Brittany has a new camera and I decided to take it with me on a morning walk down the beach.
It's an Olympus FE 280. I liked it because it was on sale. She liked the host of features that came with it, including image stabilization, 21 shooting modes and movie feature with sound.
I'm so used to sticking my eye in the viewfinder on my Canon Rebel that I had trouble getting used to her little point n shoot gizmo. You have no idea how often I started to put the camera up to my face to take a pic. Got a lot of funny looks that way.
I came away impressed...with the size. And that image stabilization feature. Boy, I really could use that image stabilization feature. Especially when using my zoom lens.
On the other hand, nothing beats a point-n-shoot when you want to snap a quick photo and move along. I find it a time consuming pain in the arse to switch lens when I'm in a hurry.
So I guess there are benefits to having both!
I haven't used a point-n-shoot in several years. All this time, I've been suffering through struggling to learn valiantly learning how to set the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. in order to compose a great shot. It doesn't always work. I am self taught, an auto idiotic autodidact amateur. We've been through a lot together, this Canon and I. There are days when I can't stand the thing. Sometimes I talk to it, coax it, threaten to drop it off in the Gulf if it doesn't behave. Once in a while, that works.
Other times, it will refuse to snap the photo for reasons too numerous to get into here.
Temperamental little bastard.
I didn't have that problem with the Olympus. The only problem I did have is that I couldn't see the screen to take the picture. The sun was so bright, I often had no idea what I was focusing on. So I'd hold it up, pull back the zoom and hope for the best! Viola!
Here's where that will screw you up:
In this lovely photo of a bouy, I thought I was focusing on a couple in a kayak. I centered myself behind the dunes, held the camera up, panned till I thought they were in focus and snapped the photo.
Do you see the couple?
Well no, they're not in the photo. The sun was so bright, all I could see was a blur on the screen. That little bouy? It stood out, so I thought that was the couple. OHHHHHHHhhhhh.
So it has it's drawbacks, this little point-n-shoot.
But what ab-so-frookin-lootley amazes me are the 21 available shooting modes. Ladies and Gentlemen, they have a CUISINE option on this camera. For photographing FOOD! Another option for taking photos behind glass. Another option for photographing documents... you know, for when you're in the tax preparers office, he leaves the room, you lean over and ...
er, never mind.
Well anyway, here's the photos. I did a little editing afterward. (I can't help it).
Florida readers, perhaps used to our beaches, will probably not be impressed. They're just standard photos that look like Every Beach. And I'm tempted to agree.
As long as we never take a beach like this for granted.
Clean, white and gorgeous.
50 points if you can tell me what this is for.
If you're from Florida, you only get 10 points, because you should KNOW! right?
Dive Right In!
but you know what...that picture were you meant to take a shot of kayakers but ended up with weeds? Is a GREAT shot!!!
Um...is that a turtle egg protector?
Posted by: Janet | July 21, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Those are really nice shots...
I need a viewfinder... I've tried to use the little screen, but have the same problem with sunlight. ;)
Posted by: pam | July 21, 2008 at 04:47 PM
I'll skip the puzzler due to my previous life.
Funny about being an odd number near 50... seeing the screen sharply can be a challenge.
The new Sony has a flipable screen to avoid that glare problem ... doesn't fix presbyopia tho.
The day of the SLR has passed. All hail the nifty P&S's!
Britt's going to have a blast with that camera.
Posted by: FC | July 21, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Whatever you meant to shoot, the photos are really great!
Posted by: kenju | July 21, 2008 at 07:35 PM
GORGEOUS BEACHES!!! Ah...I miss home! I grew up near Gulf Shores, AL. Don't take them for granted. Ok...so even though I'm from there, I'm not positive on my guess...is that a crab trap?
-Sara
www.dixiegypsy.com
Posted by: Sara | July 21, 2008 at 10:59 PM
FC, seeing the screen was hard enough, but seeing the CONTROLS was a whole other story! I need glasses to view them! ohhhh.
Thanks Everyone! And Janet, I'll email you. :)
Posted by: Laura | July 21, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Wow, a cuisine option! That's so neat. I could have used that last week when I made cheesecake. I was so proud of how pretty it looked, but not one pic turned out good. @*@#$%!!!! Hope Brittany has alot of fun with her new camera. :)
Posted by: Dani | July 22, 2008 at 07:24 AM
Sara, I've always wanted to see the coastline near Alabama. Everyone says the beaches there are just gorgeous!
About the cage photo, I'll email you, too. ;)
Dani, I've had the same problem with food photographs. The lighting is usually a factor for me. I'm going to do some test shots with Britt's camera and see how that compares with my Canon.
Britt's been having a lot of fun with her cam, it seems. So far she's been taking a lot of shots of her and a gf jumping off the bed, into the air, with a wild look on their faces. The camera freezes the shot and makes themy look like they're from some other planet, which they probably are....
;)
Posted by: L:aura | July 22, 2008 at 08:41 AM
I bought a point and shoot for the beach and it has the same problem - you have to look at the screen for the shot and in the sun you can't see the screen. It's always interesting to come home and see what I actually got pics of LOL
I love the other features you mentioned though and it sounds like a great camera. I'm getting a new one soon and my main requirement is an eye sight to go along with the LED screen.
I only get 10 points for the mystery question. We don't have those here - they just rope off the area and then put up warning signs. Yours look much more secure. I wonder why we don't use them around here.
Posted by: Sandcastle Momma | July 22, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Haha.
I love my camera!
Me and my friend were having a lot of fun thank you very much! :] And if I'm from another planet then you are to because you gave birth to me!
Lol.
:]
Posted by: Brittany | July 23, 2008 at 12:59 PM
You have taken some great pictures with your new camera! I always carry a point and shoot camera with me as the SLR is too big to carry all the time, and often I just point and shoot as I cannot see the screen.
Posted by: starnitesky | July 24, 2008 at 06:05 PM
I had the same problem getting used to my newer model that didn't have the viewfinder. I don't really like that, because it's hard to see what you're taking...like you said, you just point and hope for the best.
Posted by: poopie | July 25, 2008 at 02:04 PM
I would get so aggrevated with the little point and shoot I got to just carry around that I would want to just throw it to the ground. To me it was, and is, sometimes harder to use than my SLR. I just am so used to manipulating and controling my own light, etc. But I am better now just pointing and shooting and not worrying about it now. It is actually liberating not having that big a** camera with me all the time. And the pictures are pretty darned good with the tiny ones!
Posted by: Deana | July 27, 2008 at 10:34 PM