Stupid Camera Tricks
First images from my new Canon SX1 IS camera, which I picked up Tuesday afternoon. It’s a sub-SLR, 10-megapixel with a 20x optical zoom, the same size but a bit heavier than my old S3 IS. Most of the extra weight is concenrated in the lens.
I drove over to West Seattle after work Wednesday night to meet up with some folks for an evening kayak paddle on Elliott Bay (pics and narrative to follow). Prior to launch, I took the following photos of downtown Seattle, all from the same standing spot. The first on the left is a straight shot with no zoom. The next two use progressively more zoom, and the fourth is a crop-and-expand excised from the third. I think the distance to the Space Needle from where I was standing is at least 5 miles (Click photos to enlarge):
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I’m looking forward to exploring some more of its features. You’ll be the first to know!
Wow. Fabulous. Envious.
Holy shit. That’s amazing. You have a very steady aim too. Excellent.
Ooooooh! Ahhhhhhh!!
Looks like you are having some mighty spectacular weather up there this week too.
Enjoy that new toy
Just one word: CanIborrowyourcameraIpromiseIwilltakecareofitandwillbringitbacktoyounextyearinperfectlygoodshapeohplease?
Wow! That is the twooth word.
Well, I went the other way, actually. And am sad about it, sort of.
#1 I carry my camera with me always.
Unfortunately, since I also chop wood for heat (Indiana) I accidentally busted the view screen.
Now…when those babies break, it takes a while for the complete damage to manifest itself totally, and for about a month, I continued to take pictures without seeing the viewscreen (some were OK, some not so much) but in any case, I’m a poor artist, and when it finally gave up the ghost, I had no camera at all.
Little brother lent me his cheapie, the si xe.
A step down, to be sure.
Unknowingly, though, I use it (I NEED to photograph. Some people want to, I NEED to)
so, snap snap snap.
Way shorter video length (25 minutes now, versus the 58 minutes with the canon)
but, in any case, the video is what I liked to do the best.
Without a lens, that is.
I have my eye on one of those really nice new canons with the interchangeable lenses…(I’m drooling right now. Pardon while i get a paper towel…) and have high expectations on the videography available.
The reason I like the video is because I use Magix Movie Maker 14 (?) and it lets me pull single jpegs off the video.
Which means I can turn on the camera, start the video, and walk into a crowd without ‘flashing’ the camera and get lots of non-contrived photos…(you know…when you pop a camera on to get a picture, people slap that silly grin on their face…)
Well, anyway, you’ll probably enjoy the canon, BUT watch out because it’s a bit delicate.
At least when you’re chopping wood, it is.
Sorry - just catching up on your comments.
Chuck - thanks. You need one of these on your cross-country haj. She’s not going to let you out of the car, so you need the zoom.
Robin - yeah, I was sore amazed. Check the video in the ensuing post to see the full range.
Carroll - I’m learning, incrementally, how to use it.
Springer - You can have on for the price of a plane ticket up here and back. Yes, you have to include the “and back”.
Boneman - Thanks for stopping by. I just don’t think I’d be willing to carry extra lenses and a larger camera on the peregrinations upon which I do most of my photography. I’ll look into Magix. I use the free Windows Movie Maker and it can capture stills, though I’m not sure of the quality. Thanks for reminding me of the “unassuming video trick”. There are times when I’d love to take a photo, but fear that it’d be much too obtrusive/illegal/physical-assault-engendering. No danger from chopping wood here. Coffee-bean shrapnel from a runaway grinder, maybe.