New Member from Ireland

[daltoned]

Hi Folks just like to sign in as a new member and have started on the photo course. I am a retired Public Service worker justing getting into Digital Photography. I have completed lessons 1 & 2 but due to a stupid error, I've had to send my new Pentax K10d back to Pentax Service dept fro to get an incorrect lens removed from it, so will have to wait to move on to next lessons. I am looking forward to next lessons and have already found lesson 1 & 2 to be very informative with excellent jargon free detail. I also look forward to exchanging ideas and questions on the forum.
EddieD

[LensBaby]

Welcome! Make yourself at home and join in on the conversations.

[gjtoth]

Welcome aboard, Eddie! I'm about to retire from public service my own self!

Where on the Emerald Isle are you? My wife and I have been from Dublin to Land End. Love it! Entirely too short a time there, though.

Hope you get your Pentax back quickly and learn LOTS from the course. It's a good one.

[daltoned]

Hi Gary, thanks for welcome. I was born and still live in Dublin, so as they say here, a true Blue and proud to be. I have new footings in the Royal County, Co Meath , where we have a Cottage dating back to the early 1800's which has been a major DIY project.

Regards
EddieD

[gjtoth]

Hi Gary, thanks for welcome. I was born and still live in Dublin, so as they say here, a true Blue and proud to be. I have new footings in the Royal County, Co Meath , where we have a Cottage dating back to the early 1800's which has been a major DIY project.

Regards
EddieD

You'll have to be taking some photos of that place when you get your camera back, Eddie. Inside and out. Does it have a reed roof? My wife and I lived in England for a while and I just fell in love with the homes with the reed roofs. And, of the countryside! Especially in the Spring. Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh.... wish I were back there.

[LensBaby]

I would love to see photos of Ireland. I will probably never make it there either.

[Snappers]

Hi Eddie, Welcome to the forum.
Ireland is a beautiful place I am told with lots of loverly senery. Cant wait to see some of the pictures.

I have always wanted to visit Ireland but up to yet, I have not got there. Maybe one day.

[jonrayner]

Hi Eddie

Welcome to the forum. You should enjoy the course.

Jon

[johnc24]

Hey fellow irishman

im from dublin, living in swords.

your very welcome.

talk to you soon

take care

J

[daltoned]

Thanks Jc for welcome message. Looks like the forum has members from all parts. Nice to know a fellow Dub is on board. Thanks to all other who have extended a welcome.
EddieD

[johnc24]

Hi eddie I see you are online.

Im not a fellow dub,im from wexford originally lol

anyway how are finding it so far?

[johnc24]

Hi eddie

I see you are online

what do you think of the course so far?

im on msn if you would like to have a chat

john_clarke21@hotmail.com

[johnc24]

sorry for posting twice when i returned it wasnt there so i posted again

my apoligies!

[daltoned]

Hi John, sorry didn't notice page 2 of the thread, hence I did not pick up on your posts. Never mind that you're not a Dub, those things don't matter and only help a bit a friendly rivalry. I have enjoyed the course so far, it appears to be very well structured. I will have to wait till I get my new camera back after Christmas to go on to lesson 3. I could do it with my Fuji S9600 but would rather wait as I say till I get new one back. Wish you and any family members a very Happy Christmas.

EddieD

[daltoned]

Hi Gary, sorry for not geting back sooner, a lot happening in the household , me doing doctor, nurse and chef. Still all's well TG. Re our cottage, it does not have a reed roof. Built in the 1830's I believe that the slates are the original roofing. Attached is a picture of one side of the village (same on other side of road. That's all there is , no shops, pubs etc, only the houses which were built to house the estate workers. Will take some more later and start a gallery collection.
Wish you and allthe forum members all the best in the new year.
EddieD

[daltoned]

Hi Andy and "Lensbaby", sorry for not geting back sooner, a lot happening in the household , me doing doctor, nurse and chef. Still all's well TG.
Here's a few shots taken with my FujiS9600 while on Holiday in West of Ireland. No wonder they call here the Emerald Isle, Green etc, the whole week long it lashed rain, so lucky to get some shots. The 1st shot is Doolough and was the scene of great Famine tragedy. The waterfall is the Aashleigh Falls and featured in the Movie "The Field " in the murder scene.
Will start a gallery when I really get going.
Wishing you all best in the coming year

EddieD

[gjtoth]

Nice captures, Eddie. Just curious -- are you using a tripod or are these freehand.

[Snappers]

Thanks for the Pics EddieD, I was just discussing with a friend how I would love to come to Ireland. Looks a very nice place.

[gjtoth]

Thanks for the Pics EddieD, I was just discussing with a friend how I would love to come to Ireland. Looks a very nice place.

Gee, Andy, you're so close -- what's stopping you? You'd LOVE it. Ireland is a very photogenic place. LOTS to shoot. I'd venture to say it's less expensive for you to go to Ireland than it would be for you to fly to Kentucky... heheheh :D

[daltoned]

Thanks Gary, These pics taken freehand, mostly hop out of car and snap.

[gjtoth]

Thanks Gary, These pics taken freehand, mostly hop out of car and snap.

Whilst these are nice shots, next time try to use your car as a steadying device. You may even want to check out the "Monsterpod". It's basically a beanbag with a camera mount. I think you'll find your captures will be MUCH clearer. No matter how steady you *think* you're holding the camera, there is always some shake or tremor. I used the door jamb in the panorama capture I took this morning in the "Landscapes" forum. Check it out. Had I not done that, it would not have come out anywhere near the way it did. It's cold and I'm old... the double whammy! heheheheh

[daltoned]

Hi Andy, If ever you decide to come over and need any recommendations, just drop a line and I'll try give you some pointers.

[Snappers]

But I thought you were paying the airfare Gary so it would be cheaper for me to come to you :D:D

To be honest, there is so much of the Uk we havnt seen yet. I know it is a small island compared to where most of you live but there is so much to see and do over here. One day, I will get to Ireland. It does look a beautiful place with plenty to do but then there are so many places I still want to visit here in the UK. I havn't even been to Scotland yet (well I went when I was young but I can't remember that!)

[daltoned]

Hi Andy, I agree there are many beautiful area in the UK. I've been to Scotland a few times and it's there is wonderful scenery. I would like some day to visit the Lake District, Peak District and Wales, all these have fantastic scenery etc.
EddieD

[Snappers]

I dont live far from the Lake districk so hopuflly in the summer, I will be having some nice photos there.

[jhnhns]

Hi Eddie I am a new member like yourself from near Liverpool. I like your photos. I am very interested in them because I have just bought the Fuji S9600 for Christmas. I will be pleased when I start to get the sorts of results you got there. I am beginning to think though that I would have been better off spending a little bit more and buying an SLR digital camera instead.

[Snappers]

Hi Jhnhns,
Welcome to PP. It's great to have you with us. I Live in Staffordshire not far you.

[daltoned]

Hi John (I presume) Welcome to the course and the forum. I read with interest that you have bought a S9600. it is basically a good camera but needs a lot of work. You really need to read the user manual several times to get the best from it. There is a lot of debate on the Fuji website as to the quality and sharpness of the images. Sometimes I look at pictures I took with the Fuji s5000 ( a great starter camera ) and they look quite good when compared to the 9600. Indeed I've reorganised my files over the last few days and looked again at some of the s5000 images. As I said the S9600 is a very good camera. I got the opportunity before Christmas to move on to a DSLR and after much web searching and reading of reviews, decided to go for the Pentax K10d. Can I suggest you wait till you finish the course, having done the various assignments, to decide if you need to go DSLR ( which offers many advantages over the P&S Cameras). I see you live in the Wirrell, is that the area we see when flying over from Dublin with the amazing sands when viewed from the air.
Regards
EddieD

[daltoned]

Hi Jhnhns, Just to add to my post above, I will be keeping the S9600 for some time to come, as I think there will be times that it will be more convenient to use than the DSLR and also has the added advantage of being able to shoot movie clips, so if you have a large capacity card, you can shoot a fair amount of movie clip.
EddieD

[gjtoth]

Just to fuel this a little and certainly NOT to put any DSLR owners on the defensive or offensive --

I have the opportunity to snag a Nikon D40X at an unbelievable price. I have it in my hot little hands right now as a trial run (my friend is selling it). Whilst I must admit it produces some extraordinarily crystal-clear shots, I cannot see me using it. What I mean by that is, I WILL use it but bear in mind what I've been showing you. Mainly, zoomed-in captures of birds and some macro shots of various items. Mostly, birds. Right? This Nikon comes with the standard kit lens. Which means I will have to invest in another lens that will give me the tight captures that I desire. I will *probably* (haven't tried yet)need another lens for macros. I have ALL these capabilities in my UZI. Granted, the capture quality is not quite as good as the Nikon DSLR. But, do recall from early on, this is a HOBBY for me. I have NO intention of pursuing this professionally. I cannot see me lugging around a case full of paraphernalia for my own enjoyment. It becomes WORK. I don't like WORK. I want this to remain enjoyable. Something I WANT to do. Upshot? I think I'm going to pass on the Nikon. Couple of other things are: 1) I don't like buyers remorse. I'm sure I'd have it with the Nikon. 2) This guy is a good friend and I'd like to keep him as such. It would be like him selling me a used car. If something goes wrong with it, I'd think he knew about it and ... well... you follow. Thereby losing a friend. 3) I'd like to live to see my retirement in less than 2 years. Whilst my life insurance premiums are paid up, I don't fancy having them collected upon just yet as my wife would murder me.

Oh yeah... the reason my friend is selling it? He doesn't use it as much as he thought he would so, he got himself a Canon S5IS -- From ME. Remember the freebie I got? That's how I can get a really good price on the Nikon. See? It aaaaallll worked out quite well. Now he gets to sell it on eBay and recoup the dosh he put out for the Canon. heh

[daltoned]

Hi Gary, I hear what your saying, I just wish I had got into this photography a bit sooner. I did a little as a teenager but then stopped with the usual commitments of life. I cannot fault the Fuji S9600, I just hope to go a little further and as a retired pensioner, have the time to spend as a full time hobby and try improve on the quality of the pics I shoot while enjoying the hobby.
regards

EddieD

[jhnhns]

Hi Eddie,

Its funny you should ask about the sands you fly over going to Dublin, because yesterday I took some snaps of them just five minutes walk from our house. I include them here as an attachment.

These photos are taken with the Fuji FinePix S602Zoom, which I have had for a while before I bought my new S9600. I have not used my new camera much yet, but do not find it as easy to focus as the S602Zoom. I was very interested in the comments that you made about the S9600 and seem to bear out my experience so far.

John

[daltoned]

Hi John, Great Pics of the Sands. as I said it an amazing sight when your flying over them.I do hope I've not put you off the S9600. I don't know the S602zoom but can you do an experiment taking same shot with same settings on both cameras and see how they compare for quality, sharpness etc. From what I read some of the smaller Fuji's are very good kit.
EddieD

[Snappers]

Hi Guys,
Just to add to this debate from a Dslr user. I fully appreciate what Gary is saying with regards his hobby. I used to have a kyocea digital camera with a 10x zoom lens. It was a great camera and the pictures were good too but it did not do everything I wanted it to.

I came across the opportunity to buy a nikon D70s and took the plunge. As you so rightly say though Gary, you can then end up with a lens for this and a lens for that etc, and the extra luggage that all this entails.

I am happy I went for the Nikon and at the moment, I only have two lenses for it but I'm sure in the future, I will be acquiring more. This is the main reason I went for the DSLR, A Point and shoot camera, whilst having great capabilities, will possibly at some point not be suitable for your requirments and you may end up selling your camera to upgrade to a different one, however, with a dslr, you can just buy a lens to suit your need. Having said that, the cost involved in either case is always a consideration.

At the end of the day, it is what you are most comfortable with, some like Dslr's and some like p&s. If it works for you, stick with it.

[gjtoth]

Hi Guys,

I am happy I went for the Nikon and at the moment, I only have two lenses for it but I'm sure in the future, I will be acquiring more. This is the main reason I went for the DSLR, A Point and shoot camera, whilst having great capabilities, will possibly at some point not be suitable for your requirments and you may end up selling your camera to upgrade to a different one, however, with a dslr, you can just buy a lens to suit your need. Having said that, the cost involved in either case is always a consideration.

At the end of the day, it is what you are most comfortable with, some like Dslr's and some like p&s. If it works for you, stick with it.

And, some of those lenses are as much or more than a good P&S. But, Andy's right. Stick within your requirements AND your budget. If you get something, whether DSLR or P&S, that is going to put you in the poor house or is so feature-laden that you afraid to use it or won't, you'll wind up with buyer's remorse and sell it (normally at a loss) to downgrade to where you ARE comfortable usage-wise and budget-wise. There are a few of us here that are retired or close to it. We're maxed out with our earning potential or on a fixed income. Budget MUST definitely be a goodly part of the equation.

[Snappers]

Very good point Gary. Budget must always be a consideration, not only can you afford the camera, but also if it is a dslr, can you afford the future lenses etc.

[daltoned]

I agree with Comments re Budget considerations. Although Born and living in Ireland and could never see myself living elsewhere, I do all my buying in the UK, either from Ebay shops for small consumables or as recently purchased my Pentax in London as the prices here in Ireland are very much higher, even taking account of the exchange rate. Just another angle when looking at costs.
EddieD

[ladyups]

Hi Folks just like to sign in as a new member and have started on the photo course. I am a retired Public Service worker justing getting into Digital Photography. I have completed lessons 1 & 2 but due to a stupid error, I've had to send my new Pentax K10d back to Pentax Service dept fro to get an incorrect lens removed from it, so will have to wait to move on to next lessons. I am looking forward to next lessons and have already found lesson 1 & 2 to be very informative with excellent jargon free detail. I also look forward to exchanging ideas and questions on the forum.
EddieD

Welcome to the group, Eddie. I'm really new myself but already feel like I've found a home. This is a wonderful group of people with a fondness for photography. More like a passion, bordering on an addiction. :D Me, I'm totally hooked. I've had a love for photography all my life but just recently advanced into the world of DSLR. My only reason for advancing was due to having to 'wait' to take my next picture. It didn't bother me at first when I was taking flower pictures, but when my grandchildren started arriving, it drove me nuts that I would have this lag between shots and miss some of their cutest moments. I knew nothing about aperature, shutter speed, ISO, etc...I just knew I wanted to snap pictures as quickly as I wanted. Thus, my investment has grown to DSLR and now my knowledge base has started to grow too. Not there yet, but more than a year ago. :)

I too did a stupid thing and had to spend a week without my camera while it was being repaired. My Sony can be powered on forever without draining the battery (unlike my Oly that went through batteries way too fast) and I was in a hurry, not paying any attention and removed my media card without powering the camera off. I found out a couple days later that was a no no cause my camera would not let me put the card back in. :(

Welcome to the group..you'll find out that I talk a lot with my fingers! :eek:

Mary

[daltoned]

Thanks Mary for welcome. Yes its a great group and always eager to help. I've just got my camera back , what with the Christmas Holidays and the fact it had to go over to the UK. Can now look forward to getting on and learning. Although I did a little as a teenager, it was not till I retired in 2004 and got a Digital camera amongst my gifts,that I found a new interest in the hobby. I really only started to take a real interest last Feb when my Son bought me a Fuji s9600. So here I am, a year later starting down the DSLR route. I hope with the help of the course and the forum members to get to grips with this all consuming Hobby ( passion) and enjoy the experience. It will always be just that at my age.

[LensBaby]

Just as Gary said, some p&s's are really good cameras. It all depends on what you can afford,how much or what you intend to do with photography, as well as many other factors. I actually got a p&s for my birthday several years ago, and it took beautiful photos but I hated it, because with that p&s i had to wait to take another photo. The biggest thing for me was I used to use a Minolta Film camera with interchangable lenses. I was used to being able to change my lenses, and then going to digital with a point and shoot kinda drove me crazy. My Olympus p&s drained the batteries like crazy (it might have been defective I dont really know) I think it all depends on what you can afford...what you want it for, and what you are used to already. I know with my new camera I love having two card slots, and the battery power is amazing.

[dkippen]

Sue -

My first point and shot was an Olympus. Took nice pictures, but the battery life was terrible. Then next one was a Sony, which took better pictures. And now, my neighbor (who really is a good guy) has sucked me into the world of DSLR and I can't imagine going back. Now my grandson uses the Sony under supervision - he's only 5.

Daltoned - yes it is a all-consuming passion. Since taking a community ed course last fall and now this course, I look at everything different.

Mary - I know what you mean about missing grandchildren shots. Before I got this new camera, I missed about 5-years worth. Now I need to learn how to take those fast action shots.