Victress2007

I'm a fan of Sony HX_V cameras.  The HX80 now has a viewfinder.  I haven't used this specific camera myself, my last one is a HX50V.  It doesn't have a viewfinder, other than that it is an awesome little pocket camera.  You can get the HX80 for under $400 with a decent package of goodies on our favorite shopping site.

Vic

I have a  Tenba Messenger DNA 8 bag on my wishlist for Christmas.  I've been using a backpack for day trips, but it's not convenient when I want to pull out the second camera or grab a filter.  I have to find a place to put the bag down to get anything.  I'm hoping this messenger bag will be easier to grab stuff out of.  Does anyone use this or one like it?  Any comments?

Thanks,

Vic

I love this time of year!

Vic

I went from a Sony HX9V to a HX200V to a HX50V to the 6000 to the 6300.  The only one I didn't like at all was the HX200V.  I took it to Alaska twice and it did ok, but I always looked at the photos and wanted something sharper. The only thing I don't like about the HX50V is that it doesn't have a viewfinder.

So, you might consider renting a camera from one of the online sites.  If you get one and really love it most rental sites will let you buy it and put the rental fee toward it.  That way for a relatively small fee maybe you can skip one or two of the many steps I went through. 

Vic

You can get the same effect using towels soaked in hot water.  You could also bring chemical heating packs with you.  You could get a spa pass and spend some time in the hot tub (spa hot tub is usually hotter than regular ones).

There are lots of options out there, enjoy your trip!

Vic

If you can swing it, I would recommend the A6300 & the 15-135 lens package.  While I love my A6000 and have used it for 3 years, I recently upgraded to the 6300 and am blown away by the improved focusing. I still use the 6000 as my second body, usually with the 35mm prime or wide lens.  

Then, you can rent any big lens you need for your trip.

This is with the 6000 and prime lens.

This is the 6300 15-135

Vic

Posting pictures is easier than ever.  There is no need to have a secondary site to host your photos.  All you have to do is drag a photo from your device to the post.  That's it.

You can see your storage status by clicking on your name (top right) of the page and then selecting attachments.  It will show you your history.

Vic

So which fits better here, Autumn Leaves or The River?

Vic

Use the paperclip at the bottom of the page.  Either drag a picture over or choose a file.

Super easy now.

Vic

They promise the old ones will be back....

Vic

test

Not sure if the OP is interested in the Sony 6X00 series - while they are nice cameras, they have an APS-C sensor and they are interested in full frame cameras.

While I have the 6x00 series the Sony 7ii is full frame and not too much bigger.

Vic

The first image was full color. The second was taken with the camera with picture effect of blue only. This one I used Adobe elements B&W Color Pop and was able to edit it to have more blue added.

I like the challenges Dave!

Vic

The most obvious pro for mirrorless is size and weight. The Sony 6x00 series fits my hand perfectly and is really comfortable to walk with holding it by the grip with just my fingertips ( I do have a wristband/shoulder strap combo). I was on a photo tour and the leader was raving about the weight and balance of his Nikon DSL swinging it around on his fingertips (with no wrist strap). That's when I realized I do the same thing pretty much unconsciously with my Sony.

Vic

I got as far as the back door today...

Vic

Technically, it was supposed to get you out of the recliner and take photos, but I guess walking over to the PC is a start.

 

;)

 

Dave

Since I was already sitting at the PC, I guess I'll get my camera out in the next day or so. :D

Vic

Does it count if I took it last February?

Vic

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Last few days that the whole trail is open. Pretty soon the rain will start and the winter birds will start arriving. It is strangely quiet here in the summer, the real activity is in the wintertime.

Vic

I was only there 2 and a half days. Sunday I spent mostly with my husband and watching football. We went to dinner at a restaurant right on the Bellagio waterfront. The view was pretty good, but people were in the way and the food was too good to spend much time taking pictures - even there.

Monday I had the morning free and I went down to the Cosmopolitan and Bellagio area, a new display had just opened in the conservatory

I took some shots in the Forums Shopping area, lots to find of interest there, from crystal

to statues

It was lots of fun and I learned a lot about my prime lens, I'll update that later. Thanks for your tips,

Vic

The other one they missed was don't forget to look UP.

Include people for scale example.

Vic

Thanks for the ideas but I won't have a car for the drives -sorry Mr. Click! :D

It's supposed to be 100+ this weekend, so I'll probably stay pretty close to the air conditioning. It also depends on how patient my husband is while we're walking around. I will probably spend quite a bit of time around the Bellagio, it's close to our hotel and very photogenic. Thanks for the tips near there.

I'm going to carry around only my 35 prime on Sunday to challenge myself to learn a bit more about it. I'll have other lenses for the evenings and morning while I am out. I'm looking forward to it, there is something unique everywhere on the strip.

Vic

For several years I used various underwater housings for my inexpensive cameras. They do ok, you will get usable pictures but you won't get great pictures. I finally upgraded to a Nikon Coolpix AW130 when I found one on a great Black Friday sale.

So it really depends on what you want to take pictures of, what you want to use it for and where you will be swimming or snorkeling.

Taken in 2010 with a generic, one size fits all, underwater housing.

Vic

Has anyone done a Pride of America golf package? I see one offered by Golfahoy, it looks like an add-on type, not a pure golf cruise. I'm considering for my mom and would love some personal experiences.

Thanks,

Vic

You could easily talk me into that one, Framer! We did a similar Italy - Greece cruise on NCL last year, but it didn't have the Adriatic portion. Next spring we are doing Venice, Croatia, Montenegro and Greece. I love Italy - pretty much all of Italy - (which is weird because I am 75% British Isles and 25% northern Europe) - but especially Venice.

Vic

Thanks all, good ideas. That rGPS looks interesting. I'm all android so I'll have to check it out on my husband's devices. Thanks.

Vic