Thursday, 29 May 2014

Comparing the Lumix TZ40 and FZ200.

I don't wish to pass any value judgements here, but rather to allow any viewer to decide for themselves what they think of these two images, and which they might prefer.

Both photographs were taken hand held using (not very good) natural light from a north facing window. Both cameras were set to program mode and zoomed to x3. In addition the TZ40 was set to macro mode and iso 400, whilst I used a +4 close up lens on the FZ200 which was set to iso 320.

TZ40, 1/25 @ f5.2

FZ200, 1/40 @ f2.8

Perhaps I should also say a word or two about my current workflow. In recent months I have tried to simplify my everyday photo' work flow, and to that end I am currently using an Acer C720 Chromebook and Google+ for handling my photographs.

I shoot exclusively in JPG and then save the image files to both a usb stick (for simple, quick access to them) and an external hard drive for archiving. The images can then be previewed on the Chromebook, and those I wish to currently use are uploaded to Google+. Once there, post processing is carried out using the Chrome OS implementation of Snapseed within Google+.

It's simple, straight forward and doesn't involve paying Adobe (or anybody else) huge wads of money, not that I would wish to stop anyone from doing that if they so desire.

Oh No... More Bluetooth.

As I have said before, bluetooth audio is very convenient and the current crop of bluetooth speakers just add to that convenience.

Lumix LX5


Cambridge Audio's Minx Go is a very reasonably priced example which produces a surprisingly listenable sound. No, of course it doesn't outperform a 'proper' hifi (whatever one of those is), but you can carry it around with you, even outdoors if you must.



Thursday, 1 May 2014

Shaftesbury.

Shaftesbury is an interesting Dorset town with, as you can see, some good back streets to wander round as well as the famous, but much too strenuous for me, Gold Hill. Unfortunately, well in my opinion, the town is suffering from too many new houses being built on its outskirts. I do realise, only too well, that people need homes, but I do wonder if we are building them in the right places. I often find myself wondering where the folk who buy the houses will find employment. If, as I suspect, they end up commuting elsewhere, aren't we just compounding all the environmental problems we already have?

LX5

It might have been a bright spring morning when I took this snap shot but, despite the brave girl in the sleeveless top, there was a cold wind whipping round the corners. A good excuse to seek shelter, coffee and cake.