Sutton Warrior

Had a bit of time recently to reflect on past and recent happenings . . . Happily Hazel looks like she is out of the wood health wise? still got a few och-es and ouch-es . . . but that part of being in the trainee classes for OAP's We (the Royal 'we') are looking forward to spring, Hazel is itching to get going with the D40X. I'm waiting patiently for the bass to come in the river. We are both looking forward to spending quality time on the boat, warm balmy evenings, glass of wine in hand watching the world go by, heaven. The new computer is doing its thing brilliantly and my new toy Sigma 10-20 is tickling my fancy. New year resolution; get to grips with RAW? . . . . . . for the time being, I'm happy with JPG, life is to short . . . These are a few more pics from the three 50 frame sessions that I have had with the Sigma. Had a little bit of a fiddle in 'Elements 7'. Reflections: Lobster pots Surf: Old Wood: I'm enjoying the New lense, still plenty of issues with my handling SW

Cant help you Janet, however, had a similar problem with my mates Picasa3 this very day. Came home, downloaded Picasa3 onto my computer, to try to work out the problem, it tried to take over my settings!!! to make it 'Number one'! Now I'm not much at computers either, but I very quickly removed it . . . The program tries to take over, need to . . . 'uncheck' . . . boxes as it down loads, and still it got hold, nasty!! Wont be going there again. SW

Telling us how many fish are there??? . . . been down the marina this pm watched a couple of boats come in Well there aint much about, unless you count a couple of 2 punders as reward for a 6 hour session! It aint worth undoing the mooring ropes at the moment. Better fish might be milessss off but dont look like much is with in easy reach? I'll cary on snaping pritty pictures SW

It gets better, Not to hot on PS'ing, waiting for 'Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowskis book on Elements 7' to hit the book shelves in late April? Will be my 62nd birthday present! I find all but simple manipulating a problem, hoping a book at my 'ABC' level??? in front of me will help? You may know, I have a low level of dyslexia, its very frustrating, like having parts of a jigsaw puzzle missing in my mind, or bridges missing over ravines, you can see where, but how??? That little extra helps the picture, its the better sea of the two. IMHO SW

Thanks DelJ, I have gon from 4 direct to 7, had 5 but it kept crashing my computer!! Now have new computer so got in at the deep end, found a copy of 'Elements v 7' for £30 on Amazon. The media say, 6 to 7 is not much change, so I would say if you understand and are happy with v.6 probably best stick? I have ony just started using 7, so still a bit green, getting to like it though . . . waiting for the new 'how to' book covering Elements 7, by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski, due end of April, highly recomended, they say, if their 'Ev.6' offereing is anything to go by? SW

A little more fiddling here in PS Elements 7, compared to the basic untouched proof shots originally posted, tried B&W, what you think? Very minor cropping, a tad of unsharp and some very small adjustments to the curve. O'yes, straightened the horizon, surprising how much difference a straight horizon makes to the viewing? IMHO 1 1A Same stand, but different camera settings, I like the sky in this one? 2 2A SW

more power to your elbow Angly!!! 70s, thats what I had befor the D80, fancy a D90 now . . that will have to be next year!! I'm just like you mate, 'snap happy', Mother was arty, the whole family are very clever with there hands, I've inherited the hands, my Father logical mind, not his brains though, but Mums arty side, I was round the corner when 'art' was given out SW

I see where you are coming from, ah, the days of film, I used to hose around with gay abandon with my F601 only ever used a Sigma 70-300, all aircraft shots for a magazine. that was back in the early 90's, only just sold the 70-300, replaced it with a new, Sigma 70-300-HSM motor, Hazel has a D40X! I never used that 601 on anything other than 'auto P', shoot 5-10 rolls of 36 in a day and every one was good enough for publication, exposure wise that is Auto P, cos I never had time to adjust the camera, made me lazy. Thats why I'm only just learning now . . . got time . . . go back to 'auto P', a simple life You are right, the camera was left to do the job, and yes, I agree, it got it right, although, the -1 adjustment to the 'aWB' make a major difference. What I want now is a day when I can shoot all day, and see how the WB fairs. I like Ken Rockwells 'matter of fact' way, but I am learning that one needs to spit out the bones, like the D80 and over exposing for instance, a few basic adjustments and mine seems to have it right? Coincidentally, Ken Hogans site is in my 'favorites list' to be looked at, I will bring him forward and have a gander. SW

Starting to get a bit complicated in my simple mind. What I can see, is that, a little adjustment in the menu will give positive results? By messing about with the working of the lens and camera, it seems we can mess up what the designers have done by introducing a UV filter, or any other filter? although, they are deliberate for effect. This is my final picture for today, light has gone! Just a tad in PS Elements. Its interesting . . . to me, WB is on auto (-1 in menu), no UV filter and no exposure compensation, (Ken Rockwell) whacks on about the D80 needing '-0.7' compensation. He was right I thought, but with the two changes as above, I was happy with the result. Put it into 'Elements Auto tweak' according to 'PS Elements' it needed to be a tad in the '+' direction, I think PSE has looked at the shadows, both are OK, here is Elements version: SW

Wow Angly, I did not know what I was getting myself into . . . Your comments, "UV filters have no effect . . . " . . . OK I will prove the point? Nothing don to these at all!!! UV filter, auto WB UV filter, shade WB UV filter removed, auto WB UV filter removed, shade WB Come to your own conclusions!!! I have been able to adjust the 'Auto WB' in the menu get rid of some of the blue cast -1, it might stand -2? Not really part of this test but it makes for better pictures in the future? Same adjustments available to all the other WB setting, going to make for some interesting shots of my back garden. Perhaps need +1 on the shade setting? But essentially, making the UV filter unnecessary? Also got the vivid set a lttle high now? what you think? SW

Interesting Chippy, I will try removing the UV filter next time out and see the differance? I like the colouring on the test pics I posted for the Sigma 10-20, that was with a Kenko UV filter fitted. I'm far from expert in these matters and have always held with 'you get what you pay for'? However there is the other old wives saying, 'cutting the cloth according to the means' and thats how I see things in the present. Self employed, the next 18 months is going to be hard for us all, in truth, perhaps I should have waited a while for the Sigma? But, I made the mental decission, fleeBay prices have gon silly, £280-£300!!! no Gt's etc., £250 seemed about right, I found mine in 'Mifsuds' £249 with Gt. If I had been disapointed, I could have put it on fleesBay and made a profit!!! Thanks for the 'Cokin Z' info. I thought the normal Cokin holder would be a problem on wide angle. Look closley at pic six in the samples, you will see my sleve in the bottom LH corner!! The angle on that lens is amazing. Going to have to put some pennies away then, scour the ads and see whats on offer on fleeBay? SW

Hay Snatcher, Branch out, I thought you were no.1 expert in 'Pubscapes' Looking at Coking filters for the spring/summer, seems a lot of us are thinking this way? SW

So you using Cokin ND/Grad system Snatcher? More info please SW

I am the last to advise on filters . . . However, if you want to protect you lens glass a UV filter is worth while, has advantagouse effects on the final picture, eliminates the blue cast see on sunny days. A polerising filter is usefull but depends on how the lens operates, 'internal focusing'? ND and Grads, thats for the more expeianced to go at explaining. I have just posted my experiance so far with 'cheap filters' from fleeBay, definatly 'buyer beware'. By the way Judy, you have a 55mm lens thead, sorry if you already new SW

A topic for discussion? Having just purchased a new WA lens, I had to look at the net for at least a UV filter at 77mm. Thats a big filter, and from the likes of Hoya, pricey!! Heard all the horror stories about cheap filters, but I'm a bit strapped at present . . . ain't we all? So, curiosity got the better and I typed in to fleeBay, 'lens filter 77mm' . . . hay-presto, pages of the blighters. Pennies to nearly one hundred pounds . . . all sorts of names, known and unknown. I know that multi coated 'MC' is the way to go, thats a start, reading the blurb, leans coating can a complicated business. As I say, tight on the hard earned. I looked, made the eyes sore with looking, and the brain hurt, weighing up the pros and cons I was fairly sure forum advise would be 'quality', advise I would normally give myself. Finally, decided, 'Kenko' is a name I know, cheap but known, less than a 'fiver' inc pp. if it lasts a year, thats fine, the question, would the coating be up to muster? Well I have posted a few of the first session with the new lens + UV. Not going to worry Sir Davis Baily, but the filter does seem to be doing its job. Still more familiarisation to do but the 'cheap' filter is OK? . . . I think. Whilst looking for the UV filter, I spied 'polarising filters', the circular variety, pricey at the best of times, but at 77mm phew Another name I have seen 'Sakar',and £5 inc pp??? I speculated, the seller turned out to be a 'dork' but the filter, although not yet tried on lens, is certainly doing a job held to the light and turned, worth a fiver??? Next, looking at 'grad and ND' filters, to fleebay or not to fleeBay . . . ??? Any advise on the values that are most useful? A topic for views and discussion . . . SW

With new (thats new to me but 'used') Sigma 10-20mm lens clamped on, I had to brave the weather, looks nice but thats an Easterly blowing at least 20mph +! with the wind chill factor = no more than +1C The hands were like ice blocks in minutes. However I had to test the lens. Moved down the road to the relative shelter of the river Deben and the Felixstowe Ferry boat yard. I have done nothing to these shots, other than reduce them to 800px. I wanted to see how the camera/lens coped, I think I've messed up on the 'WB', but despite my efforts to mess things up, the D80 has still don a job? When its warmer I'll be able to play more. I became aware very quickly of the beguiling effect the wide angle lens can have on the photographer. I also came to the conclusion that a 10 or 12mm fixed primary would do as well, with the advantages that the fixed glass can bring in quality? So, I think I've got something to work with and improve on. Despite the cold we . . . 'the Royal we', Hazel, and the dog enjoyed the walk too. Back to the car, ham roll and a flask of hot coffee to warm us up SW

Good advise, which I try to work to, colour, I'm usualy OK on, but I do like my 'croping' . . . Mmmm, need to get better at spoting the shot and allowing a bit more time . . . time, never enough 'time' I will try harder SW

A bit late? going down to Felixstowe to 'get a few in the can'. Its a bit cold but need to test the new 10-20, 77mm UV arived this morning so I can evaluate properly. Hazels raring to go as well, D40X in hand, and the dog he aint got a camera but hes looking forwaed to the walk Got to get my old bag out!!! the new smaller KATA, is a bit tight, and I said I would not fill it!!! SW

Colin, there is the argument of not needing wallpaper . . . SW

Had a look at 'Nikonian', lowest level 25 days trial . . . they want money to continue at silver level! I can be a tight old git, got my 'tight old git head on at present'. Have the trial version of NX supplied with the D80, tried it for a few days. Superb presentation, be even better I suspect with the new computer and 22" monitor. But I found it a little overwhelming at the time, had my 'numpty head' on those days, and its not cheap to buy either. SW

Yes Den, I'm a fussy 'bleeder', back fires on me sometimes, I can get in over the head, depends on which head I'm wearing But you lot on here help, as you say 'hands on floats my boat' SW

Played fine for me. SW

Thats good then aint it Den, we are both happy. My HP monitor installed its self, I chose to go the extra mile with the bespoke personalised configuration . . . personal preferance and all that. SW

Well folks, I'm looking at some RAW v JPG pictures I took a few weeks ago, but have not had time to make any comparisons because of the computer problems around that time. The new computer is now working 'tickerty-boo'. But, befor I go any further, Westie asked me for my thoughts on the 22" screen, originaly this was a PM request, however, the experiance has been so elitening, perhaps its worth the airing publicaly? I looked at a few screens, PC world is not the best place to view them, they use a splitter to drive 8 or 10 at one time, all requiring diferent settings, therefore the whole display was a compromise, but thats PC World for you. I had the assitants carting screens all around the shop to plug in to dedicated computers. Any how, cut a long story short(ish) . . . I plumped for the HPw2216, the decision was between it and a Samsung. Final choice was made with the head, the Samsung 'black rose' finish had the heart. HP have been at the leading edge of colour reproduction for many years, I spent considerable time on the web sorting through reviews, forum coments etc. That was Saturday night, after I had disrupted PC World for a couple of hours and puchased nothing! The clinching fact was a review that made a piont to mention the CD that comes with the HP screen, and the fully dedicated configuration that can be achived using this set up disc. Not to mention the high score it recieved compared with the other units they were reviewing. So, Sunday had PC World, again, disrupted to finaly decide between the two screens, the rest is history? Well not quite, a week went by befor the new computer arived, it took some time to get to grips with the HP set up disc, however, its don now, 'CJS preferd setup' > 'use as defalt'. The big change, one has noticed is 'space', and I thought 17" was a big'un . . . ? The colour is more dynamic and subtle, plus much more detail. The extra avaliable space on a 22" wide monitor means I can put two pictures on screen side by side, as I have this evening for comparison, they would have been impossibly small on my 17" 'old ratio' monitor. If you are still using the old style square(er) type monitor, its a no brainer, if you do PS'ing and like to compare, 'befor and after'. Having now finaly done this, with a couple of test shots, totaly un tampered with, the diferances between RAW and JPG can be seen just. I can see the advantages to both formats, the time factor is my concern. I dont want to have to apportion time to RAW reworking just for monitor viewing on every shot, however, the ability to take RAW/JPG, and view them on the 'windows viewer' as one used to with film proof sheets. Ignore the ordinay ones and pick out the shots that stand out that one likes for future RAW 'PS' treatment, the remainder, compress and save on the 500 gig external hard drive. The dulicated JPG shots will be simpler to re work, and save as memory and trophy pictures, album fashon, the JPG's not put in to folders or albums, can be deleted, there is a compresed RAW backup! So thats my thoughts so far on RAW for the present. I'm sure there are other angles, which can be put forward SW

Yes, I looked at Mifsuds 'New equipment' prices, seem to be average to a little high, but the used stuff, that seems much better. I bought my brand new, 'Sigma 70-300HSM-Apo' last year from Bristol cameras, best price by a mile at the time, and got £72 for the old (very old!) non 'HSM 70-300' one on fleeBay! Its a matter of shopping around these days, find out who is desperate and wants to shift some gear . . . cynical . . . its a tough world at the moment SW