Check out Landscape Photography section of our forum.
In-camera HDR
Aug 30, 2012 03:54:42 #
Did you get chance to look at the other features? e.g. HD video is amazing with the ability to get stills from the video (haven't tried that one yet), 10fps burst rate impressive.
I have added another image of a trader's stall to the Flickr link taken with an old plastic Minolta 50mm f1.7 prime that never fails to give great results. This image was developed from a RAW, no additional processing.
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/index.asp
is the site I use a lot for researching older Minolta lenses. Very much personal choice as to what you go for, the Zeiss should be amazing and ideal size for lumping round Venice in the heat - remember the digital zoom facility x1.4 @ 12MP and x2 @ 6MP, loose a bit in quality but at least you get the shot!
I get the impression that the new Sony's are causing a bit of a stir with CanNik owners. Pays your money, takes your choice but I am quite happy with images I can now get without a tripod and without flash.
Enjoy Venice, I did a lot.
I have added another image of a trader's stall to the Flickr link taken with an old plastic Minolta 50mm f1.7 prime that never fails to give great results. This image was developed from a RAW, no additional processing.
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/index.asp
is the site I use a lot for researching older Minolta lenses. Very much personal choice as to what you go for, the Zeiss should be amazing and ideal size for lumping round Venice in the heat - remember the digital zoom facility x1.4 @ 12MP and x2 @ 6MP, loose a bit in quality but at least you get the shot!
I get the impression that the new Sony's are causing a bit of a stir with CanNik owners. Pays your money, takes your choice but I am quite happy with images I can now get without a tripod and without flash.
Enjoy Venice, I did a lot.
Aug 30, 2012 17:10:08 #
Paul57 wrote:
Did you get chance to look at the other features? ... (show quote)
Paul,
What an amazing resource. I guess Minolta made some high quality lenses and am considering the 24-85 RS (3.5-4.5) in lieu of the Zeiss as it costs about $650 less. Combined with a Tamron 10-24 and maybe an older Minolta 70-210, that could fill the bill. What do you think?
Of course, then the Venice trip will have to be postponed...
Thanks again,
Bill
Aug 31, 2012 06:51:17 #
Bill,
There is a lot of good Minolta kit out there if you are prepared to do the research and look - I have even bought old film camera set ups just to get hold of the glass. Your combination sounds good to me, you would cetainly have a useful range of focal lengths.
I'm sure you will make it, where there's a will...............
Paul
There is a lot of good Minolta kit out there if you are prepared to do the research and look - I have even bought old film camera set ups just to get hold of the glass. Your combination sounds good to me, you would cetainly have a useful range of focal lengths.
I'm sure you will make it, where there's a will...............
Paul
Check out Close Up Photography section of our forum.
Sep 2, 2012 18:58:12 #
Paul57 wrote:
I have put a selection of full sized, out of camera (no post processing) onto Flickr (not sure about bandwidth on UHH):-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/86101670@N02/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/86101670@N02/
Many fine photos! Thanks for sharing.
It is hard to see the HDR benefit on many of them. One would have to see the single exposure shots. On one of them (people inside church) the HDR effect seems much less than I'd expect: people on the right are pretty dark.
I'd also be interested in a comparision vs. Nikon's Active D-Lighting. My experience with Active D-Lighting in my Nikon D5100 is that it does a better job than the D5100's HDR...and it needs only one shot so no problem with handholding and use of VR.
Sep 2, 2012 22:56:02 #
MtnMan wrote:
When an in camera HDR just does not seem right, it is because one still has to set their camera as best they can before taking the shot. The people that still appeared dark did not have to be. quote=Paul57 I have put a selection of full sized... (show quote)
I have played with Active D- lighting on a Nikon. I do not remember which model. It seemed alright. I still liked the Sony version better. This is not because I own a Sony or am used to doing it the Sony way, rather it seemed simpler for a lack of a better word. I did like one thing with the Active D- Lighting, and that was that the colors seemed a bit more vibrant. Just like with anything else, there are pros and cons and trade offs.
Sep 3, 2012 03:25:22 #
The image inside the church with the group of people on the right is not an in camera HDR shot, it is a MFNR (multi frame noise reduction), handheld. All images are tagged as to HDR or MFNR.
In posting this small selection I was simply trying to help Bill (shieldsadvert) judge both in camera HDR and MFNR.
In camera HDR was a tremendous advantage in the strong Venice August sunlight - can't imagine how I would have captured images off the back of a moving vaporetto using conventional HDR. I was in Venice for 4.1/2 days and setting up and taking 5-7 RAW images would have been too time consuming and reduced my 'coverage' of Venice.
In posting this small selection I was simply trying to help Bill (shieldsadvert) judge both in camera HDR and MFNR.
In camera HDR was a tremendous advantage in the strong Venice August sunlight - can't imagine how I would have captured images off the back of a moving vaporetto using conventional HDR. I was in Venice for 4.1/2 days and setting up and taking 5-7 RAW images would have been too time consuming and reduced my 'coverage' of Venice.
Sep 3, 2012 11:08:35 #
Paul,
Excellent comment. There are times when using HDR software for post processing has its advantages, but other times when it is impractical (or impossible) and using in-camera HDR and NR features like those Sony affords are the better ways to get the shot. Thanks again, I'm ordering my a65 today!
Bill
Excellent comment. There are times when using HDR software for post processing has its advantages, but other times when it is impractical (or impossible) and using in-camera HDR and NR features like those Sony affords are the better ways to get the shot. Thanks again, I'm ordering my a65 today!
Bill
Sep 3, 2012 11:55:16 #
Bill,
Don't think you will be disappointed.
Gary Friedman's pdf book "The complete guide to Sony's Aplpha 65 & 77 SLT cameras" is excellent.
Paul
Don't think you will be disappointed.
Gary Friedman's pdf book "The complete guide to Sony's Aplpha 65 & 77 SLT cameras" is excellent.
Paul
Sep 3, 2012 12:51:07 #
David Busch also has one, but I expect you prefer the Friedman book? I understand you can also access on-line professionally produced "How To" videos. Ever tried one of those?
Learning how to use these new cameras is equivalent to taking a 3-credit college course, huh?
Bill
Learning how to use these new cameras is equivalent to taking a 3-credit college course, huh?
Bill
Sep 3, 2012 14:44:39 #
Bill,
Saw a good report on Friedman's book and went for it-nothing against DB at all.
Not found much on video. I find it a bit like using a new PC or program, use it, get stuck and find the answer, I always tend to learn and remember a lot more that way. Friedman gave me the bare bones, am now starting to put some muscle on them.
Paul.
Saw a good report on Friedman's book and went for it-nothing against DB at all.
Not found much on video. I find it a bit like using a new PC or program, use it, get stuck and find the answer, I always tend to learn and remember a lot more that way. Friedman gave me the bare bones, am now starting to put some muscle on them.
Paul.
Sep 4, 2012 11:16:44 #
Paul,
I'm a bit stuck on lenses for the camera. Your Venice shots look great. What lenses are you using and are you happy with them?
Thanks again,
Bill
I'm a bit stuck on lenses for the camera. Your Venice shots look great. What lenses are you using and are you happy with them?
Thanks again,
Bill
Check out Commercial and Industrial Photography section of our forum.
Sep 4, 2012 11:54:20 #
Bill,
I took the following lenses to Venice:-
Minolta 50mm f1.7 prime
Minolta 35-105mm f3.5-f4.5 zoom
Sony 18-70mm f3.5-f5.6 zoom
I didn't bother with anything of a longer focal length, SLT-A65 has a 1.4x digital zoom at 12MP and 2.0x at 6MP. Only used the 1.4x a couple of times. Could have done with something like the Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 zoom on occasions.
Also had good results with:-
Sigma 28-200 f3.5-f5.6 zoom
Minolta 75-300 f4.5-f5.6 zoom
I have had most of these for a few years, running on my old Sony A100, the Minolta 35-105mm was a very recent aquisition.
Paul.
I took the following lenses to Venice:-
Minolta 50mm f1.7 prime
Minolta 35-105mm f3.5-f4.5 zoom
Sony 18-70mm f3.5-f5.6 zoom
I didn't bother with anything of a longer focal length, SLT-A65 has a 1.4x digital zoom at 12MP and 2.0x at 6MP. Only used the 1.4x a couple of times. Could have done with something like the Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 zoom on occasions.
Also had good results with:-
Sigma 28-200 f3.5-f5.6 zoom
Minolta 75-300 f4.5-f5.6 zoom
I have had most of these for a few years, running on my old Sony A100, the Minolta 35-105mm was a very recent aquisition.
Paul.
Sep 4, 2012 12:02:39 #
Thanks Paul, that sounds like a pretty cost-effective lineup.
I'm thinking the Sony 16-105 might be the best choice for me because of the useful range combined with the A65's capability of correcting this lens CA and distortion.
Bill
I'm thinking the Sony 16-105 might be the best choice for me because of the useful range combined with the A65's capability of correcting this lens CA and distortion.
Bill
Sep 4, 2012 12:18:43 #
Bill,
Had to hunt some of those down for quite some time! Most score reasonably well on dyxum.com, that's always my initial guide. Have to say I am very pleased with what I have picked up so far.
Just had a look at sample images off the Sony 16-105mm, impressive, crystal clear at f8 - f9. Very useful focal length range, a good city walkabout lens.
Paul.
Had to hunt some of those down for quite some time! Most score reasonably well on dyxum.com, that's always my initial guide. Have to say I am very pleased with what I have picked up so far.
Just had a look at sample images off the Sony 16-105mm, impressive, crystal clear at f8 - f9. Very useful focal length range, a good city walkabout lens.
Paul.
Sep 4, 2012 12:42:55 #
USE a tripod, take multiple pictures with varying expsures from darks to lights.
combine them in photoshop or other software programs to give yourself more dynamic range. here is a url to TOP 10 HDR programs.. http://3exposure.com/2011/06/29/the-top-10-hdr-software-programs/
combine them in photoshop or other software programs to give yourself more dynamic range. here is a url to TOP 10 HDR programs.. http://3exposure.com/2011/06/29/the-top-10-hdr-software-programs/
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Check out The Pampered Pets Corner section of our forum.