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The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in the direction we are moving ~ Oliver Holmes
A good thing continues
Some six months ago, I posted almost 100 images and a few thoughts I felt were missing from the many existing RX1 reviews. The outpouring of support and interest in that article was very gratifying. When I published, I had used the camera for six full months, enough time to come to a view of its strengths and weaknesses and to produce a small portfolio of good images, but not enough time to see the full picture (pun intended). In the following six months, I have used the camera at least as frequently as in the first six and have produced another small set of good images. It should be noted that my usage of the RX1 in the last six (and especially in the last 3) months has involved less travel and more time with the family and around the house; I will share relatively few of these images but will spend some time sharing my impressions of its functionality for family snapshots as I am sure there is some interest. And let it be said here: one of the primary motivations to purchase the camera was to take more photos with the family, and after one full year I can confidently say: money well spent.
The A7/r game-changer?
In the past six months, Sony have announced and released two full-frame, interchangeable lens cameras that clearly take design cues from the RX1: the A7 and the A7r. These cameras are innovative and highly capable and, as such, are in the midst of taking the photography world by storm. I think they are compelling enough cameras that I wonder whether Sony is wasting its energy continuing to develop further A-mount cameras. Sony deserve credit for a bold strategy—many companies would have been content to allow the success of the the RX1 (and RX1R) generate further sales before pushing further into the white space left unexplored by camera makers with less ambition.This is not the place to detail the relative advantages and disadvantages of the RX1 versus the A7/r except to make the following point. I currently use a Nikon D800 and an RX1: were I to sell both and purchase the A7r + 35mm f/2.8 I would in many ways lose nothing by way of imaging capability or lens compatibility but would pocket the surplus $1250-1750. Indeed this loyal Nikon owner thought long and hard about doing so, which speaks to the strategic importance of these cameras for a company trying to make inroads into a highly concentrated market.Ultimately, I opted to hang onto the two cameras I have (although this decision is one that I revisit time and time again) and continue to use them as I have for the past year. Let me give you a quick flavor of why.
The RX1 is smaller and more discrete
This is a small a point, but my gut reaction to the A7/r was: much smaller than the D800, not as small as the RX1. The EVF atop the A7/r and the larger profile of interchangeable mount lenses means that I would not be able to slip the A7/r into a pocket the way I can the RX1. Further, by virtue of using the EVF and its loud mechanical shutter, the A7/r just isn’t as stealthy as the RX1. Finally, f/2 beats the pants off of f/2.8 at the same or smaller size.At this point, some of you may be saying, “Future Sony releases will allow you to get a body without an EVF and get an f/2 lens that has a slimmer profile, etc, etc.” And that’s just the point: to oversimplify things, the reason I am keeping my RX1 is that Sony currently offers something close to an A7 body without a built-in EVF and with a slimmer profile 35mm f/2.
The D800 has important functional advantages
On the other side of the spectrum, the AF speed of the A7/r just isn’t going to match the D800, especially when the former is equipped with a Nikon lens and F-mount adapter. EVFs cannot yet match the experience of looking through the prism and the lens (I expect they will match soon, but aren’t there yet). What’s more, I have made such an investment in Nikon glass that I can’t yet justify purchasing an adapter for a Sony mount or selling them all for Sony’s offerings (many of which aren’t to market yet).Now, all of these are minor points and I think all of them disappear with an A8r, but they add up to something major: I have two cameras very well suited to two different types of shooting, and I ask myself if I gain or lose by getting something in between—something that wasn’t quite a pocket shooter and something that was quite a DSLR? You can imagine, however, that if I were coming to the market without a D800 and an RX1, that my decision would be far different: dollar for dollar, the A7/r would be a no-brainer.During the moments when I consider selling to grab an A7r, I keep coming back to a thought I had a month or so before the RX1 was announced. At that time I was considering something like the NEX cameras with a ZM 21mm f/2.8 and I said in my head, “I wish someone would make a carry-around camera with a full frame sensor and a fixed 35mm f/2.8 or f/2.” Now you understand how attractive the RX1 is to me and what a ridiculously high bar exists for another camera system to reach.
Okay, so what is different from the last review?
For one, I had an issue with the camera’s AF motor failing to engage and giving me an E61:00 error. I had to send it out to Sony for repairs (via extended warranty and service plan). I detailed my experience with Sony Service here [insert link] and I write to you as a very satisfied customer. That is to say, I have 3 years left on a 4 year + accidental damage warranty and I feel confident enough in that coverage to say that I will have this beauty in working order for at least another 3 years.For two, I’ve spent significantly less time thinking of this camera as a DSLR replacement and have instead started to develop a very different way of shooting with it. The activation barrier to taking a shot with my D800 is quite high. Beyond having to bring a large camera wherever you go and have it in hand, a proper camera takes two hands and full attention to produce an image. I shoot slowly and methodically and often from a tripod with the D800. In contrast, I can pull the RX1 out, pop off the lens cap, line up and take a shot with one hand (often with a toddler in the other). This fosters a totally different type of photography.
My “be-there” camera
The have-everywhere camera that gives DSLR type controls to one-handed shooting lets me pursue images that happen very quickly or images that might not normally meet the standards of “drag-the-DSLR-out-of-the-bag.” Many of those images you’ll see on this post. A full year of shooting and I can say this with great confidence: the RX1 is a terrific mash-up of point-and-shoot and DSLR not just in image quality and features, but primarily in the product it helps me create. To take this thinking a bit further: I find myself even processing images from the RX1 differently than I would from my DSLR. So much so that I have strongly considered starting a tumblr and posting JPEGs directly from the RX1 via my phone or an iPad rather than running the bulk of them through Lightroom, onto Flickr and then on the blog (really this is just a matter of time, stay tuned, and those readers who have experience with tumblr, cloud image storage and editing, etc, etc, please contact me, I want to pick your brain).Put simply, I capture more spontaneous and beautiful “moments” than I might have otherwise. Photography is very much an exercise in “f/8 and be there,” and the RX1 is my go-to “be there” camera.
The family camera
I mentioned earlier that I justified the purchase of the RX1 partly as a camera to be used to document the family moments into which a DSLR doesn’t neatly fit. Over the past year I’ve collected thousands and thousands of family images with the RX1. The cold hard truth is that many of those photos could be better if I’d taken a full DSLR kit with me to the park or the beach or the grocery store each time. The RX1 is a difficult camera to use on a toddler (or any moving subject for that matter); autofocus isn’t as fast as a professional DSLR, it’s difficult to perfectly compose via an LCD (especially in bright sunlight), but despite these shortcomings, it’s been an incredibly useful family camera. There are simply so many beautiful moments where I had the RX1 over my shoulder, ready to go that whatever difficulties exist relative to a DSLR, those pale in comparison to the power of it’s convenience. The best camera is the one in your hand.
Where to go from here.
So what is the value of these RX1 going forward, especially in a world of the A7/r and it’s yet-to-be-born siblings without an EVF and a pancake lens? Frankly, at its current price (which is quite fair when you consider the value of the the body and the lens) I see precious little room for an independent offering versus a mirrorless, interchangeable lens system with the same image quality in a package just as small. That doesn’t mean Sony won’t make an RX2 or an RX1 Mark II (have a look at it’s other product lines to see how many SKUs are maintained despite low demand). Instead, I see the RX1 as a bridge that needed to exist for engineers, managers, and the market to make it to the A7/r and it’s descendants.A Facebook friend recently paid me a great compliment; he said something like, “Justin, via your blog, you’ve sold a ton of RX1 cameras.” Indeed, despite my efforts not to be a salesman, I think he’s right: I have and would continue to recommend this camera.The true value of the RX1 going forward is for those of us who have the thing on our shoulders; and yes, if you have an investment in and a love for a DSLR system, there’s still tremendous value in getting one, slinging it over your shoulder, and heading out into the wide, bright world; A7/r or no, this is just an unbelievably capable camera.
yn560ii through umbrella 1/32power - high cam left.
yn560ii bounced off light disc 1/64 - cam left
pw+ii
Part of the new park in downtown Houston; Discovery Green. This is the analog to the other stucture that is similar but blue based. The patchiness on the blocks are shadows from the tree branches. I'll probably reshoot on a sunnier day. BEST SEEN LARGE!
I am so the sucker for this kinda thing - thanks MissLisa for the tag:). I did a slew of 13 things throughout my 365 last year...so I am going to try to think up new stuff.
Hhhhmmm...things have been all sad on my side of the world lately so I apologize if this is a little morose. Screw that...I am going to be happy:)
1 - I heard a song today at the memorial service I was at that I had not heard since I was a little kid...and now I will spend hours finding it, because I could not retain the title or the tune...I can spend days researching information - I LOVE the act of researching.
2 - I love school. Going back again:)
3 - I need Chinese food every Christmas. It is a holdover from a really horrible Christmas Eve event from 5 years ago...but this year Christmas is happier and so am I and the Chinese food is a good thing:).
4 - I only saw "Love, Actually" for the first time this weekend. I loved it. Actually. Love is all around.
5 - My favourite song in the whole wide world changes all the time. It is usually "So Lonely" by The Police, but I am really fickle.
6 - Okay, I have this horoscope thing going on. I don't believe them but I am obsessed with reading them. It has alot to do with something that happened a really long time ago, and now it is like a really bad habit. I think I need an intervention. I also have an obituary reading habit, but I am okay with that one.
7 - I am extremely outspoken when I am passionate about something. To the point of being embarrassing. Oh well. Don't be ignorant and I won't call you out on it. Oh, and if you are going to spread a rumour about me? Expect me to call you on that too. And enjoy doing it!
8 - I am a lousy secret keeper. I like to think I am awesome, but in reality I suck at it.
9 - I am looking forward to having an excuse to watch Arthur again:). Not anything else though...well maybe Thomas (the Ringo Starr episodes with the Fat Conductor) and "Toy Story" - but that is it.
10 - I think this baby is going to be brought up very differently than my other two kids. Not necessarily better, just different. Age changes you. Well, me.
11 - I wait too long to do things. I figure it will work out for me no matter what. I am not sure that is a good thing.
12 - I hate baby talk. I speak to my kids like they are adults. I think as babies, they understand more than we give them credit for and as young adults, that they definitely understand more than we give them credit for.
13 - I am in a major rut with my pics. I miss my 365 but can not imagine starting a year two.
14 - I wish I played hockey. Or any sport. I may have to do something about that.
15 - I will never drive anything but a huge S.U.V. I'll drive a hybrid one, but not a car. I am now convinced that big vehicles save lives. I know that is so not P.C. but that is just too bad. I will make up my environmental karma up somewhere else.
16 - I had a great 2007...and bizarre 2008...and am hoping for a fantastic 2009:)
I am laughing at how many things I self edited on this list. I think I am getting better at not oversharing. Does that mean I am getting boring? Sigh. I don't like that.
The first thing that I noticed about this postcard was that it is much thicker than most other postcards. Printed on the back is the publishing name of Webster J. Vear of 127 Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff-On-Sea, local to Southend Pier. Hard to see the postmark date. But on the far right is the start of the slogan 'Buy National War Bonds Now'. War Bonds were introduced in 1917, so that gives a bit of a timeframe.
A postcard from my own collection.
© Todos los derechos reservados. Cualquier uso sin permiso del autor es ilegal.
© All rights reserved. Any use without permission of author is illegal.
I've never met a horsetail before... oh great, there's two huge lumps of the stuff in the garden as well. Joy.
Also in warm platinum black&white.
Every Little Thing - Melanie Doane
I've been listening to it on repeat, enjoy. <333
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wearing . (hat) bitter vanilla, (hair) maitreya, (skin) tres blah, (glasses) duboo, (blazer) milk motion (old 50L item), (shirt) fishy strawberry (old 50L item), (skirt) mocha (skirt is actually here but please visit the haiti relief exclusive 100% of the profits are going towards the red cross), (socks) twosome, (boots) aoharu
pose by flowey.
"It is so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, to have lived light in the spring, to have loved, to have thought, to have done."
Matthew Arnold
My famous Man-Thing, as seen in Toyfare's Twisted Mego Theatre.
He's a custom Famous Covers figure of the Hulk with a skin made from some weirdly textured gardening gloves!
This wonderful machine is owned by the Stroud RE Group, and has quite a colourful past. Delivered to Bristol Cityline in 1976 as C5033 (JHW107P), she lasted about 3 years on city services before being sent to Weston-Super-Mare depot to work on the Weston & Wells services. in 1985 she was sent to Eastleigh (Hants & Dorset Works), and was de-roofed permenantley for the "Newly Established" and pioneering Bath Tour.
She then became BH8615, and spent many a year trundling round Bath on the City and Skyline tours. Nearing retirement, she was sent where most First vehicles end up, and that was down to Penzance to see out her days working the arduous Lands End/St Ives Open Top services.
Once First F&D decided to sell her, she was soon snapped up Chepstow Classic Bus, and has been plying her trade with them for the last year, before Mike Ede (Stroud RE Group), came in and bought her, and put her in this de-reg City of Gloucester livery, which of course she never carried, but if you ask me, she looks very smart in!?
Now Mike and the boys have the same thinking as me and the lads in our group, which is "Its my bus, I shall paint it as i see fit!", unfortunately this has only gone on to infuriate the purists, most of which dont own vehicles, and want to see eveything back to Bristol Green or Tilling Green and Cream, not me!
All I can say with this vehicle and many others that I know of around Bristol, and are owned by young and like minded enthusiasts such as myself is "WATCH THIS SPACE!" (LOL) ;-)
The crust was perfect even though we don't have a pizza stone. I preheated an upside down half-sheet pan, and made the dough on a Silpat that was on another upside down half sheet. After topping I slid the pizza and the Silpat onto the tray already in the oven.
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The latest thing to arrive at NS! New in April that year is lasted with LT until 86, then went to Sunderland and Guernsey beifre being bought by an aquaintance, sold for spares and scrapped 2002. I wish I'd snapped the SMS as well, I never got a shot of one in the area.
tucked away in the corner where no place meets no where is this abandoned work car/sleeper car..hosted by a number of varmints, I always love places like this..
Love comes in many forms if we try to be ourselves, and not playing hard to get or despiteful. Love its part of our emotion as well, were it could link us to someone we love, such as in sickness, loss of a friend or family member. And how many times we are watching a movie or TV and before you know it, you'll see a tear in your eyes to the emotion of the story you're watching on the screen. Same as sometimes you read a love story on a book, and you become emotional, and before you know it, you'll see the same tears in your eyes, it’s all love emotion. And the way I see it, because you're a loveable and caring person.
Love it can be seen as a joyous excitement in involvement with someone else, myself, I have Carmelina in which we see this love in a special form of joy in which up to now it kept us together for 48 years and six months. Because when we feel loved, we usually also feel bliss with joy, of course there is time when a recurring fear of losing the loved one, which it could happened to be one of us. Sometimes we see ourselves as young couples in love, growing old together, strolling along the beaches boardwalk at lakeshore, Toronto, in this beautiful summer evening, hand in hand. Sometimes holding hands is a physical power that we have to touch and be touched, to love and be loved. This simple gesture between Carmelina and I holds the promise of all those possibilities of remaining as young lovers. Beside when you hold hands is something like electricity when you put the switch on, the muscular and nervous system are connected, and therefore you could feel that love inside you towards each other.
The quality of love is so important to us all and to modern life, I believe that love helps us see and accept others, just for being. We could feel very warm and loving inside and this feeling is easily transmitted to other people. These feelings just arrive spontaneously. How many of us considered being a cold person, probably few of us, and yet if we could be warm loveable we could feel as if there were a glowing warm fire in our heart, which acts to make us warm and to make other people warm. This increase in love is not a matter of pretence or mood making. It has to be real, for love is the most innocent quality of life. It cannot be contrived; either it is there or it isn’t. Love is the spontaneous expression of a full heart, and lack of love denotes lack of life-content. Because real love can only be innocent and spontaneous, the show of love without genuine love is a shame to life in my opinion. Or may I say how a person can give love if he or she doesn’t first have love within himself or herself.
We are all aware that in these days of tremendous social upheaval, when so much in life, present and future, is impersonal, unstable and uncertain, it is only natural that we put great energy and hope into our personal relationships. If we could developing inner stability, and expanded our awareness and more loving heart, it will provide us much foundation for more successful, meaningful relationships. The deep, natural rest and relaxation brought about by the practice dissolves restricting stress and tension, which cause fear, loneliness, jealousy, anger, depression and other forms of negative reaction in life. Carmelina and I, we worked out the many personal differences that have arisen, due to the kids, but our love keeps growing deeper and deeper. We are further developing tolerance and compassion for each other, for everyone and everything. We are happier than ever but not as happy as we shall be, because we worry too much about our children.
One time I knew these beautiful young couple in which they’re both madly in love so they was telling me, and yet they constantly fighting and arguing, and never reaching any agreement in which I couldn’t help it by staring at them both, and asking them both if they really love each other. The answer they gave me was, “we both love each other and we are looking forward to get married.” With a smile I told them, that both of you have to change your attitude toward love, and learn to trust each other, because if there’s no trust there’s no love. Three weeks later I saw them again by the church after the mass. And they both thanked me for my advice, they told me, that now we are in peace within, and we are able to function harmoniously as friends, lovers, man and woman in which it won’t be long before we get married. Now it seems that they can look forward to a world in which actions are motivated by love and are performed by individuals who have fully developed their minds and their powers of perceptions and understanding in which I’m really happy for them.
Living and loving is a concept that many of us have found troublesome, is also a necessary aspect of the fulfilling human struggle. That includes being faithful to us, to our words, and to our spouses.
You must have a positive love flows freely when you’re feeling good inside, there’s no worry at the time, you’re not thinking, or wondering if you love him/her a lot, I hope he/she loves me too or I’ll be miserable. You’re just feeling, and the feeling is wonderful and the other person feels it too, everyone feels it! The feeling shines from your face. The negative or undermining love leaves you more with thoughts like, where is he/she tonight? Will he/she love me tomorrow? And even when the good feeling comes it’s partially choked and overshadowed by the underlying fear. If you love someone and want to have a good healthy relationship you have to express your feelings, as my friend once said to me “my capacity to tolerate negativity with sincere compassion and love has grown to a level of unflinching and natural gentleness. This is how I have always wanted to be but in the past, whenever my temper was tested or I found myself in a situation of conflict, I always gave way to the emotion of anger and reaction. Now this is past. My capacity to love seems as high as it could possibly be. And yet, If we could learn to trust and love everyone without hate, we could gain so much in life, in which it will gives us hope and beautiful dreams, and most of all happiness, and it cost nothing. The word Love you’ll find it in all bibles, scripture or any teaching of faith. Love yourself so you could love others. And this applies to all countries in the world that if we learn to trust each other and Love each other’s there should be no problems anywhere, because love could conquer everything if we just believe in it. Charles Bray.
Photo taken during a short bushwalk. Unfortunately I cannot remember what the guide said this was..........so some yellow thing.
Specially for WAH I bought a bauble.
Today the We're Here group members are taking pictures of themselves for the Self Portrait in Christmas Balls group.