peterg,

Thank you, thank you, thank you........ like the compactness of that tripod and YES! I do need a remote. Prices are really good from B&H which is a place that I like purhcase from.

davidrb,

Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely check those URLs out.

MtnMan

Will look for that improved ISO less noise attribute when looking for my new camera.

Thanks, Robert, for your sound advice. I've been on autopilot for so long with my Panasonic point and shoot. I have to start thinking differently now that my photography has expanded to new environments.

Wow, Wow, Wow!!!!! What a beautiful exhibit!!

Okay.....I am attaching some more images of what I am interested in improving upon by upgrading my camera/lens system. I have a few things to learn about this site so I hope these images are large enough to see the detail clearly enough. If not I will try again.

I have been using a Panasonic DMC-ZS19 point and shoot on intelligent auto to photograph all sorts of things in Italy. I will stick with one issue at a time....the most important being getting clean, sharp photos inside large churches because a lot of the artwork in them is pretty high up. My Panasonic is great at making the interiors of churches look well lit but it is doing so I'm pretty sure because it is cranking the ISO up so high. I really hadn't been paying attention to how it did what it has been doing.

I have left my analytical brain at home since I started using this camera because it generally seemed to be doing a good job. And for all general, non fussy purposes, it has done quite well.

Now that I am putting together my first book of imagery on Italy, I'm finding that I am coming up with way too many photo rejects. What good is megapixel rate if the ISO is so high that the image is mush when you crop out part of an image and enlarge it.

I am one of those people who likes to be a fly on the wall when photographing. I don't like being conspicuous. Maybe it's just a problem with being self-conscious.....no stealth intended....well, mostly. Thus, I am looking for a compact, mirrorless system that will deal well with these interior church issues. Small and light weight is such a relief after years of lugging weight and bulk around especially when traveling.

So here goes......lets see if these images get the point across....

looks well lit but image with arrow would look pretty fuzzy if enlarged


just way not sharp enough although well lit....a church in Trastevere, Italy


enlargement even more fuzzy....image is a fresco with mosaics....hard to distinguish in this photo


to the lower left is a not too fuzzy portion but quite grainy up on top right


quite grainy when enlarged beyond this size


This is the church in Trastevere as one sees it at night when I was photographing ... arrows point to previous images


this is probably where I was standing to photograph this amazing artwork

rPavich,

The use of the word "success" would mean different things to different people. It all depends on one's goals and how much one expects from the results of their work. Some people ... like myself... are just driven to "improve" and change over time. Now we could get into what is meant by "improve." "Success", "improvement".... well, it is in the eye...heart and soul... of the beholder.

GoofyNewfie,

Someone who does documentary work and work for the National Geographic sounds like someone who does my style of photography....although I just do it for my own pleasure.

If you could get more info from your friend I would welcome it. I am not looking to use a full size camera, however, which might be the case for the person you know. I like to stay as inconspicuous as possible when out photographing in public places thus my interest in compact mirrorless cameras.

Lloyd,

I took this image with my Panasonic DMC-ZS19 point and shoot.
It was hand held. Don't know what the settings actually were because I had it in intelligent auto so the camera decided everything. The image was taken in a church in Trastever just across the Tiber river from the Rome city border.

My Panasonic does a pretty good job of making "well lit" exposures but the trade-off is that it may be cranking up the ISO to the point that it makes for a very grainy/fuzzy image if you look at the detail up close. I am just realizing that and that is why I'm looking to upgrade to a camera/lens system that will give me cleaner, sharper images so that the megapixel size really means something. As bewildering as megapixel size, ISO, shutter speed, aperture opening, etc. can be at times when one starts wanting to print these images or pick out parts of scenes to enlarge, all this stuff starts to become important. I've not been paying that much attention because up to now I've just been looking at my photos on my computer and not wanting to actually publish them into a book. Now that I've been working on a book of images of Italy, I can see how poorly shot a lot of my photos are.

I am about to make a new post with more photos illustrating the issue that I am wanting to resolve using more photos of the church in Trastevere.

Mossgate

Do you know of any photography groups in the greater Phoenix area?

I'm trying to determine what compact mirrorless camera to buy. One thing I have not been able to photograph successfully with my trusty Panasonic point and shoot is the gorgeous mosaic work in some large cathedrals in Italy. My decision on a purchase centers on which camera/lense combo I need to get great shots of ceilings of great old cathedral artwork. I will probably still need a tripod, too.

Anyone out there been successful with work inside large churches or similar environments?

Here's what I get with my humble Panasonic.

Hi everyone. I've been a photography enthusiast since the late 1980's. Had my own darkroom for many years but was so thrilled to abandon the chemistry once digital cameras finally became more than toys at the affordable consumer level. I tend to hold onto old technology as long as it suits my purposes including software. Because I have been doing some long distance traveling the past few years my photographic needs have changed with lots more situational variables to deal with. So now I'm preparing to "upgrade" to new software and hardware to capture those images that I now realize that my handy point and shoot camera just cannot handle.
I'm always looking for inspiration from the work of others and learn from others experiences.