Ft. Worth - Texas

I’ve recently purchased a Sony Nex-7, again. The back story is that I bought a Nex-7 when they were first released in I think it was 2012 - then I sold it and adopted the Nikon 1 V1. I sold it as the colors were not just “there” for me —- it was subtle — but noticeable to my eye. But - because it was 24mp I decided to give it another go and bought a used body and lens for less than $500. But I digress as I happen to always do — I’ve learned to drive thru these slight issues and make it work. Whew — ok… so here is an image taken in Ft. Worth Texas between some time of a business conference. This is converted to black/white - and I love it. Taken with the Sony 18-55 f3.5-5.6 kit lens - first generation. I’m very pleased with this shot - uncropped as always.

Ft. Worth - Texas - Color converted to black/white.

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

Distracted with the P330

Lately I've been distracted with the Nikon P330 -- maybe I was smitten with the size - or the smooth square finish.  Today I needed the rez and versatility of the Nex-7 and I realize the error in my ways, of ignoring this piece.

When the 7 is on -- it is wow-ing.  It will be my heaving lifting travel setup - while I have the P330 in my front pocket.

I now have to ditch the early 80's 50m which I only shoot at 1.4 because I need the light -- else there is some ghosting and negative clarity inherently built it.  I need the new 50mm.

Nex, with 50mm Nikon, 30mm Sigma and P330.  Debating on including the 35mm Olympus shift.

And three 32gb cards.  Done.

​Nex-7 with 18-55mm Kit - Lehi Utah

400 S.

These are some of my favorites of the walk from the office to the Trax Friday evening.

It's very satisfying to anticipate a shot - adjust camera settings on the fly - and then compose and shoot.

The first "real" images with the Sigma 30mm f2.8 - fov at 45mm - and I love the sharpness.  This lens is a keeper for sure.

Some of this set will be in this years Top Ten.

Live View

I Miss Live View !

There -- I said it.  Am I less of a pro ?  Do pro's only shoot through a view finder ?

Last week I sent in the Nex-7 for repair.  The rubber hand grip was peeling from the body and since the one year warranty is about to expire I wanted to get it into the shop for a free repair.

It's going on a week - and I miss it.  I've had to re-acquaint myself with the D3s.  A body I typically only use on a tripod when shooting paid work.  I love the D3s - it has taken me to new heights of product delivery and allowed me to rise above the crowd.  The Autofocus engine nails it all the time, every time.  When that focus point intersects the subject and the shutter is pressed - boom, done, in the can.  

But with the D3s- I can really only shoot thru the viewfinder.  I never realized how much I like shoot from the hip, as I've been doing with the Nex-7.  I've used Live View on the D3s a few times but the focus just isn't the same and the screen doesn't articulate.

Everyday I shoot with my iPhone -- where that screen is basically live view.  I'm used to it.  And as some say - "I need a viewfinder on my camera" - I say - I would prefer a touch screen with live view and no viewfinder.

Yet - a piece of hardware is just that.  A means to making a picture.

The Sony will be in my hands tomorrow.

Nex-7 and Nikon PC-e

A while back - after I purchased the Nex, I was geeked to get my Nikon lenses, adapted, on this body.  All went really well - until I tried to mount the 24mm PC-e Tilt Shift - and I was rudely awakened to the limitations.  I'm very glad I didn't really need this for a shoot, or bring it too a shoot - or I would have fallen flat on my face.

The PC-e's aperture control is electronically controlled - and that's the rub.  In order to set it - one needs to pre-set the aperture on a compatible Nikon and then bring that lens, over to the Nex mount.

It's a bit of a pain - but at least it is a work around -- in this video I describe the technique, where when I first tried to figure it out, I didn't have the desired results.

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.