Dreary Afternoon Walk

[LovelyLadyLux]

As my title suggests I did go for a walk today. The rain stopped, sun never did come out but the sky lightened a tad so I thought I'd make the most of it and do a round about the park behind me and practice with the new camera.

As for the new Fuji - I'm having a terrible time keeping it still. I never realized I shake as much as I do and I'm having a devil of a time holding everything still enough to take a decent picture. Am also not used to having a screen that flips out but, at least, the screen is giving me a big enough picture of what the camera is pointed at for me to see. Am hoping I'll improve but it is going to take practice OR, at least, MORE than a monopod!

Now - not wanting to challenge the sculptures Horus showed in his park walks - BUT these are the sculptures that are hung up in the trees in the Eco Park behind me.........hope these don't make Horus jealous!







I do believe we're recycling beach bark from the salt water

I looked out my back window several times today and didn't catch a glimpse of a feather of a swan and didn't see one of them during my walk either. Hope they haven't continued on as I'm expecting to see a bunch of little ones paddling about the marsh.

I did see ducks. Had a great shot of mallards but I couldn't get the camera out of the bag and going fast enough. They swam through the bull rushes right in front of me but I missed them entirely.

I was able to get this lady in one shot then a shot of her and the hubby (but as you can see I'm shaking and riggling and jiggling and my photos aren't terribly clear) I don't know what type of ducks these are. There was another whole group (probably 6 or 7) but they were too far and moving too fast for me to get any clear photos of them.





This last photo I kinda like. It is a blown bull rush and I just like bull rushes



Wasn't an inspiring day here. Dreary weather and sort of a bah humbug day.

[Horus]

LLL, I know what you mean about dreary days we all have them and you just want something to happen or brighten things up a bit, at least you got yourself out and started using your camera some more. Can I ask you why you are using the flip out rear screen instead of the eye piece to frame your image? You will hold it much more steady if you use the viewfinder and pull your arms into your sides to lock the camera close to your chest rather than stuck out in front of you when you will get a lot more shake. Also at first try and avoid using the longer zoom range as this can take a bit of getting used to and in the early stages can lead to frustration as you can easily blurr the image with a longer zoom length, even your heartbeat can affect the camera shake at long ranges. I think I need to send over our local wood carver judging by those carvings although I do like the idea of using the driftwood as an art form and the one that looks like an Owl is really good.

[LovelyLadyLux]

I did start using the viewfinder as that is what is second nature to me vs holding a camera out front with a screen - BUT - I couldn't see a darn thing through it!

I was squinting and peering and trying to actually see something and I couldn't even make out the ducks. Was seeing dots before my eyes so I gave up after a bit and I thought I'd try the screen. It helped me FIND the ducks but the wiggle, wobble, shakes started. Will have to practice more to get the hang of it.

Think I'll try with a shorter view vs the lens out full length long.

Still no sign of the swans. I think they've flown the coop aka marsh.......... Was hoping for a flock of babies. They're probably tired of the rain too and heading south to the sunshine!

[Horus]

LLL, regarding the viewfinder, you are aware that there is an adjustment that you need to set so that any individual can see through it properly? a bit like using biniculars when you need to focus one eye before using them.

[Grandad]

LLL, I find like you that the EVF is difficult to use compared to Live View. However,as Horus has mentioned, there are adjustments to improve the EVF view.
First, look at something nearby without a zoom and touch the button to focus. Now adjust the EVF focus for your eye with the little thumbwheel to the left of the EVF housing. This, as Horus said, is like adjusting a binocular for YOUR eye.
Then push the EVF/LCD button to switch to screen.
Press Menu/OK button to bring up the menu.
Index to left and scroll down to Setup 2, the sixth option down.
Now index right which will highlight that Setup screen options.
Index down to Screen Setup. Press OK
Index down to EVF/LCD Brightness. Press OK
Index up or down to adjust screen AND EVF brightness at the same time.
Press OK to set.
Then press Disp/Back button to return to screen.

Sounds a long process but is quick when you get used to it. I find that I need to adjust quite frequently and even, as you found, there are times in good light that you can't see a thing.
I do like all the features of the HS50 but I am very happy to still have the X10 and the Nikon with their live viewfinders. Mind you, my eyes don't help.

Just as a final point if you have not found it yet. The focus selector dial is to the left of the camera body. There are three options:
'S' that gives a single focus when you half press the shutter button and hold it. This is useful if you want to focus on something using single spot then reframing to put your subject away from centre image. (Rule of thirds and all that stuff )

'C' is continuous and if you are set to multiple imaging and moving the camera, the focus will be continually adjusted for each frame.

The 'M' is self explanatory and this switches off the auto focus and allows you to manually focus with the separate focussing ring just behind the zoom ring. Gives very fine focussing adjustment but is really for camera mounted on tripod.

So, final comment. If you DO use the various focus settings, don't forget to switch back to 'S' which is the most used setting. You will be very dissapointed if mother swan and cignets swim past and you left the camera on manual focus.

[Horus]

And dont forget................. that leaving your camera on 'Continuos' focus will run down your battery faster.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Ahh ha! Do you know - well you don't cause even I didn't know 'til now - even on following Grandad's instructions to set the focus I can't physically SEE the little icons and things inside with my eye up to the viewfinder. I have to hold it back about 8" and then look inside to actually SEE it!!! And NOW that I can see it it is making a world of difference!! I can SEE the icons!! but with my eye up close nada.......course that is my problem seeing close up (but never to this extent before. Gotta go find my old glasses cause I didn't even realize what I wasn't seeing!)

Will have to practice this more and will report back!

[Grandad]

LLL, I know that much of the menu information appears in the viewfinder but it is simpler to switch to lcd screen when making adjustments. So much easier to see. But you will still need to be in a shady place...

[Horus]

LLL, I am going to ask you a really stupid question here:
I take it you are aware that there are different settings using the Electronic View Finder (EVF) or the rear Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen? That on one of the 3 setting it will only show the image on the rear LCD and the small Electronic View Finder will remain dark? the other setting will only show an image through the Electronic View Finder and the flip out Liquid Crystal Display will remain dark. The third setting will switch between the other two, so as you put your eye up to the small viewfinder the rear LCD goes off, take your eye away and the small viewfinder goes off and the rear LCD comes back on again. On this setting you can often get an annoying switching between the two when you least want it because your clothing or something else triggers the switching, even bright sunlight can do so.

I am sure you are aware of the above and I only mention it because you do seem to be struggling with seeing things clearly through the EVF, perhaps you really do need to wear glasses when using your camera as the image in the EVF should be clear enough to frame your pictures OK, maybe not the finer details, but at least for general picture taking.

[Grandad]

I could never really see the point of the eye sensor option H. Perhaps you have some idea what its purpose is. As you say, there are occasions when it switches spontaeously. If you want to preview the last shot the preview button brings this image up on screen so I am lost to understand the eye sensor.

With all the technology built into cameras today i would have thought that a live viewfinder could be built into Bridge Cameras that could cope with zoomed images. Although my X10 only has a short zoom, the viewfinder image DOES adjust as I zoom the lens.

Any views on this H?

[LovelyLadyLux]

LLL, I am going to ask you a really stupid question here:
I take it you are aware that there are different settings using the Electronic View Finder (EVF) or the rear Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen? That on one of the 3 setting it will only show the image on the rear LCD and the small Electronic View Finder will remain dark? the other setting will only show an image through the Electronic View Finder and the flip out Liquid Crystal Display will remain dark. The third setting will switch between the other two, so as you put your eye up to the small viewfinder the rear LCD goes off, take your eye away and the small viewfinder goes off and the rear LCD comes back on again. On this setting you can often get an annoying switching between the two when you least want it because your clothing or something else triggers the switching, even bright sunlight can do so.

I am sure you are aware of the above and I only mention it because you do seem to be struggling with seeing things clearly through the EVF, perhaps you really do need to wear glasses when using your camera as the image in the EVF should be clear enough to frame your pictures OK, maybe not the finer details, but at least for general picture taking.

Nooooooooooo not at all a stupid question and NO I didn't know

Am starting to get it figured out. Unfortunately while I can see an eagle in a tree 5 miles away I can't see what is in front of my face - at least not very well and these new glasses are, IMO, not helping.

Had friends swing by so had to put it all down (they are now back in Canada after doing their winter Snowbirding in Arizona and California) but will take it up again.

My preference is to look through the viewfinder but I can't see all the teeny tine icons unless I open the screen so methinks I'm going to be opening the screen lots cause I just can't see the icons. I think once I easily identify the icons and where they are it'll be different cause I can tell through the view finder which one is lit up so I'll know what it is but right now I'm going to have to open the screen.

I can definitely see the benefits of this camera. Just need to get out there and use it but just like the other day was a dreary one today is also ranked up there on the dreary scale.

On another note I'm pretty sure the swans are gone I heard the honk but it seems the marsh now is hosting Canadian Geese and the same bunch of ducks.

Thanks for all the tips! Really appreciate the explanations. They definitely help. I'm not intuitive and need it all in black and, in the case of E4U, yellow!

[Horus]

If you want to preview the last shot the preview button brings this image up on screen so I am lost to understand the eye sensor.

Not strictly correct Grandad, so long as you still have your eye on the viewfinder, it will only show the preview in that viewer, once you take your eye away it will then show it on the LCD, put your eye to the viewer and it changes back again As to it being a useful function? well I have yet to think of when it has a good use, i reckon that they think it speeds up the displaying of each type of view, but I cannot find any real difference between that and just using the EVF/LCD switch.

With all the technology built into cameras today i would have thought that a live viewfinder could be built into Bridge Cameras that could cope with zoomed images.

A complicated subject Grandad, as you know the live view on older cameras was achieved by a mirror that briefly moved out of the line of sight to expose the sensor chip or film within the camera. This can still be done and surprise, surprise it is Fuji that are leading with this technology, that is why you see them going away from pure digital cameras to a more high end camera incorporating this feature. Because the digital image technology relies upon what is basically a TV camera to show you what you are looking at and is therefore a lot cheaper to manufacture than the complex (and often usage limited) but far sharper (visually) flip up mirror mechanism. Having said all that with the rapid advantages of screen resolutions we now have screens that have an optical resolution that exceeds what the human eye can discern, to give an example my techie mate has just bought himself a TV with a 4K resolution!!!! and it makes HD TV look like the old 405 line TV

@LLL, maybe you are best using the EVF/LCD in switching mode, then maybe you can just take the camera away from your eye you look at the screen icons which will be larger, then raise it to your eye again to take your image through the viewfinder?

[Grandad]

Your final suggestion seems to be most appropriate for LLL, and me with my iffy eyesight H. It makes the transition very quick instead of havong to push the EVF/LCD button....makes sense now
After I made the post I DID remember that things are happening with viewfinders and sensors so perhaps before too long we will have a set up that will tick EVERY box. I think there is little doubt that Fuji have moved well up the list of camera manufacturers for being innovative and well done to them.

[LovelyLadyLux]

I'm waiting for the day a camera can be designed that will actually take the picture I think I'm seeing! It'll be perfect and free from flaws and will be exactly the picture I wanted to take!

On a more serious note I am amazed at how far camera development has come over the years. From the hand held Brownie that I remember to what we have today. Amazing! And I know that what I have is by no means the upper upper type cameras the professionals use.

[Grandad]

LLL, just a thought. Do I remember correctly you saying about not getting used to the hinged out screen. I just wondered if you realised that after you hinge out the screen, you can twist it 180 degrees and fold back flat into the camera back, like any back screen.
It is only really designed to fold away so that the screen is less likely to be damaged.
I hope I didn't misunderstand you and you had already realised that the screen is fully articulated.

[LovelyLadyLux]

@ Grandad I did realize about the screen. I find the camera is quite different from the Nikon and I do believe I like the Nikon better but might change my mind after I get used to the Fuji.

Went for my walk yesterday along the march only to find that my back fence has been vandalized by way of somebody spray painting what looks to be ELIG in capital letters on all the panels. Can't believe anybody would actually do this. I don't see this from the house but anybody walking down the path would see these.........I've never understood vandalism and this is just plain vandalizing for the sake of vandalizing.

Do these letters have any meaning? They hold no meaning to me but then I'm not the most astute that they could have another meaning. Any thoughts?

[Grandad]

LLL, I chose to buy the HS50 because I was drawn to its amazing zoom range and I have much confidence in Fuji products having had several of their cameras in the past.
I kept my othe two cameras because there are times and situations when they each have their place. Unfortunately that further complicates things because, even the two Fujis do not have the same control procedures and when I add the Nikon it is a lot to remember. But stick with it because the HS50 is capable of some excellent results taking into account its low cost.

With regards to your grafitti, I need to ask a couple of questions.
1 Is yours the only fence that has been vandalised
2 Are the letters a) clearly written or b) are they in a continuous run of straight lines forming the letters.

If it is '2'b) then that is probably the vandals 'tag' or signature. If it is '2'a) then, and I don't want to frighten you, but ELIG can mean 'eligible' in street slang, or 'Enemies of the Legitimate Iraqi Government'.

As I said I don't wish to scare you but if that was my fence here in the UK I would be telling the police. It is probably nothing more than some crazy youth with a spray can but I would not ignore it.

[Horus]

I would go with it just being some morons 'Tag' and on a point of principle I would just paint it over, the best way of dealing with grafitti is to remove it.