Saturday, January 24, 2009

I Bought a New Camera

Yes it was an impulse buy. Circuit City is going out of business and I did get a bonus for a huge project I inherited so I spent it on my self. There were a ton to chose from and I finally decided on a Fuji Film Fine Pix because it had the most pixels and zoom capacity.


Check out the photos. These gold finches are way up in a tree and my other camera would not even get close to them. This one does it with ease. The first picture is the gold finch eating those funky seeds that are on the tree in my yard that I have yet to identify.

In this picture the gold finch is enjoying the sun on its gorgeous feathers.


I have a lot to learn with the camera though. It is wayyyy to high tech for me and I am having a hard time getting used to all of the features. I am very shaky with it too due to its size. I was used to my tiny little Kodak Easy Share, but this one is very heavy in comparison. I think I may need to go buy a tripod!


I am out of my winter funk now and ready to take photos!!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whoo-hoo! New Toys! New Toys!

NW Nature Nut said...

Good for you! You will love it once you get used to it. Photography is so satisfying.

Diane said...

Good Job, Kallen! You're going to have lots of fun with it! Congratulations :)

Ruth said...

Good for you for spending money on a hobby you will enjoy. The more zoom you use the steadier your hand will need to be. Sometimes I use less zoom and then crop the picture to get it bigger. I also use a beanbag or small cushion on my dashboard or window sill to rest the camera on when using more zoom to keep it steady. I have a tripod but seldom use it.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Yah-Rah---I'm so happy for you, K... BUT--I thought your pictures with the old camera were good---so now I'm sure they will be fabulous!!!! Great shots today of the Goldfinch!!!! You're gonna love this camera--especially the zoom.

Hugs,
Betsy

Kim said...

Yes, I am very happy w/ my new toy.

Ruth, you are so right about needing a steadier hand for zoom. I did find a setting on the camera that will adjust for some of the shakiness and bluriness though and it did seem to work some. I did think about a bean bag, but most of my pics are with me out of the car and are sporadic as I walk around so a tripod may not necessarily work either. I guess I just have to practice not being so shaky.

The camera is so massive it requires 4 batteries vs. my Kodak which only required 2. It also appears to have more memory capacity than my other too.

I am very happy and feel like a kid who just got the Christmas present they wanted all year. LOL

jan m said...

Kallen, I have the same camera, and I find that I really do need the tripod for good bird photos. You'll enjoy the camera once you get used to it.

A New England Life said...

That's awesome! You sure have come a long way since you first started this blog and could barely take a picture. Remember? Nice shots!

So I'm anxious to know, what kind of Fuji did you buy? You're going to have so much fun! You can't go wrong with the Auto setting ; )

Anonymous said...

I tried to answer your question about the camera and focus on my birds blog.

Here it is ...

Yes, especially on zoom lenses and telephoto lenses you need a tripod. And also shoot as fast as you can to minimize any shake you might make pressing the shutter even if you are on a tripod. Then, when you get your next lens make sure it has ISimage stabilization in Canon - each manufacturer has a different name or initials).

Honestly, even with IS you can still ruin some images by not getting the focus right. Some better cameras have automatic programs built in that makes use of the infra-red and the infra-red actually drives a motor that focuses the lens. So when you try to focus yourself (and sometimes you will have to because of surrounding clutter) you may not get the focus dead on. It is a trial and error sort of thing.

Hope this helps.

Kim said...

Jan, thanks for the heads up. I will go get a tripod and learn how to use it (especially for my back yard photos).

Sharon, it's a Fuji Film Fine Pix S2000HD. It has 10 mega pixels and says this on the lens. 200M Lens. 15x Optical, f=5.0-7.50MM 1-2-3-4-5.

Abe, thank you so much for your suggestions. I do have IS on this camera and can't get over how much it helps. I will have to practice taking quicker photos as I seem to linger before taking it in hopes I can get a better view of whatever it is I am photographing.

I do think it has infa red technology as well but am not 100% certain. I am still a newbie, but wanted to get a camera I could grow into. My hopes is to perfect this thing before the orioles and cedar waxwings start feasting on my mullberry tree this summer so I can get really good photos of them. I tried it last summer and the photos were pathetic because I couldn't get in close enough to them.

Thanks everyone. You have all been such a big help to me since the beginning of my nature journey and it is VERY much appreciated.

Jayne said...

Wow Kallen, how exciting that you got a new camera! Congratulations! Can't wait to see what you capture. :c)

Alan Pulley said...

Congrats on the camera! Great photos of the goldfinches! Wish I knew what kind of tree that was, I'd like to get one myself.

Dawn Fine said...

how very cool a new camera..I need one of those but cant decide on what I want..
have fun with your new toy...I look forward to seeing some more photos!

Mary said...

Kallen, you read my mind. I'm looking for a small, back-up camera to take on trips, boats, etc. Knowing Circuit City is going out of business, I wanted to go there tomorrow and check it out! Your Fuji has 18x zoom? What model is it? Your photos look good for a camera right out of the box! I was considering a Nikon CoolPix or a Fuji.

Anonymous said...

Oh a new camera is fun. You could try a monopod Kallen. Another birder suggested it to me. I use it as a walking stick and then use it as a tripod as I need it...

Beth said...

Nice pictures, you will enjoy the new camera and we will enjoy the product of your new camera.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Have fun!
There's no better excuse for getting out, than to play!

Kim said...

Mary, it has 15 zoom. Circuit City currently has 10% off all cameras. I was thiking of waiting until 20%, but the cameras were going like crazy. I actually wanted the less expensive Fuji camera and they had sold out. They were also sold out on the nice Cannon's so I grabbed it yesterday.

Have fun shopping!

Shelley said...

Congrats on your new camera! I know you'll have a lot of fun with it!!

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