Photo Of The Day: “Evil Bugster” Film Version

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Hmm, does this look familiar? If it seems like something I posted before, well yes, yes it is! It’s THIS picture.

Same VG “Evil” Buggy. Different camera. The previous was shot with a Canon G1X, digital point and shoot. This one was taken with a Minolta TC-1 point and shoot film camera. The film was Fuji Superia 400 color print film.

Other than the slight graininess of the film version and the art filter I used on the digital version (which caused the color differences), do you see any differences? If anything, it’s very slight. Some might prefer the G1X version, some might prefer the TC-1 version but to my eyes they’re nearly identical. The fact that I shot them both within the same minute from my car might have something to do with that, but photographically, I don’t see a lot of differences.

I’m re-testing the TC-1 because while I have a short write up on this classic film camera from a couple years back, I didn’t have any photos in that article and as I always say…Pics or it didn’t happen!

Anyway, being that I tend to favor film cameras it might surprise you that I was this close to saying save your money and stick with your digital camera but I won’t say it right now until I evaluate my next roll of film from the TC-1.

All I can say right now is, the TC-1 is a beautiful little camera, a classic, a Camera Legend. However, today, your digital point and shoot is likely to give it a run for its money and probably cost less too.

Happy Sunday and hope you get some great shots!

Photo Of The Day: “Evil Bugster” Canon G1X

“Evil Bugster” 2017. Canon G1X. Cape May, NJ. I added a photo filter to dramatize the image although the subject was strong enough that it probably didn’t need it.

I’m a big fan of the VW Beetle, especially the older ones although I think the New Beetle of 1998 and up were also superbly designed and beautiful to look at. Keep in mind, I’m just a fan of the car, I’ve never owned one!

Let’s face it, the most enduring appeal of the Volkswagen Beetle is the fact that it’s “cute.” Its iconic looks and appeal all boils down to that cute factor.

Being that I’m always looking for something a little different from the norm, I prefer Beetles which are harder edged, meaner, heck even “evil” and I found one recently while driving through Cape May, New Jersey.

Since this blog is about cameras, it may be best to turn away from the car aspect and focus on the gear. For this shot, I used a Canon G1X. Just got one shot out of the car window and prayed that it counted.

The G1X is a 14.3 megapixel point and shoot and a member of Canon’s highly regarded G series compact cameras. It was released in 2012. The G1X differentiates itself from it’s G series predecessors however due to the fact that it features a larger than normal 1.5″ CMOS sensor, which is nearly but not quite the size of the APS-C standard.

I’ve had this camera for a few months and have been shooting it regularly in the hopes of putting up a review for you. However, I have not been overwhelmingly impressed with it. Sometimes you listen to your instincts, but hope you’re wrong. The G1X is one of those cameras I was hoping to be wrong about.

The reviews have been generally positive for the G1X, and what pushed me over the edge was several postings on different web forums where the camera was praised with high enthusiasm. Also what sold me was the reduced prices these days on the G1X, since the G1X Mark II came out. I also generally prefer to weigh the opinions of real life shooters with the camera versus just a technical lab review. Power to the people! 🙂

Anyway, this isn’t my G1X review yet so I’ll keep it short. This was the first picture I truly liked out of many months of G1X shooting.

You guys know I work at a snail’s pace, but I always aim for fairness and accuracy over a highly emotive positive review. So just when I thought of chucking the G1X, I think I’m going to give her another chance!

As for the “Evil Bugster” I guess I don’t need to repeat that I love it! 🙂

Happy Hump Day good people and thanks for your visits and support as always, I do appreciate it!

Photo Of The Day: “The Sea”

Baby Z playing in the water off the beach in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. 2012. Contax 645, 80mm f/2 Zeiss Planar, Kodak Portra 400.

In my Contax 645 review I stated that I would be uploading pics from the camera if I found them, so here’s one from 2012 when I still had the camera.

As with most American families, we typically start our summers on Memorial Day Weekend, which is considered the unofficial start of the summer season here.

For a quick getaway, we travel a few hours to the Jersey Shore. The beaches are generally clean and the towns are usually family friendly.

While I wouldn’t consider it very exciting for singles looking for a hookup, the Jersey Shore makes a quiet and relaxing getaway. The kids enjoy the beach, the pool, and the boardwalk. I do too, if I were to be honest. I realize these will be my kids’ memory of summers past when they are grown, so I always bring some kind of camera with me, even if my iPhone will do most of the time.

I remember taking this shot. The Sun was shining down brightly and while I normally aim for a fast aperture for shallow depth of field in portraits, I think I stopped down the 80mm f/2 Planar to maybe f/2.8 or f/3.5 and still got the top shutter speed of 1/4000 on the Contax 645 in AV mode.

Still, the lens I think provided a distinctive look and good exposure. It was a great camera/lens combo and I do miss it!

This also marked the last time I took such a big bulky camera to the beach and the last time took such a camera so close to the water.

This year I took an Olympus OM-D EM5 with me. Did it give me technically better, sharper, less grainy pictures? Yes, yes indeed. Did it give me images with that 80mm f/2 Zeiss and Kodak film look? No, no it didn’t. But what’s “better” really comes down to personal preferences.

Have yourselves a great weekend good people, and if you’re going to the beach, be sure to bring that camera along, but take care because the sand and water are camera killers! Anyway, take your best shots because these are the memories your family will return to again and again.