When I was back in the UK last week I didn't have a great deal of time to photograph anything other than the wedding in London, but did manage to get to the beach for half an hour before dashing off to catch my flight home. And while I wasn't specifically looking for another shot to add to my beachcoming category, I was pleased to come across this abandoned child's trainer.
I should also add that this is the first shot taken with my latest new camera, a Ricoh GR Digital III. I've been happy with my Canon G9, but Libby has largely commandeered it so I've been pondering getting a new compact for a while. Initially, I thought about getting the Canon G10, or maybe the Olympus EP-1, and then Canon released the G11. And for a while, I was almost convinced that the G11 would be the way to go, but decided to go with the Ricoh instead.
There are a variety of things I like about it (in no particular order):
First: it shoots RAW (as do most high-end compacts) but they're DNG's rather than a proprietary format. This means I can edit the files in any of my RAW editors without needing to wait for the next update to include this camera.
Second: although it has a fixed 6mm lens (28mm equivalent) it has an aperture of f/1.9. This is over a whole stop faster than most of the competition.
Third: it's very customisable, insofar as there are a variety of controls and buttons that can have different functions assigned to them.
Fourth: it's quite a bit smaller than the G10, which makes it much more pocketable.
Fifth: it has what Ricoh call 'snap focus'. One of the most annoying things about most digital compacts, even the best and most expensive ones, is that the shutter lag is much higher than with a DSLR. With 'snap focus' you can pre-set a focal distance (1m, 2.5m, 5m and infinity) and when you fully depress the shutter it will take the shot. Admittedly, you have to set the distance first, but given the large DoF you get with small sensor cameras this should prove to be quite useful.
Sixth: like most digital compacts the GRD III has an auto-ISO setting, but it also allows you to limit its range. For example, you can instruct it to only use ISO values up to 200, 400, or 800. In other words, you can set it to a value that will still produce a reasonably noise-free image while also giving you a bit more leeway in low light.
I haven't had a great deal of time to play around with it yet, but have been impressed so far and have to say that I much prefer it to my old G9. Given that it has a fixed 28mm (equiv.) lens it's not going to be as flexible as the G9, but on first impressions it does seem a lot more user-friendly and probably quite a bit more capable. I'll keep you posted.
Oh, and if you'd like to take a look at the original, it's here:
And finally, the post-processing for this one was relatively straightforward, i.e. I used a variety of masked Curves to adjust the contrast in different areas of the image, then another to tone it (as described in this tutorial).
captured camera aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
1.08pm on 4/9/09 Ricoh GR Digital III
f/4.4
1/500
aperture priority
+2/3
evaluative
64
no
RAW
ACR
3x2
Another beautiful example of your style. Love the texture on the velcro strips... makes the shot for me. fun title!
comment bysamar at 05:45 AM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Hard to believe that this shot was taken with a compact! Compacts have come a long way!
comment byCraig at 06:52 AM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Argh, now you remember the last time you posted a shoe? What a heated debate that was :) This is right up my street and says 'a beach in England' loudly. I like the inclusion of the rig in the background and overall tone, nice :)
comment bydjn1 at 06:55 AM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Francesco: thanks.
samar: yes, they certainly have.
Craig: ah, but that was an HDR shoe. Ordinary shoes are OK ;-)
comment byMatt Thomas at 07:33 AM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Brilliant tones David, as per, lovely stuff. As Craig says, total 'English Beach' :) I'm in the market for a compact at the moment, but with having the recent addition to the family, would like HD video included. Gutted the G11 hasnt added it, so maybe Ill wait for the G12, but this Ricoh certaintly screams quality.
comment by Fred Shively at 07:43 AM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Cracking good capture and post. A heartening start to your Ricoh relationship.
comment byshooter at 09:16 AM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
A fellow ricoh user, I've been using a GX100 since it came out, eminently pocketable and produces exquisite files, the macro setting is superb. Folk always bemoan its noise above certain iso but hell, it's a great camera. I'm also led to believe they have improved the sensor in this model, I've always been of the opinion that a good 28mm lens is all you need, and this trademark chromsia shotshot proves the point...
comment byDREAMS OF LIGHT at 11:00 AM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
wonderful!! so nitid! excellent!
comment byAlex D at 11:07 AM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
It's amazing how far the little cameras have come.
Nice shot.
comment byRobbie Veldwijk at 12:59 PM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Very cool photo! Great colors and nice composition!
comment byLaura Abigail at 01:11 PM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Great shot! very original
comment byNicki at 01:31 PM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
I wait so long for a typical chromasia shoe shot, and here ist is. Perfect eyecatcher, nothing left to say. Thank you for showing again and again. Good luck by using your "mini" pocket gear :D.
comment byCatalin at 02:10 PM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
I can't believe you got so much texture out of the front of the shoe! In the original there's hardly any visible! The shot is nice, but the processing is just brilliant!
comment byJennifer at 02:38 PM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Brilliant! Lovely quality to the sea and sky and the rig is perfectly positioned (of course!).
comment byJeff Davidson at 03:42 PM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
I love the blush of rust on the trainer by the velcro straps.
comment byDan Kaufman at 04:17 PM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Another "Chromasia Classic" !! Well done Dave, I've been on the lookout for a good "pocket camera"--Thanks for your excellent research!
comment by Chris at 05:31 PM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
YES! A chromasia beach image! I have missed the beach images. This one is very well done as usual. Color toning and the texture is great. What I really like about the image is the DOF. A shallow view of the sky and crashing waves behind the shoe. I have been bouncing with the idea of getting a smaller compact camera. Sometimes dragging a DSLR is not ideal. I was considering getting one from the Canon G series. You speak highly of the Ricoh. I have to reconsider my option. Thanks for the beach image!
comment bycsj @ID7 at 09:34 PM (GMT) on 5 September, 2009
Oh this is a nightmare....... not the picture, the image is brilliant. I'm now a frustrated G10 owner, wondering whether a. I need to try harder...... or b. I need to sell it and gt this Ricoh..... uhm... This image just PINGS, on my screen. Love it. CJ
comment byAdam Stevens at 05:10 AM (GMT) on 6 September, 2009
Nice shot. And your incites on a usable pocket camera. Kind of a creepy shot for me though. Up here in the NW (USA) we have had a good number of shoes wash up on the shore with feet still in them. No kidding. Mostly Vancouver Island, and no one seems to know where they are coming from....
comment byP.J. at 05:55 AM (GMT) on 6 September, 2009
Your processing is absolutely amazing.
comment byrhys at 06:27 AM (GMT) on 6 September, 2009
Its superb, and I love the addition of the oil rig. I would have bet money that you'd have gone for the G11, but Ricoh's have a decent reputation and this proves it- good choice!
comment byBrooks at 07:59 AM (GMT) on 6 September, 2009
I will never cease to be amazed at the sense of dimension you achieve in your images. I really feel like I can reach out and touch this. Simple. Amazing.
comment byluan at 09:44 AM (GMT) on 6 September, 2009
These little Ricohs are known for their black and white images... I'm thrilled to see someone using them for colour photos. The detail is excellent, and I can't see much noise at all! I have one coming via courier, so seeing your image just made my day.
comment byCarlos Garcia at 11:37 AM (GMT) on 6 September, 2009
Dave,
Thanks for visiting the shore! I like the composition... the shoe seems a little sad, "I'm Vinny Velcro. Have you seen my brother Victor?"
comment byJess Kehrli at 02:01 PM (GMT) on 6 September, 2009
That is one cute shoe! I love the before/after I like how sharp you made the velcro sp?
Nice composition with the lines of the rocks/water/horizon.
Jess likes!
comment byMarco at 09:12 PM (GMT) on 6 September, 2009
Great picture. I like the oil rig in the background and the way it is blurry, but still very recognizable. Nice color tones.
comment byJem at 01:37 PM (GMT) on 7 September, 2009
I'm amazed this came out of a compact camera.. wow.. just wow.
The bokeh is also fantastic - did you add this after or was there the natural looking blur to the edges that you normally see on SLRs?
comment byLightningPaul at 06:38 PM (GMT) on 7 September, 2009
When I was back in the UK last week I didn't have a great deal of time to photograph anything other than the wedding in London, but did manage to get to the beach for half an hour before dashing off to catch my flight home. And while I wasn't specifically looking for another shot to add to my beachcoming category, I was pleased to come across this abandoned child's trainer.
I should also add that this is the first shot taken with my latest new camera, a Ricoh GR Digital III. I've been happy with my Canon G9, but Libby has largely commandeered it so I've been pondering getting a new compact for a while. Initially, I thought about getting the Canon G10, or maybe the Olympus EP-1, and then Canon released the G11. And for a while, I was almost convinced that the G11 would be the way to go, but decided to go with the Ricoh instead.
There are a variety of things I like about it (in no particular order):
First: it shoots RAW (as do most high-end compacts) but they're DNG's rather than a proprietary format. This means I can edit the files in any of my RAW editors without needing to wait for the next update to include this camera.
Second: although it has a fixed 6mm lens (28mm equivalent) it has an aperture of f/1.9. This is over a whole stop faster than most of the competition.
Third: it's very customisable, insofar as there are a variety of controls and buttons that can have different functions assigned to them.
Fourth: it's quite a bit smaller than the G10, which makes it much more pocketable.
Fifth: it has what Ricoh call 'snap focus'. One of the most annoying things about most digital compacts, even the best and most expensive ones, is that the shutter lag is much higher than with a DSLR. With 'snap focus' you can pre-set a focal distance (1m, 2.5m, 5m and infinity) and when you fully depress the shutter it will take the shot. Admittedly, you have to set the distance first, but given the large DoF you get with small sensor cameras this should prove to be quite useful.
Sixth: like most digital compacts the GRD III has an auto-ISO setting, but it also allows you to limit its range. For example, you can instruct it to only use ISO values up to 200, 400, or 800. In other words, you can set it to a value that will still produce a reasonably noise-free image while also giving you a bit more leeway in low light.
I haven't had a great deal of time to play around with it yet, but have been impressed so far and have to say that I much prefer it to my old G9. Given that it has a fixed 28mm (equiv.) lens it's not going to be as flexible as the G9, but on first impressions it does seem a lot more user-friendly and probably quite a bit more capable. I'll keep you posted.
Oh, and if you'd like to take a look at the original, it's here:
.../archives/size_doesnt_matter.php
And finally, the post-processing for this one was relatively straightforward, i.e. I used a variety of masked Curves to adjust the contrast in different areas of the image, then another to tone it (as described in this tutorial).
camera
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Ricoh GR Digital III
f/4.4
1/500
aperture priority
+2/3
evaluative
64
no
RAW
ACR
3x2
Another beautiful example of your style. Love the texture on the velcro strips... makes the shot for me. fun title!
Hard to believe that this shot was taken with a compact! Compacts have come a long way!
Argh, now you remember the last time you posted a shoe? What a heated debate that was :) This is right up my street and says 'a beach in England' loudly. I like the inclusion of the rig in the background and overall tone, nice :)
Francesco: thanks.
samar: yes, they certainly have.
Craig: ah, but that was an HDR shoe. Ordinary shoes are OK ;-)
Brilliant tones David, as per, lovely stuff. As Craig says, total 'English Beach' :) I'm in the market for a compact at the moment, but with having the recent addition to the family, would like HD video included. Gutted the G11 hasnt added it, so maybe Ill wait for the G12, but this Ricoh certaintly screams quality.
Cracking good capture and post. A heartening start to your Ricoh relationship.
A fellow ricoh user, I've been using a GX100 since it came out, eminently pocketable and produces exquisite files, the macro setting is superb. Folk always bemoan its noise above certain iso but hell, it's a great camera. I'm also led to believe they have improved the sensor in this model, I've always been of the opinion that a good 28mm lens is all you need, and this trademark chromsia shotshot proves the point...
wonderful!! so nitid! excellent!
It's amazing how far the little cameras have come.
Nice shot.
Very cool photo! Great colors and nice composition!
Great shot! very original
I wait so long for a typical chromasia shoe shot, and here ist is. Perfect eyecatcher, nothing left to say. Thank you for showing again and again. Good luck by using your "mini" pocket gear :D.
I can't believe you got so much texture out of the front of the shoe! In the original there's hardly any visible! The shot is nice, but the processing is just brilliant!
Brilliant! Lovely quality to the sea and sky and the rig is perfectly positioned (of course!).
I love the blush of rust on the trainer by the velcro straps.
Another "Chromasia Classic" !! Well done Dave, I've been on the lookout for a good "pocket camera"--Thanks for your excellent research!
YES! A chromasia beach image! I have missed the beach images. This one is very well done as usual. Color toning and the texture is great. What I really like about the image is the DOF. A shallow view of the sky and crashing waves behind the shoe. I have been bouncing with the idea of getting a smaller compact camera. Sometimes dragging a DSLR is not ideal. I was considering getting one from the Canon G series. You speak highly of the Ricoh. I have to reconsider my option. Thanks for the beach image!
Oh this is a nightmare....... not the picture, the image is brilliant. I'm now a frustrated G10 owner, wondering whether a. I need to try harder...... or b. I need to sell it and gt this Ricoh..... uhm... This image just PINGS, on my screen. Love it. CJ
Nice shot. And your incites on a usable pocket camera. Kind of a creepy shot for me though. Up here in the NW (USA) we have had a good number of shoes wash up on the shore with feet still in them. No kidding. Mostly Vancouver Island, and no one seems to know where they are coming from....
Your processing is absolutely amazing.
Its superb, and I love the addition of the oil rig. I would have bet money that you'd have gone for the G11, but Ricoh's have a decent reputation and this proves it- good choice!
I will never cease to be amazed at the sense of dimension you achieve in your images. I really feel like I can reach out and touch this. Simple. Amazing.
These little Ricohs are known for their black and white images... I'm thrilled to see someone using them for colour photos. The detail is excellent, and I can't see much noise at all! I have one coming via courier, so seeing your image just made my day.
Dave,
Thanks for visiting the shore! I like the composition... the shoe seems a little sad, "I'm Vinny Velcro. Have you seen my brother Victor?"
That is one cute shoe! I love the before/after I like how sharp you made the velcro sp?
Nice composition with the lines of the rocks/water/horizon.
Jess likes!
Great picture. I like the oil rig in the background and the way it is blurry, but still very recognizable. Nice color tones.
I'm amazed this came out of a compact camera.. wow.. just wow.
The bokeh is also fantastic - did you add this after or was there the natural looking blur to the edges that you normally see on SLRs?
Beautiful! Great tonin.
Loved the texture details...fantastic image!
this is a great one. you can even make abandoned things look good :)
j'adore!!!!
This is a really beautiful shot, it left me speechless.