So, What Can You Do With an Ultra-compact, anyway?

[zackiedawg]

I thought I'd follow up my recent acquisition of a new ultra-compact camera with some shots around Disney from that camera. ; Some big-time DSLR folks have no respect for these tiny cameras - "toys", "jokes", "P&S", "amateurs"...that's all they're good for. ; As a DSLR shooter, I find it humorous to walk around a park with just the ultra-compact, still taking the time to line up my shot, compose, seek proper exposure, etc - and watch the dismissive scoffs by the big-time photographers and their DSLRs (those who mock ironically are nearly always in 'green box' or P mode). ; Classic Prince-and-pauper tale - a DSLR photographer switches places with a P&Ser, and finds out how snobbish DSLR shooters can sometimes be towards the P&S folks. ; But I find the thing is - it's the photographer more than the tool. ; Know basics of photography, take the time to set up and plan a shot, get the settings right, and even the cheapest little P&S camera can take a nice shot. ; Just as a DSLR can take junk if the person behind it doesn't know what they're doing.

Now, I'm far from a professional photographer, so I'm certainly not holding myself up as the representative of the best someone can do from a P&S. ; Some P&S cams have manual controls and great lenses, and can rival DSLRs in some conditions. ; No...I wanted to show that even with a miniscule ultra-compact slimline with NO manual controls at all, you can still get nice, fun, printable shots and even still be artistic...and shoot a surprising range of subjects and scenes. ; My TX1 is suh-mall! ; Seriously tiny. ; Like credit card dimensions, and no thicker than a chronograph watch. ; It's what I like about it - super portable, carry anywhere.

So last week, when I got to Disney on Thursday, the day was half-through already, and I wanted to go over to DHS for the rest of the day, then hit Downtown Disney. ; I had just checked in and didn't want to unpack everything yet, so I figured it was a good chance to see how the little cam would perform in late afternoon and evening lighting...daylight stuff, then find out how that backlit sensor pulls off the high ISO stuff. ; I also brought it with me to Epcot one day, and to AK Lodge for dinner one night...so I was able to take a range of photos with it. ; Here are some of my favorites from this little cam (link to 1024-pixel long version below each shot):

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689717/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689718/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689720/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689721/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689722/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689724/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689726/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689729/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689740/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689744/original

A little high ISO work for the back-illuminated sensor and twilight handheld merge mode:

ISO500:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689735/original

ISO3200 (!!!):

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689736/original

ISO400...no flash, just available light:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689737/original

ISO1250:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689758/original

ISO3200:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/121689760/original

Comments, questions, critique always welcomed!