A question for you

I have a question for you all:

Whilst doing some gardening yesterday, I had a thought - "Should I have a camera with me in case a photo opportunity came along?" As it did a few weeks ago when I was doing a bit of gardening for my Dad, on Anglesey, - a peregrine falcon landed briefly on a fence. and I thought then - "I wish I had my camera with me"

So, after that preamble, my question is "Do you take your camera when out in the garden working?" And a supplementary, if you do - "At what settings?"

Howard

I take my camera and bag "everywhere!"........I am lucky as I work in the countryside, which gives up plenty of photo oppertunities!

I have been having the same thought for a couple of years. Two weeks ago I was passing Jessops' window, and noticed they had a special deal on a Pentax P&S, and walked out with a thing about the size a Swan Vestas box.

Not sure whether I did the right thing. I still find it rather a pain to use, and the quality is not exactly what I am used to.

But we shall see.

G

If you come across a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity then quality will be less relevant than getting the shot. The P&S digital cameras are probably more difficult to use than a DSLR, but at least it will be with you.

I have had a camera with me for the last 40 years or so and the number of fantastic opportunities that must not be missed has been: 0. zero, zilch....

But tomorrow...

I carry a camera at all times, this guarantees the total absence of any photographic opportunity thereby saving an enormous amount of time editing etc. I now believe it to be a proven fact that brilliant photo opportunities only occur when there is no camera near.

Stick with it, George, my first Pentax digi was a P&S and I was at first immensely disappointed, but it has its uses. I'm hopefully just about to start a project about the Clyde river pilots and being the macho lot they are, they want me to go out with them during the winter, no light and low light, but the Optio S5 in its marine housing will come into its own. Before anyone suggests buying a K20, I dont think its weather sealing will cope with the extremes I'm envisaging.

The S5 at least has an optical viewfinder (although it only shows about 70% of the frame), I believe that a lot of the difficulty I had getting sharp pics with it was due to holding the damn thing at arms length to see the screen. Close examination of the soft pics showed some degree of shake.

My daughter's 7mp M20 is brilliant in macro mode and pretty dodgy the rest of the time, what is that all about? It is a kids camera, what else would offer pet mode/ cat or dog mode/ colour of cat or dog as menu options?

Ken

Having a camera with you is no guarantee of capturing that ‘once in a lifetime shot’. Yesterday I had set my K10+DA*300 on a tripod in the garden to shoot the regular battle of the starlings after I refill the birdfeeder with suet pellets.




But it turned out that it was the starlings on the menu – as one of the starlings was flying towards the feeder a kestrel? (I’m not sure of the bird as it was all too fast) swooped down at caught it midflight. I tried to swing the camera round but sadly this was all I got.




If I had been handholding the camera and had the DFA 100mm mounted I may have had a great shot…..

A Sparrow hawk my friend!................

definatley a Sparrow Hawk....

Thanks for identifying the bird – I guess I may get another chance of photographing it, although I doubt the starlings and collared doves are looking forward to the prospect of it showing up on a regular basis.

When ever we go out one of us (Tracey) normaly takes her camera just incase