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Welcome back to the hum-and-drum of the work week. I trust your weekend was as fruitful as mine, as I set out with my camera on both Saturday and Sunday to get some shooting done. Only a couple of keepers, but that’s how it goes: not every image can be a winner. Speaking of winners, last week’s submission was……a saw-tooth hanger on a picture frame. Did you get it? Was it too hard? Saw-tooth hanger would have won, or just hanger. Try to keep your minds open as I’m working to include everyday items so as to expand your horizons and encourage you to take a second look at the world around you. As for this week’s submission – can you tell me what you’re looking at?
Good morning America, and welcome back to Macro Monday. Last week’s submission was a roll of toilet paper. Did you get it? Probably only if you buy the quality toilet paper would you even recognize it. This week’s submission is equally difficult. So…can you tell me what you’re looking at? And please be as specific as possible.
Welcome back, Cats and Kittens! Last Macro Monday’s submission was…..drum roll please…the power terminal of a computer tower! That one was kind of tough – to me it looked like the dance floor at Studio 54. Now, for this week’s submission: can you tell me what you’re looking at? Come on, it’s not as hard as last time…and it’s definitely funnier than the last…
Nikon just released it’s new point-and-shoot flagship, the Coolpix A. While it is technically just a point-and-shoot camera, it seems a little unfair to call it that, as it has an APS-C sensor – just like the Nikon DX series DSLRs. This little guy packs quite a punch, especially in low light – the active D-lighting alone may top my D7000′s capability in shadow details and noise reduction. This is possible because it was designed without a low-pass filter, just like the D7100. The advantage of not having a low-pass filter is the camera retains much greater detail throughout the entire image (with one less filter for light to pass through, your image is much sharper/has greater clarity). That also explains how the Coolpix A has less grain than my D7000 at higher ISO settings.
The camera itself is small but rugged. Not heavy, just rugged – and it still fits in your shirt pocket. It has a fixed wide angle lens (18.5mm) and DSLR like control over settings such as color parameters, impressive active D-lighting (as I mentioned before), manual focus option on the lens – making it feel more like a ‘real camera’, and there’s a hot shoe for your Nikon speedlights. Heck, my Nissin flash works like a champ on it. The menu system is easy to navigate and the auto-focus is smooth and fast. My only beef with the Coolpix A is the macro lens can stand to be a little better, both in focus speed and proximity. In fact, it seems that Canon’s had Nikon beat on their macro focus in point-and-shoots for some time, but that’s the only place they outshine Coolpix. Other than that, the Coolpix A makes the Canon Powershot G1X and G15 look bulky and slow, both in form and low-light functionality.
Fuji’s new X100s just hit the market a couple weeks ago and has been all the rage with pros and enthusiasts alike, but the Coolpix A just may take the cake. Not only does it beat Canon’s best Powershots in size, it’s sleeker than the Fuji, too. It’s a better size and has a better price tag than the X100s…$200 cheaper, mind you. Both cameras are great at higher ISO’s, but the X100s just doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to the intuitive controls of the Coolpix A.
Not at all an unfair comparison, as they both have similar sensors and are seeking to reel in the same demographic. You are, after all, the final judge as to what camera is the best. You are the demographic that both companies wish to please, and luckily we have both cameras in stock here at our store, so drop by and get your hands on one. We hope to see you soon, so until then: Happy Hunting!
Last week’s picture was the pistil (and part of the stamen) of a flower. That particular flower, which I don’t know the name of – and believe me, I scoured the web looking for it – just so happens to look like a jellyfish twirling her dress. I just closed in with my macro lens to get a better look at the propeller-like growth, which when surrounded by the petals, looks like the inside of a jet engine. Well, to me anyway. I just love nature’s unlimited supply of shapes and sizes.
This week’s Macro Monday submission is tricky. Can you tell me what it is you’re looking at? Be as specific as possible. The winner gets a free seat in the next Macro Photography class we offer, which will be located in our new store on West Anderson Lane. I hope your weekend was as relaxing as mine was. Until next week…Happy Hunting.
