November 2011

 

Now in my sixties and retired,I don't go out that much and tend to spend a lot of time in my garden.

I started to watch the wildlife,more and more,over the last year, and the more I watched them, the more I was fascinated by them.

I thought If I get a nice camera, then I could capture some of their antics,and give myself a hobby at the same time.

I've had a random mixture of point and shoots in the past, but wanted something a little better,this time something I could learn with and not just press a button and hope for the best.

When I saw the Fuji Finepix HS20, the idea of the manual 30x zoom , the 11/fps and 16mp tempted me,and ticked all the boxes. So ignoring all the negative reviews on the forums I bought one in July.

I've had my HS20 for about 4 months now and I have to say 'at first' I was not over impressed with it,but after trying all the various settings, and ready to accept it as just average ,I discovered the manual mode,and it was 'wow!!' one of those 'eureka moments'. now I could get the camera to see what I see, and not just some exposure compromise, like the camera sees when left in auto mode.

Ever since then I love this camera.luckily I've had none of the problems with overheating that some have had and the focusing is just fine to me (wish it was quicker sometimes,but what can you do).

I think the 30x barrel zoom is just so powerful and versatile, and I've had some very sharp images even at full zoom.

If you're considering getting this camera,just remember it's 'not a point and shoot',it's a bridge camera,'a camera to learn on'.Take your time to get to know all the settings so that you will be the one in control of it,not the camera deciding what it thinks is best.Then you will be excited and amazed at what it's capable of like I still am..

Well anyway thanks for taking the time to read this, and for your interest in my pictures.I really do appreciate it.

  

FEBRUARY 2012

 

I have been (and I still am) a big fan of the Fuji-film HS20.

For over six months I found it to be a great camera and done all I needed,(that was once I discovered the manual mode).

But people move on, and I think I'd gone just about as far as I could with it,and I wanted something with just a bit better image quality without giving up the versatility of the super-zoom and the full manual control.

Enter the X-S1..

It's more or less still the HS20,"but much more"

all the shortcomings (or quirks as I call them) of the HS20 seem to have been sorted,

 

So far it's all good, and no negatives ...

 

November 2012

 

Never thought I would.. but I finally took the plunge and bought a DSLR..

I love my X-S1.. but I had to try a DSLR.. at least once ..

The Nikon D600 a full frame.. 24mp camera .. was just too tempting ..

 

During the first few days with my Nikon.. I thought to myself.. "these pics are not much better than the X-S1 can do".. so I did a 'like for like' comparison shoot... there was no comparison !

Even though I loved my X-S1 and I do miss the 26x zoom.. now I really wouldn't go back to it..

 

There is so much more the Nikon can do (well it should for the price )...

The split second focusing.. the high ISO's performance (2000 without a problem) the depth of field on close up shots (without zoom).. the abillity to change settings immediately.. My biggest gripe about the X-S1 is.. once you take a shot or burst of shots .. (although you can keep on taking shots) ..you have to wait untill it has written to the card before you can change any setting.. and that is a 5 seconds plus wait! (even in jpeg mode) by then the bird has probably flown..

 

The X-S1 takes lovely shots ' in a good light' but over 250 ISO the quality starts to go.. and anything like a overhead gull shot or the like you'd be very lucky to focus on it .. where'as the Nikon takes them with ease.. (I think I've been spoilt now)

 

I used to think the DSLR lens changing ordeal would be a problem with me.. but I only have 2 lenses which suit me perfectly ..

Nikon AF-S /28-300mm for outdoors.. and Nikon 1.4 /50mm for indoors ..

I feel I've only just begun to scratch the surface with the Nikon and there is so much pertentual in it..

 

The only down side I can see of the Nikon is the extra weight compared to the X-S1 (not really that much more) and the worry of losing or damaging it (expensive)..

 

It's a lovely idea to have a bridge camera with all you need in one package.. but I think now I've tasted DSLR... there's no going back.

 

June 2013 (Never say Never)

 

Well you never know whats around the corner do you.?

I logged into my account the other day,and looking through my stuff I thought to myself "you know what, I used to take a lot of pictures,why don't I now ?"and after a bit of thought I realised why..

 

"It was the camera".. It is a beautiful camera can't fault its performance better performance then any of the bridges .. but somehow something was missing.. just not so easy to pick it up and use like they were.. not a conscious thing, but I think I worried about damaging it or the lenses and also the zoom lenses on the bridges used to be so much fun..'that was it'.. the fun had gone out of it ..it was all about getting perfect shots.. It was top of the range camera so no excuse ..

 

With that I asked myself.. do I really need an expensive camera ?? and my answer was 'no I don't'..

so I've now returned to my roots 'Fujifilm' and got a HS50 ..

 

Watch this space........

  

11 March 2013..

Well who'd have thought that.Today my photostream past 500,000 (half a million) views...

An old woman taking pictures in her garden .. well pleased .. A big thank you to everyone who contributed and commented ..

 

JUNE 2015...

 

I've been through some personal big changes over the past year .. one of them being I've moved house and I no longer have my bird paradise I created in my garden..

I also haven't picked up my cameras for a year..

 

But I'm starting to settle in my new place now and started to attract some birds to the garden.. Starlings ,magpies,blackbirds and yesterday I saw a young Eurasian Jay taking nuts from the peanut feeder... so it's looking promising.. I've now picked up my HS50 again.. Hopefully I can pick up from where I left off...