The next meeting on Thursday 24th May will see a welcome return visit of our local 3D photography expert Barry Aldous of Ramsbottom. Experience stereographic (stereo photography) that brings the images to life! You may have seen Avatar, but have you seen the 3D images of Barry Aldous? You’re in for a treat. 3D glasses are provided – but bring your own popcorn!

Prices start from £23.95 and are available now to purchase from Blurb.com (Click on the Book)

Although taking pictures by smart phone is the most popular way of capturing an image, you feel you can do better.

You’ve probably tried to improve on those full on shots of people leering into the lens, or busy backgrounds that overwhelm your subject, or shadowed faces on the beach or sport shots ruined by blur. But you are not sure how to do it or what camera to buy next. You are encouraged by the fact that sales of high quality cameras are booming but the choice of what to go for is confusing….and expensive.

Until recently that choice was relatively simple….compact camera for convenience, a bridge camera with a healthy zoom range on its fixed lens, or a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera that offers the advantages of specific lenses for specific types of photography and some advanced controls to overcome many of those problems you are now encountering. That was it.

To add to that choice, a variation on the DSLR has recently appeared. It is the compact system camera (CSC). It is a camera that almost matches the size and convenience of the compact but with the ability to accept a range of lenses.

It is probably too early for you to answer the obvious question, “what do you want to do with your camera?” You probably are keen to have a go at everything, sport, wild life, portrtaits, flowers, landscapes, pattern pictures and more. Understandably you want to explore a wider range of photographic possibilities.

So keep your compact for point and shoot…and read on.

You could, of course, buy yourself a more advanced compact and that is not to be scoffed at but it will probably lack the versatility you are seeking and despite those compact camera ads. featuring pin sharp rugby tackles, feather detail on a diving sea eagle or the close up facial terror on Blackpool’s Big One, you are right to question whether it is possible to get such shots consistently.

BRIDGE CAMERAS

So first you should investigate the bridge camera. A bridge camera combines the simplicity of a compact with many of the features of the DSLR. Bridge cameras are chunkier than compacts, have bigger buttons and a viewfinder that produces an electronic image from the camera’s sensor-rather than the view through the lens.

The Bridge, like the compact and the DSLR will have certain feature settings or modes e.g. high speed for sport, macro for close ups, soft light for portraits, long exposures for night shots or fireworks and so on. The bridge will also allow manual setting of shutter and exposure as well as manual exposure compensation although getting at such manual settings may mean negotiating the cameras menu in a little more detail.

Bridges will also boast substantial numbers of megapixels, but it’s the size of the sensor and not the outright number of pixels that is more important. Bridge cameras generally have the same size sensor as digital compacts. Nevertheless results can be impressive.

Many bridge cameras also enable you to shoot in Raw as well as Jpeg. Raw files are larger and contain more information so improving your chances of correcting, enhancing or manipulating via a software programme such as Photoshop or Picasa

It is easy to get hooked on taking photographs so think ahead when making the choice of what to buy. A bridge will let you explore photography but if you think you will move ahead quite quickly, then go for the DSLR or the compact system camera (CSC). The CSC’s are new and relatively expensive but are selling well and I would expect prices to come down.

COMPACT SYSTEMS CAMERAS (CSC)

Let’s look at the CSC first. It is a new and highly competitive area of the market and Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung, Pentax, Sony and Nikon sales suggest that growth will beat that for DSLR’s- possibly in the next five years..

Keen amateur photographers will be attracted to this system because all of the shooting modes available on DSLR are there on the latest CSC’s. Unfortunately most of these cameras do not have viewfinders which to many keen photographers is a limitation.

The CSC though is ideal for travel. It is portable, slim, light and sophisticated. Build quality for all makes is first class. Users are reporting very good results because of the large sensor and some are buying adapters so they can use the DSLR lenses they already own. In fact manufacturers believe a large part of the CSC market will be among people who already own a DSLR. Early CSC’s did not have as good ISO range as DSLR’s but recent models are catching up. Continuous shooting is also impressive.

However-there is usually a however- the CSC viewfinder will not give you the picture through the lens. Like the compact and the bridge the viewfinder or the rear LCD will give you the electronic image being relayed from the sensor. You have probably already experienced the problems of the rear LCD screen even if you have the more expensive twist and turn version. In bright sunlight the image is hard to see. It is also difficult to hold the camera away from your body without some degree of camera shake….and that’s despite inbuilt image stabilisation that included in most of these cameras. The latest CSC’s have touch screen controls as a feature although using the feature while sizing up the shot may take some practice. CSC’s are capable of impressive video too.

Prices are steep and top of the range will set you back more than entry DSLR but they are attractive cameras with features and quality of DSLR and the added advantage of being lightweight, small and flexible. Bear in mind that, although the cost of most camera bodies will come down, the separate lenses may retain their value much longer.

DIGITAL SINGLE- LENS REFLEX CAMERAS (DSLR)

So why buy a DSLR? Well some entry level DSLR’s have functions and settings that were confined to top of the range models ten years ago. The DSLR will accept larger lenses and there is a wider range to choose from too. Features are likely to be more accessible via the menu than on a CSC and the DSLR may well also have a bigger ISO range so you can shoot in lower light with less noise. (that is grainy pictures) or with a faster shutter speed to overcome movement blur.

You do not have to start at entry level, of course. Why not think of starting one or two models up?

If the budget is tight, consider the model that has just been superceded but still on sale. Manufacturers like Canon and Nikon change their models with remarkable frequency and the older model price will drop substantially yet it may be little different form the incoming model.
I bought at entry level but found I moved on relatively quickly. There is also less likelihood of teething problems with the previous model than with a new one.

If size is a problem and you are worried about hefting the larger DSLR go and try it out at your dealer. If my own experience is anything to go by, you soon get used to the larger camera body.
In fact many of the latest DSLR bodies are designed to take the smaller SD cards and are consequently smaller and lighter than predecessors. But do not be put off by size or weight. Bigger camera bodies help balance bigger lenses should you go on to buy them.

Of course you could buy a body only and add the lens of your choice, but if you are new to DSLR’s then pay the extra for the kit lens that comes with it. It is priced to sell and will give you good results although you may well outgrow it as your hobby develops. I’m not opposed to buying on line and certainly there are bargains to be had but remember a local photographic dealer *offers advice and support.

One more caution in this plethora of choice. Although some photographers swear by one particular make, there is little to choose between the build quality and features of the big manufacturers. Your problem is that each make ensures you cannot use rival lenses. A Canon lens will not fit a Nikon and vice versa. Neither will fit a Sony. The specialist companies which make lenses such as Sigma and Tamron specify the camera fit. That is why so many photographers who buy a DSLR and extra lenses stay with the same make for years if not throughout the life of their hobby.

Keep an eye on this web site because shortly Bury Photographic Society will be holding an open evening where we encourage you to come along to see what the club has to offer and give advice to help you develop your hobby. And talking about developing, remember with digital photography you don’t have to go to the expense of processing your mistakes.

Martin Henfield

*Thanks to Wilkinson Cameras, the Rock, Bury for making available example illustrations of
the types of cameras covered in this article.

In the Millennium year 2000 the club and Bury Local History Society staged a historical photographic exhibition in the Bury Art Gallery celebrating the changing face of Bury, as seen through the lens of two late members of the Society George Pollard and Charles Jackson. (two important members)

Charles’s monochrome images were taken in the 1950′s and George’s colour slides in the 60′s but both recorded the streets of the old town centre before it was swept away by the redevelopment of the Millgate shopping centre and the new market and market hall.

The turn of the New year 2012 see’s us again reaching for our cameras again to record the new Rock Development and the forever cycle of change.

Enjoy the Gallery I am sure it will bring back some memories, oh and don’t forget to look out for George and Charles they are the last picture and I thought it was fitting that they got the last bill…Thanks Chaps!

Happy New Year to you all !

If anyone would like more information on Bury PS Archives, please feel free to contact us. Thank you Stuart for helping us preserve Bury’s History.

If you are interested in photography and want to join in we always welcome new members, come along on our meets on Thursdays to see what you think with no charge. : ) You could be the next George and Charles………………

Round 5 was our final round of Digital competition of 2011. After counting the scores on the night Kevin Hardman won the Club Class award and Barrie Kelly won the Advanced Class. Well done for your excellent work chaps !

As well as being our longest serving member Stuart is also the custodian of the History of Bury Photographic Society. When I started looking after the website I was very proud and interested in the groups long history and Stuart was to lovely and kind enough to share with me this fantastic glimpse into the club from the early years of 1900.

These pictures are early examples of Lantern Slide photography that the group is conserving for the future, under the careful care of Stuart.

I am sure that you will be as impressed as I was on how the camera and the members of the day captured life around us just as we do so too, some things never change….

Round 4 saw a very high standard from everyone, especially the club class. Kevin Hardman scored top 20 points with “Near and far on Antelope Island” just beating Andrew Mayfield with a thoughtful image entitled “Glove” scoring a close 19 points.

The advanced class gave our judge a real varied selection of photographic styles. Richard Lodge’s “Cupboard under the stairs” engaged with our judge who constantly found new details and delight this scored 19 points with James Hargreaves classical view of “Ark Gloria”. Both chaps gave John Scotson a good competition who scored a top 20 points with “Lioness and Young” along with Barrie Kelly’s “Pelicans flying over the Namib Desert”

All images shown scored 18 and above.

One of the best was welcoming the Mayor when he opened the Annual Exhibition. This was especially enjoyable because the Mayor was enthusiastic about photography and actually overran his time with us because he was deep in discussion with me and other members about the pictures on display.

During this year we had our first International competition for many years – and won. My colleague Martin Henfield deserves especial praise for the hard work he put into the organisation. Thanks also to Kevin Hardman for assistance in translation.

Two of my own organised events also went well, the Christmas party and the President’s Evening which took place on my birthday.

I was also very pleased when my achievements in mountaineering by receiving the George Band Award were recognised here because Barrie Kelly had spotted the information on the LCPU website. That pleasure is now tinged with sadness because George Band died last week.

Throughout my period as President I have received stout and loyal support from the President Elect, Martin Henfield, the members of the Committee and especially from David Crabtree who has been at my elbow every minute ensuring that I did not put a foot wrong. Even ex-committee members like Eb Swarbrick have always been ready to assist, especially with technical problems. Finally the unsung heroes in the background making teas and selling raffle tickets. To you all I offer my very great thanks for your support.

I know I am leaving this role in capable hands as I hand over to Martin Henfield who will bring a very professional skill to this task.

George Steele LRPS CPAGB

"Raven Feeding Young", Barrie Kelly