Comments for In LA http://zachfine.com/blog (formerly In Beijing) Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:47:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on A good deal on a digital point-and-shoot camera by In LA » Blog Archive » First impressions: Panasonic DMC-LZ8 digital point-and-shoot camera http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/24/a-good-deal-on-a-digital-point-and-shoot-camera/#comment-18606 In LA » Blog Archive » First impressions: Panasonic DMC-LZ8 digital point-and-shoot camera Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:54:43 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=395#comment-18606 [...] at full resolution. Nice. Click the photo to visit a gallery of my DMC-LZ8 test photos. I received my Panasonic DMC-LZ8, and shot a few test photos today. In summary, I’d give the camera an A- for optics, an A for [...] […] at full resolution. Nice. Click the photo to visit a gallery of my DMC-LZ8 test photos. I received my Panasonic DMC-LZ8, and shot a few test photos today. In summary, I’d give the camera an A- for optics, an A for […]

]]> Comment on Apparently I have a “Midland” American accent by Gary http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/27/apparently-i-have-a-midland-american-accent/#comment-18560 Gary Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:39:21 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=396#comment-18560 Gnarly, dude — I am "The West". According to the quiz: "Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta." Gnarly, dude — I am “The West”. According to the quiz: “Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you’re a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.”

]]> Comment on A good deal on a digital point-and-shoot camera by zach http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/24/a-good-deal-on-a-digital-point-and-shoot-camera/#comment-18453 zach Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:17:17 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=395#comment-18453 I'd agree that Panasonic makes some decent tiny cameras that go wider, the FX-35 being one, but all of the other ones I'd consider including the FX-35 are more than twice this one's price. If you're looking in that price range, do check out samples of FX-35 photos on the net and compare them to photos from Canon's similar wide-angle and tiny point-and-shoots. They're similar cameras, but last time I checked the image quality from the Canon's seemed to edge past the Panasonics. Possibly due to a better implementation of jpeg compression. I’d agree that Panasonic makes some decent tiny cameras that go wider, the FX-35 being one, but all of the other ones I’d consider including the FX-35 are more than twice this one’s price.

If you’re looking in that price range, do check out samples of FX-35 photos on the net and compare them to photos from Canon’s similar wide-angle and tiny point-and-shoots. They’re similar cameras, but last time I checked the image quality from the Canon’s seemed to edge past the Panasonics. Possibly due to a better implementation of jpeg compression.

]]> Comment on A good deal on a digital point-and-shoot camera by Ken Fine http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/24/a-good-deal-on-a-digital-point-and-shoot-camera/#comment-18452 Ken Fine Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:38:29 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=395#comment-18452 Good post Zach. Also worth checking out some of the other cameras in the Lumix line: the FX-35 and others go all the way to the 35mm equivalent of a 24mm-25mm ultrawide. Pretty awesome. As you know well, a lens so wide translates to an ability to compose pictures with visual relationships big-to-small that aren't possible with longer lenses. I am waiting for a scalding hot deal on an ultrawide ultracompact w/ warranty that I can carry on my runs. Good post Zach. Also worth checking out some of the other cameras in the Lumix line: the FX-35 and others go all the way to the 35mm equivalent of a 24mm-25mm ultrawide. Pretty awesome. As you know well, a lens so wide translates to an ability to compose pictures with visual relationships big-to-small that aren’t possible with longer lenses.

I am waiting for a scalding hot deal on an ultrawide ultracompact w/ warranty that I can carry on my runs.

]]> Comment on A good deal on a digital point-and-shoot camera by zach http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/24/a-good-deal-on-a-digital-point-and-shoot-camera/#comment-18450 zach Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:00:24 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=395#comment-18450 Mih Hyun, it looks like you can use that same Microsoft Live Search thing to find the Canon SD870 IS for $211.19: http://search.live.com/cashback/products/offerings/18003/8752623 I'd expect the Canon SD870 IS to be better than the Panasonic LZ-8, but that's just my guess. You could probably walk into a Circuit City or some shop that carries the two cameras and try them out before making a decision. The reason I posted about the LZ-8 is not that it's the absolute best tiny camera out there, but that it seems amazing to be able to get a camera of its quality for $111. Mih Hyun, it looks like you can use that same Microsoft Live Search thing to find the Canon SD870 IS for $211.19:
http://search.live.com/cashback/products/offerings/18003/8752623

I’d expect the Canon SD870 IS to be better than the Panasonic LZ-8, but that’s just my guess. You could probably walk into a Circuit City or some shop that carries the two cameras and try them out before making a decision. The reason I posted about the LZ-8 is not that it’s the absolute best tiny camera out there, but that it seems amazing to be able to get a camera of its quality for $111.

]]> Comment on A good deal on a digital point-and-shoot camera by zach http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/24/a-good-deal-on-a-digital-point-and-shoot-camera/#comment-18449 zach Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:50:01 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=395#comment-18449 The G9 is definitely high-end by comparison, but that's a $400 camera and isn't very compact. It must be a good backup camera for a photojournalist like yourself. I notice on your web page that you also use the Canon HV20 cameras for professional work. I have one of those too, the image quality is amazing for the price. It makes learning the workarounds required to set manual exposure on that consumer camera worthwhile. The G9 is definitely high-end by comparison, but that’s a $400 camera and isn’t very compact. It must be a good backup camera for a photojournalist like yourself.

I notice on your web page that you also use the Canon HV20 cameras for professional work. I have one of those too, the image quality is amazing for the price. It makes learning the workarounds required to set manual exposure on that consumer camera worthwhile.

]]> Comment on A good deal on a digital point-and-shoot camera by Stephen http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/24/a-good-deal-on-a-digital-point-and-shoot-camera/#comment-18447 Stephen Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:30:26 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=395#comment-18447 It seems high end compared to this deal, but I'm crazy about the Canon G9 point-and-shoot. Compact, minimal shutter lag, shoots video and records audio. Not nearly wide enough but you can't have everything. I've shot more than one assignment for the paper with it (and more than one audio slide show). It seems high end compared to this deal, but I’m crazy about the Canon G9 point-and-shoot. Compact, minimal shutter lag, shoots video and records audio. Not nearly wide enough but you can’t have everything. I’ve shot more than one assignment for the paper with it (and more than one audio slide show).

]]> Comment on A good deal on a digital point-and-shoot camera by mihyun http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/24/a-good-deal-on-a-digital-point-and-shoot-camera/#comment-18442 mihyun Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:28:29 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=395#comment-18442 This is very informative, Zach. I am considering buying Canon PowerShot SD870IS - sample photos posted on Amazon looks pretty nice (good enough for derm-related photos). Do you know if the price will come down more? I can wait a few months if you think it might. This is very informative, Zach. I am considering buying Canon PowerShot SD870IS - sample photos posted on Amazon looks pretty nice (good enough for derm-related photos). Do you know if the price will come down more? I can wait a few months if you think it might.

]]> Comment on Teri Garr kicks ass by zach http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/07/30/teri-garr-kicks-ass/#comment-18421 zach Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:03:48 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=383#comment-18421 As for how Teri Garr has knocked two people off my list, it's simple. I'd have two Teri Garr's at the table and just watch them interact. It'd be awesome. As for how Teri Garr has knocked two people off my list, it’s simple. I’d have two Teri Garr’s at the table and just watch them interact. It’d be awesome.

]]> Comment on fantastic plastic machine: Canon’s new cheap lenses by In LA » Blog Archive » I miss photography http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/04/fantastic-plastic-machine-canons-new-cheap-lenses/#comment-18219 In LA » Blog Archive » I miss photography Sat, 16 Aug 2008 06:49:12 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=386#comment-18219 [...] down in front of some inspiring subject matter and carefully composed some photos. Now that my new lenses have arrived, I have no excuse but to set out and attempt to make some art. As soon as my current [...] […] down in front of some inspiring subject matter and carefully composed some photos. Now that my new lenses have arrived, I have no excuse but to set out and attempt to make some art. As soon as my current […]

]]> Comment on A fun bit of future noir by Dane http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/11/a-fun-bit-of-future-noir/#comment-18137 Dane Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:01:38 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=387#comment-18137 Lethem's hard boiled prose is a great modern substitute for chandler! I've only read "Motherless Brooklyn", but it was superb. I met Lethem once. I wanted to adapt one of his stories, "Martyr & Pesty", into a short film so I cold contacted him. He was due to visit London and kindly agreed to meet up with me for a coffee while in town. I was really young at the time so have to hand it to the man for humoring my juvenile disposition. Lethem’s hard boiled prose is a great modern substitute for chandler! I’ve only read “Motherless Brooklyn”, but it was superb.

I met Lethem once. I wanted to adapt one of his stories, “Martyr & Pesty”, into a short film so I cold contacted him. He was due to visit London and kindly agreed to meet up with me for a coffee while in town. I was really young at the time so have to hand it to the man for humoring my juvenile disposition.

]]> Comment on in which I write my own version of tinyURL for the hell of it by Oscar http://zachfine.com/blog/2005/04/10/in-which-i-write-my-own-version-of-tinyurl-for-the-hell-of-it/#comment-18057 Oscar Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:11:52 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/2005/04/10/in-which-i-write-my-own-version-of-tinyurl-for-the-hell-of-it/#comment-18057 We have something similar to tinyurl hosted at xiaourl.com. Though ours works just like tinyurl. We hope to develop more features for it, so if you have any requests please feel free to send them over. Cheers, Oscar We have something similar to tinyurl hosted at xiaourl.com. Though ours works just like tinyurl. We hope to develop more features for it, so if you have any requests please feel free to send them over.

Cheers,

Oscar

]]> Comment on fantastic plastic machine: Canon’s new cheap lenses by zach http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/04/fantastic-plastic-machine-canons-new-cheap-lenses/#comment-18015 zach Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:23:23 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=386#comment-18015 It's fun being snide about Lomos, but I admit I've thought before of buying one. Pretty much the same part of my brain that occasionally thinks it'd be fun to shoot something in <a href="http://www.jm3.net/pxl/" rel="nofollow">pixelvision</a>. I tend to like weird glares and blurs on occasion. On the other hand, there may be plenty of much cheaper plastic cameras that lack the Lomo cool cachet. I don't expect I'll like Canon's 50mm f1.8 more than I would their 50mm f1.4 except in two dimensions: price and weight. Both of those considerations matter to me right now, and to get a nice prime lens for under $90 seems pretty great in this day and age. It'll be nice having a lens in my EOS arsenal that is faster than 2.8. It’s fun being snide about Lomos, but I admit I’ve thought before of buying one. Pretty much the same part of my brain that occasionally thinks it’d be fun to shoot something in pixelvision. I tend to like weird glares and blurs on occasion. On the other hand, there may be plenty of much cheaper plastic cameras that lack the Lomo cool cachet.

I don’t expect I’ll like Canon’s 50mm f1.8 more than I would their 50mm f1.4 except in two dimensions: price and weight. Both of those considerations matter to me right now, and to get a nice prime lens for under $90 seems pretty great in this day and age. It’ll be nice having a lens in my EOS arsenal that is faster than 2.8.

]]> Comment on fantastic plastic machine: Canon’s new cheap lenses by Dane http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/08/04/fantastic-plastic-machine-canons-new-cheap-lenses/#comment-18011 Dane Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:50:22 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=386#comment-18011 funny, i just ordered myself a hipster Loma Holga today. i've always wanted to play with one of these and it's been an eternity since i actually shot anything on film. i'm a huge fan of the 50mm F1.8. much better than the other - more expensive - canon lenses i bought in the past. definitely a worthy purchase. beautiful photograph. funny, i just ordered myself a hipster Loma Holga today. i’ve always wanted to play with one of these and it’s been an eternity since i actually shot anything on film.

i’m a huge fan of the 50mm F1.8. much better than the other - more expensive - canon lenses i bought in the past. definitely a worthy purchase.

beautiful photograph.

]]> Comment on LA Times on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button teaser trailer by Katie http://zachfine.com/blog/2008/06/24/la-times-on-the-curious-case-of-benjamin-button-teaser-trailer/#comment-17870 Katie Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:06:00 +0000 http://zachfine.com/blog/?p=378#comment-17870 Maybe. Maybe.

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