Commodore ignored

[RobertB]

     As soon as I receive my paycheck on May 31, I start buying my film/video supplies for my trip to Europe.  I've decided to bring my Bronica GS-1 120mm (6 cm. x 7 cm. negative) still camera and of course the Canon HV-40 hi-def camcorder.  The last time I brought a 120mm film camera to Europe was back in 1995 and 1996, and it was the smaller Bronica ETR-S (6 cm. x 4.5 cm negative).  In the intervening years, I had brought the Nikon N80 35mm film camera.  But not this time!  The Bronica, big and bulky, gives a satisfying clap of its large reflex mirror every time I hit the shutter button.  I only have the standard 100mm lens for the Bronica, so no zooming in and out for me.  In the future, I'd like to get a wide-angle 50mm lens and a telephoto 200 or 250mm lens for it.
     I'll have to buy several rolls of Kodak Portra or Fujicolor 120 or 220 film.  As for the Canon HV-40, I'll buy Sony mini-DV videocassettes in bulk.  Cheaper to buy over here in North America rather than in Europe.
     By the way, did I mention that the Canon HV-40 also takes digital still shots at 3.1 megapixels and saves to a micro-SD card?  

         Truly,
         Robert Bernardo
         Fresno Commodore User Group
         http://videocam.net.au/fcug
         July 23-24 Commodore Vegas Expo v7 2011 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

P.S. A few months ago I briefly flirted with the idea of bringing the Graflex Supergraphic 4 x 5 film camera.  However, idea of bringing a bunch of bulky film holders for the 4 inch x 5 inch negative film turned me off.

[Paul]

That's quite impressive, Robert.  I've always been one to want to travel light; in the mid 90's, I stopped hauling my Pentax cameras with me for the convenience of single use cameras.  When digital finally came down in price, the Fuji Finepix A201 was my go-to travel camera; at 2 megapixels, a 64MB card held a (then) impressive excess of 130 pictures in "Fine" mode.  I started bringing a camcorder along when I got my diminutive Canon ZR-1.  I always found the point-and-shoot cameras came up short in dim lighting and had no zoom, and replaced them with the Kodak DX6490.  Of course, even that comes up short with wide angle shots and hand-held low light shots.

I've since replaced the ZR-1 with the Kodak Zi8 HD camcorder, which travels very light and delivers great HD video.  On my last trip two weekends ago, I packed my Pentax K-x with every lens, my ZR-1 camcorder, and my Fuji Finepix XP10 water/shock/dust/freeze proof camera.  I started testing with the Finepix XP for all video and photographs, imagining how wonderful it would be to travel with a single indestructable camera that does it all and fits in the palm of my hand.  Technically, it can, with a 5x zoom, image stabilization, and HD video capture; but with a wide angle limited to a 35mm equivalent of 36mm and an ISO range that stops at 800, both its wide angle and low light capabilities were very limiting.  It was a great camera for in the water and for sneaking into places, so it had its place.  Meanwhile, nothing beats the Zi8 for videography convenience.  Unlike my cameras, it compresses the video on the fly, so I can fit significantly more HD video on an SD card.

I found myself reaching for my Pentax K-x with the 18-55mm kit lens after the second shot I took with the Finepix.  The speedy autofocus and complete lack of shutter lag were very welcoming; as was a zoom that offered me quick and accurate response with the twist of the barrel.  With an F1.7 50mm lens and an ISO that went up to 12,800, combined with an in-body optical image stabilizer, flashless handheld in even the lowest light was possible.  I switched to my 17mm fisheye prime lens to get that extra little bit on the wide angle shots, and used my 50-200mm zoom when I needed to get closer.

Consider this quick handheld snapshot of the lobby of the Hilton hotel:



This would have been impossible with a point-and-shoot, but easily within the capabilities of the K-x without coming close to the maximum ISO (ISO 3200 for this shot). 

I should think that the DA L 18-55mm kit lens would suffice for my wide angle shots, and the DA-L 55-300mm would be a better choice for telephoto shots.  On my next trip, I will also see if the video capabilities of the Pentax K-x are a good match.  If I could get away with the K-x and two zoom kit lenses, I think I'll have found my happy travelling medium.

[RobertB]

     I went to Mike's Quality Cameras today to buy a pack of 220 film, and I was hoping that they'd have a soft-sided carrying case for the Bronica GS-1.  The only ones they had were priced at $100 and $150!  And I wanted one around $30 to $40.  Oh, well, I'll have to make do with the case I have.

         Truly,
         Robert Bernardo
         Fresno Commodore User Group
         http://videocam.net.au/fcug
         July 23-24 Commodore Vegas Expo v7 2011 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[RobertB]

     Major photography day today!  I use the get-on, get-off bus tour and photograph the famous places in and around Barcelona.

          Writing from Spain,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          July 23-24 Commodore Vegas Expo v7 2011 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[RobertB]

     No time to take any photos on the hop-on, hop-off bus today.  Basically, I took the bus to cruise the sites for photography shoots.  I took lots of video, though.  Tomorrow I will use the bus to stop off at La Familia Sagrada church and film the wild architecture there.

I'll have to stand a long way back, because the Bronica has a standard lens and not a wide-angle lens.  
    Then I'll go up to the top of the mountain overlooking Barcelona, an area called Tibidabo which has the science museum, Cosmocaixa.

         Warm-to-hot during the days here, cool at night,
         Robert Bernardo
         Fresno Commodore User Group
         http://videocam.net.au/fcug
         July 23-24 Commodore Vegas Expo v7 2011 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[RobertB]

     Oh, there were a series of almost mishaps today.  First, I took the city bus to the Barcelona Bus Turisme stand in Plaza de Espanya.  I must have waited there about 20-25 minutes and noticed the Turisme buses by-passing the stop.  I took a closer look at the information printed on the stand.  Way at the bottom, it said in Spanish and in Catalan that the buses would not go there during that holiday time, June 24-26.  (Last night was the Noche de San Juan celebrations, and Friday the streets were relatively empty because of the day off.)  Ack!  I informed the others waiting with me of that info, and then I took off walking to the next Turisme stop, several streets away according to the map I had.  The map was not the most accurate, and I missed a stop, walking farther than I had to, but I made it to the Estacio de Sants (train station).  But not before being accosted by a pair of thieves who almost made away with my camera bag.  (That's another story...).  I took the Turisme bus from the train station, and it took me around its circuitous route to Plaza de Catalunya where I changed to another Turisme bus.  That took me to La Familia Sagrada.
    Hundreds and hundreds were in line to get in the church.  It was already 4 in the afternoon, and I was running out of time.  I decided not to wait in line but would only take exterior photos and do some souvenir shopping.  Several people noticed the giant Bronica I was holding; maybe the old-timers even recognized it.  One young woman asked me to take her picture with her little digital camera, after observing how I handled the Bronica in shot after shot.  (Maybe, she thought I was a professional...)
    Afterwards, hungry and thirsty, I stopped off at the buffet restaurant across the street from La Familia Sagrada.  For 10.50 Euros, I treated myself to goodies, like gazpacho, seafood paella, a type of ham in orange sauce, spaghetti carbonara, watermelon, cake, and plenty of Pepsi.

Then I'll go up to the top of the mountain overlooking Barcelona, an area called Tibidabo which has the science museum, Cosmocaixa.

No time.  By the time I would get to Tibidabo, it would be close to 7, and there would be the 10-minute walk up to the science museum.  When I got out of the restaurant, it was already 6, and Turisme buses would close at 8.  I had to make it back to Plaza de Espanya by 8, or else I'd be stuck in the middle of the city.  I hopped on the next Turisme bus, went past many stops, connected to the next Turisme bus, and finally got back to Plaza de Espanya.  From there it was a relatively short walk to the city bus stand and my bus, number 46.

         More fireworks like last night!
         Robert Bernardo
         Fresno Commodore User Group
         http://videocam.net.au/fcug
         July 23-24 Commodore Vegas Expo v7 2011 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex