High-end bridge cameras: Sony RX10, Panasonic FZ1000 etc

Is a newer version of Silkypix available on line?
 
Nod said:
Is a newer version of Silkypix available on line?
Click to expand...
Good idea, :)

I am downloading the free trial as I type. Thanks.
 
I downloaded the Silkypix 10 on a free trial. It isn't as refined as Nikon's RAW conversion and image editing program, but it does the job. The current version, Silkypix 11 is around €80. The version I am trialling is a third of the price so that is what I will go with.

Whilst I am more than happy with the image quality of the V-LUX there are a few things that are disappointing. First impression after switching it on was that it feels plasticky. The milling of the control knobs give a sharp, harsh feel a bit like those on Russian rangefinders. Macro is poor. Possibly a trade off from the 28mm-400mm zoom range. Minimum aperture of f8 is disappointing too. And the menu and function buttons leave a lot to be desired. Leica call it The Swiss Army Knife of cameras. I think Jack of All Trades, Master of None might be more appropriate. It is a handy camera for travelling light and will do most things I use a camera for, the notable ommission being macro, and the low light ability is great, but it is only the image quality that sets it apart from my old DMC38.

Angeac Water View.jpg

Pierre Portrait Format Web.jpg

Peruvian Dancer.jpg

Chapelle Bois du Rat Interior View.jpg
 
Some photos from my Leica V-LUX taken in the few days. I am very pleased with the image quality, high iso performance and auto-focus. Not so impressed with the macro facility and imo unnecessary features that would be welcome on a pro-spec dSLR, but seem out of place on a bridge camera. I haven't yet worked out how to strip the features that I don't need from the Quick Menu.

At a carriage driving competition I just let the camera sort out the exposure. There are areas burnt out, but I doubt that these could have been avoided given the bright shafts of sunshine perforating the tree canopy. Even in RAW and dragged back three stops there is still no detail in the bright spots, but the harnesses and helmets were blacked out completely, so I think that the camera got it right.

Percheron Pair L1030087.jpg


The river scene is a similar story regards exposure. What I have found though, as with virtually every autofocus camera, the camera always settles on the nearest point within the selected zone in this case the trailing foliage. I can however use the lens shroud to tweak the focus and push it back a bit after the AF had settled. I like that


Angeac Water View.jpg


The third photo shows the image quality that the camera is capable of in the right light. Today there was a light to medium cloud base that diffused the sunlight. The bokeh is nothing special, but then again it is a bridge camera, not an SLR. This is a small photo so not ideal to show it. The detail in the full sized RAW file is incredible.

Sunflowers Portait .jpg
 
Thank you for the kind words. :)

The macro isn't really tested on the sunflowers. They are as big of dinner plates. I took a full screen shot of a resting moth the other day. The camera was 2 inches from the moth. Not ideal for butterfly hunting. Also, the edges of the image were very soft. The macro zoom function is also very disappointing. A cabbage white sized butterfly would be represented at around a quarter of the screen to be in focus. I think that it is a pay off for the 28-400mm (35mm format) zoom range and larger sensor.
 
Unexpected opportunity to capture some flutterbies this afternoon. There are still a few buddleia fronds about and were mainly attracting the Red Admirals. It gave me chance to experiment with the V-LUX close focus ability. These are as close as I could get without the lens hunting back and forward without locking onto anything. The AF was set to center weighted.

Red Admiral LSF 2.jpg

Red Admiral Bee & Buddelia 2 LSF.jpg

Not macro by any means, but at 24Mp RAW it does give plenty of cropping room if you want to eyeball the critters.
 
I am beginning to love the Leica V-LUX. Other than the macro weakness it seems to fit the bill as a handy one-stop camera for when I am out and about,

Gt Egret at Mas Chaban.jpg

Egrets in Trees 1 LSF.jpg

Dibbling Swan.jpg
 
Kell said:
What are people using to turn their cameras into Maro mode?

Is there a screw in/on filter of some sort?
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Hi Kell - I have tried a few clip on/screw on adapters but generally just use 600mm at minimum focus distance (around a meter) and then crop in. The bee shot just above and the dragon fly a bit further up were done like this :)
 
dibbly dobbler said:
Hi Kell - I have tried a few clip on/screw on adapters but generally just use 600mm at minimum focus distance (around a meter) and then crop in. The bee shot just above and the dragon fly a bit further up were done like this :)
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Ah ok.

I thought there was some sort of weird contraption I was missing out on.
 
Kell said:
Ah ok.

I thought there was some sort of weird contraption I was missing out on.
Click to expand...
Well you could try a Raynox clip on (needs a stepping ring and you get vignetting at shorter focal lengths) or something like a Canon 500D screw on lens to get closer but I've never found the results to be all that much better than the naked lens used as descibed. Cheers
 
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That answers a question I was going to ask! Although I might have a 72mm close up "filter" set somewhere...
 
There are a few add-on close-up lenses worth trying.
The budget one is the Sigma AML72-01 which is two dioptres.
Then there's the Marumi 333 (3 dioptres) and 200 (5 dioptres).
Finally, as mentioned, the Canon 500D (2 dioptres).
The Raynox adapters are good quality but not really designed for a 72mm filter thread as Mike said.

Having several of the above on the desk at the moment, I would recommend hunting down one of the Sigmas unless you know you want to get much closer in which case you need the Marumi 500. Note that you need to use the camera at its longest focal lengths to get the best effect from one of these lenses.
 
I have both Marumi achromats and both are best used at around 300-400mm as above this zoom length all becomes very soft and misty on both filters. My Raynox (Dcr-150 and 250) achromats are fine at 600mm. All have very shallow DOF and take some getting used to.
 
ajophotog said:
I have both Marumi achromats and both are best used at around 300-400mm as above this zoom length all becomes very soft and misty on both filters. My Raynox (Dcr-150 and 250) achromats are fine at 600mm. All have very shallow DOF and take some getting used to.
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Agreed - I have tried a few times and never really gelled with them.... macro is the one thing (for me anyway) this camera doesn't do that well and it's the one thing I need to keep my 'big' camera for!
 
We have been away in the motor home. The trip included a couple of day in the Lot Valley, down to a large lake in the south, onto a small town coastal town and back via an overnight stop in different village in the Lot Valley. I had the Leica V-LUX with me....

Old bike at Cajarc......

Cajarc Flowers on Bike.jpg



The camping site out of hours office.....

Salvanhac Brocante.jpg


A local Chateau......

Salvanhac Chateau.jpg



Boats at Meze.......

Colourful Boats at Meze.jpg



The Marina at Dusk......

Meze Harbour At Dusk.jpg


Sete at Dusk.jpg


Each evening planes used the lake for training. The planes scooped up water from the lake as they skimmed the surface then dumped the water as they gained altitude. They circled over the town and repeated the scoop and dump procedure several times. Presumably they would use the tactic dealing with forest fires.

Single Plane Closest.jpg
 
dibbly dobbler said:
Am up in Torridon for the week - got a memory card full from this morning but here's one from last night with the RX10iv (hand held at 1/10th :oops: :$)


Loch Torridon by Mike Smith, on Flickr
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"Excellent" landscape/seascape style capture Mike, liking this presentation very much.
 
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