Scout Images

I have come to realise that since I have not really posted many photos in the last few weeks. One may assume that this is because I have not been taking photos, but this is not the truth. Just in the last week I have been out and about a few times, but these are all going to be shared in one post after Vivid Sydney. I have been busy with my computer, but this has not stopped me from getting out there and taking photos.

Firstly, I would like to share a few images from almost a fortnight ago, when I went back to Cockatoo Island for another round of shooting. This time I restricted myself to only bringing and using my FujiFilm FinePix F100fd instead of one of my usual Nikons.

This camera has had a bit of a workout lately, being pressed into some low light work (which for a compact is not bad for) as part of my daily run to work.

Finally, I am both happy, and not so happy, to welcome another new lens into the family. This time it is the Zoom Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR. Why have I bought a consumer lens? The truth is that I would not have really considered this lens which causes me two large issues, a lack of FX compatibility and a the overlap with the other lenses I already own. However it does fill a void for me, it provides me with a very useful range, with reasonable image quality that will AF on my D60. As I will be travelling LIGHT very soon (next weekend) it has been welcomed into the family. Here are some of the shots I took with this lens.

Firstly I have to apologise for the lack of activity lately. I present the excuses of a higher than normal workload followed by some pretty nasty sickness. However, I did put together the beginnings of a comparison between Sony’s Exmor R (circa 2010) sensor and Fujifilm’s 8th Generation SuperCCD HR (circa 2008).

Fuji’s SuperCCD technology has long been the benchmark setting sensor in the compact camera market, producing the amazing F30/F31 (2006) compacts that have ISO performance that the compact cameras of 2010 are only starting to match. The technology has evolved quite greatly over the years culminating in the major redesign in 2008/9 to produce the current generation SuperCCD EXR, but the oversized octagonal photosites aligned at 45 deg remain.

Sony’s Exmor R sensor takes traditional CMOS and puts it on its head, literally. Traditional CMOS sensors have layers of circuitry overlaying the photosites, as you can imagine this is rather inefficient in capturing light. The Exmor R sensor has this reversed, it is the first backlit CMOS (ie. the circuitry in under the photosites) that has been mass produced.

These two technologies promise better light gathering abilities. As a long time Fuji user and the owner of a Fujifilm Finepix F100fd which utilises an 8th generation SuperCCD HR, I was keen to test the abilities of Sony’s Exmor R sensor, as a result I found myself the owner of a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX5. Unfortunately I have yet been able to source a SuperCCD EXR sensor for comparison, but lets see how 2yr old SuperCCD technology stacks up against Exmor R…..more

This morning I was pleasantly surprised when a courier knocked on my front door to deliver me my new Sony TX5. A lot of the people that know me well would probably be thinking….what a Sony?? Yes a Sony.

My long time gripes with Sony as a camera come in a number of forms:

• Value – you pay a lot for the Sony brand, and you can usually find a similar spec/performing camera in another brand. In this case I was offered a VERY good price and there really is no other waterproof camera with a specialised low light sensor (ie no SuperCCD EXR in a Fuji waterproof yet)
• Memory Stick (MS Pro Duo) – I run two card formats already Compact Flash (CF) and Secure Digital (SD/SDHC). Thankfully Sony has awoken to the world and given us dual MS/SDHC card slots in this generation of camera.

So with these two issues cast aside (good work Sony on the 2nd issue) there leaves the one remaining problem, I already have a compact camera that I love (my Fuji F100fd) so what has made me buy another compact?

The Fuji F100fd has been a great companion and despite the introduction of the SuperCCD EXR in the F200EXR and F70EXR it still delivers sufficiently good image quality for my needs. However, the Sony TX5 sold itself to me on the basis of its nice slim looks and toughness (waterproof down to 3m, drop-proof up to 1.5m, freezeproof) as well as the nice Sweep Panorama and Exmor R sensor. Most importantly it is this Exmor R sensor that got me interested, and in the coming weeks I will try to test the Exmor R against my 2yr old SuperCCD.

So introducing the Sony Cyber-Shot TX5:

• 10.2MP Exmor R backlit CMOS sensor
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 25-100mm (35mm equivalent) f/3.5-6.3 lens (4x zoom)
• 3.5″ Touch screen
• 720P HD Video Recording
• 17.7mm thick
• Waterproof up to 3m (10ft)
• Drop-proof up to 1.5m (5ft)
• Freezeproof down to -10 deg C

I have been very quiet on the photographic front lately, so I thought I would share some of the images I have snapped in my day to day wanderings. Nothing special.

Mamak is a Malaysian restaurant in Sydney that I really love (for more information please visit their website), fast paced food that is simple yet delicious. Here are some pictures taken using my Fuji F100fd.

More recently, I had some fisheye fun in the Queen Victoria Building. My Nikon D60 + Tokina AT-X 10-17mm. These were taken more for myself than for anything else, and experiment with zooming whilst shooting, often used with other lenses.

Just thought I would share some of the dodgy photos I took on New Years Eve and some that I took today whilst at Mamak with my baby Fuji F100fd.

I have to admit that I have often underestimated my needs, and NYE 2009 was just another occaision. I was thinking travel light, travel discreetly, so as a result I kept my gear to the smallest, most unassuming kit that I could. This resulted in:

• Nikon D60 – light and unassuming
• Nikkor AF-D 50mm f/1.8 – small and light, BUT manual focus on a D60
• Nikkor AI 135mm f/2.8 – small and light, BUT manual focus and no metering on a D60
• Tokina AT-X 10-17mm fisheye – small and light, BUT manual focus on a D60
• Nikon SB-400
• Nikon ML-L3
• Phottix Duo Cable
• Joby Gorillapod (Thanks Mr Ken)

With this kit, I assumed that any fireworks images would not be a big problem, unless I wanted a longer exposure to get trails (which you would when your friends are doing so). But this was not my largest problem, whilst setting up for the midnight fireworks down at Darling Harbour, a group of young ladies asked us to take a few pictures of them (using their compacts). After the fireworks we took a few more photos for theses ladies, afterwhich we asked if they wanted us to take some photos for them using our cameras (they will be getting their photos soon). This is when I found myself caught short, really short. The AF-less lenses that I had with me were fine up until that point, but for portraiture they proved to be a nightmare, esepecially since my saving grace (the SB-400 on the Phottix Duo Cable) required a hand to hold off camera. In the end I had to borrow my mates 18-200 and eventually comandeer his D90 (Sorry Mr Jod).

Here are some of my dodgy, hand held fireworks images (I used the Joby for some of the Ferris Wheel shots).

As I have mentioned earlier, I was at Mamak today and took a few images of what I ate. I have to admit that they make a damn good Roti, and I am addicted to their Sambal. These were taken with my now found again Fuji F100fd.

Firstly I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas (or commercial holiday if your inclined to call it that) and a Happy New Year. I hope that you all will have a happy, safe and relaxing break over this holiday period. I have had a very busy lead up into this period and will be looking to take a bit of break over this period, however I will be try continue to post updates.

I have done an evaluation of my current arsenal (details here, locations here) and am quite pleased to say that despite the foul luck I have had over this year, I have come into the holiday period with few casualties. My Nikon D300 comes into this period in pretty good shape having just been serviced, finally fixing the LCD issue, save for a damaged viewfinder eyecup (DK-23) for which a replacement has been ordered.  The only other stand out’s are my Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 (Model A16N) which is still awaiting the arrival of a replacement DA09 lenshood, to replace my damaged one.

Sadly, my Fujifilm FinePix F100fd is now listed as MIA (Missing In Action) as its current location is uncertain. I really hope it is found soon, otherwise I will be tracking down another to replace it (to keep my WP-FXF100 useful otherwise I will be out for another underwater casing).

Finally, I thought I would share some of my recent images taken whilst out with some friends at night.

I just thought I would share some pictures that I have taken recently. This first set was taken during a Breakfast meeting at Badde Manors (Glebe) with my trusty little Fujifilm FinePix F100fd. I have to admit that the food was as good as it looked.

Here are some pictures from today, I went for a walk around Darling Harbour, visiting the Brazilian Festival before heading over for a roam of the Rocks.  Once again I found myself with the wrong set up (it seems to be a happening a lot more often these days when I decide to go for a roam) having brought the Sigma 180mm macro instead of the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, however I did manage to get some decent shots with the Sigma used as a telephoto (one of the key reasons why I picked the Sigma 180mm over the Tamron 180mm – the slightly faster AF speed).

I realise that it has been a while since I have posted photos, SORRY. This is a combination of not having a lot of time to go shooting lately and even less time to process the few photos I have taken. Hopefully this will change in the near future with the addition of a lighter D60 which will mean I will be carrying around a DSLR more often (once I find the money to buy a smaller, lighter lens to match).

In the mean time I thought I would share some of the stuff that I have managed to shoot recently.

These were taken at North Head (Manly) a few weeks back. Most of these are HDR’s and a few variants of a HDR pano, which all take an immense time to construct. I have to admit that I am not happy with the results but I thought I would share my triumph over the technique. For this set I used my D300 + MB-D10 with either the Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8, Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8, Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR or the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. I also used my trusty Manfrotto 055 Pro B with the Phottix ball head and the Phottix Geo One on this occaision.

This set of images was taken during last weekends trip up to Palm Beach with some friends. This trip was more for an unwind so photography played second fiddle but both the D300 and the Fujifilm F100fd (and its waterproof housing) saw some action.

Whoever said that bitching got you no where?

Only earlier today did I post that my patience was wearing thin regarding the amount of time that Maxwell has taken to service my len, but I was suprised when I visited my Tamron Dealer this afternoon. My beloved Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 had been returned.

Initial looks show that the loose front ring has been tightend up and everything else seems to be in order. No extra scratches, filter, hood and lens caps were returned. Looks like my day to day pack will drop in weight again.

On another note, I have added some new photos. These were taken with my Fujifilm Finepix F100fd at 1600 ISO in black and white. This results in a classic high speed (high ISO) film look.

I have to apologise for the lack of activity lately, I have had little time to shoot, and even less time to post photos up. But here are a few sets, two from the last few days and a set that has been sitting waiting for upload for awhile.

Today USYD PhotoSoc went on their first shooting Mini-meet, down to the Rocks (Sydney, Aust). Although the Rocks is so photographed there seems to be little to left to capture, if you look hard enough there is always something.

Last night I finally went out night shooting again, this time in the company of a Canon wielding friend. We lugged the Manfrotto’s (Bogen for the American’s) up to Observatory Hill and were rewarded with a slightly different take on the Coathanger (Sydney Harbour Bridge). I didnt get much from the night but it was good to catch up with a friend.

This last set is from our trip down to Jervis Bay at the beginning of the month. We headed down via Bald Hill Lookout and caught the hang gliders. We went snorkelling where my Fuji F100fd + WP-FXF100 got another workout. We finished the trip with a dolphin cruise.