Panasonic DMC-FZ50 resolution test! (and why Lightroom sux)

As espected:  the combination of 10Mpx sensor and Leica lens produces amazing results when it comes to resolution, check out this pic (notice nice bokeh of this lens!):

And this is a 100% crop - the details are almost pixel-size!:

To make this crop I had to use freeware Gimp - Lightroom simply don't allow u to crop to a certain size!

Other bad thing about LR is lack of scratches-removal tool I had a very bed time trying to remove few scratches from my scanned films - and we're talking about quite pricey software here!

Sunset in the city

Like the way sun shines through the building :)

First shots with DMC-FZ50 good so far!

Both pictures as shot - jpegs and no post processing (no cropping either):

I had a day for architectural details :)

Use good films only!

On film, You've got only one opportunity to take the shot, I've made few Superia 200/400 films and am so unhappy about it!! Crappy colors, bad resolution - some shot woul've been great if they were better quality.

You can buy expired films like Reala, Portra etc. and they still will be better choice than cheapo stuff. You can always alter Your pics, but You just can't make them better if shot on wrong film.

Got "New" digital camera! Pansonic DMC-FZ50 - initial impressions

Two weeks ago I bought 2nd hand Panasonic FZ50 to replace my Canon S2IS (all gear shots till now were made with Canon!).

It's a nice, big Superzoom-Type camera with Leica lens.

It is pretty much useless for larger prints above ISO200.

more to come...

How to make a good photo of Your bike?

I am a big bike-hobbyist. What I always had problem with was how to do a nice-looking photo of my bicycle. I tried many times with the same effect: flat, dull, unexciting.

Only recently I managed to find a proper technique: IT'S ALL ABOUT DOF!*

*depth of field

Remember: this shot was made with Canon S2IS, which is a cheap 5mpx superzoom digicam and 2.7-3.5 lens.

What I did was:
- waited for a perfect light (CLOUDY DAY! - almost no shadows!)
- chosen possibly non-distracting background
- kept distance between me and a bike AND bike and background - I had to zoom in to fit the bike in the frame!
- shoot in Aperture priority mode and set the largest aperture possible

This is the final effect:

In the details I managed to squeeze even shallower DOF/ stronger 3d effect!

A beautiful view...

...to me for sure!

Made this shot with Nikon F60 and Nikkor 50 f1.8 lens - I believe it was made in Auto mode.
I used Kodak Elite Chrome 100 film and converted it to bw in pp.
The pic is slightly cropped from above, to remove distracting white part of the clothes from the frame.
I also added a bit contrast to the bush on the right hand side to balance the composition.

Industrial - first Big Mini shot

Made with Konica Big Mini BM-302. I'm quite pleased with the results from this little camera. Despite of using cheap, out-of-date Superia 200 film - I managed to do some nice shots.

I've also have a new member of my little family: Konica Big Mini BM-201. Quite a looker, isn't it?

"Das neue Lehrbuch der Fotografie" - book recommendation!

"Das neue Lehrbuch der Fotografie" by Günter Spitzing

If You read in German - this book is a extremely useful source of informations for those, who search for some basic to intermediate photographing tips. It contains not only usual hardware-using tips, but also elements of psychology of photography.

Publisher: Laterna Magica

First edition: 1988

Series: "Information foto"

Why bother with phone pics?

You just can't always have a proper camera with. Using build-in mobile phone camera actually helps You to make better photos with normal size camera, especially in ways of seeing things and better framing.

You also learn to value other focal lengths, more resolution, color reproduction, or low light abilities. Every time when You shoot with phone and think something like "I wish I had a short telephoto now*" - You actually learn when to use a short tele.

* can also be wider lens, brighter, tripod, etc

Nice contrast, simple colors and forms is everything what makes this photo.

Konica Big Mini - a japanese legend.

Let me introduce to You: Konica BM-302 with 35mm f3.5 lens.

This little camera has an cult-status in Japan, mainly because of early Hiromix work. Nobuyoshi Araki also swears to this model.

The Big Mini is small and fits perfectly into my pocket. The lens is collapsible and have NO lens cover (it doesn't bother me much. Despite of having not too many knobs (5 of them - release, power, mode, mode2, rewind), its very intuitive to use: just point-and-shot - simple as that. It also have some extremely useful funktions for more serious photographers:

- exposure compensation +-1.5
- forced flash (fill in and slow sync)
- up to 7,5 sec long automatic exposure

Results: pictures are sharp enough, without disturbing vignetting or distortion.

For more informations and sample pics click "Konica" - label on the right ---->

Night lights

this is my favorite shot from Olympus Pen D - night series.

Made hand held using B - time and following a moving car (panning). Kodak Elite Chrome film as always.

Notice how some lights turned to dots and other not. The dotted lights are powered by mains and are blinking at 50 Hz. Car lights aren't blinking.

Pimp my ride - more on bw conversion

Here's a simple snapshot of a car parked by my house. Did it with Minolta XD7 and 35-70 lens.

The reason why it's converted to bw is, that the car on the right (background) was actually YELLOW - and was distracting the viewer from the main photo subject. There isn't much color in winter landscapes at all - that's why black & white winter pics looks so good.

Winter by night

Again - Olympus Pen D - half frame camera.
Hand held at about 1/8s
Converted to bw

Night lights

This picture is all about color, lights and lines. Does it have to be sharp? Don't think so.

Made with Olympus Pen D

Kodak Elite Chrome

hand held

Symptoms of the Gear Acquisition Syndrome

You should be concerned, if at least 2 of listed habits meets Your behavior:
- You spend Your time in Internet reading gear reviews and not watching actual photographs
- You spend more time playing with Your gear than making photos
- You are more active in gear-related forums than in photo-forums
- You are deeply concerned about technical abilities of Your camera
- You aren't using most cameras from Your collection at all
- You have many gear related books and no photo albums
- You have no idea who Edward Weston was, instead You know all the upcoming camera models

Winter IS colourful! Minolta 35-70 f3.5 lens thoughts.

Sometimes... eh... mostly not...

Minolta XD7 + 35-70 f3.5
Kodak Elite Chrome

The 35-70 is a great universal lens. My version is the one with macro mode (used on this pic). There is a rumor, that this lens was made in cooperation with Leica (vide leicas 35-70 f3.5) - not that I really care. Its just simple, versatile - my favorite beater-take-everywhere-with lens.
Focusing is silk smooth and precise, starts from 80cm or about 20 in macro mode. I had been shooting with expensive 24-50 f4 lens for a while and didn't noticed much difference in sharpness.

WU vienna by night...

Minolta XD + Minolta 24-50 f4
Kodak elite chrome

This photo turned to be very boring in color - i simply added a bit contrast, turned to bw, and lightened a bit the wall on the right side using lr. Et voila!

Half frame pic

That's how it looks. These are two pictures made one after another.
Olympus Pen D
Hand held
Kodak Elite Chrome 100

Another phone pic...

Made at the WU Vienna - these are two chairs. Again with huge restrictions of mobile phone build-in camera, I have to concentrate on very simple forms with basic colors to get interesting photo.