Samsung GX-20

dklod · Aug 1, 2008

I have managed to borrow for the weekend a Samsung GX-20. Along with the body I also have more lenses than I can poke a stick at. A D-Xenon 12-24, 16-45, 18-250, 18-55, Xenon 50-200, D-Xenogon 35 f2, D Xenogon 10-17 fisheye, D-Xenon 100 Macro, Pentax 14, Pentax 50-135 f2.8, and a Sigma 50-500 lenses and 3 wireless Pentax flashes. I have never used an DSLR before so this is going to be an interesting road test. I have 2 whole days with this stuff and I'll probably spend tomorrow figuring out the menus and how to change the settings. I have organized a rooftop photo op at a hotel in Sydney Olympic Park so Im hoping tomorrow is going to be a nice clear day, especially during dusk. Well I just dowloaded the manual so I better start reading. I'll post some pics tomorrow, if they are any good.

Bifurcator · Aug 1, 2008

The cam is OK. It has live view and HDR image enhancement built-in.

The lenses are more interesting by far IMHO. You can always hit the camera shops and put in some time on a camera body but it's far less common that the guys will dig out a variety of lenses for you to play with.

So, if it were me I would skip learning about the body so much unless you can just not answer your phone for a week or two and pretend to not be home when they come a knocking with the football player looking fellows.

I would focus on the lenses. I would take all kinds of comparison shots and keep a note book handy so you can keep everything organized and documented! Personally I'm most interested in the Sigma 50-500 (See http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=lxTalp6f7kw for use in LV tips at night) and the 10 to 17 fisheye. But having them there you'll know more than my hunches pretty soon.

dklod · Aug 1, 2008

The whole kit is owned by a friend of mine. He works for Samsung and he is the product specialist on photography. Unfortunately, I have to hand it back Sunday night because he needs it for work. I totally agree with what you say about comparing lenses and it was something I very much planned on doing. But I still needed to figure out, and I have now, where to find all the adjustments to get the correct exposures. I like to toy with it, not just set it on one priority or another and let the processor do the thinking. It helps me personally better understand the effects of changing one thing or another has on the final result.

Ive been playing with a few of the lenses this morning. The one I have had most fun with is the macro. Manual focusing is very challenging, particularly on the flower below which was blowing in the wind. Still, for a first attempt with any SLR, Im happy with my progress. I'll be out and about later so I'll post some other stuff tonight.

Bifurcator · Aug 2, 2008

This is where the difference between a great in camera VR/IS/AS whatever stabilization mechanism and a mediocre lens based system really show their strengths and weaknesses and make the difference between getting the shot and not!

Here's me earlier today getting ready for a discussion on this very topic. Went to the park on a breezy day (thank gawd in 40 degree weather!) all hand held at 1/15th of a second at the long end of a 200mm lens in macro from about 15 inches away (36 cm.). Result repeatability was about 75%

Image Created:........2008:08:03 03:06:32 PM
Exposure Time:........1/15 sec
F-Number:...............f/11.0
ISO Speed Rating:.....64
Flash:......................No Flash, Compulsory

This is with no processing what-so-ever. Only CameraRAW color balance. No NR and no USM, etc.

The 25% Scale

The 100% Crop

The flower was bouncing around so much in the breeze it was actually hard to keep it in-frame most of the time.

Really looking forward to seeing more good lens tests! :thumbup: