Square Sensors for Lighter Systems

All of those planes going somewhere without me this morning.

Oh well, I’m still fine tuning my techniques and style in anticipation of future travels, and that means I need to get on with today’s topic which is aspect ratio.  Olympus provides you with many different aspect ratios in the E-P3 with the native aspect ratio of the sensor being 4:3.  For the above picture I chose to set it for 6:6, or for square pictures.  I like this ratio for displaying pictures in my blog, but it means that I’m cropping the sensor as you can see in the following picture.

(Note that I took this picture with my Canon S95 and that the color balances were different.)

Even though I set the aspect ratio to 6:6, when I review the picture taken at that ratio in the LCD, the above is what I see.  It shows me how the camera cropped the sensor to achieve the square format.  Obviously they recorded the full sensor’s data but when I extract the picture from the camera to LR as a DNG picture I only get the square picture.

I have several issues with the above info.  The first is why doesn’t Olympus show the above scene on the LCD while composing the shot?  If they did, it would help in deciding whether to continue with the 6:6 ratio rather than the native 4:3 ratio.  Second, if they record all the data in the 4:3 format, why not make it available when I bring the picture up in LR in a view similar to the above?  But, I’m not as concerned about these first two issues since I usually shoot in the 4:3 format and crop in development.  I’m left wondering about my third issue:  Why don’t they make the sensor in a square format?

I see at least two advantages to having a square sensor.  First, it would eliminate turning the camera to compose in landscape or portrait mode and thus eliminate the awkward holding and use of the camera in a vertical orientation, but that is a minor issue.  My main thought is that a square sensor would enable the construction of smaller lenses.

The primary reason that many of us are moving away from DSLR cameras is to reduce the size and weight of the combined camera and lenses.  The micro 4/3 cameras achieve that by eliminating the mirror and by reducing the size of the sensor.   Efficient production techniques necessitate that lenses be round.   This means that the rectangular sensors only utilize a portion of the lenses’ image projection.  Going from the APS ratio sensors to 4:3 ratio is a more efficient use of the round image and that enabled the lenses to be smaller.  If they would go to square sensors it would be even a more efficient use of the round lens image as depicted below and it would enable us to have even a smaller camera-lens combination with adequate sensor sizes for quality images.

Come on camera designers; give us an even more efficient, smaller, and lighter system with a large square sensor and right-sized lenses.  Seems to make sense to me.

 

Deceptive Phrasing

My wife was using some Hersey’s Syrup yesterday and I was glad to note that it utilized genuine chocolate flavor.  I suppose the words are meant to make us feel better about the product.  I checked the list of ingredients and it did contain some cacao along with artificial flavoring.

The way the words are arranged, it appears that the word “genuine” applies to “chocolate flavor”, but maybe they mean it applies to the net weight.  It’s hard to tell.  But, I’m sure that they are hoping that our mind interprets it as genuine chocolate and that we miss the rest.

The artfully arranged words are as informative as the current Republican Presidential candidates’ claims.  We just don’t know what lies behind a few well-chosen words and they are no more than vacuous terms meant to deceive us.

 

Morning Fog

It was 26 degrees, dark, dreary & icy at 7:20 am today.

 

Going Down

This is a picture of the steps within Blarney Castle in Ireland, the home of the Blarney Stone.  To reach the stone you go up one set of steps and down the above steps to return to ground level.  If you aren’t familiar with the Blarney Stone, at the top of the Castle, I suggest you click here and see what gyrations you have to go through to get the gift of eloquence.

 

Apocalypse

Olympus E-PL2 with 20 mm lens in Ireland

The word “apocalypse” has been used for “disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception.”  The future is not always clear and it is often hard to see it through a lens, especially when it is raining so hard, but here is what I see coming … the apocalypse or reduction in sales of large DSLR cameras with mirrors and the rise of mirrorless, smaller cameras.

Lots of new cameras have been, or are being announced, and most of them are mirrorless and smaller.  We can look forward to the new Canon PowerShot G1 X, the Nikon J1 & V1, and the Fujifilm X10, X100, & X-Pro1, the Sony NEX-7, the Panasonic DMC-GX1, and the rumored Olympus OM-D as well as others.  (You can click here to read about them as they are announced.)

They have a range of sensor sizes, and thus lenses, and it appears that they are all trying to establish a niche with a camera and lens system that locks the buyer into their product.  While all the new cameras look great they are all still compromises, and while the image quality of the APS or larger size sensors have better high ISO performance, they still have large lenses which make a large, heavier kit for carrying.  And thus, while the end of the larger DSLRs with mirrors is most likely coming to an end, if cameras still stick to the APS size sensor, they will have large ungainly lenses on smaller bodies … and that doesn’t interest me, nor do I see that to be a good solution for the hobbyist.  If you are a pro and are relying upon selling pictures for a living, go with the largest size sensor that you can manage.

For all the rest of us, I still see the micro 4/3 cameras to be the optimum compromise with very good image quality and small, high quality lenses; i.e. the optimum carry-with-you size camera for travel, street, and general all around use.  Most of the manufacturer’s excursions above and below that size are being driven by marketing and the desire to establish a unique niche.  From research & technology, ergonomic, and cost viewpoints, I see my future to be with micro 4/3 cameras with better image quality, the best affordable lenses, and the best size for handling and carrying.

If you wish to follow this transformation in cameras and make your own decision, I suggest you read (click on) the following bloggers, all photographers of renown.  They are/were larger camera owners, mostly for professional use, and have switched to smaller cameras for all other uses.

• Steve Huff
• Kirk Tuck
• Thom Hogan
• Atmtx Photography

 

One View but Far-Reaching

Shores of Ireland

“A mountain is composed of tiny grains of earth. The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water. Even so, life is but an endless series of little details, actions, speeches, and thoughts.  And the consequences whether good or bad of even the least of them are far-reaching.”      Sivananda

I use the above quote to remind you that is why I have a blog.  At least I can record and share a few pictures and thoughts about life on this earth with the hope that I can make at least one person’s day a little better … as Charlie so often reminds me.

 

Invasive Species

I took the above picture in Ireland where Rhododendron seemingly grows wild over many portions of the country, but in Ireland it is an invasive species.  It was introduced in the 1700s from its native Asian location.

“Invasive species are non-indigenous species, or “non-native”, plants or animals that adversely affect the habitats and bioregions they invade economically, environmentally, and/or ecologically. “

Hmmm, seems to me that definition also applies to mankind, especially when you think about what we have done …  just a thought, think about it.

 

Bearna, Ireland

 

We Often Miss a Lot

We often miss a lot as we go through life.  This applies to almost everything we do as well as in our photography.  Often, especially when touring with a group we only look for, and take, what I’ll call “postcard” pictures.  The pictures that everyone seems to take; the same views recorded over and over by almost everyone carrying a camera.   We don’t take the time to look around, including behind us, for the often more interesting views.

We need to think as we compose our views.  It works two ways.  We need to take the time to compose our shots and ensure that we don’t end up with features we didn’t want, like the classic pole appearing to stick out of someone’s head or some other distracting element at the edge of the scene.   Take the time to review the extremities of your picture before you push the shutter.   The same care needs to be taken to ensure that we do include the local color, or those things which help establish what makes the view different from all the other pictures.  Often when touring highly visited tourist sites our biggest concern is trying to get a picture without people in the shot, when including them can enhance the picture.

How well did you look at the above picture?  Did you see the baby in the lower left portion of the frame?  Click on the picture and then click on the 1200 x 1600 size above it and look more closely.  I think that it adds to the overall image by adding a human element to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin Ireland, the largest Church in Ireland.  This building was built in 1200 – 1270 and later fell into disrepair.  Between 1860 and 1900 a full-scale restoration was carried out by the Guinness family, and we still get to admire the architecture today.  How many views have this human element to help offset the cold, dark, but impressive architecture?

All that I have mentioned above also applies to life in general.  Take time, slow down, look around, take it easy, enjoy yourself, and make sure you don’t miss the finer details in life.

Here are a few more pictures from inside the Cathedral.  They were all a challenge to take due to the low light levels.

PS, for those inquiring minds, these pictures were taken with the Olympus E-P1 camera with the Panasonic 14 mm lens at a wide open aperture of f/2.5 and ISOs varying between 400 and 1600.  They were taken as raw files and then developed with Adobe Lightroom.

 

Where Does this Path Go?

6th century Clonmacnoise Monastery in Ireland

When I look at this picture I have three different thoughts about where this path goes.  The first is about life in general, the second is about the economy, and the third is about my photography.  Since I have readers interested in all three areas and I couldn’t make up my mind about which to write about, I have decided to make this a three-part article.

Life in General

The first thing that this picture reminds me is that all life follows a very short path and the end is always the same.  All life dies in its due time and the only unknown is how soon; but, others will remember us.  It is our responsibility to make sure that we are remembered for making the best contributions that we can to the long-term evolution of humanity in the short time that we are here.

The Economy

This path reminds me that eventually we will probably have to take a step backwards in time to achieve a sustainable, stable system.  If the correct decisions are made in time, we will essentially hold steady in a very low, to no-growth economy and we won’t need to change much; but, I don’t see that happening.  As I noted in previous articles, I don’t think that the necessary minor changes will be made in time and that we will put off making any major corrections to our economic system and way of life until big changes are needed.  The world has no choice but to step back and recover from its’ debts and make the adjustments to continue in a sustainable way.  The only uncertainty is how soon and thus how big of a change.

My Camera Path

Those of you who have followed this website have seen me go from small sensor P&S pocket cameras to small sensor travel zooms, to the Pentax K-7 DSLR, to the micro 4/3 Olympus Pen cameras, the E-P1, E-PL2, and the E-P3 and the Pentax K-5 DSLR, along with a side excursion to the Canon S95.  In this last year or two I have oscillated back and forth between the K-5, the Pen cameras, and the S95 while seeking a one camera solution.  I have been on a path towards finding & choosing a single light-weight, smaller all-purpose camera with adequate image quality that I can carry with me wherever I go.  At the moment, I have paused along the path and settled upon my Olympus E-P3 along with the Panasonic 14 mm and 20 mm lenses, the Olympus 14 – 42 mm zoom, and the Olympus 14 – 150 mm zoom, but I have kept the Canon S95 for use as a small shirt pocket camera and the Pentax K-5 with the 18 – 55 mm zoom for inclement weather and with the 50 – 300 mm zoom for wildlife shooting.

I’m still on a path towards having one camera along with a simplified choice of lenses.  I’m still trying to decide on whether I wish to use zoom lenses on my E-P3 or to just use faster prime lenses such as the 14 mm, the 20 mm, and a 45 mm.  At the moment I’m leaning toward using the 14 – 150 mm, f/4 – 5.6 zoom most of the time along with the 20 mm, f/1.7 prime for when I need low light capability or to keep the camera under my jacket or in a vest pocket and/or for when I wish to be a little more discreet.  Ultimately, the choice will probably be driven by how fast a lens I need.

I have paused on my path to find my one-camera solution until I learn whether I can get along with just the E-P3 and until I see if there is another new camera coming out that will be worth the cost for my single camera; but I’m thinking at the moment that I will settle for a while with just the micro 4/3 system as it seems to be an excellent compromise on flexibility, quality, size, weight, and cost as the best camera for recording my views along my path through life.