Oly C-5050 and Preset Modes: Program, Portrait, etc.

Paul D. Sullivan

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Mar 20, 2003, 6:40:54 PM3/20/03

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I did a test run today at the Seattle Japanese Gardens to try to
figure out what the different settings seem to actually do
visually when you use them.

I took a total of 125 images in sets of 5. The 5 settings used
were:

Program
Portrait
Sports
Portrait + Landscape
Landscape

I found that the Sports mode had a pretty substantial amount of
noise but was consistently brighter. However, I found that for
things like moving water, it only marginally helped make the
image sharper while capturing that motion. I expected a much
bigger difference.

Landscape mode seemed to basically make everything "Close" to
being in focus, whether close up or far away. The whole image
had a slight blur to it all the time.

Portrait + Landscape gave very good results, providing crisp
focus on the foreground object and pretty decent focus on the
rest of the image. I preferred it to the Landscape shots in
almost every single case.

Portrait mode seemed to have better contrast than Program mode
did, but Program mode did very well indeed.

So, I'm not as impressed with the overall dynamics as I thought I
would be. I honestly expected a very wide range of differences
between one mode and another when executing the same shot, but
the differences were much harder to discern than I thought they
would be.

Lesson seems to be - the book tells you what each mode does and
it pretty much does it. :) (I'm such a dope)

I'm thinking that the images I took at the beach, in a random
fashion, were more impacted by the level of light and whether the
flash executed than the particular mode setting I chose for a
specific image. Flash pictures have incredible color, with stark
and vivid contrast. Non-flash images are much more muted with
softer, less contrasting transitions.

Is it likely that Flash does have much more impact on the image
than the mode dial does?

Thanks

Charlie

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Mar 20, 2003, 9:26:11 PM3/20/03

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In article <aksea.43432$Ad6....@nwrddc01.gnilink.net>,
"Paul D. Sullivan" <dude...@hotmail.com> wrote:

IMO, the mode settings you've mentioned are nothing but gimmicks. You'll
be better served by learning the principles of photography and using the
A, S, or M modes.

> I'm thinking that the images I took at the beach, in a random
> fashion, were more impacted by the level of light and whether the
> flash executed than the particular mode setting I chose for a
> specific image. Flash pictures have incredible color, with stark
> and vivid contrast. Non-flash images are much more muted with
> softer, less contrasting transitions.

If you're talking about nearby shots of people coming out better, that's
because with all the white sand, the camera will tend to underexpose a
nearby subject. The flash will illuminate the subject better.

Check out this site:
http://www.shortcourses.com/

Especially this part:
http://www.shortcourses.com/using/index.htm

BTW, I love my 5050.

--
Charlie Dilks
Newark, DE USA

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Mar 21, 2003, 12:27:52 AM3/21/03

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In article <i7xea.44747$Ad6....@nwrddc01.gnilink.net>,

"Paul D. Sullivan" <dude...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I gotta find some place to post my photos for free so I can share
> them with folks. I like taking pics. :)

Pbase is still free, at least I've been using it that way. I can't even
see a way to pay.

http://www.pbase.com/

Paul D. Sullivan

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Mar 21, 2003, 12:41:58 AM3/21/03

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I checked it and it cost $23 per year for 100 meg, $60 per year
for 300 meg. That is pretty reasonable too. Just not free.

"Charlie" <cdi...@bellatlantic.net> wrote in message

news:cdilks-F32232....@news.fu-berlin.de...

Charlie

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Mar 21, 2003, 12:48:28 AM3/21/03

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In article <GCxea.11706$IM3....@nwrddc03.gnilink.net>,

"Paul D. Sullivan" <dude...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I checked it and it cost $23 per year for 100 meg, $60 per year
> for 300 meg. That is pretty reasonable too. Just not free.

Did you try to sign up?
I did and as I said, I couldn't even find out =how= to pay. I would have
because I'm a great guy. ;)
I've heard of others saying it'll be pay soon.
Try it. They can't get ya until you send your CC no.

Godfrey DiGiorgi

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Mar 21, 2003, 12:58:02 PM3/21/03

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The automated and programmed settings available on most modern cameras
handle the 90th percentile photographic need reasonably well. However,
knowing the underlying photographic principles and having the ability
to control your camera completely with knowledge opens up an entirely
new range of photography. I would say that less than 20% of my picture
taking is best served by the automated program modes in my cameras, not
because they are not good at what they do but because what I'm
interested in photographing is generally outside that 90th percentile
picture taking world.

If your photographic interests move along the usual path, you'll find
yourself there sooner rather than later... ;-)

Godfrey

In article <S8wea.68698$iq1....@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>, Paul D.