We've Come A Long Way, Baby: I bought my first digital camera in 2000. It was an Olympus C3030Z, which sported a whopping 3.34 megapixel sensor, support ISO 100, 200 and 400, and had a...

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I bought my first digital camera in 2000. It was an Olympus C3030Z, which sported a whopping 3.34 megapixel sensor, support ISO 100, 200 and 400, and had a 3x Zoom (32-96mm 35mm equiv.) / F2.8 lens. The MSRP back then was nearly $1,000 US!

While exercising on the 17th floor of my Miami hotel, I was struck by the view across the water, so I grabbed my camera and took this shot.

I've posted the original JPEG, and some after images I did today using easyHDR3 and Perfect Photo Suite 9.

Be gentle, folks. These images are over 13 years old!

Miami Scene

(Download)

Miami Enhanced

(Download)

Miami HDR

(Download)

dsmith5816 Loc: Live Oak, Florida

Nice, good job. I have had several of the early digital and shot with a D80 for years. I love looking back through my photos. They say megapixel count isn't everything and I have some photos that could prove that. But man my D610 is a joy to use.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Comparison shots are always interesting to look at. In this case, I think the HDR presents what is probably most what the scene looked like, in my imagination. They may be 13 years old and from a low res camera, but still good results. Amazing what PP can yield. Would like to see a comparison of a these to a picture taken now with whatever you shoot with, presumably greater than 3.34 megapixel.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

I really like #3 Fred, well done.

LennyP4868 Loc: NJ

The HDR is the best you have the right sky with the green trees and the right exposure. Nice job

Nancy J Loc: lower North Island, New Zealand

[quote=Just Fred
These are great. #3 the best , and to have them from 2000, wonderful. What camera do you have now? I started in about 1954 with a Kodak Box Brownie!!! Now with a Canon 550D or Rebel t2i, I wonder what my photos will be like, or taken with in another 14 years!!! Cheers, Nancy J

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

dsmith5816 wrote:

Nice, good job. I have had several of the early digital and shot with a D80 for years. I love looking back through my photos. They say megapixel count isn't everything and I have some photos that could prove that. But man my D610 is a joy to use.

Thanks, dsmith5816. There's a photo challenge here recently that was all about cell phone photos. It's really amazing what can be done these days!

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

manofhg wrote:

Comparison shots are always interesting to look at. In this case, I think the HDR presents what is probably most what the scene looked like, in my imagination. They may be 13 years old and from a low res camera, but still good results. Amazing what PP can yield. Would like to see a comparison of a these to a picture taken now with whatever you shoot with, presumably greater than 3.34 megapixel.

I recently upgraded to a Nikon D7100. I went from a Nikon 1 J1, which I still have, and which still takes great pictures!

Thanks, manofhg.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

ebbote wrote:

I really like #3 Fred, well done.

Thanks, ebbote. I appreciate it.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

LennyP4868 wrote:

The HDR is the best you have the right sky with the green trees and the right exposure. Nice job

Thanks, LennyP4868. I'm very encouraged to keep trying.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Nancy J wrote:

These are great. #3 the best , and to have them from 2000, wonderful. What camera do you have now? I started in about 1954 with a Kodak Box Brownie!!! Now with a Canon 550D or Rebel t2i, I wonder what my photos will be like, or taken with in another 14 years!!! Cheers, Nancy J

Thanks, Nancy J! I always liked the picture, but was never satisfied in the quality of it. Now, software helps improve shots that might otherwise be throw-aways.

Nancy J Loc: lower North Island, New Zealand

Hi Sir Fred, I went to your blog, and left a comment. Cheers, Nancy J