Hi Everyone,

I've put this in the Optio section as my observation is about red eye reduction using an Optio 60.

I've been taking all my shots of daughter #1 (the queen of red eye) through photoshop to remove this curse.

I have a second daughter - same big blue eyes - who never displays red eye.

Finally, I discovered a shot of both of them cheek-to-cheek, in which Melissa's eyes were perfect and Sandra's looked like the brakelights on our van.

I photoshopped Sandra back to human, and liked the shot enough to make it my screensaver.

That's when I noticed the extreme difference in pupil sizes!

It appears that Sandra's pupids don't react fast enough to the preflash.

Has anyone else come across this?

When shooting film, with a bounced flash, Sandra's eyes STILL come out red. This kids got RETINAS!

She's going to force me into photofloods and softboxes.

Cheers

John and Matt -

Look what George has started - a whole thread with nary even a mention of gear or photos.

Just a bunch of serious photographers from around the globe having a chuckle about something over which we have no control, but are always photographing - the weather.

(I think we're all hiding from Lilly)


Happy Holidays everyone!

Hey you two!

Just in from my 3rd snow-blowing session today. It isn't officially winter yet, so this makes it one of the worst autumn's in my long, feeble memory. We have 90+ centimeters down so far in Montreal and just don't know where to put the blamed stuff.

The ski hill operators - normally a whiney bunch - are very, very quiet this year. Off in the back room counting their money I suppose.

Out Don's way it's probably too cold to snow all that much?

Slurpees! yeah, baby! We gots lots o class in Canada - anything to do with ice and cold, we're in! Tried a beer slurpee once - BIG mistake. Thought it would be thoroughly Canadian - just thoroughly gross.

George, I continue to flog the virtues of Bowmore to any and all who will listem. Not always easy to find over 'ere, but certainly worth the wait.

I hope all is well on the isle with you and yours, and that you still enjoy your little early eveing ritual - I smile every time I envision it.

Gents, both of your camers are in regular use, and both perform like the champions they are. Man, I'm gonna miss film! I'll probably keep some dummy rolls to run through once in a while just to hear slap, click, whirr's I've grown to love.

Man, I gotta get out more - maybe build an igloo.......

CHEERS!!

George,

Re extreme vs short range zooms.

That's kinda what I thunk - or what you and John taught me when I was a novice.

Now that I'm a pro (know my way around all the pro sites, and can misuse some buzz words) I realize that there is a heck of a market for these extreme zooms - everyone's making them - including Pentax. Also, I guess aspherical technology(?) allows them to be very small compared to prime telephoto lenses?

My brother-in-law - the evil Nikon worshiper - has a Sigma Wide-to-about 300mm zoom. The pictures don't especially impress me, but wow, is it ever fun to look through and play with (I need Gravol).

I can see the convenience attraction for travelers and hikers for sure, but not at all for studio work.

Will primes become extinct as zoom technology evolves?

My guess is yes, and I wonder if it all started with the point-and-shoots the newer generation of photographers start out with. They all had/have built in zoom lenses.

My daughters, for example, feel severly handicapped using prime cameras.

I just played Santa for some professional studios, who had excellent lighting (soft boxes etc) and very expensive (the other evil company) 12mp cameras. All used wide short zooms and no tripods. (Yea SR!)

When asked, they all said they didn't own any primes for their digitals.

Oh, and none had bought filters for their digital lenses either - just hoods.

Maybe a smart move on Hoya's part to take over a camera manufacturer?

Lots of change for an old guy to hang onto.

That's an astounding range, 18 - 250!

Is this too good to be true? One lens from ultra wide to pretty long?

How would the picture quality compare to the two Pentax "Kit" lens offerings for example?

I agree about Henry's - very professional.

Thanks

Matt!

I've had zero experience with the Z series, thus missed the Power Zoom era.

I agree that the added expense, weight, power consumpsion, vulnerability to failure etc. etc. couldn't have been a big selling point.

You guys are a great resource for lazy sods like me!

Thanks as always!

Hello Everyone.

When George sold me his SFX camera body, I went and bought my first auto focus lens - an SMC Pentax FA 28-80. I've had excellent results from this pairing, and it has become a favorite.

I noticed that the lens has a P A > AS switch, and the wise folk here told me it was a power zoom feature when mounted on an appropriate body.

Thing is, I don't think I've come across a power zoom body.

Can someone identify one or three?

Does the lens have a zooming motor on board?

Just curious.

George,

Here's the rookie from across the water looking to be edumacated once again:

What the heck are Moggies :

To everyone else - Awwwww....... many excellent shots!

Best of the Season to All!

Ohhh You!

I thought it was cold on the islands!

I'm actually going to have to shovel my roof! In the CITY! And then try to get to the cottage and do it again.

And we're only mid December. Arrrggghhh.......

That SFX works like a champion in the cold. (Way better than I do!)

All the Best!

Yep,

Matt has shown me some major vignetting in tests he's done on film.

Something I'll have to live with. Maybe my wide angle prints will wind up cropped square and I'll tell folks they're from my old TLR!

Ya can take the old M and K lenses forward, but ya can't take the DA's back.

Should be fun experimenting anyway!

How's winter been in your part of the world so far?

We've got a good old fashioned blizzard a-blowin' here!

Time for B&W and fun with filters.