The Photography Thread

[Gareth C]

A polarizer cuts down on glare and darkens skies - I'm not quite sure what you're describing Dai, but it sounds more like colour filters, which will accentuate certain colours. Interesting page on filters in B&W photography here: http://www.fineart-photography.com/bwfilter.html

I'm a big fan of using red filters in B&W.

Yes, sorry...I knew I had the terminology wrong. My head is all over the place at the momentg due to an alarming number of prescription drugs entering my body every day!!!

[MartyG]

Nothing to be sorry about. Sounds like an ideal time to go do some new concept photography

[Gareth C]

The new Panasonic L1 looks like it could be interesting...

[MartyG]

Leica have a decent enough reputation, some of the Olympus digitals have been a bit hit or miss. Certainly the 4/3 system needs a lot more lenses as there aren't that many available. IIRC, the existing Olypmus SLR mounts are different, so people upgrading from film SLRs won't be able to bring their exisiting lenses along - that's a big downside as it then means you're in the market for any camera body.

Looking at those pics, that camera looks awfully cramped to use though, assuming that lens isn't extraodinarily large.

[Gareth C]

The lens is huge considering its only an 18-50mm...there is a link in that article to a brief hands on and it shows it being used.Pics Here

IF, and its a big if, Leica/Pany release a decent zoom lens (120mm or 150mm at least) I would be tempted by this, but I don't even dare guess how much it would cost. The lens of the digilux 2 had 13 moving elements and that was a lot of the reason for a high price...I can see a similar story here.

I see there is lots of debate regarding the lens containing focus, zoom and aperture rings but I love the idea. Having the aperture available on lens is brilliant, I use it all the time on my digilux 2 as it allows you to PLAY more. It feels like using an old camera (such as the AE-1) and that, to me, is heaven!

[MartyG]

Gareth, this is an SLR - why wouldn't it have adjustment for apature?

[Gareth C]

Well Pany considered putting the aperture control on body apparently...I guess they were considering fixed aperture low variant zoom lenses???

And, sorry, the other debate is that the zoom ring isn't mechanical like the Panasonic/Leica Digilux 2...many people prefer direct mechanical zoom control rather than more modern electonic versions where the ring is essentially free floating.

[MartyG]

Some of the more recent DSLR lenses have dropped the apature ring, but they can still be adjusted - it would be unheard of not for it to be adjustable at all. It's done from a jog wheel on my D50 and F90s.

Edit - I really can't see why that would be a big issue - neither will make you a better photographer.

[Gareth C]

Sorry, i didn't mean that its ever not available. Simply, that some users like the idea of it being on the lens as a ring and others prefer a jog wheel as you mentioned.

What I like about having it on the lens with focus and zoom is that it allows IMO quicker and more intuitive control and less reliance on menus etc...it can all be done while the camera is in ready mode...

[MartyG]

There's no reliance on menus for the SLR stuff I have - in manual mode the D50 can be adjusted for apature and shutter without having to hit the menus at all. This is pretty standard for SLRs. With compacts then yes, you do have to start delving into menus.

[Alastair]

Just use a file viewer that zooms to fit screen like picasa...

Downloaded Picasa 2 out of curiosity last week, the slide show feature is loads better than any other software I've used before. Compressing the pics to fit my screen size doesn't result in blocky images any more Some of the adjustment tools are pretty handy too for snapshots when you don't want to fire up PS.

Big thumbs up from me.

Not been very good weather for photos recently down here, was out and about at the w/e but nothing great came of it. Bloody rain. Roll on summer.

[Crisp_Rapper]

just a quick question as i've not been following the thread for a while... what's the best image manipulation software out there for next to nowt? i'm not looking for photoshop as i'll never use half the features, something quick and easy to use.

cheers chaps.

[Gareth C]

There's no reliance on menus for the SLR stuff I have - in manual mode the D50 can be adjusted for apature and shutter without having to hit the menus at all. This is pretty standard for SLRs. With compacts then yes, you do have to start delving into menus.

Yes, but personally I prefer the ring on the lens...how do you adjust yours?

[Alastair]

What sort of manipulation do you have in mind Crisp?

[Ginger Tosser]

Gimp i think is free, paint shop pro x is about ?60, photoshop elements about ?60 Mansize Photoshop is around ?400 - or you can just pirate it like everyone seems to.