Tag Archives: camera

How To Take Better Pictures With The Samsung Galaxy S3 (Part 1)

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Petronas Twin Towers photographed with Samsung Galaxy S3

Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur
Samsung Galaxy S III, ISO 100, f 2.6, 1/15 sec

The new Galaxy SIII (GT-19300) boasts a 8mp camera. While the cam is fairly competent, a dedicated compact camera will still run circles around it. But then again, can a compact or dSLR surf the web, tweet, play videos, navigate with its GPS and much more? And still fit inside your shirt pocket comfortably?

This answers another question I am asked ever so often: “Which is the best camera out there?”  The best camera is the one that is always by your side, ready for any unexpected photo moment. Not the expensive dSLR you leave at home because it is too heavy or is unsafe to carry.

As good as present technology is, some users still feel the pictures from their smartphones are not as smart. The reason to that could be surprisingly dumb.

Due to its position and the lack of a cover, the tiny lens is often smeared with greasy fingerprints, without the user even realising it. To obtain the best sharpness from your phone, inspect your lens and wipe it with a clean tissue. You’ll be amaze at the difference it makes!

Also, make it a habit to place the phone camera-end down into your pocket. That way you won’t grab the camera lens when taking it out. Now that we got the most important tip out of the way, let’s look at some settings for night shots for the Samsung Galaxy phone.

Manually adjust the ISO from Auto to ISO 100, unless light is really low and you have no other choice. As with any camera or camphone, the lowest ISO setting minimises picture noise. Another challenge will arise, as a result though. Shutter speed might get  too low, and given its shape, the phone will be difficult to hold steady. It is no fun to carry a tripod, however small, when you have such a slim and light phone. So how?

I use the attached Samsung accessory flip cover as a L-shaped ‘tripod’. Just rest it on any surface and angle it to your liking. This was how I photographed both the shots featured here. Not bad considering the phone was clicking below 1/20th of a second.

KLCC's Musical Fountain photograped with the Galaxy S3

Musical Fountain, KLCC Park
Samsung Galaxy S III, ISO 100, f 2.6, 1/17 sec with -1 stop compensation

Under Settings option, play with S3’s “Exposure Value” slider. It is basically exposure compensation where you can lower or increase the light to compensate for different  lighting situations. In the above picture of the fountains, I slide the value to “-1 stop” to expose for the water jets. Learn how to access this setting and understanding how it works for better pics. I will explore more of this function in upcoming picture samples  under various scenarios.

Look out for PART 2. See PART 2

Follow me on Instagram for more photography tips under username: tvsmithmy
Or read and look at more pics starting from the main page of this blog.

Click on image to see the BIG PICTURE

 

New Olympus Micro Four Thirds PEN E-PL2 Camera

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Olympus launched their new flagship compact, the XZ-1 and new Micro 4/3 Pen E-PL2 this morning. Here are some sample still images with the new Pen E-PL2 camera. Specs and additional info can be found at the Olympus Malaysia website and special Facebook promotional page. Picture and video samples from the XZ-1 are featured on the previous page. More sample pics here, here, here and here.

Dashing Duo

Dashing Duo

The new Olympus Pen E-PL2 mirrorless camera and new Olympus XZ-1 super compact.

Olympus Pen E-PL2 with 14-150 lens

Olympus Pen E-PL2 with 14-150 lens

Still Samples:

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 200, f 8, 1/400 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 200, f 8, 1/400 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 200, f 8, 1/400 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 200, f 8, 1/400 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 640, f 5.6, 1/400 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 640, f 5.6, 1/400 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 640, f 5.6, 1/400 sec - f1005 crop from original

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 640, f 5.6, 1/400 sec - f1005 crop from original

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 3200, f 4.5, 1/640 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 3200, f 4.5, 1/640 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 3200, f 4.5, 1/640 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 3200, f 4.5, 1/640 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 6400, f 8, 1/125 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 6400, f 8, 1/125 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 6400, f 8, 1/125 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus Pen E-PL2, ISO 6400, f 8, 1/125 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus PEN Price in Malaysia

Olympus PEN Price in Malaysia

Firmware version is 1.0 and all settings at factory default. No post-adjustments made except size reduction & cropping. Images saved at 50% jpeg compression for web.

See also: Real-world tests and sample pics of E-PL2 in:
Chinatown Temple | Dong Zen Lantern Fest | The Art Of Art Filters | The Bird Park

New Olympus XZ-1 Flagship Compact

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Olympus launched their new flagship compact, the XZ-1 and new Micro 4/3 Pen E-PL2 this morning. Here are some sample still images captured with the new XZ-1 camera. Specs and additional info can be found at the Olympus Malaysia website and special Facebook promotional page. Picture samples from the Pen E-PL2 are featured on the next page.

Launched

Launched!

Mr Tan Tick Boon, Managing Director Olympus Malaysia, with the new XZ-1 and Mr Yong Kee Nyap, Assistant General Manager, Imaging System Division with the new Pen E-PL2.

Underwater Housing & Light

Underwater Housing & Light for Pen

Still Samples:

Olympus XZ-1 1SO 500, f 2.5, 1/160 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 500, f 2.5, 1/160 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus E-PL2 black version shown with the optional Medusa LED Close-up Light.

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 500, f 2.5, 1/160 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 500, f 2.5, 1/160 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 500, f 3.2, 1/400 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 500, f 3.2, 1/400 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 500, f 3.2, 1/400 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 500, f 3.2, 1/400 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 100, f 2.0, 1/400 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 100, f 2.0, 1/400 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 100, f 2.0, 1/400 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 100, f 2.0, 1/400 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 3200, f 2.5, 1/2000 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 3200, f 2.5, 1/2000 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 3200, f 2.5, 1/2000 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 3200, f 2.5, 1/2000 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 6400, f 6.3, 1/200 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 6400, f 6.3, 1/200 sec - full size reduced to 800 x 450

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 6400, f 6.3, 1/200 sec - 100% crop from original

Olympus XZ-1, ISO 6400, f 6.3, 1/200 sec - 100% crop from original

The announced retail price of the XZ-1 in Malaysia is RM 1799 (app USD 585). The underwater housing for the XZ-1 (PT 050) is quoted as RM 1090 (app USD 354) and the underwater housing for the E-PL2 (PT-EP03) is RM 2090 (app USD 680).

Firmware version is 0.9 and all settings at factory default. No post-adjustments made except size reduction & cropping. Images saved at 50% jpeg compression for web.