Big Camera or Small

Big camera or very, very small camera.

3 years ago this wouldn't even been a consideration - the advance of imaging, color rendering, and sensor sizes is moving so quickly I can't even give a decent answer when asked, "Hey, what camera should I buy" -- I literally have 3 models I'm keeping up on at any given time.  The competition, an performance value is that close.  Sometimes I find myself wanting to upgrade to a different model after only 6 months using the what is in hand.

Speaking of brands and models -- I have no loyalty - only economic loyalty and that stems from lenses on the big stuff.  

​Nikon P330

​Nikon P330

I'm invested in Nikon with the D3s - and you know what - I chose wisely - as I love the color and contrast the Nikon system produces.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  And -- the only competition at that level is Nikon itself and Canon.  

Everything else is the flavor of the day / week / month.  And I guess I should clarify -- that "everything else" is anything but a hulking pro body.

Here's what I'm getting at - I was in Paris last week - and I took the Nikon P330 point and shoot.  I've tried to anticipate the "what" of the trip - and it worked out well - that 90% of the time the P330 was better than expected - and the other 10% of carrying the NEX, it became evident the NEX was becoming long in the tooth.

​Nikon P330

The P330 is small and crazy convenient to pocket.   I could whip it out - select either "Green" for a quick shot - or I could go "A" and give the dial a spin for the aperture, get a focus point and go - or go User setting where I have it set up as Monochrome.  As a B/W shooter i love it - totally love it.  Blacks are really rich - everything pops - and I have the contrast + from normal.  And the most important part of all of this -- and I keep combing back to this one point - between the P330 and NEX;  The P330 is wicked sharp.  And i can get sharp just about all the time.  The NEX - well - that's  been a struggle for me.  And now that I have something to compare it too - my frustrations are even more real.

​Sony NEX-7

​Sony NEX-7

The NEX has become love/hate -- when it all comes together the system can be a bit magical - but when sharpness / ISO / or focus don't become a Trinity - then the images are DTM.  Dynamic range seems to be endless - I can pull detail for what seems forever.  Shutter speeds need to be twice focal length - although Aperture Priority pegs the min. at 1/60 so that's a mode which is impossible to maintain.  Focus "pogos" once in a while, ok, most of the time - single point is difficult to lock.  And -- the images just don't have a good "look" without much manipulation.  If focus isn't tack sharp - then the images is DTM.

I'm going to move on - selling the NEX and I just ordered the Nikon 1 V1.  If focusing performance is what everyone says it is, I'll be really happy - and Nikon's color rendering will be a nice change from the Sony - with the lack of resolution of course.  I will miss that.

​Sony NEX-7

Cameras and Coffee

This last weekend I met up with a very good friend and with him was his new Olympus OM-D.  Upon comparing notes his research was exhausting.  He was on day 3.

Of course - I have to compare this to the Nex.  I know it has been done before and with a twist as this is non image dependent.  As we were both on the road and I didn't have a laptop to compare such.  But there is a lot out there regarding this camera and the sensor.

I feels great in the hand - because of the heft - it is just feels so well built - like a tank.  And I like that a lot.  That first impression of quality really goes far.  

Buttons and controls have a good feel - not snappy but responsive.  

Fit and finish is perfect.

The lens has push pull zoom function -- push and it's electronically controlled - pull and its barrel controlled.  I prefer barrel control.

Rear screen is OLED - who cares about that - it just looks great.

Electronic Viewfinder looks great also - better than NEX

Olympus must have a hell of an R&D facility because it sure seems they can come to market really quickly - this camera it seems to have come out of nowhere.

Holding the camera is awkward - to finger grip is way to go - any more than that and the other fingers start landing on buttons and pressing stuff.  Sometimes when that happens the only way to clear what you did is too cycle the power.

There are too many buttons on the back.  I understand Sony's reasoning to embed controls within wheels and scroll wheels etc.  It frees up real estate on the back panel.  And the Sony hand grip is about perfect.

Olympus tried to shrink an SLR body -- and it doesn't really work with out pushing a bunch of random buttons.

Autofocus is crazy fast - about instant - I didn't do any scientific low-light comparison but it was non comparable to the Nex.  I wish the Nex was this fast.

So - in the end there is no such thing as the perfect setup - and you shoot what you have to shoot.  For some that's a Brownie - others may have a D3s.  I have Nex and his is the OM-D.  You work with what you got - and in the end, the image does the speaking for you.

Get out and shoot.

FRONTSIGHT - DAY FOUR

The last day, Thursday, was brutal.  The winds were strong and blowing sand swirled as we shot.  It was a bit chilly also.  Once again there were dry-fire drills, and practice drills and then the dry fire practice test. 

But just before lunch - we had what was called man-on-man shootout.  Steel targets with a hostage plate - and Ryan, Kurt's friend, took the title.  I made it to the second round, Kurt the Third.

After lunch was the Practice test - and then the final test.  It wasn't easy, and it wasn't difficult - and i was disappointed that I didn't shoot better and get Distinguished Graduate, as Kurt and Ryan did.  I shot Graduate.  Some rounds were thrown and I wasn't as precise as I should have been.

This is a highly recommended class -- there are some things I would like to see changed, but they have deemed their formula effective.

The Range Master Ciaccio is also highly recommended for his knowledge and teaching skill.

Range 1E, and 14
Range master: "Chachi" Ciaccio

The assistant instructors on our range were:

Wayne Walker
P. Walker
Spenser Moser
Dan Chomycia
Koop 
Rover

OLYMPUS ZUIKO 35MM SHIFT f2.8 LENS

Here is a video review of the Olympus Zuiko Shift 35mm f2.8 lens.

Purchased used and converted to a Nikon Mount thru a Spanish company called Leitax.

I incorrectly pronounced their name with a "Z" - my appologies.