Sony NEX-5, Elusive Summer Gadget

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Gary

A quick intro to the current state of digital cameras. For the most part, you've got point-and-shoots, and DSLRs. DSLRs have a mirror that flips up inside, allowing you to look through the lens itself when you use the viewfinder. DSLRs have a much larger sensor than point-and-shoots, allowing for much higher image quality as well. Recently, the new Micro Four-Thirds standard attempted to bridge the divide between point-and-shoots and DSLRs, by removing the mirror element and maintaining a larger sensor with a live image displayed on a screen. But the sensor in Micro Four-Thirds cameras is still much smaller than the (still cropped) APS-C sensor found in most DSLRs. This is where Sony comes into play.

Image via dpreview.com

What you see here is the new Sony NEX-5 camera, coming out this July. It features a full APS-C sensor in the smallest mirror-less interchangeable lens system to date. Retailing at $650 with a 16mm f2.8 pancake and $700 with an 18-55mm zoom lens, both crafted out of metal and not plastic like most modern lenses, the cost is a steal for the phenomenal image quality that samples have produced thus far. In many ways, it even surpasses my current Pentax body. For those looking for a cheaper option, Sony is also releasing the NEX-3 with plastic housing (as opposed to the metal casing of the NEX-5) and reduced video options, but with a $100 savings.

While nothing is set in stone, there's a very good chance that the NEX-5 (with the 18-55mm lens) will become my new secondary body. As of late, I've been taking my primary camera everywhere I go, which gets rather cumbersome and challenging depending on the circumstance. If I had a camera with identical image quality, better video capabilities and more casual features in an incredibly small form factor, I would definitely feel safer bringing that instead. Though it could never replace the pure power that having an optical viewfinder provides, mirror-less interchangeable lens cameras fill an interesting niche in the increasingly diverse camera market. And there's a very real chance I'll own a piece of this revolution come later this summer.

Frosty Stream

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Gary

This photo was shot on Thanksgiving in a small canyon north of Pleasant Grove, Utah. Driving along the road heading up the canyon, we stopped every so often at little inlets to find some awesome photo opportunities. Aside from some tripod quirkiness and my batteries giving a false drained reading from the cold, I managed to capture quite a few interesting shots. The photo above is one such shot, incorporating the movement of water into the composition. This photograph was captured on a Pentax K-x with a Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 lens.

A Story Forgotten

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Gary

What You Find In the Desert

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Gary

It took me awhile, but all 2000+ photos I took on my DSLR from my trip this past week and a half are now safely copied onto my desktop at home. My workflow can now resume as normal, and hopefully I'll be able to churn out postings at a more frequent rate! The photos here are still from day 1, and were taken between Las Vegas (where I found the billboard above) to Mesquite, Nevada (where the "bowling" sign below was photographed).

I found myself naturally capturing a wide range of photographs during this trip, which is surprising given my recent reduction in my lens collection. With only a 40mm pancake lens and a cheap 70-300mm zoom, I found myself shooting everything from natural landscapes to night exposures, from wildlife photography to mere portraits. The shots picked for this post might seem rather simple in terms of subjects chosen, but each of these photographs has a deeper story to tell.

Though I often snap away on my camera like it's nobody's business, the vast majority of my photos are composed in a split second and captured with intent. Whether or not other people find the same qualities in my photographs is another story entirely. But as far as my personal portfolio goes, I'm only doing this to make myself happy. Other people sharing in my joy, be they close friends or random strangers, is simply a pleasant bonus.

Street Photography: Motorcyclist

Posted on October 22, 2008 by Gary

I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but street photography is one of my favorite "genres." There's something about seeing individuals in their daily urban lives that I find fascinating. Too bad I live in the suburbs, right? This photograph was taken in Georgetown, Washington D.C. when I spent a few days there this last April. The photograph was converted to black and white, and was burned and dodged in Adobe Lightroom 2 (as usual). I'm not really into cars/trucks/anything with an engine, but I have a soft spot for motorcycles. Not those Harly-Davidson biker gang type motorcycles, but those modern, hip and trendy ones. You all know what I'm talking about, don't deny it. Back to the photograph, it's not really unique from a compositional standpoint. But because it combines elements that I view as interesting, I can't help but like this photo.