Going, going...

FZ200                   f4 @ 1/1000  iso320

Down one side of my garden I have a wall over which there is an old church with associated churchyard, wonderful to look at and one of the things which attracted me to the property in the first place. Down the other side I have had for many years the hedge you see here. It has given me a living green boundary which I really like, and I like to think it helps the local wildlife as well. Unfortunately, but for very good reasons, the time has come for it to be replaced by a fence. I'll be sorry to see it go, but sometimes change has to happen.

Just about 24 hours later and this is how it looks...

LX5             f2.8  @ 1/400 iso320

The guys worked hard, and it must have been hot work too. I don't like it, but it isn't quite as bad as I feared. Tomorrow the fencing goes up.

A further 24 hours and we have this...

FZ200      f2.8 @ 1/60  iso160

A good solid traditional fence, just like your grand dad used to have. I would still prefer my hedge but once its weathered a bit, blended in and lost the 'new' look I don't think it will look too bad.

Scene Around...

What a beautiful morning! I do find photographing flowers very satisfying.

FZ200                         Dog Rose.

By the way, I'm sure you will already know this but if you 'click' on the photos you can see them in a larger temporary window. Good for a closer look.

       FZ200                        Cornflower.

Panasonic have announced their new FZ1000 model with the 1" sensor. At first I was very excited reading about the new model, but on a little more reflection I'm not sure it would have enabled me to have achieved more with these shots. Wait and see I suppose. Isn't it good to see though that, even in a supposedly falling market, manufacturers are prepared to come up with new ideas. Top marks to Panasonic from me.

For the love of flowers...

I think these blooms can speak for themselves.

Oak Leaf Geranium.
FZ200 with +2 close up lens, iso 100 1/250 @ f2.8

FZ200 with +2 close up lens, iso 100 1/200 @f2.8

Both photos were taken handheld and when I took the rose shot it was really quite windy. I use the close up lens to enable me to get just that little bit closer and fill the frame to my satisfaction.

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.

Desk top audio.

FZ 200                                                     Amptastic mini-1

My current desktop audio setup consists of a Chord Chordette Peach dac which feeds into an Amptastic mini-1 amplifier and then out to a pair of Quad L-ite mk1 speakers.

I suppose the Chord dac is a bit over the top but as I already had it I decided I might as well use it and it does sound terrific. Previously I was using a Project usb box in this system, a much better price match, and also providing very good sound. However the Chord enables me to connect not only my laptops using usb but also my Chromebook or Samsung S3, using aptX, via bluetooth. Consequently I can change my source without having to switch any cables around, which is good. I have to confess that I normally go for the bluetooth option though, it's so convenient.

I bought and enjoyed one of the first generation of Amptastic amplifiers, the mini-t, which I used in a few different setups, so when they finally announced its replacement I placed an advanced order for one. I am very pleased with it. It out performs the earlier model, itself a very reasonable little amp', in every respect and gives a very mellifluous performance indeed. I don't know how they can produce it for the price and make sufficient profit to develop the future models they say are on the way. They haven't said what those other models will be, although I suspect there may well be a headphone amplifier in the offing. Whatever, I expect I'll be in the queue to buy.

The Quad L-ites are actually meant to be satellite speakers, but they were suggested to me for use in a desktop system by the manager of Seven Oaks Audio in Southampton. They were very reasonably priced, are beautifully made and, best of all, sound excellent. Quad now produce a mark two version of these speakers. I haven't heard these updated ones but they appear very similar to me.

All in all I think I have a nicely balanced system which is a pleasure to listen to whilst being sufficiently different to retain interest.

Small sensor cameras.

FZ200

If, when you walk around, you need to carry a tank of liquid oxygen to help you breath, you will realise that anything else you want to take along needs to be as small and light as possible. It's lucky then that I happen to like cameras with small sensors. These days I'm using either my Panasonic TZ40 or Panasonic FZ200 for more and more of my photography. I find the results more than acceptable.