PDA

View Full Version : New camera for QWK



QWK SVT
08-08-2008, 12:04 PM
For the last 4.5 years, I have been using an Olympus C8080... By most descriptions, it's a great "bridge" camera, with very good image quality...

My parents have retired, and now own a property with about 70 acres of land, with plenty of wildlife. I've tried my best to take pictures with the 8080, but the lack of focal length (5x) and no image stabilization was resulting in more ruined shots than made... Having recently become a home owner, my budget for a new camera wouldn't allow for that Canon XSI kit plus a Tamron 18-250MM lense, that I really wanted, plus I really do prefer a fixed lense, for ease of use, travel, etc.

I just picked up a Fuji S100FS (link to Fuji's site (http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/s/finepix_s100fs/index.html)), and can't wait to get started.
http://www.qwksvt.com/Other/Photo/S100FS.jpg
I've read all the reviews, and played with the camera myself in-store (and parking lot), and it's the perfect fit for my needs and budget. There is some slight purple fringing (as reviews implied), but not as bad as often stated, and I think I can clean it up well in post. I'm also thinking that a filter may lessen the impact. Form factor is great, the image stabilization works well for me (I tried the Oly 570SP, but couldn't steady a single shot on the long end of the tele, even with their OIS), and image quality is very good. Can't wait to see what this puppy can do in the real world! :coolman:

oldekid
08-08-2008, 03:49 PM
That sounds interesting! I'm not too familiar with Fuji cameras, but it certainly sounds like something you can have fun with.

Looking forward to some posted pics real soon.
:beer:

jdando
08-08-2008, 04:35 PM
Yea!

Lets see some pictures!

CRUZTAKER
08-09-2008, 06:41 AM
They make great film...:D

rayjay
08-09-2008, 07:09 AM
The 1st digital camera I ever set my mits on was a Fuji at work. It looks similiar to your camera. I do not know diddly squat about digital photography. I can however take more than adequate photos with that 4 year old Fuji in auto mode. I'm quite sure you are going to love it.

freakstatus
08-09-2008, 07:22 AM
Guess we'll be seeing some awesome '09 calendar shots, eh? I gotta get on that too. I just have an old Canon SD550.

QWK SVT
08-11-2008, 02:05 PM
I went to my parents' retirement home, over the weekend. It's about 70 acres of land, near Brighton, Ontario. There's a lot of wildlife there (well, way more than this city-boy is used to seeing), and I started to put the Fuji to use.

I took about 500 shots with the camera, but am still figuring out the ideal settings. I missed a chance at a nice shot at some deer (2 bucks, two does), as the lighting was rather dim, and they fled before I could barely get the camera to eye level... :(


Here are a few photos taken, with no post done, other than resizing (no cropping, either):

Taken from the widest end of the lense:
http://www.qwksvt.com/Other/Photo/Far.jpg


Same picture, on the long end:
http://www.qwksvt.com/Other/Photo/Near.jpg


Picture taken from about 12 feet away from the flower:
http://www.qwksvt.com/Other/Photo/Flower.jpg


Focusing on a Great Blue Heron through long grass:
http://www.qwksvt.com/Other/Photo/GBH.jpg

CRUZTAKER
08-11-2008, 02:09 PM
I read the exif file on one of your shots and was pleased to see your Tamron is fast at f2.8 at 100 mm.
I once had a couple Tamron long lenses, but not as fast as yours. Thats why I ebayed them.

Nice captures indeed.

You will enjoy your picture taking. ;)

Now take some time and perhaps a class or two to start shooting in the program manual modes and move away from AUTO.

QWK SVT
08-12-2008, 08:29 AM
Now take some time and perhaps a class or two to start shooting in the program manual modes and move away from AUTO.

It was my first weekend with the camera, so I'm still getting used to it, but that certainly is my plan! I figure this is a camera that I can "grow into" some... ;)

oldekid
08-12-2008, 11:40 AM
It was my first weekend with the camera, so I'm still getting used to it, but that certainly is my plan! I figure this is a camera that I can "grow into" some... ;)You are off to a great start. That camera has lots of goodies on it. Like CRUZ said, once you feel comfortable enough, drop that thing out of auto, and try some other modes.

Pretend it's a woman. Enjoy it, take care of it, but don't let it make all of your decisions for you. It may think that it knows everything, but quite often it is easily fooled. :)

My favorite is aperture priority. I love taking control of depth of field for most of the stuff that I shoot.

Anyway, have fun and keep shooting.

:beer: