Got a new camera...pics included

[Curtis O. Seebeck]

Thank you, everyone, for the responses to my camera query. Some of you will cringe at my choice to not buy a DSLR but this is the one that I felt would best suit my needs. I ended up buying a Sony Cybershot DCS H5. It is one of the super zoom cameras that are "almost" an SLR http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

It has a ton of manual features including being able to place a known white object in the shooting environment and setting the WB based on it. It also has ISO sensitivity up to 1000, has shutter priority and aperture priority modes, as well as manual focus. The thing that really sold me on this camera vs the similar Cannon is the 3" LCD screen. Sure makes it easy to see the results!

Straight out of the box without reading the manual it is already producing snap shots of my daughter that blow away the previous camera. I am reading the manual right now and will hopefully have some great pictures to show you guys soon!

Here is a pic of the camera and a link with to DPreview for more info if you are interested:
Sony DSC H5 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sony/sony_dsch5.asp)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyH5/Images/Sony_H5_3q-001.jpg

[Curtis O. Seebeck]

Ooops, forgot the pics...

These are straight out of the camera with no work in Paint Shop Pro other than straightening and cropping.

I know they are still not perfect but they were done quickly without much fooling around with the camera and they are a heckuva lot better than with the old camera.

This is a mesquite piece I turned this weekend. The knob on top is Mescalbean. The holes are worm holes that were in the piece and used for effect. They go all the way through. Maybe I should put a light inside and make it a mesquite-o-lantern!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/MesquiteMan/MesquiteJar1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/MesquiteMan/MesquiteJar2.jpg

This is a redwood burl hollow form with a Massaranduba collar. The wood is a block that Chris Lengel gave me during his visit a while back.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/MesquiteMan/Redwood3.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[Dennis Peacock]

Very nice camera Curtis. It will serve you very well. The posted pics look very good and the clarity of the pics are great. Congrats on the new camera.

[Henry C. Gernhardt, III]

Great gloat, Curtis! Those are some beautiful pieces. BTW: Does the camera have a hidden hot shoe, or other capacity for off-camera flash? I didn't see that in the pic. Despite that, I think you made a good choice. Your unit uses Zeiss optics, which are, IMHO, the BEST OPTICS IN THE WORLD! (ahem...) :)

Have fun with the new toy.

[Vaughn McMillan]

Excellent gloat, Curtis. I've not been keeping up with the latest and greatest in digital cameras lately, but it looks like you got a sweet one for a heckuva price. I paid about the same amount several years ago for mine, and it's only a 4 MP with 8x optical zoom.

If you don't already have a good tripod, I highly recommend one. Especially with that much zoom. Enjoy the new toy!

- Vaughn

[Corey Hallagan]

Congrats Curtis! The photos look great!

Corey

[Guy Germaine]

I've got the H3 and my son has the H2 and we like them a LOT! For me, who is just learning about photography, they're great cameras. My son just bought himself a Canon EOS Rebel Xt DSLR. He's really gooten the photography bug. Next year, I plan on getting a Canon D30.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Congrats Curtis. It looks like the camera will serve you well. Those are some awful nice pictures.