The Very Many Questions-Not-Worth-Their-Own-Thread Thread XXXII

[Synobun]

Through the editing window. I often break up long posts into chunks and quote them individually.

Click that button. A menu will appear with four choices with Quote at the very top.

 

[sophie]

Through the editing window. I often break up long posts into chunks and quote them individually.

Even with the old software, I've always found it so much faster to just type out [quote than have to reach for the mouse, locate the pointer, and click a button.

Alternatively you could always just ctrl+c the opening bracket at the top of the post and just ctrl+v as you go along

 

[warpus]

I'm thinking of upgrading from my point and shoot to a DSLR or a mirrorless camera (which from what I understand is a sort of DSLR that is more compact).

I am looking at this one - Sony Alpha a5000 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Lens

I want something with a good optical zoom. But I can't figure out what it is here. What am I missing?

In the end I want a good compact camera that has a good optical zoom, a large sensor if possible, and good at taking landscape photos. Would also be nice to shoot in RAW. Being cost effective is my last criteria.

This camera meets all criteria except I can't figure out what the optical zoom on it is. No sites seem to have that information available. Do mirrorless cameras work different wrt zoom somehow?

 

[Synobun]

No, they're just very bad at providing common info. Divide the larger mm number with the smaller one and you'll get a consumer-level zoom standard. With that lens you should expect at least a 3.15x zoom.

 

[warpus]

3.15x zoom

Hmm that doesn't sound like much at all. My last camera had a 16x optical zoom and it's 5 years old. One of the other cameras I was looking at a couple days ago had a 40x optical zoom. 3.15x optical zoom sounds laughable in comparison, doesn't it?

I'm really liking this camera and the price. I found a deal elsewhere that will cost me just a bit more than it would cost to fix my existing camera. But the very small optical zoom is something i'm confused about. The reviews (w/ that exact lens) I've read/watched don't mention it, so it can't be a big deal. But it seems like it should be..

edit: I guess the deal is that if I want a better zoom, I get a different (and bigger & bulkier) lens. So now I need to figure out if a 3.1x zoom is good enough for panoramic photos of the Himalayas. Any ideas? So far in my research what I've discovered is.. that this might actually be the camera and lens kit for me. But I'm not 100% sure yet

edit2: I BOUGHT THE CAMERA IT IS MINE

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Well, I see that you bought the camera, so my comments are a bit late (as usual). By the sound of it though, that lens is made for extreme wide angle (think fisheye) at 16mm and an angle similar to the actual human eye at 50mm, with everything in between. Ideally, what you want is about 28 to 35mm for panoramic shots -> wide angle of view with minimal distortion. The higher the number, the less distortion of the image (curved horizon). 50mm will give you the least amount of distortion, as it's closest to the sight of the human eye, as I mentioned.

Zoom is normally associated with telephoto lenses with a focal length of 80mm or better. An 80 - 200mm zoom is a fairly common and popular type of telephoto lens, and they are good for getting close in on things. I really suggest getting one for your camera, as a matter of fact. I have one for my Nikon and I have some beautiful pictures of parrots in Brazil that I wouldn't have been able to get with a normal lens. If you want to do any portrait photography of Sherpas in Nepal, you need a lens of 80mm or better to make them look nice.

Just my $0.02

 

[warpus]

Thanks for the info. I am just pretty much starting to learn about different kinds of lenses and what all the numbers mean and what each one is for and so on.. so that is very helpful. The camera I ordered supports 70 or so lenses IIRC, so I will probably end up getting another lens or 2 for it in the future.

I did look up telephoto and zoom lenses, but even zoom lenses are too big and bulky for the trip that I'm going on (160km hike at high altitudes). Some people do bring a variety of lenses on the hike I'm doing.. so it is done.. but I'm trying to minimize what I'm bringing and buying all sorts of new lightweight stuff. Most of the people who bring multiple lenses are seasoned pros who are attached at the hip to their lenses and can't go anywhere without them anyway.. at least that's what it seems like. Most people bring point and shoots.

I read through a couple "best camera to bring on the everest basecamp trek" articles and a lot of the cameras listed had 3-4x optical zoom. Some were mirrorless, some were point and shoots, some were dslrs. From what I gather based on what you wrote and what else I have read, the lens I have is a good starter lens that will not allow me to do every type of shot I want, but covers a decently wide range of scenarios. I'm happy enough with that, even if it means I can't take great shots of things zoomed in with a beautiful himalayan landscape behind it (that's what you're referring to re: parrot, right?). I assume that I will be able to take shots like that, but they will not be nearly as effective as if taken with a telephoto lens?

Do you also recommend I shoot 100% in RAW? Or does that depends on other factors?

 

[Lemon Merchant]

I'm happy enough with that, even if it means I can't take great shots of things zoomed in with a beautiful himalayan landscape behind it (that's what you're referring to re: parrot, right?). I assume that I will be able to take shots like that, but they will not be nearly as effective as if taken with a telephoto lens?

A telephoto lens has two important features. It lets you get closer to the action from farther away (the parrots), and when taking a portrait with one, the subject is in focus, but the background remains a little fuzzy, depending on your depth of field, giving importance to the subject of your photograph. Telephoto lenses are useless for panoramic shots (IMHO). It sounds like your lens will be a good one for what you want to do with it, though.

Do you also recommend I shoot 100% in RAW? Or does that depends on other factors?

Not sure what RAW means, unfortunately. I still shoot with film. They haven't made a DSLR that gives the warm look of film yet. At least for my taste.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

If you have to put one dog down, should you bring the other dog to the vet to say goodbye? Is that normal or okay to do?

 

[warpus]

I'm no dog whisperer but I wonder if the dog would associate the vet with bad things, if that's the last place it sees the other dog, and it's in the vet's care.

@Lemon Merchant, from my understanding a RAW file format contains all the unprocessed data, so you have a lot more flexibility with postprocessing and editing, since you have a lot more to work with. Saving your images to JPG or whatever other format on the other hand means that you are already processing the data and only saving the processed stuff. So you have less to work with when it comes to postprocessing. But the deal is that RAW files are a lot larger.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

@hobbsyoyo :

Not that I'm up on the psychology of dogs, but I agree with warpus about this one. Bad memories for the dog, and perhaps a new fear of the vet. Better to let him say goodbye at home when you aren't crying and upset as much as you will be when you're actually having the dog put to sleep.

Thanks for the info warpus.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

If you have to put one dog down, should you bring the other dog to the vet to say goodbye? Is that normal or okay to do?

I honestly wouldn't recommend that, for the reasons warpus and Lemon Merchant mention.

At home, they will be surrounded by familiar things, familiar smells, familiar sounds... your remaining dog will probably be upset afterward for awhile, though, wondering where his/her friend is. There will be a grieving process for both of you.

Maddy was worried about Chloe before I took her to be euthanized, but she knew Chloe was extremely sick. And after I returned home without Chloe, Maddy was out of sorts... this happened in the middle of my moving situation back in March, and Maddy had to adjust to both the loss of her lifelong friend and moving to a new place (even though it was just one floor down and one suite over, it was still new).

This is still affecting her. She's been so used to having another cat around to play with, and they used to groom each other all the time. I give her lots of attention and play with her, but it's not the same kind that another cat can give.

This is going to be a very difficult time for all of you, and in my experience it's best to worry about one pet at a time. When it comes to the actual euthanasia, will you be there with your dog when it's done? If so, that means you can focus on your own goodbyes with your dog, without worrying about your other dog.

Please accept a from a friend who's been in your shoes recently. I can barely see my screen right now...

 

[Samez]

@warpus regarding RAWs
You should take photos in raws if you ever intend to develop them. Many people use Adobe's Aftereffects.
Most cameras can make raws and jpegs at the same time - which I like best - you get a lot of okay pictures and you can take the time to develop those which are really worth it.
For those who don't like taking all the lenses everywhere all the time Sony has the RX 100 series - which is still compact but offers a lot features of the DSLR and a high quality photo Sensor.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

@Valka D'Ur I'm sorry I upset you

I agree with everything everyone said, it's good advice. I was worried that the other dog won't know what happened and will always be looking for her but I agree it'll probably just traumatize him to be there. Tomorrow morning is going to suck.


I'm going to try and plead with the vet and see if he can do the stone removal for a deep discount. She is old and there is of course risk going into her 5th or 6th surgery but if I still lived in the Midwest, I'd get her the surgery to remove the stones. It only cost $200 out there but here it costs $2000. I just can't afford that every 6-12 months but I love this dog and would do anything I could to save her. I don't know if you guys remember but when my grandmother was dying in January, we chose to drive out there specifically so we could get this dog the surgery and pick her up on our way back. It was a massive nightmare (stuck in a blizzard, almost literally died, got pulled over for having CA plates, etc) but it was worth it because it bought us more time with my dog.

It just sucks that the price gouging out here is so extreme that I can not afford this straightforward procedure. And without the procedure, she's miserable and has constant UTI's and it's just terrible. We tried the special food that was supposed to prevent this but it didn't work. It's just a bad situation.

 

[warpus]

@warpus regarding RAWs
You should take photos in raws if you ever intend to develop them. Many people use Adobe's Aftereffects.
Most cameras can make raws and jpegs at the same time - which I like best - you get a lot of okay pictures and you can take the time to develop those which are really worth it.
For those who don't like taking all the lenses everywhere all the time Sony has the RX 100 series - which is still compact but offers a lot features of the DSLR and a high quality photo Sensor.

I was looking at the RX100 too actually. This was one of the comparisons I ran before making my decision. The sensor on the camera I bought is 3 times as large as the one on the RX 100.

Taking what you have said into consideration, I will probably set my camera to make both raw and jpg versions of each photo I take, thanks! The one thing I was concerned about was file size.

Hobbsyoyo this happens every 6-12 months? Ouch. Sorry man, I don't know how I would cope with something like that I hope the vet gives you a discount. Have you considered putting up a page to take donations?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

It used to be every 1-2 years. The procedure to remove the bladder stones is simple and usually cheap but here it's outrageously expensive like everything else. As she has aged, the build up of stones has sped up where now she needs the surgery every 6-12 months.

The preventative medicine hasn't worked so all we can do is operate on her. What's eating me up is that other than this she is healthy and happy and she has to die because I'm not rich enough to help her. It's killing me. She was the first thing I bought when I moved out of my parents house.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I haven't put up a page for donations. I don't know how I feel about that to be honest. I find it hard to ask for money for a dog given all the disasters that also need charity money.

 

[warpus]

I think it's fine, this isn't just a dog, it's your friend and companion. Having said that I understand your reluctance to do that

 

[Valka D'Ur]

@Valka D'Ur I'm sorry I upset you

Not to worry. It's just really soon for me, and it's going to be a long while yet before I can think of Chloe without going to pieces.

So I really do understand what it's like, and what most people experience at times like this.

It's just not right that the veterinary industry isn't regulated. Vets seem to be able to charge whatever they please, and as you found out, the difference between one vet or one area and another can be astounding. A lot of the pet insurance policies turn out to be scams, or so full of red tape that they're basically only good for a pet that will never need it.

Are there any agencies or programs in your area that could help? Some communities have vets who will give discounts for people in financial straits.

It was a massive nightmare (stuck in a blizzard, almost literally died, got pulled over for having CA plates, etc) but it was worth it because it bought us more time with my dog.

You were pulled over for having California plates?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I'm too well off to qualify for any kind of assistance. I'm also not in any financial distress, I just can't afford $2k every 6 months for her.

About the plates, yeah he told me that after the fact. He said the highway I was on (in Texas) was a drug smuggling route. He spent 10 minutes interrogating me trying to get me to admit I was smuggling cannabis or give him any plausible reason to search my car. It was traumatic and to be honest I know that if I wasn't white I would have been searched.