Hoar frost

Well I thought my next post was to show the results of my new camera. However, yesterday I had a unique photo opportunity outside my classroom. I was armed with my little Pentax W60.

I think you should have a camera with you always! It does not have to be all singing and dancing or expensive. The subject is much more important.

New camera

 


I have been teaching for 10 years now. Prior to that I had worked in the photographic industry (apart from a short stint with a medical supplies company) since leaving Uni.
Having worked for a major importer of high quality photographic equipment, working in a lab and running my own retail/photo processing business, I think I am more qualified than most to add the following to my blog:

My new camera.

I've used and owned them all: Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Olympus etc. 35mm, medium format, even a Sinar studio camera with full lighting set up.
With the introduction of digital cameras, I decided about 8 years ago, to invest in a compact digital. A 3.1 mp Ricoh. The results were a big let down. To be honest it was no worse than others on the market at the time. I was just cheesed off by the 'hype' over this new technology which, in those early days, I thought would never approach the quality I could get from a conventional 35mm camera.

Things moved on, and 5 years ago I bought a digital slr; a Nikon. I was quite pleased with the results through an average inkjet printer, but couldn't get on with it. It was bulky. However, I was sold on digital. It was obvious to me that this was the way to go; things had progressed so much in so short a period of time.
I then bought a Canon 350 dslr. This was a truly outstanding camera; easy to use, light and just seemed to give me the results that the Nikon didn't.

I then decided that I wanted something smaller. So the slr went and I bought a Canon G9.
What a great camera. I bought a new printer; a Canon Pixma, and was very happy with the results.
1 problem: The camera was neither here nor there. It was too big to be a compact and had no interchangable lens facility. So I sold it.
I was now getting into my fishing, so I decided that I really needed two cameras: A dslr (digital single lens reflex) for my general pictures and a compact for fishing.
I bought a Pentax W60 compact. Brilliant! I have had this for 12 months and it does what it says on the tin. Trouble is, that's all it does and I still needed a dslr.

I had not been in a hurry to buy a dslr and to be honest, the Pentax has been a good little workhorse but last week something happened that made me think it was time to buy my new dslr,

I wasn't going to do it but my daughter, who is at University, studying biology, convinced me she needed a dslr for her 'research'. So the 'ex' and her partner and me have got her a Canon 500d with a 17-55 and 55-250 zoom lenses for Xmas. Spoiled! If you are reading this and know her please don't tell!

It was while looking for this kit, I came across the Olympus E620 dslr. Now my daughter knew what she wanted, but I now knew what I wanted!

To cut a long story short, I ordered a kit (body, 14-42 and 40-150 lenses) This is a 4/3 camera....I don't understand either but you can essentially double the focal length of the lenses to give the equivalent to 35mm. So, I have a range from 28-300mm in two high quality optics.
Camera has arrived. Brilliant! The results beggar belief. LOADS of options. Easy to use and well made. The most difficult thing was attaching the strap.
I have looked at the images and I can't fault them.

It was only delivered yesterday but I have spent some time with the manual and it is a breeze to understand and use.
Highly recommended at just over £400 for the lot. A 'grey' import I know, but guaranteed all the same.

PS: The fly's not bad...don't you think?

Snowy Owl?

More images to follow.