So I was reading a camera flash article... and it comes down to this:
My internal flash is a piece of crap
Join the club. Millions of members. You pay your dues every day by taking crap photos with it.
My external flash is, always has been, and should have let me know that it is a piece of crap as well.
Crap!
Third-party cheap flash units are pieces of crap
"Third party cheap" is French for crap. Everyone knows that.
Photography using internal flash is crap
See membership invite above...
Photography using external flash has a medium-to-good chance of being crap, unless you are skilled/fortunate/wealthy
*please GOD let me be skilled/fortunate this weekend, because wealthy ain't gonna happen!*
TTL is crap
Yeah, that was a stunner, eh
A-TTL is slightly more complex crap
With a flaccid, yet perky bouquet...
E-TTL is currently the best option. Still crap, but the best.
Woohoo! I have the best crap!
420EX is only going to light up really close crap, like ornaments and small children
Small children should never be lit. It's against the law!
430EX will light up slightly less close crap, slightly better, like drunk people
Good thing I'm taking mine to a wedding.
580EXII will light up small airfields, make you crap yourself, and doubtless give other people eye cancer
Finally, ONE case where cancer is good!
So from there, I have some questions...
The article was supposed to be ANSWERS!
Why did the same assholes who sold me a Panasonic camera and this wonderful but every so slightly outdated EOS 30D also sell me a braindead Starblitz 250BAZ?
The assholes were brain dead too. It's a package deal.
Why would anyone call a flash unit BAZ?
Luhrmann fan
Do you think things would work better if I purchased an E-TTL sticker for BAZ?
It's what's inside that counts. But if a sticker makes you feel better...
If they are flash guns, do you need a license to carry one?
Only if you're planning on shooting people with... oh, I see your point.
Is it true that you posses a better than crap 430EX?
It is true! My flashing is better than crap. But if I don't get out and buy a transmitter I'll never have a slave.
Do they really eat snails in France What about frogs legs?
Yes. And snails were good -- garlicky. Frogs legs have been banned by the Coaltion To Save Kermit. Whaddayagonnado
Do you have a recommendation for the purchase of a gen-u-ine Canon Speedlite flash?
You have a 30D. Go for it. Go ALL THE WAY. And yes, we can do the buy/ship thing.
Is a 580EXII classed as a lethal weapon?
There's legislation in progress.
Would a Speedlite be able to capture the motion of a Starblitz as it flew through the air towards a brick wall?
I'm certain of it! The question is, do you want to use first or second curtain sync
Did you know that cats and dogs have green-eye What about lawyers No, of course dogs don't have lawyers. What was I thinking?
Cats eat lawyers.
What mode do you generally run your camera in when you are using the force your Speedlite?
P or AV.
I hope this is a good way to start your day. :-)
I almost crapped myself. :)
Saturday, 25 August 2007
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Canon EOS 40D Goodness
I nearly lost my lunch today (no, not like that, I mean I almost dropped it!) when I learned that the 40D was finally announced. Here's DPReview's take on whats new.
Things That Make Me Happy On The 40D (short version):
1. Constant ISO display in the viewfinder - Very cool, saves time having to double-check... assuming that I remember to double check. Yes, I've been burned by that flame more than once.
2. Quieter mirror operation - As a photo ninja I've always admired Nikon for their quiet shutter release.)
3. WiFi with addition of optional WiFi transmitter / battery pack unit - Like the little tethering trick I just discovered, I'm not sure how often I'd actually USE this, but it sure as heck is cool!
4. Auto ISO - I'm not sure if I'd like using this or not, but I'd certainly like to put it through it's paces!
5. External USB media support - THE perfect marriage of iPod and photography... assuming that Apple gets off of their collective hiney and produces an iPod with a flash drive. Not much point in doing it now as the Nano - Apple's largest flash-based iPod - only goes up to 8G.
Still, if you're going to plop down $1,299 (and that's just for the body) why not spend the additional $$ for a full-frame 5D, or wait a month and spring for the rumored 6D model. This is a question that I may have to answer for myself one day....
Read more on the Canon 40D including the full preview, Canon's press release, a shakedown of new features and upgrades, and more at DPReview.com. And of course there's Canon's official 40D page.
What a nice way to start a Monday!
Saturday, 18 August 2007
It's all about...
It's all about...
Originally uploaded by A Different Perspective.
Hey, I've been hijacked! :-) Or is that hijimed?
One of the very few things that I don't like about Flickr is the lack of ability to rate photos. Granted, I wouldn't want to do it much - in fact, I wouldn't want to do it most of the time - but sometimes I really miss it.
Marking a photo as a "favorite" and therefore adding it to your personal online collection of what you really, really like is a special event. I don't dispute that. But sometimes something absolutely perfect like this one of Jim's comes along and I want to do something more than just fave it.
So I'm blogging it.
Cheers, Jim! Well done!
Riposte
Aw, shucks. Thanks Kate. I'm so bad at blogging that Kate needs to do it for me. :-)
Read More......
Friday, 17 August 2007
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Common Sense In The Digital Age
Study: Facebook users are easy targets for identity theft - Network World
Repeat after me: "If I don't put it out there on the web to start with, it can't be stolen!"
'Nuff said.
Friday, 10 August 2007
Like mind
Look Kate. It's someone who thinks like us. Who'd have thought? :-)
I really like this...
It's titled "swirly spiky rusty crazy beautiful barbed wire with bokehed fence post goodness", and I really like that too.
It's accompanied by lots of other cool stuff as well. Check them out.
How can we not like Esther? She describes herself as Short and sweet, slightly sarcastic, and always ready for chocolate.
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Polished
polished
Originally uploaded by ten-nine.
Sometimes a photo is so striking that you don't even have to explain why you like it because the reasons are so blatantly obvious.
This is one of those times. :-)
Hoarding
Someone very nice sent me a package all the way from New Zealand last week. (Thank you AGAIN!) I got it on Friday - GREAT way to start the weekend by the way - and guarded it with my life. It wasn't the funny t-shirt inside, it wasn't the NZ t-shirt inside, it wasn't even the package that had me locking my office and checking visitor's ID cards...
It was the Jaffas.
Mmmmm, lovely, red, orangy-chocolate, spherical, sweet, yummy goodness! Ooo!
I can't explain it. I tried them when I was in NZ - I tried a lot of things when I was there - but with the Jaffas it was love at first bite. They're like ball-shaped M&Ms, but the candy coating has a subtle orange flavor to it. They're crunchy and citrus-y (is that even a word?) and perfect in every way.
I even like them MORE than Dark Chocolate Raisinettes!!
I know. You're shocked. I was too! And if you tried just one you'd know why I'm swooning about two little bags of the stuff. But be warned, if you come within 5 feet of the temperature and humidity controlled unit (my fridge) where I store my Jaffa cache I can not be responsible for any injuries that you sustain, be they physical or psychological. You can't sneak a Jaffa from me either. I counted them, and I've eaten or given away (to some VERY special people) exactly 18 pieces since Friday.
Yes, I'm hoarding them. And I don't share well. :-)
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Darkness
I'm full of contradictions.
I think I'm fairly optimistic, and think the best of people.
I really, really like horror movies.
I love brightly coloured photographs.
I'm fond of dark, gruesome, evil stories of witches and vampires, demons, werewolves.
I have a collection of angel songs.
you see?
And now another one.
I received an invitation today to join a flickr group called Black Black Black. I thought, oh, that should be easy. I must have a heap of dark photos. Right? No. Not really. And when they are dark, most of them have some bright colours, or something funny going on.
A contradiction. I joined anyway. :-)
