I have both a ZS50 for my pocket and an FZ1000 for more serious picture taking, and find that the images from the FZ1000 with a 1" sensor to be much better than the 1/2' sensor in the ZS50. The FZ1000 is far from pockable, however, and I find I take about the same number of photos with each. One key to using a small sensor camera is to crop with the zoom or the feet, and not to plan on much PP cropping.
If you are going to batch process 1,000 RAW photos without looking at them individually, I'm not sure you are getting the benefit of shooting RAW. In any event, RAW + JPEG might be an easy solution.
I carry a small rice bag and often follow the advice above and use my wife as a walking stabilizer. She was enjoying a rum punch and a beach chair on Orient Beach on St Martin one day and declined to get up and help me photograph a kite surfer. A very pretty and topless young lady overheard our discussion and offered to help. My wife warned "Don't even think about it", and started to get up from the chair. "There", the young lady said, "that was easy", as she walked off.
I have three digital photo frames around the house. One is especially popular because it can be seen from the kitchen nook where everybody takes coffee and snacks. They are on timers that come on around 4 PM and go off at ten. I have also given a few to friends for display in their office where they are a popular. I change out the SD cards every few months. I also have cards in our TV's for those times when we need silent diversions. Several on line sites have challenges and contests that I frequently enter. I also post a few to various Facebook groups that share photos of specific topics.
bluezzzzz wrote:
Scott Kelby is a pro photographer and Photoshop guru. Here is his take on a novice using P mode:
"Q. I’ve long been interested in photography yet I’ve never taken up the hobby. However, I’m thinking that the time is right to dip my toes in the pool. What advice do you have for a novice?
A. Set your camera to Program mode (the letter “P” on the camera dial) and don’t worry about any of the technical stuff. Focus on creating images that make people say “wow,” or think, or tell a story—that’s the power of photography. All the other buttons and bells and whistles you can unlock later. For now, show us how you see the world and let the camera do all the technical work for you. I wish you the very best on your photographic journey."
Good luck, and don't let the technical stuff overwhelm you!
Marshall
Scott Kelby is a pro photographer and Photoshop gu... (
show quote)
Damn!, I wish I had said that!
Even on full auto a DSLR will give better results than a P&S because of the sensor size and better optics. So I disagree that someone who uses AUTO with a DSLR may as well use a P&S. I know several people who started out using manual with their DSLR but soon discovered that the results were often no better than an automated mode and they lost too many good opportunities while fussing around. Try both then decide.
"P" allows me to set the focus zone to center point. "AUTO" selects a number of focus points, usually all wrong. I have been doing this long enough to know what ranges, not specific exact values, will give me a good photo. I check all the information in the viewfinder and if the camera's settings are withing these ranges I can go back to composition, focus and timing.
I would never recommend a beginner start with manual. Instant gratification is a good teacher. People miss a lot of good photos using manual, so it you go that route use AUTO or P to get something "In the can" as my first teacher once instructed, then after a little insurance you can experiment. You should also ask people who recommend manual what they like to photograph. Landscape and still life shooters have lots of time to fiddle with adjustments, but if you are shooting wildlife, children, pets etc, not so much.
My wife is an amateur painter, and will sometimes ask for a poster size print of one of my photos for that purpose. The image quality does not matter, and she has created some very nice works of art that would have been useless as a photo. The choice of glossy or mat paper does not seem to matter. We use spray adhesive to mount the photo on foam board, the she uses acrylic (sic) paint. She likes to use a color print as a starter, but has used black and white. When finished and mounted behind glass it is impossible to tell it started as a photo. I tried the technique once, but prefer a PC for my artsy-craftsy work.
$10.00 a month equals $120.00 a year (I was a math major), year after year after year. Elements for still images can be found for $70 or so and you own it. I usually skip 2 editions (9 to 12 to 15 etc). Being intended for the consumer, Elements has features consumers like, but pro's would never use. Keep in mind that few people have much experience with more than one program, and will always recommend the one they use personally. Read professional reviews.
If RAW contains all the information the sensor recorded, what is the advantage of "stacking" files? Would you not gain the same advantage (if there is one) by processing the same RAW file two or more times and "stacking" the results?
Not only am I surprised about the number of people who ask this question again and again, I am equally surprised about the number of people who answer, again and again.
An interchangeable lens camera or DSLR will almost certainly generate a need for another lens, and therefore kill your $500 budget. I would suggest you look at Panasonic. If size is not critical, the FZ80 is a nice camera for $400. If you want something smaller the ZS travel series might be interesting at $500. I have found the ZS50 to be handy to carry around, but the viewfinder is small and gripping a small camera not always secure. These are both small sensor cameras, but millions of users are very happy and don't see a problem with the results. Crop in camera and you should be fine. Panasonic is also offering a 3-year warranty on many models, no small advantage.
RAW and JPEG go in one folder when downloaded. I also initially save edited JPEG and PSD in the same file. When I am finished I move keepers to a permanent file, change the name of the temporary file to something I will recognize later, then delete the whole temporary folder. After a while (6 months or so) I will go back and review the recycle bin and delete anything I am sure I will never need again.
For someone just beginning to explore photography a camera is essential. After a while a computer of some sort will be essential. A MAC, while perhaps the ultimate editing machine, is not essential. A PC will do nicely, thank you. If someone already has a PC, but the initial choice of camera was not perfect, upgrading to a better camera will be a better investment than upgrading to a MAC. If someone has a limited budget, say $1,200, a $700 camera and a $500 PC might be the way to go. If the newbie already has a PC that runs Windows 10 then upgrading may not be necessary for some time. No one should defer a photography hobby because they are told they absolutely must have a MAC. Silly. Post your photos here and no one will know what computer you are using.