Photoclub Alpha

My review of the Sony Alpha 550 was supposed to appear at the end of November, allowing one week abroad in good weather with plenty of subject-matter, in Tenerife. Sadly that trip had to be cancelled, and the Nikon D3S arrived for review on the day we were meant to have travelled. So, with far too much work to do on the D3S, I’m “going to press” here with my initial thoughts based on a fairly short time using the Alpha 550. There are 11 pages in this review, please use the Next Page navigation at the end of each page to continue reading.

PLEASE NOTE: this website uses a rating system where readers can rate the posts, like this review. This rating is NOT my ‘rating the camera’! I have read elsewhere that I ‘gave the camera 4.83 out of 5′ – that was the rating readers gave my review… sorry, this is very confusing, I had not realised how easily it could be confused. We have had the post-rating system for a long time and it’s a standard feature on many Wordpress based sites. I do not want to remove it (along with the ratings) so please accept this apology for incorporating a dangerously confusing ’star rating’ here.

Peter Crouch cuts a striking figure on the football pitch at the best of times and when recently asked to train the UK Sony ‘Twilight Football’ team ahead of their big game on the 22nd September, the outcome was some simply stunning imagery. (Editor’s note – continue reading to see the ’stunning imagery’… but have somewhere handy to put the hair you tear out)

True to promise, the Nikon D5000 did become available on May 1st in the UK, and my review camera turned up mid-day in time to be photographed and have its battery charged. Taking it out on my walk to the post (regrettably, to send in large sums of VAT and tax…) the sun came out though it was a very cold and windy day. With the sun, the breeze dropped to a reasonable level and on the way back I was struck by the motion of the trees, leaves and flowers.

My first tests with the Canon EOS 500D were posted on dphotoexpert.com, but given the number of search engines now flagging up this site for Canon 500D searches, I’m putting this post here as well.

This is an edited selection, shot in a mixture of 1080 and 720 modes, assembled using iMovie and written as a 720p final project for YouTube. Please feel free to link directly to the YouTube vid or to this page.

Tamron’s new ultra wide angle zoom for APS-C/DX is getting a bit of a blasting from reviewers. Now, when I see this happen, I get curious. Lens testing is often badly designed for such zooms, involving test chart targets at distances which are extremely close and result in very bad figures caused mainly by a strong curvature of field (dished, ‘cap’ shape relative to the camera) when gets worse in effect the closer you focus.

OUR final production Alpha 900 body arrived on Saturday September 20th, and went along to photokina 2008 on Monday 22nd where it was used in a routine way – without flash – to take whatever pictures were needed for magazine reports. Sometimes it can be better just to use a camera on whatever difficult or poor subjects the world throws at you, than to devise impressive test situations.

This is the latest press release from Sony UK – filling the streets of Miami with club-style foam for their new digital photography ad campaign:

On January 5th, Photoworld was lucky enough to be able to attend the dress rehearsal and official photo-call for the new Cirque du Soleil production at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and to put the Alpha 700 through its paces for high ISO fast action stage show capture. This article with large reproductions of the images appears in our Photoworld issue due out later in January.

TEMPORARY Sony website pages on the afternoon (GMT) of September 5th managed to leak the entire specification sheet and several new PR images of the advanced amateur Alpha model, along with its name – the Alpha 700. You wouldn’t pick a wife or husband on the basis of their on-paper specification, so remember, the only way to partner up with a DSLR and be happy is to try it in your hands first.

I SELL digital images through Alamy, the on-line photo library. When an original piece of art is out of copyright, and displayed in public or by an owner permitting photography, the ability to get a good quality reproduction copy on the spot without lights, tripod or flash is valuable. Some 8 per cent of my overall Alamy images sales over the past four years have been of signs, notices and labels – disproportionately high, compared to the actual number of such shots. As someone has commented, editors like pictures which tell their own story, and sometimes have words in the pictures does just that.

THE FIRST QUESTION anyone asks about the Sony GPS-CS1 device is whether it will work with their non-Sony digital camera. The answer is ‘yes’ but you may need to buy some extra software, as it only comes with software to link up to Sony Picture Motion Browser. If you can ensure that you buy the product sold as GPS-CS1KA it should include a copy of this software in full. If you buy the product coded only as GPS-CS1, it may have nothing apart from a patch-updater program you are supposed to use with your existing Sony installation. So make sure you know exactly what you are buying (there appears to be no price difference, and very few retailers are making any distinction between the two bundles). There seems to be no reason to continue offering the kit with the updater only.

IN 2006 before the Sony Alpha 100 was launched, my Dynax 7D went on its last serious travel shoot, spending a short week in the south-west of Ireland.

EAST ANGLIA
New Quest Destination!
9-12 June 2009 (Tuesday to Friday)
East Anglia is full of historical and picturesque villages and the landscape has a special character of its own, with ‘big skies’, tidal creeks, estuaries, and beaches. We will explore these at a leisurely pace over the four days, visiting such places as Dedham and Flatford (‘Constable Country’), Southwold, Aldeburgh, Lavenham, and others. We will be based at West Mersea, with its fascinating frontage on the Blackwater estuary, where houseboats and occasional wrecks are subjects for the camera. A minibus will be used for travelling out each day.
Accommodation and meals are not included in the week, but Quest will be pleased to arrange B&B locally where this is required. There will be the option to take communal evening meals locally in the evenings. Seafood and oysters are specialities!
Price £245 (deposit £75) 7 places.

THAMES BARGE CRUISE
from Mistley, nr. Manningtree, Essex.
15-16 July 2009 (Wednesday evening and all day Thursday)
Enjoy a relaxing day with this unique opportunity to sail in a genuine Thames barge! Seeing these beautiful vessels at close quarters, under full sail, is a never to be forgotten sight. Quest has chartered Reminder, a steel hulled barge, built in 1929. The barge offers a very special viewpoint with good opportunities for photography, including activities on deck, the barge skipper and crew, local boats at anchor and under sail, and there may even be other barges in the vicinity.
We will embark on Wednesday evening, sail with the tide early Thursday morning and return late afternoon. Arrival evening seafood platter, breakfast and lunch are catered on board. You are welcome to help the crewing if you so desire.
Price £145 (deposit £40) Meals included. 10 places (strict limit)
Price is based on double or sharing a twin or triple berth. Singles are not normally available due to the nature of the accommodation. Price includes B&B and midday meal. In the event of severe weather conditions it may be necessary to change or curtail the planned itinerary – this will be the decision of the skipper. In the extremely unlikely event that it is unsafe to sail, no refund can, regretfully, be given, but the barge, her crew and all food will remain at the disposal of the group.

CAIRNGORMS and the GLENS New Quest Destination!
12-18 October 2009
(Monday to Sunday) 6 nights
Discount available if combined with the Skye/Applecross trip – see below.
Our base will be at Beauly, which will be convenient for both locations. The photographic opportunities will include Loch Morlich and Glenmore Forest Park near Aviemore, and the wild Cairngorm mountains, plus the renowned north eastern Glens, including Affric and Cannich, where there should be a good display of autumn colour for us to enjoy An additional optional feature of this trip will be a ride on the funicular railway, which travels to just below the summit of Cairngorm itself. Travel arrangements will be by air to Inverness and minibus thereafter.
*Turn this holiday into a fantastic 15-night trip and combine it with the Skye/Applecross trip and take a £110 discount – see below.
Price £745 (deposit £100) single supplement £90 (8 places). May be booked with the Skye/Applecross trip (see below), for a combined price of £1590, thereby saving over £100 (excluding supplements)
Price includes dinner, B&B and minibus travel but not lunch and is based on a shared twin room. A supplement is payable for single occupation.

ISLE OF SKYE and THE APPLECROSS PENINSULA
18-27 October 2009
(Saturday to Tuesday week).
9 nights – 6 Skye and 3 Lochcarron.
Guest House and Hotel based
Discount available if combined with Cairngorms & Glens trip – see below.
Year after year, this is one of our most popular destinations and it is not difficult to understand why, as the “Misty Isle” is surely one of the most beautiful parts of the United Kingdom, full of mood and mountains, rivers, bays and lochs. There is all that the landscape photographer could want – but Skye does not give it up that easily, as it is well known for the fickleness of its weather. But the weather makes the mood, and magic moments are never far away – if only the photographer is in the right place at the right time! Following the success of last year’s extension to the dramatic Applecross peninsula, this has again been included in the schedule.
On Skye, we will, as usual, be based at The Skye Picture House, near Broadford, which is run by photographers Steve & Gill Terry. It is situated in a stunning location, at the edge of a loch, with superb views, especially for the morning sunrise. Otters and seals are often seen. A talk by photographer Ken Bryan, who lives on Skye, will be arranged if he is available. Our second location will be at Lochcarron, situated right by the Loch, with good access to Applecross. .
*Turn this holiday into a fantastic 15-night trip and combine it with the Cairngorm and Glens trip above, and take a £110 discount – see below.
Price £955 (deposit £200). Single supplement £125. Cost includes full board accommodation, with packed lunch on Skye, and half board at Lochcarron. The price is based on a shared twin room and. a supplement is payable for single occupation. It also includes minibus travel on Skye and Applecross but not the cost of flights. May be booked with the Skye/Applecross trip (see below), for a combined price of £ 1590, thereby saving over £100 (excluding supplements).

NORTH YORKSHIRE, with JOE CORNISH
1-6 November 2009
(Sunday to Friday) 5 nights.
Joe Cornish is arguably Britain’s finest contemporary landscape photographer and his use of light and composition, in conjunction with his total commitment, has resulted in a series of magnificent pictures of the landscape of the British Isles and elsewhere. His work is widely known and appears regularly in calendars and on cards and he is the author of several superb books on landscape photography.
The workshop will be based at the Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge, the highest inn on the North Yorkshire Moors. This remote and spectacular setting is an ideal location, and the open fires are something to enjoy in the evenings!
Daily field trips will be a feature of the workshop and thus some walking will be involved. You will need to be reasonably mobile for this. We will also be viewing and discussing Joe’s pictures and an essential part of the workshop will include a constructive appraisal of pictures from participants. This really is a workshop not to be missed, as it represents a very rare opportunity to work with this top professional landscape artist in his own area.
Joe regularly leads workshops in the UK and his enthusiasm and experience will guarantee an inspiring four days. Not to be missed, but book early, as places will be quickly filled.
Price £775 (deposit £100). Single supplement £75. 10 places
Price includes B&B accommodation on a shared room basis, plus minibus travel to Yorkshire if required. It does not include evening and midday meals. A supplement is payable for single occupation.

THE ARDECHE, FRANCE
New Quest destination!
in conjunction with Experience Ardeche
15-22 November 2009
(Sunday to Sunday) 7 nights.
The Ardeche region is rich with photographic opportunities, with dramatic landscapes, large rivers, ancient forest and historical towns and villages. The variety of subject matter in the area will ensure a full and interesting week and of course we will enjoy the local ambience and French cuisine! We will be staying at the Belvedere Hotel, close by the famous Pont d’Arc, at the head of the Ardeche Gorge. Situated only 6km from the town of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc along the gorge road, Le Belvedere is a popular destination for the French tourists who prefer the tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle. A great opportunity to really enjoy this magical and welcoming part of France nestled right on the edge of the Réserve Naturelle. Quest has teamed up with Experience Ardeche for this event, a company specialising in activity holidays. Their knowledge of the area will guarantee us a full and interesting week.
The most convenient travel option is by Ryanair from Luton to Nimes, where free transfer to the hotel will be provided. Other possibilities are by train (Eurostar and TGV). Please enquire if you would like more information.
Price £825 (deposit £200). Single supplement £100. Maximum 10 places. Price includes Dinner B&B, and travel in France during the week. It is based on a shared en suite room, and a supplement is payable for a single occupancy. Cost of flights or other transportation to France is not included.
Colin Westgate’s QUEST workshops, sponsored by Photoworld, are now based at Stable House, 2 Carriers Close, West Mersea, Mersea Island, Essex CO5 8NY. Tel 01206 384584. Mobile 07887 887101. See website: http://www.questphoto.co.uk/ or email questphoto@btinternet.com

A review by David Kilpatrick from Photoworld Spring 2007 with additional updates

MY SONY Carl Zeiss 16-80mm “superzoom” arrived from Warehouseexpress – the best price I could find and one of the very best dealers in terms of service – packed rather minimally for a £465 purchase.

THE NEW Tamron 18-250mm has some importance to Alpha system users. It is almost certainly the optical basis for the forthcoming Sony SAL 18-250mm version, and as a APS-C 13.7X zoom with an equivalent 27-375mm (in full frame terms) range is uniquely suited to the SSS-enabled Dynax 5D, 7D and Sony Alpha 100