Thanks all, it's an interesting concept and seems to be proving popular.

Andrew, to be fair there's lots of shadow detail in the JPEG file as well, but the rules of engagement don't allow for it to be adjusted. That's where digital does become much more like slide photography, in that the highlights need to be preserved and the shadows have to fall where they may. Most slide films would have a dynamic range of no more than 5 stops, some even less.

This is a scene that would block up entirely in the shadows with original Orwochrome film, but would have stood a good chance with Kodachrome.

Tonight we had out annual Joe Jackson Straight Out of Camera Competition. It was Joe's idea to have this challenge, where images are shot JPEG and no adjustments whatsoever are allowed. This tests our exposure and composition skills and forces us to work a bit harder at the capture stage. When Joe died his widow Margaret kindly donated a trophy, which she presented tonight as well.

I'm delighted that I won the competition, with this image:



And also delighted that Sue came third with this:



All comments welcome!

It's a great idea.

Somebody has to pay the initial higher price, just like somebody had to buy the original 645D at its launch price. If they didn't, there would be no 645Z now.

Somebody must have paid £700 for an LED calculator at one point.

I'm going to tidy up all the other posts that repeat this. This is the correct forum for it, so we can leave it here.

Don't worry, it will be noticed without spreading it over several forums!

Ironically, a test report this week in AP gives a camera a negative because it's not APS-C.......

Ah, I was judging last night, that must be why.

The only EVFs Pentax do are the rather poor ones in the bridge cameras. I would always use the back screen with these.

As for Sony, it's really off topic for us here, but in a generalised sense I wouldn't welcome them as a way forward. They lag and smear, and for the reasons Nigel mentioned at some point they change our relationship with the subject. We end up looking at a screen rather than looking through the viewfinder at the live scene. The screen brings its own interpretation between us and the subject.

Sue and I have registered via the e-mail invitation they send out. We'll be there, but which day is not certain.

I see.

Yes, sometimes, but rarely. Those settings are for emergency or creative use and not intended for architectural poster prints. When I come across a Martian landing at dusk I'll be very glad I have those settings.