Cybershot is garbage. I’ve owned a few, and memory stick is a SONY product with artificially high prices because it isn’t based on an industry standard. Stick with SD or CF based cameras.
The two other cameras on the list are not that great, but what you have to realize is that both of those cameras are fashion accessories before they are cameras. Pick the one that goes better with what you are wearing, because they don’t have much in the way of abilities to do more than standard point and shoot automagic settings.
If I had to pick one, I would choose the Nikon because of the 38-114mm f/3.3-4.2 lens with image stabilization.
Is the white balance on this one on purpose?
Here is the same photo with proper white balancing.
If you are doing long exposures, consider using a tripod and shooting multiple under-exposed images, and use photoshop to layer all of them over each other and set the blending mode to screen on all of them but the bottom layer.
This will give you more contrast, and eliminate lens flare and grain.
Sony Cybershots are sometimes more prone to barrel distortion or purple fringing. I’m guessing that the quality control at Sony isn’t too great for their cameras or maybe it’s a flaw in the design, but most likely the former. I probably would not recommend a Sony, but on some models they put the lens in a good place so it’s almost impossible to have your finger in the way. If you’re worried about any parallax business, don’t be. People with digital p&s usually use the preview on the LCD screen most of the time anyway. (I personally use the viewfinder when I’m low on battery. )
As for Nikon, I think that they are extremely mediocre in the digital compact p&s department. It certainly works. But I feel that it’s just that you could be getting a better deal elsewhere. The same goes for Samsung, but I’d have to put Nikon a step ahead of Samsung of course. If you’re really set on only these 3 options, just get the Nikon.
I still stand by my initial recommendation. Just get a Canon SD/IXUS. Any model in your price range should be fine. You won’t be disappionted. It’s compact and the design is sleek enough to be called cute.
Now the technical… white balanced off of the white garage door, shot at 28mm, f/3.5, with a 1/4 shutter speed. Digital Rebel (D300), 7 shots, hand held (elbows on the rib-cage ghetto tripod set-up).
Dumped them into photochop, clicked automate-photomerge. Checked off correct perspective and hit ok. Then save for web.
There are a couple of seams where photo merge didn’t do that great… but anyway, on the photomerge, I could also check off leave in layers if I wanted to boost the amount of light by changing all the layers to screen and dropping a black background layer, but I thought it looked fine, and I wanted to watch house.
I’d like to see some other christmas light shots, and tell me how you did it.
Without planning it I ended up shooting a sunset today. I went down to the beach to try something else which didn’t work and figured, “Ah, why not…” More annoying then that is, that in the two years I’ve had my flickr account I’ve gotten maybe six comments total, because I don’t advertise them in a million different groups. This picture got two comments within the first thirty seconds of being uploaded. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2072814152_d95f2a464d.jpg
very cool shots. what beach is that? awfully nice colors you got. you could check your color profile before you upload to flickr. i think they use sRGB.
So, I got my 550 ex this week… and I don’t know where to start. Haha. It didn’t come with a manual, and I’ve never really dealt much with flashes, so does anyone have a good starting point (tutorial or something similar)? Should I get a diffuser? Make one? Or use one of those reflecting cards (I don’t know what they’re called).
I have a 550EX manual, so if you have any questions about operating it, let me know.
The 550 has a built in diffuser. It is that little panel that slides out just above the flash head.
A rubber band and some white craft foam make the best reflecting cards.
[media=youtube]RNCmuExlHvM[/media]
For now, you should put your camera on P-mode and make sure the icon on the upper left of your 550 says ETTL. Also make sure that the Master/Slave switch is set to off. Next, take pictures like normal, except when you half-depress the shutter button, it will give you readings on the flash exposure compensation on the bottom. Use your dial next to the shutter button to adjust the flash exposure compensation (While the shutter button is still half depressed). Chimp until you get something that you like.
Other than that, start shooting. Just remember this rule: Outdoors = direct flash. Indoors = bounce the flash.
As many of you guys know, I work for a photography company…
This winter I’m going through our old training manuals and other photographer specific educational materials that we use in-house and updating them to be more modern. It got me to thinking that I could do a series of threads that goes over some of the materials. It would be like assignments that has people implement some basic and advanced photography techniques. It would also be some lengthy discussions on the business of photography, but I would try to keep that down to explaining the choices behind why someone would set up a shot in one way versus another (in a situation where they are getting paid to do it).
The main thing that I would get out of it is being able to use the feedback to update our materials and make them a little more clear and concise.
Of course, I would need 5 or 6 people to actively get involved with these tutorials and assignments, otherwise it isn’t really worth my time, because it would be like I was talking to myself.
I’m always looking for inspiration for photos. This sounds like it could be really helpful. I’ll be honest though, anything that involves studio work I’m going to be very “ho-hum” about because that’s not really my thing.
I don’t know what you consider studio work, but most of what I’ll be posting would fall into one of two categories.
How? As in, concepts that are basic things that should be understood in order to consistently get professional quality photos using the minimum amount of gear.
Why? As in, why does a professional photographer do what he does, and what separates the thinking behind professionals and amateurs.
I’m totally down. This may sound a little ‘homo’ but it seems like a bunch of us are from So Cal - maybe we can get together one day and just hang out and take some photos. Shrug.
