Hey Herman, You are having a lot of questions for me!!! Next set of questions will be the last one, deal? I am eager to interview the next candidate.
Question 22: What is important on a camera for you?
Reliability to not miss out on the oppertunity to capture the moment. If a camera is reliable and the user gets to know the good and bad aspects of the camera then I think it is a good tool to capture a personal moment. Therefore focus speed (accuracy and reliability) is most crucial to me, but if you know your tools well then you actually might be able to work arround some weaknesses without hampering the end result. If you want to add more then the lens, sensor size and effective dynamic range also become important. Maybe I need to explain that a little more, because I am aware that, with the application in mind, I personally tend to see things more from a technical point of view...
Technically photography is about capturing light of the subject and I see the following parameters as the ones you can play with as photographer:
- Composition (incl. Subject and Light as well as Distance/Angle, Aspect ratio and Zoom),
- Aperture (vs Distance & Zoom (and sensor size)) to manage focus control through the depth of the subject,
- Shutterspeed (vs Light, Aperture and ISO performance (and tripod icw remote control vs optical stabilization)) to manage the time aspect of a photo
With any camera you can work on most aspect of composition, an external flash (or other additional light sources / light related tools) and extensive zoom range (wide as well as tele) give you more freedom.
Where the most effective aperture control requires a prime lens (and large sensor) which is perpendicular to the large zoom range (and especially tele applications actually benefit from a small sensor, if resolution is less of a concern).
Shutterspeed itself is as far as I experienced / know typically not a limitation factor on a camera (or use grey filters), but do the limitations on effective dynamic range of the sensor you might end up with high-light areas being blown out, totally black shadow areas or even noise (here a prime helps, so especially important icw large tele zoom).
So to summarize, for me a camera needs to be
- Reliable (especially focus speed & accuracy (workarround via pre-focus or manual focus))
- Fast lens (availability in case of system camera) in combination with not too small sensor size for focus control through the depth of the subject
- Large zoom range lens (availability in case of system camera) for composition on certain applications (wide vs tele)
- Sensor (and controller) with low noise level at high ISO, Large dynamic range, effective image stabilization for slower exposures (in-body vs in-lens or just tripod with remote control)
Last but not least, the best camera is a camera you bring and use, so compactness and fun to use never under estimated. And unfortunately they don't always go together. Personally I don't like the "feel" of the current electronic view fienders, so for candid portraits, sports and most tele work an optical view fiender might be crucial.
Question 23: What software do you use for post-processing?
Haha, a couple of weeks back I use Shift-CTRL-PrintScreen for resizing of a picture to be able to send it my e-mail, do you call that post-processing?
Question 24: Which aspect ratio do you prefer?
Good question!!! Initially I loved the hardware switch on the LX3 (and extended with 1:1 on the LX5), but more and more I see that fine tuning of compositie by cropping during post processing for the ultimate shot you want to share with others is unavoidable (at least at my photography level...). 16-9 (or even wider) is great for panorama shots presented on a LCD-television, for me the difference between 3:4 and 2:3 is limitted and I love the look of 1:1 for the right subject (but also not for all shots, because that would become boring). Typically something lik 3:4 to 2:3 is the easiest format to maintain attention to one subject in its environment. But as you can read, I actually don't prefer one ratio over the other and don't really need the switch on the camera either (it confuses me / takes time), but grid lines of common ratio's on the LCD for framing would be nice.
- If you frame many pictures then it would of course be handy to shot on a standardized frame format.
Question 25: Do you take picture in color or black and white?
Both, but so far mainly color and if needed transfer to Black and White during post processing (which I don't do much yet).
Question 26: What are you most favorite camera settings?
iA , Dynamic, B&W (but also Panaroma sweep of Sony sounds interesting)
- But I still have to learn a lot about the applications of the basics like shutter speed and aperture...
Question 27: Do you also use video functionality on your digital camera's?
Rarely, last weekend I did to capture the birds flying away after a wedding, because I wasn't sure how to capture them as a still picture...
- And of course also of our kids playing / singing, but still taking pictures seem to be more attractive to me (maybe because it is easier to select the best one).
Question 28: What do you expect from 3D photograph (and video)?
Personally I am not that interested (but I think it is funny you were already asking me this question privately before the release of the Panasonic 3D lens for m43 format). 2D is already more than difficult enough to control. For me Zoom, Shutter time and Aperture (icw sensor and lens) are additional parameters to utilize to get to a better photo. Where 3D will introduce more parameters you HAVE TO control, so it will become more difficult (just like video requires you to make many good shots...). Results can be fun(ny), but I don't see the artistic added value yet and also the display possibilities still need to improve significantly to make it accessable outside the cinema (currently also based a lot on calculated images).
From both our daughters we have 3D videos from before they were born, but I like the picture from after their birth much more. But as always, time will tell, maybe my kids will like it...
It was a joy for me to read the other interviews on this site (see link below) and think interviews like these will make the atmosphere even better.
I already know who is next, you know? Who also wants to be interviewed and/or ask the questions like Herman is doing now? Just post here or send me or Herman a private message, otherwise we might ask you!!!
Member Interviews - Micro Four Thirds User Forum