A Homage to the Kodak P880

The end of this year, 2013, is shaping up to be a thrilling time for new camera models. The camera industry has been seeing a decline in sales over the past few years. To excite and motivate the market, we’re seeing ground breaking new models at the full frame end (Sony A7, A7R), exciting challengers for the middle position in Micro Four Thirds (the OM-D EM-1) and a revitalisation of the bridge, all-in-one camera (the Olympus Stylus 1 and Sony RX 10).  But what about the old digital old timers – the ones that were an earlier part of digital history?

The Kodak P880

The P880 is my third digital camera – after the Nikon Coolpix 775 and the Olympus C-750 Ultrazoom. For those of you who just came in, there was a time (around 2005) when DSLRs were expensive and not consumer items. The age of the all singing, all dancing bridge camera. Olympus had the remarkable C-8080. Konica Minolta had the DiMage A200Z (remember Minolta?). Nikon had the Coolpix 8400. Canon had the G6 and S2. Panasonic had their Lumix FZ-20. Samsung had their Pro815. Fuji had S9000.

The Kodak company was in its death throes – it had managers who were experienced in film and print. It had a digital sensor division and a digital camera division – but, in the field of digital, it couldn’t focus on how to make the migration. The P880 was not well built or robustly designed. It didn’t use premium parts. It was offered for sale at a crazy Recommended Retail Price. So what did it have going for it? A Schneider Kreuznach branded zoom that starts at 24mm equivalent. A slightly larger than sensor for a bridge camera (hence the limit on the 5.8x zoom range). And that Kodak Color Science chip. Yes, the Color Science chip. For some reason, the Kodak JPEG engine is exemplary in handling the way the highlights when they hit the limit. After this, engineers created cheaper, larger sensors. Intelligent dynamic range compression. But this camera was designed before then.

So, for Melbourne Cup Day 2013, I took out the old, cranky, faltering P880 and shot some bright sun, harsh contrast, Melbourne spring scenes. And was pleasantly surprised.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans…

When I was in school, this Max Ehrmann poem was all over students’ doors, walls. It’s since lost favour in this world of incessantly competitive and vexatious world of internet forums and dropped remarks.

As I participate in DPR forums, the Beginners Forum reveals lots of insecurities and misconceptions. Lots of people want better photos with the elusive Image Quality (IQ) – they think that getting a better camera magically creates better photos. We keep telling them that 80% of the photo comes from the envisioning + patience + persistence + evolving skill of the photographer. Particularly when one starts from zero base. And a 50% improvement in equipment performance is 50% enhancement of the remaining 20% due to gear. Certainly a skilled craftsperson can and does benefit from heavy investment in better gear but encountering that boundary requires a enlightened understanding of that encounter.

I’ve shot the scene above, many times, under different weather, different seasons, with different cameras at different times of day. Whilst persevering with my Kodak P880 a few days ago, I was evolving my approach. The P880 is a love-hate camera for me – it can surprise with amazingly clear and detailed photos (usually in the hands of someone who lives in Devon, England or Greece) and amazingly unspectacular, nondescript photos. And this scene has shown all the variations.

This time it works for me. Nicely detailed foliage, stone and wood. Sky not burnt out. Strong colours but not distractingly burnt out.

ISO 50. Matrix Metering. Programmed Mode. EV – 0.7. In-camera contrast at max. In-camera sharpening at max.

del.icio.us Tags: Kodak,P880,Beginners,Photography

Autumn in Melbourne 2010

I haven’t blogged much since I got back to Melbourne. The pressures of living and life imposed their tax.

Last week, it was a cold and tempestuous Melbourne, replete with hailstones. The past few days, it’s been the relaxed, autumnal Melbourne, – lazy comfortable shirtsleeves temperatures, bright but not harsh sun, lovely golden light washing over scenes most of the daylight hours.

I was over at Werribee for some work and chanced by the Werribee Mansion. Disappointingly, I was either too early before work or too late after work, to make a photographic visit. The eucalypts along the way were scenic though – ordinary scenes painted gold by the sun.

There’s something calming about this scene, the P880 with my help of EV-0.7 renders it well. The sky’s blue is unassisted by ND or polariser.

I must confess to warming up this shot and the one below. Auto WB is a relaxed choice but absorbs colour nuances when you want emphasis.

And a tight crop brings the companionship of these two trees better to mind.

Chinese New Year in Melbourne 2009

Oh, had a really lovely few weekends shooting with Brandon and Dave. Brandon’s photographic style is coming along very nicely and many of his shots are simply compelling.

I dragged out my Kodak P880 as I had not used it for many shots for a long time. I shot JPEG (formerly I used to shoot RAW), didn’t concentrate on full wide (24mm equivalent) and used lots of fill-in flash. The results are a style which is quite different from my previous P880 ventures.

First stop, to get some fortune wheels

From People in Melbourne

or money trees

From People in Melbourne

maybe some context sensitive caps

From People in Melbourne

and say hi to the friendly sales girls

From People in Melbourne

of course, an ang pow would not go astray

From People in Melbourne

It helps if you can read Chinese, but if you don't someone who can will help translate, maybe

From People in Melbourne

Vignetting Flowers

Terry was advising on how vignetting would improve the visual of a flower. It woke me up and I decided to take an otherwise ordinary photo and post process this into one with some light and shade. Photoscape vignetted, resized and framed in Faststone Resizer.

A Fascination for Benches

I kinda get attracted to benches. Don't worry, it's not some object fetish - I just like how they evoke a feeling that they're waiting to be sat on. Here's my most recent one, with a little bit of faux Tilt / Shift treatment.

Topical

I had been neglecting my Kodak P880 - so I took it out to Kmart with me. Chanced on this topical licence plate. What can I say?

From Odds and Ends