New camera - some reading required
Aug. 31st, 2010 08:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
johnridleyI picked up a Canon SD1300IS last week. I decided "small pocket size" trumped "tons of features" given that I have and SLR also. I would probably not be able to live with this as my only camera; for that I'd probably go to the SX130 if not the G11.
Even though I've used Canon cameras for 10+ years, I'm finding that it is well worth the time to read the manual. On this tiny camera, they've compressed a lot of functionality into the few (4 + shutter + directional, 9 total) buttons. Some functionality is not in plain sight, though I think in the cases I thought about they've put it in the best place they could.
One example: exposure compensation is on the "up" directional button. OK, and it's labelled. I use that a lot, though perhaps I'll just let the "auto" deal with that in the future, if it works. "They" say the "auto" mode is really quite good on the new models and it'll deal with backlighting and such properly.
But when I was reading through the manual, I got a bad feeling; I wasn't finding an exposure lock like you'd use for shooting panoramas. I do shoot panoramas, quite a lot actually. A dozen or so most vacations. And I don't always have the SLR with me to do them. I could do manual exposure compensation, and I think Hugin may do this automatically, but it's never exactly right.
There is a single exposure lock which I saw immediately. But eventually I did find it. You hold the shutter halfway and click the up button (remember, that's for exposure compensation?). So it kind of makes sense; a half press is what you use for focus/exposure lock on a frame, and then you chord it with the exposure compensation button. That puts you into AE Lock mode for multiple frames. It is a bit awkward to press both buttons at once on this camera, but if I wanted easy to press buttons I would have gone with a larger camera. Or use the SLR.
I'm thinking about taking a look at the CHDK project to see what kind of skillz I has to haz to do the port for this camera. I'd really like to have it.
Even though I've used Canon cameras for 10+ years, I'm finding that it is well worth the time to read the manual. On this tiny camera, they've compressed a lot of functionality into the few (4 + shutter + directional, 9 total) buttons. Some functionality is not in plain sight, though I think in the cases I thought about they've put it in the best place they could.
One example: exposure compensation is on the "up" directional button. OK, and it's labelled. I use that a lot, though perhaps I'll just let the "auto" deal with that in the future, if it works. "They" say the "auto" mode is really quite good on the new models and it'll deal with backlighting and such properly.
But when I was reading through the manual, I got a bad feeling; I wasn't finding an exposure lock like you'd use for shooting panoramas. I do shoot panoramas, quite a lot actually. A dozen or so most vacations. And I don't always have the SLR with me to do them. I could do manual exposure compensation, and I think Hugin may do this automatically, but it's never exactly right.
There is a single exposure lock which I saw immediately. But eventually I did find it. You hold the shutter halfway and click the up button (remember, that's for exposure compensation?). So it kind of makes sense; a half press is what you use for focus/exposure lock on a frame, and then you chord it with the exposure compensation button. That puts you into AE Lock mode for multiple frames. It is a bit awkward to press both buttons at once on this camera, but if I wanted easy to press buttons I would have gone with a larger camera. Or use the SLR.
I'm thinking about taking a look at the CHDK project to see what kind of skillz I has to haz to do the port for this camera. I'd really like to have it.
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no subject
Date: 2010-09-14 01:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-14 01:21 pm (UTC)The SD1300 has been running on a $4 aftermarket battery since I got it and it still shows fully charged. I haven't taken a TON of photos, but the frame count is at 110 right now.
It's still nice to have a spare battery, especially at weddings or Berzerker or things where you might take a lot of frames. I bought from an eBay seller who was selling them two for $8 with free shipping. I just checked and they're down to 2 for $7 now. They work every bit as good as the $60 battery from Canon ($40 or so from most places).
eBay is a pretty decent place to get a case for it too, though usually I just go to Meijer (or up there, Wal*Mart) and find one that I like the fit of. eBay is cheaper, there are several up there that look great and cost $6 to $10.