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More from Leo.The.Ninja.Photos
Whenever I've taken any photographs at cons and such in the past, if I wasn't using the camera on my iPod Touch or my iPhone 5c, I've taken a majority of my photos between this photo account and my main one using my go-to camera. Specifically, it's a Canon PowerShot SX20 IS.
Since last Christmas, I got myself a new little toy: the Canon VIXIA HF R700.
It's a camcorder. But it also fortunately takes photos. That said, I wanted to be sure that it has decent quality for both photos and video (the latter, of course, may hopefully encourage me to branch into furry/con videos as well as furr/con photos). So a month or two ago, I took sample photos of my new Pikachu plushie you see here - whom I affectionately call Toshi - for example and comparison purposes. Both photos you see here have been touched up slightly with Photoshop.
From a glance, both photos seem more or less normal. Upon further inspection, however, the camcorder quality seems to have a bit of "grain;" not messy grain, but, like, "colourful" grain. Plus the camcorder quality doesn't seem to possess the same amount of sharpness as it's camera counterpart (more than likely because it's main sharp quality lies within the video shooting methinks). And I don't believe that the camcorder has built-in flash for photography.
By now, you're possibly thinking, "well, Leo, what does this have to do with con photos?" A lot, actually, because I want to keep you happy and have you continue to enjoy what I bring to the table. And with
fast approaching, I want to know which toy of mine will do the photos for this year's edition of Toronto's largest hotel-based furry convention justice.
And so, I ask for you to give me your thoughts on this matter right away...
Would you be comfortable with either quality? Would you like me to bring both cameras or not worry and only bring just the small camcorder (thereby saving on extra baggage)? Does quality even matter when it comes to furry/con photos? Would this new quality turn you away or keep you anticipating what comes next?
And if nothing else, do you like my new plushie? Pika~! :3
Since last Christmas, I got myself a new little toy: the Canon VIXIA HF R700.
It's a camcorder. But it also fortunately takes photos. That said, I wanted to be sure that it has decent quality for both photos and video (the latter, of course, may hopefully encourage me to branch into furry/con videos as well as furr/con photos). So a month or two ago, I took sample photos of my new Pikachu plushie you see here - whom I affectionately call Toshi - for example and comparison purposes. Both photos you see here have been touched up slightly with Photoshop.
From a glance, both photos seem more or less normal. Upon further inspection, however, the camcorder quality seems to have a bit of "grain;" not messy grain, but, like, "colourful" grain. Plus the camcorder quality doesn't seem to possess the same amount of sharpness as it's camera counterpart (more than likely because it's main sharp quality lies within the video shooting methinks). And I don't believe that the camcorder has built-in flash for photography.
By now, you're possibly thinking, "well, Leo, what does this have to do with con photos?" A lot, actually, because I want to keep you happy and have you continue to enjoy what I bring to the table. And with
fast approaching, I want to know which toy of mine will do the photos for this year's edition of Toronto's largest hotel-based furry convention justice.And so, I ask for you to give me your thoughts on this matter right away...
Would you be comfortable with either quality? Would you like me to bring both cameras or not worry and only bring just the small camcorder (thereby saving on extra baggage)? Does quality even matter when it comes to furry/con photos? Would this new quality turn you away or keep you anticipating what comes next?
And if nothing else, do you like my new plushie? Pika~! :3
Category Photography / Miscellaneous
Species Pokemon
Size 1280 x 1280px
File Size 431.7 kB
Yeah, so I see.
I've even started to think after I've posted this if maybe I should just bring both cameras but have one strictly for photos and the other one for videos only. I'd just have to get used to lugging around two cameras at all times though because I never knew when something exciting that's video-worthy or camera-worthy will happen. lol
I've even started to think after I've posted this if maybe I should just bring both cameras but have one strictly for photos and the other one for videos only. I'd just have to get used to lugging around two cameras at all times though because I never knew when something exciting that's video-worthy or camera-worthy will happen. lol
Which is why I use E-M5 II ( https://www.dpreview.com/products/o.....slrs/oly_em5ii ) that has 5-axis in-body stabilization and HD video. It has a viewing screen, so I can take photos in fursuit; and without a mirror, so it's lighter and have fast autofocus, even when using the screen (DSLRs tend to be slower when using the screen, although this is increasingly less true now).
... although it's still mostly a still image camera. Videos come out a little soft. If I really wanted video sharpness above all I would have gone with Panasonic cameras with 4K sensors and interchangeable lens.
Of course, your gear isn't everything; detail sharpness, or rather microcontrast (you can sharpen image in processing, but you can't add details that weren't captured), is only one part of what makes images enjoyable. Keep an eye out for Good lighting ( https://youtu.be/Jw066PBZe60 ), which is paramount for photography (hard at conventions T_T, though previous years' FE space does have quite a few large windows that let in soft natural light), as well as things that no hardware can help, like composition, timing, posing, communicating with your subjects, editing, writing funny captions on photos, etc... the photographer isn't just there to press buttons.
... although it's still mostly a still image camera. Videos come out a little soft. If I really wanted video sharpness above all I would have gone with Panasonic cameras with 4K sensors and interchangeable lens.
Of course, your gear isn't everything; detail sharpness, or rather microcontrast (you can sharpen image in processing, but you can't add details that weren't captured), is only one part of what makes images enjoyable. Keep an eye out for Good lighting ( https://youtu.be/Jw066PBZe60 ), which is paramount for photography (hard at conventions T_T, though previous years' FE space does have quite a few large windows that let in soft natural light), as well as things that no hardware can help, like composition, timing, posing, communicating with your subjects, editing, writing funny captions on photos, etc... the photographer isn't just there to press buttons.
Ah, yeah, Olympus. Pretty decent quality that is. And ironically, while the camcorder has the viewing screen whether taking videos or photos, when it comes to taking photos, the only way I'd do that is by pressing a certain icon/button on the screen itself. You'd think there'd be something on the outside of it for the photo function, but nope. lol So I'd imagine if I were ever in fursuit (some day) and try to take photos with a camcorder, the hand-paw fingers vs. a touch screen would prove exceedingly difficult. ;^w^
And that's true, too. I shouldn't really have to worry about the quality of photos. It's the subject matter and the timing and what's going on and who's involved that counts, right? And way to make use of my older photos for examples. That means a lot; I'm glad I'm funny!
Thanks as always, Kakurady!
And that's true, too. I shouldn't really have to worry about the quality of photos. It's the subject matter and the timing and what's going on and who's involved that counts, right? And way to make use of my older photos for examples. That means a lot; I'm glad I'm funny!
Thanks as always, Kakurady!
Looking at the tech specs:
1. Sensor size is 1/4.85-inch (or 0.52cm) diagonally. The SX20 IS has a 1/2.3" sensor (or 1.1 cm, tho actually only 0.75cm). In low light (like at furry conventions), a larger sensor has less noise, both from electronics/amplification, and from dim light behaving more like particles than waves. A (much) larger sensor (with the right lens) can also create more out-of-focus areas, which is great if you're shooting portraits, but terrible if you're shooting wildlife. (Are fursuit photos portraits or wildlife?) That said the camcorder is great for vacations (i.e. outdoors in daylight with faraway subjects), because the small sensor size makes 32x zoom practical.
2. Sensor is 1080p. Like almost all photo cameras, it uses a Bayer color filter array, which sacrifices a little resolution to get color information.
Of course, sensor is not everything, lens is important too, there's diminishing returns to every specification, and the most important part of photography is not the gear, but still the photographer.
1. Sensor size is 1/4.85-inch (or 0.52cm) diagonally. The SX20 IS has a 1/2.3" sensor (or 1.1 cm, tho actually only 0.75cm). In low light (like at furry conventions), a larger sensor has less noise, both from electronics/amplification, and from dim light behaving more like particles than waves. A (much) larger sensor (with the right lens) can also create more out-of-focus areas, which is great if you're shooting portraits, but terrible if you're shooting wildlife. (Are fursuit photos portraits or wildlife?) That said the camcorder is great for vacations (i.e. outdoors in daylight with faraway subjects), because the small sensor size makes 32x zoom practical.
2. Sensor is 1080p. Like almost all photo cameras, it uses a Bayer color filter array, which sacrifices a little resolution to get color information.
Of course, sensor is not everything, lens is important too, there's diminishing returns to every specification, and the most important part of photography is not the gear, but still the photographer.
Interesting collection of tech specs you've looked into, man.
Heh, that really does beg the question, doesn't it? Fursuits = wildlife? lol Well, technically, we are dressed up as various animals running around freely, so... maybe? lol And yeah, that's totally a good thing, too, as far as the camcorder; and with furry conventions being akin to "vacations," capturing moments with it would be ideal! And I love the 32x zoom on it! ^w^ Plus, yeah, lens along with proper lighting and arrangements and such help with photos, too.
Heh, that really does beg the question, doesn't it? Fursuits = wildlife? lol Well, technically, we are dressed up as various animals running around freely, so... maybe? lol And yeah, that's totally a good thing, too, as far as the camcorder; and with furry conventions being akin to "vacations," capturing moments with it would be ideal! And I love the 32x zoom on it! ^w^ Plus, yeah, lens along with proper lighting and arrangements and such help with photos, too.
Well, here's the thing...
The camcorder has an advantage in daylight, with far subjects (think CN Tower or Statue of Liberty); but furry conventions are nothing like that. You're usually <10m away from subjects, lit by dim, artificial light. This is where camcorder's 32x zoom doesn't help, and the small sensor gives it a disadvantage in gathering light.
If it's image quality at furry conventions you're looking for, I'd stay away from compact superzooms with 10x+ zoom, like the SX20 or HF R700, and get something like S100 or a used entry-level interchangeable lens camera. (Older DSLRs can't do video but newer ones likely will.)
The camcorder has an advantage in daylight, with far subjects (think CN Tower or Statue of Liberty); but furry conventions are nothing like that. You're usually <10m away from subjects, lit by dim, artificial light. This is where camcorder's 32x zoom doesn't help, and the small sensor gives it a disadvantage in gathering light.
If it's image quality at furry conventions you're looking for, I'd stay away from compact superzooms with 10x+ zoom, like the SX20 or HF R700, and get something like S100 or a used entry-level interchangeable lens camera. (Older DSLRs can't do video but newer ones likely will.)
I wouldn't say they are POS, they have their goods and bads; but furry conventions is where you get all their bads and none of their goods.
It's like bringing a lone horseman to a ninja fight; he could win, but that's not what cavalry is for.
(The SX20 still has pretty good indoor image quality, though, and I doubt it's worth your time to find a camera at the same price that would beat it. It's just that adding the price of the camcorder, and you might be able to afford something that will outclass both.)
It's like bringing a lone horseman to a ninja fight; he could win, but that's not what cavalry is for.
(The SX20 still has pretty good indoor image quality, though, and I doubt it's worth your time to find a camera at the same price that would beat it. It's just that adding the price of the camcorder, and you might be able to afford something that will outclass both.)
Meanwhile one thing you can do is to feed your cameras enough light. This can be natural light, flash lighting, or even a combination of natural + flash or room light + flash.
Be careful though, over-reliance on only flash lighting can make your photos look samey and flat. (But so does over-relying on background blurring. :P ) Also beware that flash falls off with distance pretty quickly.
Be careful though, over-reliance on only flash lighting can make your photos look samey and flat. (But so does over-relying on background blurring. :P ) Also beware that flash falls off with distance pretty quickly.
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