On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:44:33 -0700, Meghan Noecker <friesian DeleteThis @zoocrewphoto.com>
wrote:
>On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:39:59 GMT, Alex Barnes <nospam DeleteThis @noaddress.org>
>wrote:
>
>
>>The Sony F707, F717, F818, and other models all come standard with f/2.0-f/2.4
>>throughout their zoom range. They even have a 1/1.8 or 2/3 sensor.
>
<snippage>
>Is it somewhat newer? I have never seen a p&s camera with a zoom that
>was better than f/4.5. And even the SLR cameras often come with a kit
>lens that is f/4.5-5.6. Fast lenses usually aren't standard equipment.
The Sony F717 was released in Sept of 2002, the 707 a year earlier than that.
Many of the better quality P&S cameras have all had zoom lenses with f-stops
starting below f/3.x. It's why most P&S people aren't all that fired up over
high-ISO availability on some of them. Cleaner high-ISOs would be nicer, and
indeed some cameras like the Fuji P&S have them as clean as large sensor DSLRs,
but it's not a make or break deal. We already have the light-grasp needed right
in the lens instead of the sensor. All the other cameras I mentioned I took from
online reviews from newer cameras.
You must not have been looking too hard.
(Most people who have been "pro" oriented just automatically dismiss all P&S
cameras so they never bothered looking. I've never been one to follow the blind
foolishness of others, whether I'm making money from my interests or not. I
can't tell you how many fellow "pros" I've run into who were some of the most
stupid people I've ever met in life. Now when I hear the phrase "recommended by
Pros", I only laugh.)
>
>Would you like me to photograph the p&s camera in this house and send
>you the photo? I would like to know how I can use my flash (which
>weighs a lot more than the camera) on a tiny camera with no hot shoe.
>
My Sony P&S has a hot-shoe, so I just use that. Some of the newer P&S cameras
also have a hot-shoe, like the Canon S5 IS, among many others. For my other P&S
cameras I just use a small bracket that came with my IR floods for my Sony, and
mount this on it:
http://www.adorama.com/SZ23504.html (though you can use any
tiny flash bracket that you like, even one you make) This slave-trigger turns
all my flash units into a bounce and swiveling flash unit and accommodates all
pre-flash modes in all my cameras. For red-eye reduction of very distant
subjects then I just use the slave-trigger with the flash attached as a
hand-held flash and point it in the general direction, holding it an
arm's-length away from the axis of the camera's lens. This would be the simplest
way to use it with any camera that is too small to even have a tripod socket to
which you would attach a flash bracket. If using flash with my hot-shoe'ed
cameras, then I have a coiled extension cable that connects hot-shoe to hot-shoe
to achieve the same red-eye reduction on distant subjects by holding it an arm's
length away. For macro photography I use the flash on a bracket with the coiled
extension cable with the hot-shoe camera. The bracket affording enough side-step
and tilted forward to the front of the lens to get around the front of the lens
(diffuser on the flash of course). On non-hot-shoe cameras then I use the
slave-trigger. (The extension cable only for the convenience if I already have
hot-shoe access, then I don't have to be concerned if I'm choosing a pre-flash
mode or not and dealing with a slightly more bulky item, the slave-trigger.)
A 100% adaptable system that can be used on any camera in existence. Any flash
unit + any good slave trigger + any hotshoe cable + any accessory bracket
(mounted into the tripod socket). It works on anything and can be used in any
photography situation. No need to send a photo, it'll work with any of your
cameras.
I despise using flash in all situations where I can get away without it. But for
those times that I need it, I also need a 100% adaptable system for any camera.
From SLR to Digital. I never know what the next new unique situation is going to
require.
If you must have a hot-shoe or other available external flash system built into
your camera, try going here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp
Input "Format" -- SLR-like or Compact (but even one discontinued ultra-compact
also has a hotshoe)
Input "External Flash" -- Yes
Then hit "compare". You'll have to put in some other limiting options, because
you'll always get the "Too many results, only first 10 shown, please try to be
more specific." alert.
If you want to see even more just change the "Only Current" option at the bottom
from "yes" to "don't mind". That's a great way to find used cameras that fit
what you need.
People who push DSLR's swear they never even knew this search feature existed or
that any of those options don't exist on non-DSLR cameras. They love putting on
their blinders to justify their purchases, then proudly display their ignorance
in this newsgroup and everywhere else by incessantly proclaiming that non-DSLRs
can't do what they can do.
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