Camera Review: Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Camera reviews on the web were useless when I was trying to upgrade to a D-SLR a year ago.  Ultimately, I found my fit from trial and error...not from some website telling me it's 5 stars!   Also, if you are used to a certain brand with your point and shoot camera, you might like to stick to that brand when you buy a D-SLR camera.  

In this segment of my blog, I want to show REAL reviews from REAL people...over the next few months test driving them all!  These people aren't paid to say their camera is the best...they know it is because it fits them just right.  

I want to review the Canon Power Shot SX10IS first.  It's a higher end point & shoot camera.  It's not my favorite, but my sister (Candy) and my mom (Mary) love it.  I'm a Sony girl myself but have to give every brand a fair shot ;)

"I have had various kinds of digital cameras.  My best so far is the Canon Power Shot SX10IS, which I bought second hand.  Good vibrant color and great zoom 20 X  optical zoom  10.0 MEGA pixels.  First camera that I have actually taken a picture of the moon and have it come out ok.  I know it is time for a new camera.  Lets see what the reviews are!" ~Mary

These are some of Mary's favorite photos that she's taken with her camera:

 

Moon 003  2012-10-20-  f5/7   1/15 sec  ISO 200

Look at that detail in the moon!  Love it!

 

 Tony 038   2013-2-23 - f/4.5  1/200  ISO-160

So beautiful!

 Watch 001  2013-2-23 - f/5.6  1/4 sec.   ISO 100

This shot was for a photography class: using manual settings

Dragonfly 112  2012-07-1  f/5.7  1/400 sec  ISO 200

Such detail!  The background is blurred out too. I can't wait for summer!

Thanks to Mary Loring for sharing her photos and review with me.

If you want to see more info/specs/review about the camera, you can visit http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/canon-powershot-sx10-is/4505-6501_7-33280759.html

~happy snapping~

The Sky is the limit! Or is it?

My recent photography has brought me to the great outdoors at night.   I wanted to capture the stars and the moon together.  Later I discovered it's not possible to get the great detail on the moon plus the beautiful stars all in one photo (without high tech equipment or photoshop).  So today's focus is on the stars.

Camera used: Sony A57 DSLR

Lens: Tamron 18-270mm

Settings: F 3.5 , shutter 0.62 & ISO 3200

The above photo was one of the first photos that I took while trying to capture the stars.  If focusing on the stars alone, it should be a clear night.   It was almost a clear night...until my hubby put wood in the wood stove. 

The photo below is one of my favorites so far.  I have a long way to go but I like it.

 

Camera used: Sony A57 DSLR

Lens: Tamron 18-270mm

Settings: F 3.5, shutter 1/4 and ISO 3200

 

And what would the post be without a point and shoot version???  

I love my Sony Cybershot DSC- HX200V.  I don't know if I can ever ditch the p & s version for my dslr completely.  It's handy and fast.  I will admit, I can't fit as many stars.  So it's not my favorite for stargazing.

Camera used: Sony HX200-V

Settings: F 2.8, shutter 2 seconds, & ISO 1600

We live in NH and this week we can see comet Pan-STARRS.  You can read about where to see them in the night sky and what to look for through the local wmur website (this link might work: http://www.wmur.com/weather/How-to-spot-comet-Pan-STARRS-in-New-Hampshire-sky/-/9859398/19312426/-/hf1039/-/index.html.)  Last night I snapped a very quick photo of the moon and didn't realize that the comet was going to be in view.   So I missed it :(  But I will be looking tonight if it's clear!

)

Same blog NAME but different focus...

There's never going to be enough time to document all my adventures & stories.  I can only hope to catch a small glimpse of it before it passes by.  My focus lately has turned to my photography.   Instead of extensive cleaning, scrapbooking or or picking out new homeschooling curriculum, my focus is on catching that smaller part...maybe that macro shot of life that the average person might miss...or chooses to ignore.  After all, if you can't see it, is it really there? 




 My other focus is on camera reviews.  Over the past two years, I have searched for that perfect dslr camera.  Everyone has her/his view on what "the perfect camera" is.  But does that camera work for you?  Mine Retails for $3,000, body only but that's only my dream camera.





My hope is that by sharing what I've learned over the past few years,  it might encourage someone else to learn how to take photos with their own camera.  Do you really need that DSLR? And I will learn things from your comments  and experiences.  (psst...don't tell anyone but this cute little lady bug was shot using my Sony point & shoot!!!)