Photography and Cameras

[Pushka]

Yeah, not back for a pocket camera I guess. Actually, the images were a bit better - when I de-resolved them for posting, I got that 'fuzzy' texture you see in the last one especially.

It’s all about capturing a rare moment and not just the equipment. That’s my philosophy anyway.

This one of a super moon last year was an iPhone snap.

 

[Daver6]

My efforts last night with a Nikon D7000 and 70-300mm Nikkor lens. Shot hand held.

 

[OZDUCK]

Yeah, not back for a pocket camera I guess. Actually, the images were a bit better - when I de-resolved them for posting, I got that 'fuzzy' texture you see in the last one especially.

Mine were done on a Lumix TZ40 resting on a pool fence & a ladder, I tried variations on the settings - Auto, nighttime, scenery etc. The trouble with the auto was it often wanted to take 3 or 4 exposures and stitch them together and my position was usually not steady enough so multiple moons would appear. i got lots of photos of "black sky" and lots of very blurry ones as well but some reasonable ones in the end. I will play with the photo editing software to see if I can make a few "keepers".

 

[TheRealTMA]

Interesting!

How amateur photographers accidentally discovered the new aurora phenomenon 'Steve'

 

[Danger]

Perspective | Are you allowed to take pictures on planes? Yes and no.

 

[Pushka]

Perspective | Are you allowed to take pictures on planes? Yes and no.

EK crew members are very happy to pose for photos. I try avoid snapping anyone so that their face can be identified but I will keep taking photos of food, seats etc etc.

 

[Ric]

Dragging this thread back to life.....

I am finally going to bite the bullet and put my Canon 60D into storage..

I have narrowed down to 2 compact ultra zoom cameras; the Sony DSC HX 99 and the Panasonic Lumix TZ90.
They pretty much have similar specifications but I am leaning towards the TZ90 mainly it has a better viewfinder and about $200 cheaper.

I would love fellow AFFers insight and comments before I purchase.

Happy New Year all!

 

[OZDUCK]

Dragging this thread back to life.....

I am finally going to bite the bullet and put my Canon 60D into storage..

I have narrowed down to 2 compact ultra zoom cameras; the Sony DSC HX 99 and the Panasonic Lumix TZ90.
They pretty much have similar specifications but I am leaning towards the TZ90 mainly it has a better viewfinder and about $200 cheaper.

I would love fellow AFFers insight and comments before I purchase.

Happy New Year all!

My wife got a Panasonic Lumix TZ90 last year just before we went to Spain. I just checked and she is pretty happy with it but is still learning the functions. I lost my old TZ40 on the trip and so I often borrowed this camera and I also found it to be very good. The only weakness I found, and this was mentioned in most of the reviews I read before buying it, was that it is not a great performer in low light conditions - fine but not special.

Compared to my old TZ40 it is much better. The zoom is amazing. The electronic viewfinder works very well. The folding screen is very useful for taking photos at odd angles - and not just for selfies. There are far more functions available than we will ever use. I am happy we bought it - we paid $478 online and then got a GST refund. A quick look shows the lowest price today is around $417.

(Most of the photos - after Barcelona - in my trip report on Spain were taken with this camera. Plus some from an Oppo phone.)

 

[VPS]

I have the Sony HX90V which I love but I have heard from other's trip reports that it doesn't cope well with humidity I think. @JohnM I think has that camera and maybe others

Let us know what you decide

 

[Pushka]

MrP is taking the leap tomorrow or Wednesday into camera foray. He seems to have a good eye for design when composing the scene. I think he is spending more than I would on mine. But I’m thinking that might give me wiggle room to buy a waterproof style camera also. We plan on kayaking through glaciers in June.

I’ll stick with the Lumix for my main camera. Very compact and great zoom. As mentioned it’s not great in low lights.

 

[RooFlyer]

My Sony HX90 V has always performed well. 100x zoom a great feature.

No problems in humid zones, although haven't used it for extended periods there (ie weeks) like JohnM.

 

[JohnM]

I have the Sony HX90V and the Lumix TZ60.

The Lumix preceded the Sony.

Both these models I think are essentially earlier versions of what you are looking at, so what I say about limitations below may have been improved.

My dislikes of the Lumix are: slow (certain to be overcome in the later model), not very good viewfinder (I like to use a viewfinder because it obviates the need to wear my reading glasses when trying to use the screen to take pics and often taking pics outdoors in bright light is hard using the screen), the function wheel is chunky, sits fairly high and is far too easily bumped off the chosen setting when putting the camera into and taking it out of my pocket. It was the latter that really frustrated me to the point of taping it into place (full auto).

My like of the Sony is its compact size and good viewfinder. The function wheel is smaller and has a stiffer action than the Lumix, so that is good. Occasionally I still accidentally bump it off the chosen setting, but to nowhere the extent that I did with the Lumix.

The biggest downside to the Sony IME is its consistent failure in high humidity conditions. It becomes a brick until dried out. The fear of it failing has become its biggest drawback.

 

[VPS]

@JohnM do you know if others have encountered the same issue or is it maybe just your camera?

 

[JohnM]

@JohnM do you know if others have encountered the same issue or is it maybe just your camera?

I did mention in my Costa Rica TR that one of the other pax had Sony camera that was giving him problems and it seemed related to the humidity. Mine failed completely but would recover fairly quickly if kept somewhere dry. He was having rather more persistent problems with the screen fading/blacking out. It was not a pocket model but nor was it a full-blown SLR. It was one of those in-between types a bit more like an SLR than a pocket camera.

I have had the problem with mine every time I've been in a very humid environment. It's not because I got it wet; it was the humidity.

 

[irv]

I bit the bullet last year and bought a Gen 2, 70-200mm Tamron 2.8 lens. It is a heavy lens but takes amazing photos. Was used extensively on our recent NZ South Island Holiday. Here are a few from New Years eve at Port Macquarie.

 

[VPS]

Fantastic photos @irv

 

[drron]

Well I have loved my SonyHX90V.Today it performed well up to the summit of Ben Lomond.But when I got back to the hotel it wouldn't download and now won't turn on.Definitely not the humidity.More likely age.

 

[JohnM]

See what happens tomorrow when it's possibly dried out.

 

[drron]

I was on the top of Ben Lomond,elevation 1575 metres,temp 17C,humidity 40%.
Still not turning on this morning.The first hint of trouble was just below the summit when it wanted to be reprogrammed.Fortunately all pics were present when I reviewed before trying to downlod them.Just have to wait until home on Sayurday to put card into new camera.

But it brings up the real problem with Sony in Australia.Until a few years ago they had repair agents Australia wide.One in Maroochydore where I got an older Sony repaired under warranty.Now you have to send them to Sony.

 

[love_the_life]

MrP is taking the leap tomorrow or Wednesday into camera foray. He seems to have a good eye for design when composing the scene. I think he is spending more than I would on mine. But I’m thinking that might give me wiggle room to buy a waterproof style camera also. We plan on kayaking through glaciers in June.

I’ll stick with the Lumix for my main camera. Very compact and great zoom. As mentioned it’s not great in low lights.

What camera did MrP end up buying?
Daughter has a Canon EOS 5D and is very happy with it but it is a full DLSR and pretty heavy with the big lens on.