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Low Light - Not a Problem, even without a DSLR


TTQ B4U

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So while on a family vacation to the Great Smokey Mountains in TN, I thought I would use my New Bridge Camera, a Canon Powershot SX40HS as much as I could in place of my DSLR's. During the day when we ventured into the Forbidden Caverns, a trip that takes us down 600ft + below ground, many people had their DSLR's and stabilized lenses, yet I didn't miss leaving mine in the car as I'm more than pleased with the results.

 

All hand-held shots. It does a great job! Check out the shutters speeds. 1/2 second at times. Yeah, I'm pleased.

 

Reflecting Pool

 

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/145198107/original.jpg

 

 

 

 

Underground River

 

Yes, we sampled the water which filters through hundreds of feet of limestone and originates from an underground lake and tests 99% pure. Cold, crisp and refreshing.

 

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/145198105/original.jpg

Looking Straight Up

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/145198104/original.jpg

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How do you keep steady enough for that clarity with handheld and that long of shutter time?

Wow.

 

Stabilization on the newer cameras and lenses offers up to 4 stops of hand-holding ability. Works amazingly well. You should see the results at 35x zoom which is 840mm. I'm really liking this camera.

 

 

24mm

 

http://www.pointandshootphotography.net/storage/IMG_0069.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1344007777315

 

 

 

840mm Full 35x Zoom

 

http://www.pointandshootphotography.net/storage/IMG_0070.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1344128087628

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Any post processing on those cave shots beyond adding the watermark? Or are those as is, straight from the camera?

 

No post processing outside a crop and watermark. The colors and noise are all very well done in-camera. Again, I normally shoot RAW and process from there, but the RAW Hack that's applied to this camera won't allow for Scene Modes (pre-programed in camera) shots to be done in RAW so these are jpegs right from the camera.

 

If you're intrested in higher resolution as these are again, just 1024pixels wide, I can provide them. Otherwise, I do find this size on screen indicative as to what you will get from a 5x7 print.

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My question was more about how much was the camera and how much was the photographer. I've seen the quality of your work cleaning up images. I used to have fun with my old SLR camera back in college. I've been tempted to pick up a DSLR but wasn't sure if I really wanted that much of a camera, or if a point a shoot would be a better choice. Based on the shots you've shown here and the description of the camera that might be just the thing I'm looking for.
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My question was more about how much was the camera and how much was the photographer. I've seen the quality of your work cleaning up images. I used to have fun with my old SLR camera back in college. I've been tempted to pick up a DSLR but wasn't sure if I really wanted that much of a camera, or if a point a shoot would be a better choice. Based on the shots you've shown here and the description of the camera that might be just the thing I'm looking for.

 

Gotcha. No, in this case and with most all of the shots from our recent vacation, they are straight from camera. The only shots I really ever "process" are due to the fact they are shot in RAW mode whereby you have to process them because the camera doesn't. However, with the SX40, I've been shooting more of a mix of jpegs and RAW and the jpegs don't / haven't required much fuss at all.

 

Here are a couple others straight from camera other than cropping.

 

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/145205808/original.jpg

 

 

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/145198131/original.jpg

 

 

 

If you're looking for creative DOF shots like one would be able to achieve with a DSLR, then you'll have to push the zoom factor on many of the Bridge or P&S and mirrorless cameras, but overall this one and the Panny FZ200 are solid units you might want to look at. Panny has a nicer lens and some other features that make it more attractive, but for me I wanted the reach of 840mm, I like Canon colors and processing and it's consistent with my workflow and honestly, I can work around the other areas when and if needed. Otherwise, Panny is stellar and yes, I'm biased because I worked for them :)

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