Fujifilm Finepix S2 Pro - Finally Broke into Digital

[Bluestrike_2]

Well, I finally managed to break into digital, with a Fujifilm Finepix S2 Pro. Some images:

http://img73.exs.cx/img73/103/dscf001115rn.jpg

http://img73.exs.cx/img73/6703/dscf000811kd.jpg

http://img73.exs.cx/img73/4859/dscf001218hv.jpg

Now I know the white balance and color are not the greatest, but I'm just trying to get used to the camera. Shutter-priority mode. (Sadly, today's lighting was nothing great.) They're not the gratest, but then again, I just wanted to get out there and test it.

Digital really does have some benefits to film. The instant gratification is one. Something that I really like. Voice notes are useful too.

However, I still feel my medium format is superior, however that's not something that one is going to lug around everywhere with themselves. I think I'll probably use both for different tasks in the future though.

The one thing that bugs me are the batteries. Four AA, and two of the lithium ones(?, I foret the name). The weight really adds up when you mount a heavy lense.

The crop factor: I love it, and hate it. I love the telephoto end's boost, but hate the wide end's loss. Oh well, thats sacrifices for you...

So far I like it, I just need to take the time and such to get to grips with it. Like custom curves, white balance, etc.

It feels just like my good 'ol N80(which it's based on), my 35mm workhorse. So far, digital's great....

I'd like to thank MuzikMan and others I've had discussions with on the merits of digital. I appreciate all the help.

Look forward to some high ISO shots, and some astrophotography. Maybe tonight if it's not too cloudy....

[Mango]

no Canon 20D no care

[Bluestrike_2]

Here's an image that I liked:

http://img98.exs.cx/img98/2515/dscf00453rh.jpg

Shame that the lighting for the past week has been rather poor.

Thoughts? Questions?

[Gitaroo Man]

good, i think there might be a little too much "stuff" but good none the less

[Muzikman]

I do like the last one. I think ya could have found cooler things to shoot for the first few:)

There are two tools that I will suggest that made converting to digital much easier.

1. Downloader Pro (http://www.breezesys.com/Downloader/)
2. IMatch (http://www.photools.com/)

Also, take a look at http://www.fredmiranda.com/ and see what actions might be out there for your camera. He does a great job and some of his stuff makes life easier.

[CasingBill]

I just ordered a Nikon Coolpix 5400 for my wife for Christmas. I know next to nothing about cameras but it had some good reviews and for $300 I don't think I can go wrong. Plus you get a $100 rebate on an epson stylus printer. So she gets one of those too!

[CasingBill]

Dude...I just saw how much that camera was. Thats a lot of dough for a camera. Not sure I could ever spend that much on a camera. Although......I have been know to blow that much on paintball crap.......LOL.

[paintgirl66]

Nikon isn't a bad brand though. They make pretty good stuff. I almost got a Nikon, but since I could get a Minolta for free.. I chose the Minolta. Although.. i'm a HUGE fan of Canon. Even their cheap ($100) cameras give you great photos.

the pic from your last post is pretty good. it was cool to have real things with the painting. might have done a better job at the general framing of it.. but i know you're just playing with it.. so i'll spare you my techincal crap. :D

[Bluestrike_2]

Yeah...

The problem is that it's still being painted. So there was a ton of scaffolding and equipment around it. In all honesty, that was the best possible shot. After they're done, I'll shoot it again, hopefully getting a much better angle.

[Muzikman]

I actually like the look of it being painted with all the stuff in the way.

[paintgirl66]

ditto. i think the real mixed with the unreal is really pretty cool. so props to the scaffolding. ;)

[Bluestrike_2]

Well, I promised some astrophotography, so here it goes.

I took these at f/3.8 for 30 seconds each. Eleven Shots for a total exposure time of 5 1/2 minutes. Then, I combined them in Photoshop. I like it for my first ever shots of the stars however the stray light leakage(visible at the bottom) is nothing but annoying!

Here it is. I tried to crop most of the light leakage out.

http://img93.exs.cx/img93/4008/astro0dq.jpg

To next time....

I placed this in this thread so I wouldn't have to make a new one.

Maybe sometime I could make a barn-door tracking mount. It really is huge, isn't it?[The Universe]

[CasingBill]

You need a camera to take these pics.

http://imgsrc.hubblesite.org/hu/db/2004/07/images/a/formats/web_print.jpg


Hubble (http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2004/07/text/)

[Muzikman]

I have come to realize that a telescope is almost needed to take any astro-photography. I have shot two different Lunar Eclipses and neither turned out great. Once I hit the lotto I plan on buying a 10" scope.