gobs

I’ve got it!

And as you helped me so much, I’m happy to show it to you.

After having been close to obsessed by “which one to chose” for my purpose, I decided to go with the second-hand MFT Olympus E-M5 AV-Camera in BKK was selling. For a first attempt it ought to be ok I think…

It just arrived today at home, and at first glance, it’s a very, very nice and clean camera, hardly used, and perfectly working. One more time, AV-Camera has been perfect all through the deal process: hat down M. Mana! I can only recommend this shop…

The lens is the 12-50 mm sold with the camera as a kit. Not the “best” one, from what I’ve read, but at least I’ll be able to learn digital photography with it.

I’m very surprised by the feeling of this camera in hand. Compared to my vintage gear, there is not such a big difference in carrying it at use.

As one can see in the pic above, the E-M5 attached to its kit lens is not very small (I was a bit worried by that): just a bit compared to my usual vintage 135 film cameras. Good…

At first handlings, my hands and fingers fall just where they have to be, and the grip is good. My right eye naturally finds its way to the viewfinder, and though it’s a bit “shinning” it seems to be fully usable as a real finder.

Global build and finish quality is good and strong. Screen is bright and hudge. Viewfinder is bright too with a lot of infos desplayed. Buttons and levers have no play in them, and though plastic is all over the camera and lens, one doesn’t get the “cheap feeling” plastic sometimes gives…

I decided to go for the E-M5 for the magnesium alloy body, weather sealed body and lens, IBIS onboard (good for my vintage lenses), the praised bright viewfinder, the “neo-retro” look (as a vintage gear user)… and the reasonable price, IMHO, AV-Camera put it for sale (13000 Bahts the set as pictured).

Now I’ve to learn how to use it and how to shoot in digital first. Once done in a second time I’ll enjoy my old lenses…

Again, thanks to all here for your help and advices.

Cheers,

Ray

Here is a link for who wants to know some specs, handling, performances and some samples about previous and up-to-date digital cameras:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/cameras/reviews/

Good overview IMHO...

I agree with FR about AV Camera in BKK: great service, very helpful and trustworhty. I've dealt with M. Mana for film gear, and all has always been perfect.

As well, AV Camera has a second hand gear web-page:

http://www.avcamera.com/index.php/used

@ AssuranceTourix:

As an example, on the link above, AV Camera is selling a second hand Olympus E-M5 with 12-50 lens for 13000 Bahts.

If one is not on the expert/pro side, I think one can really get good and "young" SH digital gear for the price of a midrange smartphone...

Just my opinion...

Cheers,

Ray

Note to moderator: if those links are not allowed, please don't hesitate to delete them, and sory for the inconvenience.

I think I agree with AT: too much is too much

I like better the rendering of your original pic, Jimmy. Maybe a soft touch here and there would be ok, but the full Google thing, not my taste for sure...

As well, I like better the atmosphere of your first one Nongai...

AT you could buy a 2nd hand 10Mp DSLR body for roughly 4000 baht and a 50mm lens to go with it for another 3000.

The quality of photos you would get from that V's the X-Pro would be the same if your in daylight, things will differ at night, focus speed will differ, but it means nothing for general photography.

I notice you don't shoot at night, so save yourself some money, it's not the camera but the person behind it.

I could take a photo with a 300,000 baht body and take the same photo with a 4000 baht body using the same lens (resize it to 1024 wide), the only difference you will see is the 300,000 body has a wider field of view, quality will remain pretty much the same.

Exactly!

The camera doesn't do the pic. It may helps, but only if you do know how it does help...

For 7000-9000 Bahts, you can get a Pana Lumix G 2 or 3 (about 4-5 years old), 14-42 lens kit included.

For 10000-15000, you can get a Sony Nex 5n or Nex 6;

For about 15000 Bahts you can get an Oly OMD E-M5 fully refurbished by Olympus USA.

For example, I just missed a brand new Lumix G 5 in open box for 10000 Bahts on eBay (unsold stock items)

Not the best cameras nowadays, for sure, but very good ones to start and learn...

And you have many other brands as Pentax, Samsung, Canon, and so on...

Choice is vast, and rather "cheap" for some models...

For my part, as I'm a newbie in digital camera, I'll go this second-hand way just to know "how I feel" with that.

No "big money" involved for a "first try". If it really works good for me, I'll later invest in a true FF camera to better enjoy my vintage lenses (Sony 7 or so I think).

I have now to decide MFT (Lumix G3/Oly E-M5) vs aps-c (Nex 6). But that's not a big problem for a first attempt in DP I think...

But I understand everybody sees "midday at its own door" as it's said in France...

Cheers,

Ray

Impressive pics, FR

Thanks for sharing: may help me in my quest of a digital body (sensor-size wise)...

Cheers,

Ray

He said the exact opposite of what you said - and you think that validates what you said? What?

Yeah, it's part of the great fun here on TV.

Nothing really serious on TV. Don't worry too much...

Missleading posts and answers all over the board, but great fun though!

Please, don't take it wrong, fimgirl. I think we are not here to compete each other, but to explain and then understand...

Your editing shows very well the HDR implication, and I'm more than happy I've been able to see that.

After all, composition, shadows, darkness/lightness, details, atmosphere... it's just a matter of personnal preference.

Cheers

Thanks for your detailed replies.

After spending time browsing here and there, it seems the Motorola Moto G nearest contender available here in Thailand would be the Samsung J5, apart the "ruggedization". But as you say, mtls2005, a proper case may solve the "problem", if needed...

Both are often compared together through many websites/reviews.

Yes, I found Moto G offers from Hong-Kong. But I'm afraid I'm a "old school" guy: I need to handle at first and then decide

So I'll have a look at the Samsung J5, and try to test the GPS thinggy...

Again, thanks for your time. I do appreciate.

Cheers.

I too I like the shaggy's original one better.

I feel shadows give more depth to the pic with more "in the face" effect.

The second one seems a bit "flat" to me...

But it may be a matter of taste

Wow!

I'm amazed and impressed by what you can do with your computers, guys.

I didn't even imagine one can go so far into post-processing digital shots. Beautiful renditions...

Hat down.

I'm used to film photography, and I must confess I'm beginning to discover "another world" through your pics...

Cheers,

Ray

Thanks to all for the prompt and detailed replies.

It seems my doubts were funded: small, if any, market place for Motorola handsets here. In fact I previously did some search through several malls in CNX and didn’t find any. Some sellers even told me “no market in Thailand”.

I suppose I have to change my mind for something different…

And as it would be my first “smartphone” ever, I’m back to challenge myself: which one? Duh…

To avoid widespreading this thread, I'm opening a proper thread in the computer/mobile sub-general forum to find some help. Maybe I’ll meet some of you there:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/921375-motorola-moto-g-3-contender-in-thailand/

Thanks to all for your inputs. I greatly appreciate.

Cheers.

Hi all

I was looking to purchase a Motorola Moto G (3) smartphone, but it seems a bit challenging here in Thailand, so I have to change my mind. But as it would be my first smartphone ever and I have no knowledge in this area, I ask for your help to chose which one would do the trick.

I confess I’m a bit lost...

As it is, I’m not an Internet freek: no FB and the like and no hudge browsing. Not a gamer nor a movie watcher. Googling, mailing and accessing websites, it’s just fine for me. Stellar speed is not a real concern, but not slow either. Bells and whistles are not on my list. A 5” screen appears to me a good compromise. Price range should be up to 7000 Bahts…

I want it at first to bring it along with me everywhere I go, but especially, sometimes, on “off main roads” motorcycle rides, in my bag, not fixed to the handlebar. Not as a vocal aid, but more as a “place finder”: where am I now on the map and what to do to go there on the same map?

I want a good GPS/geolocalisation mode, even able to work offline if needed (no connection to the web).

I want a good phone (yeah, sure!).

I want a (rather) good camera.

I want it beginner friendly in use.

I want it a bit rugged.

I want a close and good after sale service.

That’s all, I think.

From what I heard and read, the Moto G (3) drew my attention for:

Easy to use

Screen easy to read even in full sun,

Not many mandatory apps I don’t want or use,

Very good geolocalisation mode even offline,

Correct to good camera,

Rugged screen and body.

In your opinion, which “easy to get” android smartphone would be the nearest contender here in Thailand?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

Ray

Hi all,

I'm thinking purchasing a Motorola Moto G smartphone, but it seems not so easy to find a dealer in CNX.

Any advice where to get one here?

Thanks in advance.

@ dancealot: impressive result

@ nongai: thanks for this interesting comparison. It well shows how that works...

And I can understand someone who sticks to the pic, may accept to get some noise.

Thanks for your inputs.

Chers,

Ray

Thank you Jimmy for opening this thread.

And thanks for the details, nongai and others. Now I understand...

It seems it's a bit like the zone system in B&W film photography.

As well, in the darkroom, when processing wet prints, one may use the split grading and/or use masks...

This pic for example:

Under the enlarger, if this negative is exposed as a whole, you get a pale and near-uniform grey sky with little details, though the foreground is OK.

To make the sky coming, this neg must be exposed about 1 stop more. But as a whole in this case, the foreground of the pic would be too dark. So one have to use hands or a piece of cardboard (as a mask) to hide the foreground at about half the right exposure time for the sky.

BTW B&W negatives usually have a wide exposure latitude: about 2 stops over and under the "right" exposure, and the emulsion "records" tiny details one have "to look after" when printing...

Cheers,

Ray

It's what we named " bracketing" on argentic photos ?

what is argentic photos??

anyone who does not understand the photographers talk about 'stops' please ask.

I had to look this up, but apparently "argentic" is a way of referring to film photography as opposed to digital sensors. It literally means "Of, pertaining to or containing silver," which would be an accurate description of photographic film.

Exactly, Vaultdweller.

"Photographie argentique" is the french term for "film photography" because of the silver laying in the film emulsion...

So I suppose Assurancetourix made a "shortcut" using "argentic photography" for "film photography".

As an aside, "film" in french means "movie"

Lith processed wet print on old outdated FB paper

Cheers,

Ray

...

When cycling, don't have a look too far , ir's disheartening

...

No, no, no, I don't want to see that!

For me this is a major case for "back home right now!"

Fortunately, there are no roads like this around my home...

Cheers,

Ray

...

99 kilometers today

How can you do that?

I bought a MT bike about 4 months ago, and I only put maybe 20 km in it... on flat roads around home!

Hot, tired, sweating... OMG! Not a pleasant experience...

...

Well, maybe I have to give it another try...

Cheers,

Ray