The Official Fuji X10/X20/X30/XF1/XQ1 Thread

[Piscator Pete]

Hi Pete - I second Chris's statement. Also it's very relevant to all of us as I was certain the orb issue had been put to bed with the sensor swap.

I certainly see the orbs in the shot you've posted after the sensor swap. I haven't got round to processing my Japan trip shots as of yet - but if it's still an issue my shots could potentially be full of them as I was taking a hell of a lot of night-time shots.

BTW - shame about the focus issue that has messed up the shot - I see you like working diagonal composition into a number of your shots. Astetically very pleasing

Wow, Japah, eh?! I'm sure we all look forward to seeing your pick of those. I'm pretty certain you needn't worry about orbs: everywhere I look on the internet has it that the replacement sensor has done the trick. I think something odd has gone on with my camera at Fuji - but I'm assured by "Dale" there, that he can't find 'em on my instrument now it's been fixed a second time. We'll see.

The focus, disturbed at the time of the first 'fix', is fine now. Each of the shots was taken with the exclusive intention of providing evidence for Fuji, and I smiled at the idea any of them incorporated 'composition'. I suppose the thing is, after years of looking through a viewfinder, it's impossible not to make the best of what you see, however unpromising. Anyway, Chew Valley Lake is just round the corner from here, and so everything is repeatable.

Talking of focus, Souldeep what do you make of these shots? The first is absolutely the first shot I took on receiving the X10 back from Fuji on Tuesday. It was taken to check the focus which was my main concern. The second I took immediately after (all OK), but haven't been able to repeat the anomalies of the first. It's obviously down to the flash I had to use, but what's gone on? Forget orbs, I started looking for spooks!


DSCF9449 by peter_garbutt, on Flickr


DSCF9450 by peter_garbutt, on Flickr

Isn't there a goulish raised hand on the LHS, ready to strike me, and isn't the bigger blob on the right, part of a woman's head showing the line twixt head and hair? Or am I not taking enough water with it?

Pete

 

[souldeep]

Talking of focus, Souldeep what do you make of these shots? The first is absolutely the first shot I took on receiving the X10 back from Fuji on Tuesday. It was taken to check the focus which was my main concern. The second I took immediately after (all OK), but haven't been able to repeat the anomalies of the first. It's obviously down to the flash I had to use, but what's gone on? Forget orbs, I started looking for spooks!


DSCF9449 by peter_garbutt, on Flickr

Isn't there a goulish raised hand on the LHS, ready to strike me, and isn't the bigger blob on the right, part of a woman's head showing the line twixt head and hair? Or am I not taking enough water with it?

Pete

First shot looks like classic camera shake - maybe the reflection of the flash painting in the picture. But looks more like a person walking in front as an abstract but you'd know that... very fitting though... exactly what I was up to in tonight's session. I haven't been posting from each weeks session but as the subjects are so linked here's a few on the same tip. Some are very abstract as I was playing around a bit more than the lecturer asked for - I've never been any good with rules :bonk:

 

[Piscator Pete]

First shot looks like classic camera shake - maybe the reflection of the flash painting in the picture. But looks more like a person walking in front as an abstract but you'd know that... very fitting though... exactly what I was up to in tonight's session. I haven't been posting from each weeks session but as the subjects are so linked here's a few on the same tip. Some are very abstract as I was playing around a bit more than the lecturer asked for - I've never been any good with rules :bonk:


Thank God for that! This tiny cottage dates from about the civil war we think, and creaks - I've been checking under the bed every night since!

If you let us all know how you create these effects, maybe I could work out what went on in my shot. I can see the camera shake (by mistake, the flash was on Slow Synchro), but it appears solely in the vertical plane as far as I can see, whilst the effect is all over the place. Also there are no highly reflective surfaces (other than some shiny book jacket covers) anywhere close. You sure I can sleep easy?!

Pete

 

[souldeep]

All I was doing was playing with shutter priority mode last night. Max ISO was 400 but most shot ISO 100. Shutter speed ranging from 1/2s to 2s.

It does appear you've had a few strange occurrences with your X10... it may not be your house, but rather your X10 that is haunted! I'd pop it in the cupboard, door firmly shut, each each night so you can sleep easy. Make sure you lock the cupboard though - to awake to a flashing X10 floating above your bed is enough to send anyone to an early grave ;-) Talking of apparitions...

Yep its blurry - was hand-held photography last night but did think this shot made the lecturer look like he was facing off against a spectral apparition!

 

[Piscator Pete]

Golly, you have posted some weird and oddly attractive effects. That last shot really does look like a man confronted with 'ectoplasm' - he seems to be happy enough about it though!

A haunted X10 - hadn't thought of that! I'll take your advice, but will I ever take a photo without camera shake again? Do you reckon Fuji could offer exorcism along with sensor change?

Pete

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

First shot looks like classic camera shake - maybe the reflection of the flash painting in the picture. But looks more like a person walking in front as an abstract but you'd know that... very fitting though... exactly what I was up to in tonight's session. I haven't been posting from each weeks session but as the subjects are so linked here's a few on the same tip. Some are very abstract as I was playing around a bit more than the lecturer asked for - I've never been any good with rules :bonk:

Pete's first shot has a 3.1s exposure (can view metadata on Flickr)
My guess is the flash went off and Pete waved the camera around not expecting the exposure to still be taking place.

Souldeep - that looks like a fun session!
Last year I ran a light painting workshop for my local camera club.
http://www.wild-landscapes.co.uk/Bl...ssion/16337521_ck7HDf#!i=1228133953&k=nxCWzvK
That was organised in a hurry. Got another one coming up after Christmas with a different club and I plan to be quite a bit more ambitious

 

[Piscator Pete]

Of course, Duncan, that's it - didn't bother to look at the data! Ties in with the fact I was using the Slow Synchro by accident, and had a standard lamp immediately behind me. I'll ring Fuji to cancel the priest!

Many thanks

Pete

 

[nog]

Your anniversary is coming up in a few weeks Duncan, first post on this thread 13.11.11.

Have had an X10 and quite liked it but sold it to go back to a DSLR, think I made a mistake in getting the hood etc and the X10 with bits attached is not that much smaller than a small DSLR then. Need to get another compact now as the family canon compact did not like the wine. RX100 has some good reviews, with the price dropping on the current X10 wonder if X10gti is around the corner.


edit GTI - showing my age

 

[Eightball]

Jason - cracking set. Composition is tight as well. You have quite a street shot skill that comes through those pictures. Very good eye

thanks very much!

 

[rookies]

What this about Orbs can anyone show me a shot with it on pin point it out is it still a problem with the new sensors?

Asking on behalf of a friend who thinking getting one

 

[robenroute]

What this about Orbs can anyone show me a shot with it on pin point it out is it still a problem with the new sensors?

Asking on behalf of a friend who thinking getting one

To be honest, I'm a wee surprised Pete's X10 still shows orbs after the sensor upgrade. I'm very sure I've seen pictures (and read reports) of orb-prone situations that revealed the sensor upgrade made sense (as in absence of orbs). But Pete's picture is throwing a spanner in the works; I was about to bite the bullet and send mine in for an upgrade, but now it feels I'm back at square one :bang:

 

[rookies]

To be honest, I'm a wee surprised Pete's X10 still shows orbs after the sensor upgrade. I'm very sure I've seen pictures (and read reports) of orb-prone situations that revealed the sensor upgrade made sense (as in absence of orbs). But Pete's picture is throwing a spanner in the works; I was about to bite the bullet and send mine in for an upgrade, but now it feels I'm back at square one :bang:

Where about are they on Peter images please.

 

[robenroute]

Where about are they on Peter images please.

Clearly visible on the second water shot (this one: "DSCF9373 by peter_garbutt, on Flickr").

Or am I seeing something that's just not there?

 

[rookies]

Clearly visible on the second water shot (this one: "DSCF9373 by peter_garbutt, on Flickr").

Or am I seeing something that's just not there?

I can't see anything at all

 

[robenroute]

I can't see anything at all

Click the image and select the largest size on the Flickr site. There are well-defined specular highlights visible (reflections from the water). I'm just not sure this is normal or not; it is a rather testing situation...

 

[Piscator Pete]

Thanks for pointing that out, Rob.

I too am beginning to wonder if the 'orbs' are 'real' or not! I don't photograph at night myself, and so haven't experienced the 'classical' examples of the supposed phenomenon. I'm often by gently rippling water though, and in strong sunlight and backlit, the X10 does make those wavelets look odd - not like you'd expect from film. Being an angler, ripples like these often appear in my photos.

The chronology if it helps:

Got the camera in my hot little hands at the very beginning of September, and shortly after noticed the peculiar water reflections reproduced by the X10. I contacted Fuji, sent them a picture, they sent a box, and they received the thing on the 27 Sep..

Got the camera back on the 4th Oct - the worksheet declared the sensor replaced - on Sat. 6th Oct was invited to a classic car event at Castle Combe, and took quite a few shots including this one. Spot the orbs if there are any, but more distressing (to me) look at the extra fault added by the 'upgrade' - RHS out of focus!


DSCF9120 by peter_garbutt, on Flickr

I'd sent the camera to remedy a minor irritation, and it came back with a major problem, and maybe no fix for the minor one. What do you reckon about the sun's reflections in the cars?

Anyway, the next day, Sunday 7th Oct, was sunny too and I took the second two shots by the lake (an earlier post) with the deliberate intention of showing both the 'supposed' orbs, and the focus problem.

After contact with Fuji, again off went the camera on Tue 18th Oct complete with the photos posted on this site, and a few more besides. The X10 was delivered back last Tuesday, 23rd Oct. The worksheet indicates that just the lens was changed.

There is no doubt that the Fuji-induced focus problem is now fixed, and I had presumed the orbs too (if you agree they were there in the first place), but a shot taken in Wells Cathedral cloister illuminated with uplighters suggests there just might still be a problem with my camera - yet to be really tested.

From what I've seen and read elsewhere on the internet, the latest cameras with the new sensor are very satisfactory from the orb point of view. I've seen no criticism of sensors replaced under warranty either - mine seems to have been a one-off aberration by the engineers, although Chris has a related, but minor, problem.

Fuji have been pleasant and very helpful, and I have every confidence that in the event of my sensor failing its 'orb test', they'll fix it.

I do hope this helps Andrew.

Pete

 

[allanm]

I am sure Fuji will sort your camera out, eventually. I had a few problems with them after my sensor change.
1st time, sensor changed and the camera was returned in perfect condition
Then, Fuji announced a software enhancement that meant returning the camera.
When the camera came back, the artificial horizon was wonky so it went back
They sent me a replacement camera, for some reason, that had seen plenty of action, so I complained to Fuji listing its many areas of damage and they sent me a brand new boxed X10 with all the latest updates
This camera is superb. No sign of an orb and much more noise free than my original
Top marks for Fuji, eventually!

Allan

 

[terryuk]

Pete did you get the latest software update done by Fuji as well as the sensor change

 

[allanm]

Pete, the highlights on the cars look similar to orbs, but the edges are not so strongly delineated, they seem a little softer. You are going to get "disc blooming" to some extent on any digital camera and of course it depends on your settings.
I would be interested to know how the latest camera performs.
I took some before and after shots with my X10 of sunlight induced highlights on my car and the after shots were a huge improvement.
Hopefully yours will be too.
Allan

 

[robenroute]

Morning, Pete. The photo of the cars as well as the water shot show well-define specular highlights. However, the cloister shot is, to my eye, at least, orb free. Yes, there are over-exposed areas (the lights in the floor), but they are not characterized by the typical crisp, clear, hard-edged circular white spots.

I would certainly contact Fuji again and point the problems out. And like Allan said, this might be a one-off aberration. In fact, your report is the very first one that I've come across with the this issue.

The X10 has brought back the pleasure I enjoyed long ago, using my trusty old Nikons (F2, F3, F801). Fuji have shown they can make a camera with the photographer in mind; making it a very pleasurable tool, for me that is. I'll send my X10 in, but just not this week yet... (the weather's too beautiful).

 

[Piscator Pete]

I am sure Fuji will sort your camera out, eventually. I had a few problems with them after my sensor change.
1st time, sensor changed and the camera was returned in perfect condition
Then, Fuji announced a software enhancement that meant returning the camera.
When the camera came back, the artificial horizon was wonky so it went back
They sent me a replacement camera, for some reason, that had seen plenty of action, so I complained to Fuji listing its many areas of damage and they sent me a brand new boxed X10 with all the latest updates
This camera is superb. No sign of an orb and much more noise free than my original
Top marks for Fuji, eventually!

Allan

Thanks Allan - it was reading about your X10 problems and the way Fuji dealt with you, that gave me confidence to approach them in the first place, long before I joined this forum. Actually, it was only to thank you all I signed up to this thread in the first place - the intention was that my first post would be my last. You see, many of you have an admiring 'public' out there, unseen, but hanging on every word!

I think it highly likely that my X10's all right now, and as Souldeep suggests, the suspicious 'bleed' in the cloister shot is caused by the multi-imaging of the Pro Low-Light function. Here, the sun is shining brightly - first seen of it in a week. I'll walk round to CV Lake, and test the thing out again in a mo.. With my luck though, just as when I want it for the trout, there'll be no ripple!!

Pete

 

[Piscator Pete]

Pete did you get the latest software update done by Fuji as well as the sensor change

'Morning Terry - before sending the camera back the first time, I installed the then 'new' firmware 1.03 in an effort to alleviate the orb problem (if I was indeed getting it!). On sending the camera back for a second time, Fuji have upgraded the firmware to 2.0, I think it is. I didn't really want this, but forgot to say so - all those 'bells and whistles' I could do without.

I must say, over the last weeks, your posts have intrigued me, not only for their content, but also because it seems you're about my approximate vintage (hope you're not offended), 'brought up' on the same sort of equipment. However, unlike me who reverted to being just a 'snapper', it seems you've stayed enthusiastic all your life, and have made a seamless transition into the digital age.

Pete

 

[Piscator Pete]

Morning, Pete. The photo of the cars as well as the water shot show well-define specular highlights. However, the cloister shot is, to my eye, at least, orb free. Yes, there are over-exposed areas (the lights in the floor), but they are not characterized by the typical crisp, clear, hard-edged circular white spots.

I would certainly contact Fuji again and point the problems out. And like Allan said, this might be a one-off aberration. In fact, your report is the very first one that I've come across with the this issue.

The X10 has brought back the pleasure I enjoyed long ago, using my trusty old Nikons (F2, F3, F801). Fuji have shown they can make a camera with the photographer in mind; making it a very pleasurable tool, for me that is. I'll send my X10 in, but just not this week yet... (the weather's too beautiful).

It's great, isn't it? Before, and for only 5 years, I've had a simple 'point and shoot' Lumix which nevertheless was very effective within its limitations. Now I have a 'real' camera again for the first time since my Agfa Super Silette, given to me new in 1956, expired in the eighties. I still have it too, but the expense of getting the Prontor SVS shutter fixed would be prohibitive, and little point to it now anyway.

By the way, my X10 focus is now spot-on again.

Pete

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Thanks for pointing that out, Rob.

I too am beginning to wonder if the 'orbs' are 'real' or not! e this helps Andrew.

Pete

The water shots most certainly show many Orbs.
The car shot shows many characteristics of orbs but they are broken by ray flares rather than a hard edge.
The cloister lights show the square shape of the fitting away from you and round spill on the fronts, But is has quite an unexpectedly hard edge in front, much like an orb.

This is different to any thing I have seen from my new sensor, which is normal in the way it treats spectral highlights.

Your sensor seems to show characteristics of both the old and new sensor, in a way that is very confusing.

 

[Piscator Pete]

The water shots most certainly show many Orbs.
The car shot shows many characteristics of orbs but they are broken by ray flares rather than a hard edge.
The cloister lights show the square shape of the fitting away from you and round spill on the fronts, But is has quite an unexpectedly hard edge in front, much like an orb.

This is different to any thing I have seen from my new sensor, which is normal in the way it treats spectral highlights.

Your sensor seems to show characteristics of both the old and new sensor, in a way that is very confusing.

What do you make of this one, Terry? (No focus problem apparent like the first - I haven't checked the data - probably stopped down, and using a slightly longer focal length which reduced the problem considerably.)

I shouldn't lead you really, but have a look around the wheel arch of the Morgan +4 Supersport, (FOJ on the left), and odd cars in the backgound:


DSCF9123 by wylyeangler, on Flickr

At this magnification, the effects, such as they are, are by no means intrusive - but on cropping and enlarging, things can start to look odd.

Anyway, Fuji may or maynot have changed the sensor since this - they only own up to changing the lens last time (which is strange since they said the focus problem was caused by the new sensor being out of alignment).

I'll report back if I discover anything today in this wonderful sun.

Pete

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Hi Pete
The large spectral highlight on on the rear wing of 208FOJ is as I would expect it to be.
The one on the rear wing on the blue car above "Almost" looks like an Orb...
But I think the extreme brightness of the low sun at this time of the year is likely to give that appearance on any digital camera. and is very easy to sort in PS if it catches the eye.

I think it would be more interesting to see what happens on windy water in bright sunlight.. (very small spectral highlights are likely to be resolved as circles anyway.)

There is fall off in focus on the left side of the photo. In the centre and right of the picture focus extends from front to back. On the left it is not sharp anywhere.

Terry

 

[Piscator Pete]

Hi Pete
The large spectral highlight on on the rear wing of 208FOJ is as I would expect it to be.
The one on the rear wing on the blue car above "Almost" looks like an Orb...
But I think the extreme brightness of the low sun at this time of the year is likely to give that appearance on any digital camera. and is very easy to sort in PS if it catches the eye.

I think it would be more interesting to see what happens on windy water in bright sunlight.. (very small spectral highlights are likely to be resolved as circles anyway.)

There is fall off in focus on the left side of the photo. In the centre and right of the picture focus extends from front to back. On the left it is not sharp anywhere.

Terry

Agreed about that big reflection, but what about the curious little ones above it on, and adjacent, to the wing? Fuji identified one on a Mini, far away in the backgound, but I had trouble finding the car, let alone seeing the 'orb'!

Going out right now to find wind, sun, and water!

Thanks Terry.

Pete

PS The focus not good on this as you point out, but much better than the first - thank goodness that aberration, focus or otherwise has been fixed.

Hello Terry,

My golly it's bit fresh out there today, isn't it? I've nipped back to the cottage for a bit of a warm-up before 'orb-hunting' again.

I thought I'd post this to be going on with:


Copy of DSCF9566 by wylyeangler, on Flickr

I think that this is about OK uncropped for small prints, but what about if I wanted to really emphasize that one-legged gull we see occasionally around here (only realised he was about when I saw him just now on the monitor)?. Cropped, the water around the ducks looks distinctly odd to my eye, although I must say I'm losing my ability to discriminate!


Copy of DSCF9566 cropped by wylyeangler, on Flickr

What do you think Terry (or anyone else)?

Pete

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Pete

You know... I am coming to believe that we see some orbs because the X10 has such extraordinarily good flare resistance. In most cameras what we see as an orb would be flaired out of existance .
Very few of the "orb likes" have hard darker edges. But any hard edge aquires an outline with further sharpening.

If that is the worst you are likely to see in these extremely harh lighting conditions I would be very please with it.

 

[Piscator Pete]

Hello Terry,

Just now, I popped down to the ford at the bottom of the road to capture more orbs. I can't believe the performance of the lens under these circumstances. The shot below is taken with the sun at so low an angle, that the whopping highlight midstream is the sun itself. There is very little flare caused by internal reflection, and, as you say, the sensor isn't swamped. Who needs a lens hood for the X10? I just have a UV filter permanently screwed in.

I can't see any obvious orbs here myself, but I think there is too much 'shatter' on the water's surface to produce other than tiny 'spheres' that the eye interprets as 'sparkle'. I think it might be surfaces of lower curvature, such as a more 'oily' ripple, or car bodywork that scatter the light less, that result in the phenomenon.


Copy of DSCF9597 by wylyeangler, on Flickr

At a particular magnification in this photo, I can see a sort of criss-cross texture especially in the top half (not the pixels which are smaller, and I don't think it's down to interference with the monitor screen): do you suppose this could represent the elements of the sensor being internally reflected because of the almost direct sun?

Pete

Ps There is one car shot I took today I'd like you to see later if you can bear it! I'd like to think I had an X10 as good as anyone else, then I could get on with learning how to use it!

PPS I forgot to say that all my 'orb hunting' shots are unsharpened, other than that which is done by the camera spitting out JPEGs.

 

[allanm]

I mentioned earlier that I had done a before and after comparison and posted it back in the thread. Here it is again, it may throw some light (!) on the orb issues and what to expect.

This was pre sensor change, X10

Post sensor change. Not the same image but the same kind, you can see how different the edges are.

And for comparison, heres how my X100 deals with the same first image.

The X10 with new sensor and X100 seem pretty similar.
All these are around 100% crops of the original.

Allan

 

[souldeep]

Copy of DSCF9597 by wylyeangler, on Flickr

Hey Pete... I'm just back from a day taking advantage of the lovely light mother nature shared with us today - New Forest - trying to capture some of the spirit of Autumn

Anyhow... what I was going to suggest with this piccy - if you had of exposed for the highlights you would have got a nice crisp reflection in the water (and a clear flair in the sky). It's the Duncan mantra

Regarding the other photos, they are orb'ish and I'm surprised. I took some photos with water and reflections today as well so I'll check through my shots when I get a chance.

Hope everyone had the opportunity to get out and grab some other Autumn shots rather than orb hunting in the rare moment we got some good light

 

[Piscator Pete]

Hello Allan,

Thanks for posting those photos again - I hadn't seen them. I started reading when I came across this thread when it was on P.108, and haven't had the stamina to read all the previous posts.

You've almost put my mind at rest with those photos - almost. The shot below was taken rather in desperation today, trying to a get a 'subject car' just right. I think the reflections on most of the vehicles are like those on your X100 and X10 with the new sensor. However, as Terry mentioned, my sensor seems to be a bit of a hybrid and flatters to deceive. Look at the 'blob' - I won't call it more - on the red Ford arriving on the left of shot.


Copy of DSCF9590 by wylyeangler, on Flickr

Many thanks for indulging a 'new boy' with your photos - you must be heartily sick of the subject by now.

Pete

 

[Piscator Pete]

Hey Pete... I'm just back from a day taking advantage of the lovely light mother nature shared with us today - New Forest - trying to capture some of the spirit of Autumn

Anyhow... what I was going to suggest with this piccy - if you had of exposed for the highlights you would have got a nice crisp reflection in the water (and a clear flair in the sky). It's the Duncan mantra

Regarding the other photos, they are orb'ish and I'm surprised. I took some photos with water and reflections today as well so I'll check through my shots when I get a chance.

Hope everyone had the opportunity to get out and grab some other Autumn shots rather than orb hunting in the rare moment we got some good light

I hope you managed to keep warm in that cold wind. The New Forest must be looking lovely in the autumn tints.

The shot was taken only as an attempt to gather orbs, with no artisitic intent. But you are right - from my earliest years with the old Weston Master 11 exposure meter, I nearly always exposed for the shade, and do it now out of the habit gained then. I certainly did here, in spite of Duncan's exhortations (I have read and noted them) to do the opposite - it just goes so much against the grain! I'll learn (I hope!).

I'll be very, very interested in those shots of water of yours, if the conditions were similar to mine today.

Pete

 

[allanm]

Many thanks for indulging a 'new boy' with your photos - you must be heartily sick of the subject by now.

Pete

On the contrary, we are here to help.
I see what you mean about the red car, but the highlight has light flares coming off it, so it isnt showing the normal characteristics of an orb.
Just out of interest, what setting was the camera on? There seems to be a lot of noise in the shadows as if you had a very high iso setting. High iso increases the sensor gain making it more sensitive to light. You are more likely to burn out the highlights on a sunny day
Allan

 

[souldeep]

On the contrary, we are here to help.
I see what you mean about the red car, but the highlight has light flares coming off it, so it isnt showing the normal characteristics of an orb.
Just out of interest, what setting was the camera on? There seems to be a lot of noise in the shadows as if you had a very high iso setting. High iso increases the sensor gain making it more sensitive to light. You are more likely to burn out the highlights on a sunny day
Allan

I also notice the clouds are really burnt out - almost like they have had PP applied. This doesn't happen to me in the same manner on my X10. Strange.

I would be surprised if this in Auto mode - and just wouldn't believe its in EXR (which coincidentally I have now decided to bury and wish it rip).

 

[souldeep]

I hope you managed to keep warm in that cold wind. The New Forest must be looking lovely in the autumn tints.

The shot was taken only as an attempt to gather orbs, with no artisitic intent. But you are right - from my earliest years with the old Weston Master 11 exposure meter, I nearly always exposed for the shade, and do it now out of the habit gained then. I certainly did here, in spite of Duncan's exhortations (I have read and noted them) to do the opposite - it just goes so much against the grain! I'll learn (I hope!).

I'll be very, very interested in those shots of water of yours, if the conditions were similar to mine today.

Pete

It was nippy - and I was wearing my wife beater! Not the most sensible of fellas me :bang:

The New Forest was nice - but due to lack of sun late summer has meant that leaves are dropping faster than they can turn to autumnal colours. Still a day spent in nature, with sunshine, always raises one's spirit Also had a moment with one of the wild ponies in the New Forest that spun me out a bit. I was talking to the pony whilst looking through the view finder trying to calm him and get closer for a better shot, he looked at me like you're mad chatting to a pony - and I swear - he laughed! Mr Ed moment or what. Can't wait to see it once they are copied from the camera.

Will fast track them then - working on Korea at the moment, then Japan, but will sort today's outing as a priority.

 

[Piscator Pete]

I also notice the clouds are really burnt out - almost like they have had PP applied. This doesn't happen to me in the same manner on my X10. Strange.

I would be surprised if this in Auto mode - and just wouldn't believe its in EXR (which coincidentally I have now decided to bury and wish it rip).

Sorry, Souldeep, I posted the wrong image - it HAD had PP applied - here's the 'unmucked about with' original, again taken with intention of confirming the absence of orbs, and, I think, actually exposing for the highlights a la Duncan - I do listen at times! ISO 100. Obviously would need PP if the photo were important.

It sounds as though you had a real fun time in the Forest. Used to love it there years ago when I had relations in nearby Southampton.


DSCF9590 by wylyeangler, on Flickr

Pete

 

[Piscator Pete]

On the contrary, we are here to help.
I see what you mean about the red car, but the highlight has light flares coming off it, so it isnt showing the normal characteristics of an orb.
Just out of interest, what setting was the camera on? There seems to be a lot of noise in the shadows as if you had a very high iso setting. High iso increases the sensor gain making it more sensitive to light. You are more likely to burn out the highlights on a sunny day
Allan

Thanks Allan,

Actually, I mucked a copy of the original about in PP, then posted it by mistake.

I equate low ISO with slow film and fine grain, which to me is the equivalent of low noise. (Ilford FP4 was ISO 100 I think, and before it FP3 ISO 64 if my memory serves me. At times, I used to love using PanF, ultra fine grain - ISO 32 or less, had very poor latitude - DR now I think - and tended to be contrasty, often needing correction in the darkroom at the printing stage). Using these analogies, I therefore try to use as low an ISO as I can get away with, bearing in mind the demands of exposure and whatever parameters bear on that, and set the DR to suit the contrast visible in the subject. Is that valid in general, leaving special effects aside?

Sorry to bang on about what must be the basics to you.

Pete

Pete

 

[allanm]

I therefore try to use as low an ISO as I can get away with, bearing in mind the demands of exposure and whatever parameters bear on that, and set the DR to suit the contrast visible in the subject. Is that valid in general, leaving special effects aside?

Sorry to bang on about what must be the basics to you.

Pete

Pete

I think you're spot on there Pete. I come from the days of film too, when everything was much simpler!
The X10 is an excellent camera though, and use of high iso isn't usually a problem, up to say 1600 on rare occasions.
I have mine generally set on as low an iso as I can get away with and as the light drops, I may put it on auto 800 iso
Allan

 

[Piscator Pete]

Thanks Allan,

It's all coming together, slowly! What you recommend here is in line with the advice that Chris has given me about low light conditons.

I haven't really used the automatic modes, although I keep one in C1 modified to my taste just in case - I don't see the point of getting an X10 and then using it the way I have my simple little Lumix given to me 5 years ago.

Even if I'll never spot a good photo opportunity, I like to know what I'm doing on the technical side. Do you know, I actually watched a helicopter crash through the viewfinder of my Agfa back in the fifties, and didn't push the shutter release? Ok, I was very young, but it doesn't show a lot of promise, does it?

Pete