cameras these days produce pictures whose file size/resolution is too big for attachments to orchid board. You probably didn't have the problem if scanning photos in the past.

Try a resizing tool. There are many out there, but in the link in my signature for help with photos is a link to one that is simple and works well.

tucker85 · #8 09-25-2012, 10:39 AM

Nice pictures. I'm sure you'll enjoy the camera. I bought an SLR last year and I've spent a year learning about lighting, depth of field and other variables. Once you start down that road there's a lot to learn. Enjoy.

golforchid · #9 09-25-2012, 06:47 PM

Thanks folks - Rosie I did download the Light Image Resizer, but want to warn folks that when you go execute the file to put it on your computer there is a Trojan buried in it, which was fortunately caught by my Virus program...

RosieC · #10 09-27-2012, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golforchid

Thanks folks - Rosie I did download the Light Image Resizer, but want to warn folks that when you go execute the file to put it on your computer there is a Trojan buried in it, which was fortunately caught by my Virus program...

There wasn't when I downloaded it, I've run a couple of virus checkers over it several times and used the download I had recently and still nothing.

I'm guessing the site hosting it has been infected with a bad copy. Thanks for the warning.