MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Learn how shutter speed, apeture and ISO influence each other first
That holds true for all cameras not just SLRs.
That holds true for all cameras not just SLRs.
Most compacts are very limited in what you can do with the aperture and thanks to sensor size has a limited effect on depth-of-field. ISO range is limited too.
I don't know about most cameras. Most of the comapcts I've used have full manual controls. However you are of course quite correct about the effects of these changes being limited.
However deep DoF is not always a bad thing - hand-held macro on my old compact was way easier than on my SLR with the macro lens, because you got much greater DoF. Also made the pictures better too. To get the same results I'm going to need a ring flash as well as the macro lens, which on their own cost more than the original compact did...
Yeah, absolutely. Shallow DOF from dslrs takes some managing.
Which compacts molgrips?
Am looking for something with a proper viewfiinder, full manual control and reasonable weather protection at the mo, nothing seems to fit the bill.
Olympus C-5050Z was my old compact until last year. We've also got an Oly mju (I think, not sure) that also has full manual control.
There are things I miss about the 5050 actually - in MF mode it had a distance scale on the LCD which was quite useful. It also had an optical viewfinder.
Next purchase perhaps for me:
Addictive, isn't it?
Did you get a decent tripod BTW? Seem to remember you were after one.
Nah, no tripod yet. Have to allocate the funds, but I really want a wide angle lens for the up coming summertime trips in the Alps. 350 quid seems to be the bargain bin price for US/Hong Kong stuff, or used here.
Sigma 10-20 is never off the camera these days, plenty about s/h at the mo.
Tripods make such a difference to macro with an slr though, opens up a whole new world!
Compared to the Olympus Zuiko Digital 9-18mm F4-5.6, the Sigma [10-20mm] is simply outclassed in practically every regard, with only its excellent control of chromatic aberration to boast about. In contrast the Olympus is significantly sharper, especially wide open, and has much lower distortion and falloff, making it the clear winner in this contest)
I reckon I can get the Oly for a similar price.
This is the tripod I want for macro - dunno if the moving parts will make it not stable enough for telephoto:


