birding-aus

Re: Cameras

To: Peter Shute <>
Subject: Re: Cameras
From: <>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 18:05:47 +1000
Hi,

No, I don't have a problem getting the batteries in and out but closing the lid 
on them sometimes requires a bit of quiet meditation and gentle positioning. 
Not easy but rechargables last a long time so I can live with it.

I use my S3 on birds, either on a firm surface like a car window or braced 
against the door frame. I also have an old (197?) aluminium camera "rifle 
mount". I don't know if they are stll available but the camera screws onto a 
telescopic shaft and there is a rubber shoulder "butt" to help hold everything 
steady. It works really well, especially for birds in flight.

I use the viewfinder all the time. On single shot the image capture and 
blackness it brings takes for ever but if you but the camera on "burst" a quick 
push of the shutter release takes one image and the capture time and the 
resulting blackout is no longer than in an older SLR as it moves the mirror 
(microseconds).

As long as I don't go to the digital zoom my bird shots are as sharp as I will 
ever want and certainly, on the M1 setting are good enough for all my needs.

Cheers

Jen


---- Peter Shute <> wrote: 
>  wrote on Saturday, 19 May 2007 1:34
> PM:
> 
> > I found this website to be very usefull.
> > 
> > http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html
> 
> www.dpreview.com is also excellent, especially for side by side
> comparisons of models.  Once you have a shortlist of cameras it can be
> useful to enter the forum for that camera and read user comments.  Often
> they're a little biased or misinformed, especially when people expect
> too much from their camera, but if you keep hearing the same negative
> comments you can be fairly sure there's a problem with that camera.
> 
> > I ended up with a Cannon S3 IS which has been excellent. It
> > even got me a "sort of" picture of a Spoon-billed Sandpiper
> > across a salt pan outside Bangkok. And when it's a bird like
> > a S-b S it's nice to have a click to go with the tick - it
> > brings back good memories.
> 
> I have one of these too.  Haven't used it on birds with a tripod yet, so
> I can't really comment on picture quality.  However, hand held shots at
> full zoom (432mm) usually give me shots good enough for checking the id
> later.  Presumably this is due to the optical image stabilisation.
> 
> Two comments about the S3 IS:
> - It has an LCD display, and an electronic viewfinder, i.e. you look
> through a little hole at a tiny LCD instead of a proper optical
> viewfinder.  The latter has the advantage that you get some of the
> benefits of an optical viewfinder (better performance that the full size
> LCD in strong sunlight), while still being able to see the stuff
> normally only seen on the big LCD (exposure info, menus, etc).  But the
> electronic viewfinder isn't as easy to use in sunlight as an optical
> viewfinder.  This might be partly due to the fact that I wear glasses,
> and the extra distance that puts between my eye and the viewfinder might
> let more stray light in.
> - The battery compartment seems just a fraction tight. When I change the
> batteries (AA) they don't all just slide out.  I often have to claw at
> one or two to get them out.  I changed brands of batteries when I got
> this camera, so they could be slightly fatter than normal, but they do
> fit in my old Canon A40 ok.  Have you found this with yours, Jen?
> 
> Peter Shute 

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