Photography Nuts & Bolts

[Stanley]

Here's the full description. 43” QN90C Neo QLED 4K HDR Smart TV. I was aiming for state of the art. Do you think I might have got somewhere near?

[Tripps]

I'm in a similar situation, but the decision takes longer with me. I checked out the Samsung 43 inch market and found that they were available from about £280 to say £340. LinkWhy spend more thinks I ?

In fact lack of BBC has resulted in little difficulty, and a general reduction in watching TV, which must be a good thing.

Now I realise that if you really need neo qled you must pay a lot more. Pesonally I'd forego it and chance my life being diminished.

Fair enough - it's not my call - spend how you wish, though many of the features - I'd pay to avoid.

I was very well behaved yesterday. I didn't poke my nose in here, and resisted the urge to correct the grammar of a member. Youtube continues to be addictive though, and I found this lovely photo, which will mean little to most, but was a (forgotten) part of my life for a long time.

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[Stanley]

David, As I looked at the different sets I came to the conclusion that if I was going to go for an improved quality of set I might as well go the whole hog. I know you can get cheaper Samsung sets which I know would be adequate. But I had decided to go for better than adequate so I've ended up with what is possibly top of the range.....
No pockets in a shroud and One of my old mates died last week, I only found out yesterday. That was one of the factors that decided my choice......

[Big Kev]

A bit more 'learning' with the Nikon today. Registered it on the Nikon website and downloaded the relevant drivers to connect it to my PC. I have another genuine Nikon battery coming from China, it's been posted and should be here within 7 days. I also found a hood, for the used Sigma 10-20mm lens I found on eBay, that'll be here Wednesday. It's a rarely used lens but very useful for 'group shots' in restricted spaces. The camera will mainly be used with the Nikon 18-105mm DX VR that came with the body. Although weather sealed (I'm not) I will be awaiting a dry day to get out and use it a bit more. I have until June (wedding shoot) for it to become second nature, it's not good thinking about what does what when you're trying to organise people

[Big Kev]

Now I realise that if you really need neo qled you must pay a lot more. Pesonally I'd forego it and chance my life being diminished.

My Sharp 50in not smart TV is still doing what I need it to do, the only 4K viewing I have access to is the odd film on Netflix. My 63 year old corrected eyeballs probably wouldn't benefit anyway. I'll stick with 1080P HD for now

[Tripps]

You're preaching to the choir here.

I think my Toshiba is "smart" ?

Along with the HD Freesat box I bought and sent back as unintelligible - they are both "smarter" than me, and like a gentleman I have given up.

You soon realise that not much on TV is worth worrying about.

À chacun son goût- as they say in France.

[Stanley]

Just one small point Kev. According to the blurb I read, all input to the TV, whatever the source, is converted to 4k. Or that's what I understood.
I've been thinking about what you said about 4k being no advantage to you because of your eyesight Kev. I'm not too sure about your thinking there. I don't know what your problems are but speaking for my own, yes I am hampered but I find the better the quality of the image I am watching the better my appreciation of it and more important, the less strain there is on my eyes. When I was in the shop the other day even with my bad eyesight I could see the images clearer than what I get now with the old set. As a bonus, the sound is Dolby and manipulated by what is on the screen so it may be a treat for my impaired hearing as well! I couldn't assess that in the shop of course.
I've reread this and I don't think I a, doing this as a defence. I really do think that the better the image the better our appreciation is even with impaired vision.

[Big Kev]

Yes, a 4k set will upscale an HD signal, it won't be 'true' 4k but will give the impression of a better image.
The new TV would most likely have been in 'shop' mode (yes, that is a thing) when on display, once it's installed it will be set to 'home' mode which, while still an impressive image, won't quite have the impact it had in the shop. You'll definitely notice the difference to your old Samsung though. From a personal POV, unless I had a number of 4k channels to watch, I don't think a 4k set would benefit me. My current set is a 50in HD and meets my needs, I can see the difference on the 'standard' definition channels, I would imagine if I had a bigger set the 4k upscaling would be a benefit for the HD channels.
Enjoy your new one, as you say 'there's no pockets in a shroud'

[Stanley]

I shall report once I have settled in to it Kev. I might even be shouting for help to refine the set up, we'll see.

[Big Kev]

Back to photography, took the Nikon out for a walk. Very pleased with the resolution compared to the Olympus (24.2mp and 12.4mp), the 18-105mm Nikon lens was very versatile too. I still need to try it with the studio lighting.
I've had to compress the images to post on here but the originals are pin sharp and full of detail.

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Looking towards the three peaks from Foulridge.

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Pendle Hill and Blacko Tower.

[Stanley]

Even compressed they look superb Kev.

[Big Kev]

I am very impressed with the quality
I'll get to try some low light, high ISO, photography on Saturday evening. Middle offspring has a gig at The Foresters Arms in Grassington. The 18-105 lens has a VR (Vibration Reduction) setting which, according to Nikon, greatly improves the image in low light.

[Stanley]

My mate Roger Perry always used to say that in discussions about which was the best low light film (Because in those days the emulsion was the only way it could be improved) was to take a pic of a black cat in a coal cellar with available light and see what you could squeeze out of the emulsion in the dark room.
Different kettle of fish now of course. I'll bet the results are going to be surprisingly good.
(See if you can find a black cat and a coal cellar!)

[Big Kev]

My mate Roger Perry always used to say that in discussions about which was the best low light film (Because in those days the emulsion was the only way it could be improved) was to take a pic of a black cat in a coal cellar with available light and see what you could squeeze out of the emulsion in the dark room.
Different kettle of fish now of course. I'll bet the results are going to be surprisingly good.
(See if you can find a black cat and a coal cellar!)

The black cat will be a lot easier to find than a coal cellar

[Stanley]

[Tizer]

Lovely pictures but I wonder how much is the camera versus the computer?...
`International Garden Photographer of the Year competition 2024' BBC

[Big Kev]

Lovely pictures but I wonder how much is the camera versus the computer?...
`International Garden Photographer of the Year competition 2024' BBC

Some good pics in there, definitely some post processing involved

[Big Kev]

My new toy

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[Stanley]

Lovely, I do like to see people using Nikon cameras! Have you read the manual yet? I got to page 25 of the one for my D200 and then gave up, life is too short as far as I am concerned!
As for post processing.... I did once read or hear somewhere that digital images weren't allowed as forensic evidence in court because of the possibility that they were manipulated. Do you know if there is any truth in that Kev?

[Big Kev]

That was the case not so long ago, there's now a process in place where the digital images require a certificate of authentication.

[Stanley]

Thanks.

[Tripps]

, there's now a process in place where the digital images require a certificate of authentication.

Can you photoshop them?

[Big Kev]

, there's now a process in place where the digital images require a certificate of authentication.

Can you photoshop them?

The authentication certs? I reckon so but they'd need authentication

[Stanley]

Whenever this discussion arises my mind always goes back to the Cottingley Fairies. (LINK)

[Big Kev]

Did a bit of eBay shopping, bought myself another battery grip and a silicone flash diffuser.
The battery grip came today and is a genuine Nikon bit of kit, the first one I bought from a supposedly reputable company turned out to be a copy. It has been returned and I have a refund.
I had to get a new flash diffuser as the Sto-fen I have for the Metz (Olympus dedicated) didn't fit the bigger Neweer 750 flashgun, it's the same size as the Nikon flashgun.

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