In Memory of Those Who Lost Their Lives 73 Years Ago

USS Arizona from  http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/File:USS_Arizona_BB-39.jpg

We see too many photos of the mighty Arizona and Pearl Harbor during and after the attack.  I thought I'd look for one with her crew, but I was unable to find one close to 1941.

There were many more souls and ships lost onboard other ships and on shore that eventful Sunday morning.  The most were lost on the Arizona.



To Honor and Remember those who gave all so we can have the freedoms we have today.

To Honor all those who served in the past.

To Honor and thank those who serve today.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 Gets a Grip

What do you do when your compact camera comes without a grop?  You get a grip!  This grip makes the camera much nicer to handle and much less slippery

This is the grip before installation.

Comparison of my medium format camera to the Lumix: 3 pounds vs a few ounces

Hermes 3000.1 taken with the LF1.  Did my Classic 12 or this one start my obsession with typewriters?

Inspired Eye article that is the best review of all the reviews about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1.

I use my Bronica more than I do my 35mm cameras for most of my shooting.  I chose it because it was handier to grab than any of my 35mm cameras.  Unless I go to an air show or event where I may want a long telelphoto lens I generally grab the Bronica before the 35mm cameras.  I don't shoot any of them nearly as often as I did when I lived in Virginia. 

A New Camera

One item that helped me choose, Leica lens.

My 3.2Mp camera is jsut not as sharp as the LF1

Advantage is the eye level view finder.  I will forego a better camera when it does not have a view finder.  Why manufactures are too cheap to put a view finder on all their cameras, especially the higer priced ones is asinine. Disadvantage is the dumb lay-put of the power switch and shutter release switch.  Same on the Leica-C. The back is not scratched; it is reflecting the muslin under the camera.

The control ring is nice and I've found I can reassign it to what I like or use as a stepped zoom to fixed focal lengths.  Some reviews state it cannot be reassigned.  Maybe the reviewers did not give it a try.

Unlike the Leica-C the LF1 has anchors for a neck strap on both sides.  Even though this is a tiny camera I like using a neck strap. 

The camera is not much larger than the Jackalope sticker.

Montana Luxe taken with the Lumix DMC-LF1 under the same lighting none of my other digital cameras seem to like.  The LF1 auto white balance is quite good and fast.

I've not shot more than a few dozen pictures with the camera yet.  Mostly boring flower macros. Macro focus is 3cm to infinity with zoom on the control ring.

What I like about the camera is the 12.1 Mp 1/1.7 sensor, processor, the control ring, view finder, fast response, 2 strap anchors, Leica lens, many of the functions, Nice lens range, ISO range, and small size.  I wanted a pocket camera for my trip, but the camera had to be a functional as near to pro camera as I could afford.  The most impressive thing about this camera is it is available for about $250.00  from several reputable suppliers in NYC.  I got mine with a spare battery, charger, and Class 10 64MB Sandisk SD card for just over $250 which was about what I expected budget-wise.

What I do not like is the power switch and shutter release switch locations, no grip, no hot shoe. 

A tilting LCD screen like Sony uses would be nice, but I do not miss my old Sony much.  The lack of a grip will be corrected as soon as my Fipbak G4 arrives.

How does this compare to an Olympus Stylus 1?  The Stylus has a nicer traditional design, hot shoe, centered view finder, selectable video speed modes, constant F:2.8 for all focal lengths, and similar 12.1Mp sensor.  A much nicer compact camera for Mrs. M and her bird watching.

Note on the Montana being nicer to use than my Baby.  I used the Hermes Baby quite often and even on a few trips due to its weight (less than a Skyriter).  It is not all that great of a typer though.  First off every sheet catches the ribbon covers as it is started, touch is mediocre at best.  It has a more solid sound than the Montana, but still a cheap sound.

The Montana feeds paper smoother, has a better touch and sounds about the same as the Baby.  I had not been using it since it needed a ribbon.  Now with a new ribbon it even has a nicer typeface than the Baby.

Both typewriters need their platen recovered and the Montana has some minor flat spots on the paper feed pressure rollers.  I did not weigh them, but they seem to feel about the same weight; both lighter and a bit smaller than a Skyriter.  Neither type as good as a Smith-Corona Skyriter.