Photography

[NTP66]

iPhone cameras are utter garbage. As for P&S's, I haven't done anything with one aside from my old Canon PowerShot G11, so I can't really help much there. I would suggest going to B&H and checking out the reviews there: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N ... rtclk=sort

[relantel]

In August, I lost my T3i along with a 55-250 lens at Hersheypark. Fortunately, my procedures in place had me only lose the images shot that day, as everything else on the card had already been backed up, and it wasn't the kids first trip to the park, so nothing that was really that critical. Annoyed I lost some nice shots freezing roller coasters from a distance, but really minor in the grand scheme of things. I think my 7yo was more broken up about losing it than I was.

I ended up buying secondhand an XSi body and another 55-250 lens. The former was off of ebay for about $120, while the latter was via B&H for $79. $199 sunk into replacement. I've since shot 27000 images in 10 weeks (. The XSi was 3 models older than the T3i, the biggest difference being lack of video capability and older processor. But for the money, I'm already well below a cent an image, and I've gotten some priceless photos out of it.

For comparison sake, I had the T3i for 3 years 8 months before it disappeared, and shot about 36000 images in that time. I'm 75% of the way there in just a short amount of time (just over 5%). Now, this was used with a 30k shutter count when I started, so I'm already 57k into the shutter life, but I've already got my money's worth out of it, and it will tide me over until I feel I can afford that 80D or the L series 28-300 lens. Original plan had been to use this one as a second body, but this year isn't it - just too much other things with a greater priority... so my used filler worked too good in that respect that a new one is not an urgent need.

Having reconsidered photography needs & desires, despite its 2500 list cost, that 28-300 lens stands out as a priority even before the new body. I'd rather shell out on that than the cost of the 5D Mark IV though it does look like a really nice camera. So it'll be some other year...

Moral: don't be a afraid to look used. You won't feel you are locked into a platform, and you'll get a quicker return on your investment.

[NTP66]

That's a lot of lens on a crop sensor body (balance will be pretty bad), IMO.

[shmenguin]

Not a huge fan of those super zooms.

I have a few lenses, but my 105 macro and my 24-70 are all I ever use.

[relantel]

That's a lot of lens on a crop sensor body (balance will be pretty bad), IMO.

Yeah - it would be but I suspect I would be picking up a secondhand 5D Mk II by that point

[NTP66]

That's a lot of lens on a crop sensor body (balance will be pretty bad), IMO.

Yeah - it would be but I suspect I would be picking up a secondhand 5D Mk II by that point

That's how I upgrade stuff. "Man, now this lens makes everything front heavy. Must now upgrade the body!"

I use my 24-70 for damn near everything, and it's my favorite lens. I keep trying to make an excuse for getting a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G, but that's really overkill for my needs. My Tamron 70-300 will have to suffice.

[shmenguin]

The 70-200 is just so gawdy and I have no use for that 200 range. The 105 macro is a great portrait/multi purpose lens. I can't recommend it enough.

[NTP66]

@AuthorTony, alright, I'm testing some more auto/P stuff to see if it's something else that I can control. I bought this with the hope that I didn't have to spend as much time in the menu, but that's exactly what I'm finding myself doing. If I get some good examples of what I'm seeing - blown out highlights, not overexposure (I was tired) - I'll post them.

[NTP66]

Man, this Sony wants to always use 2500-5000 ISO indoors, whereas my D750 usually stays under 1400. I had to limit auto ISO on the Sony to 2000 to help with the image quality, as there is just so much noise at those higher ISOs.

[NTP66]

@AuthorTony, I promise I'll stop bugging you soon enough. Went out to the garden and got some closeups of this turtle sculpture thing. No post done, straight conversion to JPG from RAW in Lightroom. Link to the full size images below each.


https://i.imgur.com/yrUMbMK.jpg
Left: RX100 VII, Right:D750


https://i.imgur.com/eVn0CFH.jpg
Left: RX100 VII, Right:D750

RX100 VII
Av
1/125 @ f/9
66mm
ISO 100

D750
Av
1/160 @ f/9
70mm
ISO 100

Honestly, this looks way better than the 200mm stuff I was getting yesterday in Auto. I may bring both cameras with me next week and use Av mode to see how it does there. The D750 is still sharper and the color is more accurate without touching, but Av is definitely better on the Sony than Auto is.

[AuthorTony]

I wish I could be of more help. I always shoot on full manual, so I'm not sure how to tweak the settings for the various modes. I'd say the pic you posted is certainly acceptable (from the Sony), and it would likely sharpen up a bit in editing too. You're right though that the D750 is clearly better, but I think that's to be expected. But it seems like you might be on the right track by avoiding auto.

[NTP66]

Yep, for sure. And honestly, that's an acceptable solution provided the longer range shots pan out (ha!). I'd wager that a solid 85% of my photos over the last few years have been landscape shots, so the Sony has to deliver there or it's getting sold. Ignoring the 200mm shots I took this past weekend, the 24mm shots are even softer. This camera was sold as having amazing AF, etc, but I have yet to see it.

[AuthorTony]

You might want to look into Topaz Sharpen. It does a surprisingly good job of sharpening up soft shots. It doesn't work miracles, but it's far better than any of the sharpening options in Photoshop.

[NTP66]

Holy **** that does an amazing job. Still pretty noisy, but a significant improvement. That said, if the solution is to run every photo through both this and Lightroom, this camera isn't going to cut it.

[AuthorTony]

Glad you liked it! But yeah, I wouldn't want to depend on it. That adds too much time to the workflow.

[tifosi77]

I haven't been following the saga closely, so I apologize for the sort of remedial "is the device plugged in" advice here, but......... have you checked any YouTube sources for tutorials on this specific camera model?

[NTP66]

Don't insult me, tif. I've watched half a dozen of them thus far. I'm also not a novice when it comes to this stuff.

[NTP66]

Welp, the verdict is in - this camera just isn't good enough. I'm putting it on eBay today and sticking with my D750. The D750 is just far superior in ever way other than size/weight.

I'll most likely be taking a loss on it, but I'm looking at it in that the loss would probably equal a weekend rental rate to determine if I wanted to go with one in the first place.

[AuthorTony]

I think you're making the right call. If that had been your first camera, I'm sure you would have been satisfied. But the D750 is a semi-pro model and, even though it's older, you're going to be hard pressed to get that kind of quality from a consumer camera.

[NTP66]

Already have a $750 bid for the camera on day one, and seeing how these have been going from $800-950, I'm feeling pretty good about making most of my money back, if not breaking even.

[NTP66]

@AuthorTony: The conclusion to the story has arrived. I got about $50 less than what I paid for the camera after fees, etc., which I can live with.

[AuthorTony]

Hard to beat that! Glad you made out pretty well, but sorry the camera wasn't up to snuff.

[NTP66]

$113 in fees on an $856 sale. Insane, but still more than I’d have gotten selling it to a store. The guy who bought it lives in Alaska.

[AuthorTony]

Those fees are ridiculous!

Have you heard about the generative fill feature in the new Photoshop beta? It's bonkers!

[NTP66]

Source of the post Have you heard about the generative fill feature in the new Photoshop beta? It's bonkers!

I just watched the Adobe video on it... holy ****. Amazing stuff. The subject select feature is one I'd use the most, I think. Not sure the other stuff is for me.