Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Cameras, tripods, techniques, etc.
Forum rules
Please note that the extended image rules for the Gallery forum also apply here.

Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby cams » Wed 18 May, 2011 12:03 pm

Is this possible? I want a camera that takes better quality images than my current compact but is lighter than my DSLR. I've grown to really like the filters I've been using with the DSLR so was wondering if there is any way of using these with a compact. Something like the P7000. I guess you could just hold it in front but that's going to be a pita.

The other one I like the look of is the Sony Nex 5. Nice and light and I'm assuming the lenses will have threads to mount filters? They can be had for a couple of hundred less than local shops on ebay. Is buying from these places a bad idea? I guess warranty is going to be an issue if they're shipping from overseas?
User avatar
cams
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 725
Joined: Tue 24 Aug, 2010 1:54 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby dannnnn » Wed 18 May, 2011 12:20 pm

if you pay with paypal you will get your money back if the camera is faulty or they don't send it

up to you to get comfortable with warranty tho
dannnnn
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 168
Joined: Mon 11 Apr, 2011 4:29 pm
Region: Queensland
Gender: Male

Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby ninjapuppet » Wed 18 May, 2011 12:33 pm

I've bought a few pieces of camera equipment from eBay and it's generally been a good experience but I did receive a fake filter once. Made a claim thru paypal and got my cash back. I'd trust to use eBay again since I feel the buyer is more protected than the seller
User avatar
ninjapuppet
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1277
Joined: Mon 09 Nov, 2009 11:33 pm
Region: New Zealand
Gender: Male

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby Nuts » Wed 18 May, 2011 1:23 pm

hmm... ive answered a few gear questions lately, i run the risk of seeming like a kia... or worse still an 'expert' :D

I ended up with the P7000 and bought the polarising kit of dzone, ebay.

The housing looks fine, fits well, the CPL (and UV) that comes with it is likely ok. It does allow the use of any 52mm filters.
However..., the housing is (obviously) the length of maximum zoom extension so the camera is no longer 'compact' with it on. One of the only things ive found so far that i dont like is the leaf cover on the P7000 lens, i cant understand why they didnt just use a filter thread... picture quality is (to screen size anyhow) amazing, appears close to my D90 and (at least) the 18-200 lens sharpness wise.

I dont know whether i'll use the filter much, need to get some results first, as the P7000 does have a built in ND function and i believe polarisation can be corrected well enough post processing?
I had plans of using it (the housing/UV) when camped and wandering around (mostly to protect that leaf lens). It is very light and not very big.
Last edited by Nuts on Wed 18 May, 2011 7:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Nuts
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8632
Joined: Sat 05 Apr, 2008 12:22 pm
Region: Tasmania

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby cams » Wed 18 May, 2011 1:58 pm

Thanks for the replies. I hadn't seen that kit Nuts. I'll check it out. Aso didn't realise you could perform polarisation stuff in post processing. Surely stuff like underwater details aren't going to be recovered without the filter on to start with?
User avatar
cams
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 725
Joined: Tue 24 Aug, 2010 1:54 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby gayet » Wed 18 May, 2011 6:23 pm

I have a P7000 as well and have been considering a lens kit. I note Amazon have a kit incl a cleaning pack for $35 (US I guess). What was in your kit Nuts?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004J106WS/?tag=pyle.car.audio-20

Thanks
gayet
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 960
Joined: Sat 12 Feb, 2011 8:01 pm
Location: Wallan
Region: Victoria
Gender: Female

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby Nuts » Wed 18 May, 2011 7:01 pm

Yep, same idea, i didnt get the hood or bag though... amazing how cheap stuff is. Im not sure if its the same mounting as the 21mm(equiv) lens you can get for them and whether you'd be doubling up (or saving money on the mount?)?

The P7000 shoots RAW and post processing is new to me, im a learner. Someone else may like to comment about the possibilities with post polarising (through Nikon ViewNX2 or others)?
Im not sure about your underwater comment cams? do you mean using the camera inside a housing?
User avatar
Nuts
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8632
Joined: Sat 05 Apr, 2008 12:22 pm
Region: Tasmania

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby cams » Thu 19 May, 2011 12:00 pm

Nuts wrote:Yep, same idea, i didnt get the hood or bag though... amazing how cheap stuff is. Im not sure if its the same mounting as the 21mm(equiv) lens you can get for them and whether you'd be doubling up (or saving money on the mount?)?

The P7000 shoots RAW and post processing is new to me, im a learner. Someone else may like to comment about the possibilities with post polarising (through Nikon ViewNX2 or others)?
Im not sure about your underwater comment cams? do you mean using the camera inside a housing?


I kind of meant that one reason for using the polariser is to get more underwater detail in photo's by eliminating the reflections. I just don't see how you can recover that information in post processing with the reflections there. Like you though, I havn't done much post processing stuff and would be interested to hear any more information.

I think I'm just about convinced to get a P7000. Bit heavier than an s95 but the extra little bit of zoom and the mounting options will be worth it I think. Still less than half the weight of my current DSLR which is a small one.
User avatar
cams
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 725
Joined: Tue 24 Aug, 2010 1:54 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby photohiker » Thu 19 May, 2011 2:45 pm

cams wrote:
Nuts wrote:Yep, same idea, i didnt get the hood or bag though... amazing how cheap stuff is. Im not sure if its the same mounting as the 21mm(equiv) lens you can get for them and whether you'd be doubling up (or saving money on the mount?)?

The P7000 shoots RAW and post processing is new to me, im a learner. Someone else may like to comment about the possibilities with post polarising (through Nikon ViewNX2 or others)?
Im not sure about your underwater comment cams? do you mean using the camera inside a housing?


I kind of meant that one reason for using the polariser is to get more underwater detail in photo's by eliminating the reflections. I just don't see how you can recover that information in post processing with the reflections there. Like you though, I havn't done much post processing stuff and would be interested to hear any more information.

I think I'm just about convinced to get a P7000. Bit heavier than an s95 but the extra little bit of zoom and the mounting options will be worth it I think. Still less than half the weight of my current DSLR which is a small one.


I think your intuition is correct cams, you cannot recover information from a RAW image that isn't already there, and a polarising filter at time of capture does enhance items normally blocked by reflections. That said, processing from RAW allows you to improve the non-polarised image somewhat but never to the same level as one shot with the polariser in the first place.
Michael
User avatar
photohiker
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 3130
Joined: Sun 17 May, 2009 12:31 pm
Location: Adelaide, dreaming up where to go next.

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby sthughes » Thu 19 May, 2011 3:13 pm

Call me biased but unless you are specifically after a camera with an old fashioned viewfinder then the Olympus XZ-1 might also be worth considering. It will take a lens adapter via an integrated female thread around the lens. It has a built in ND filter and an F1.8 to 2.5 lens which I am loving playing with. It does have a shorter zoom range than the P7000.
"Don't do today what you can put off 'till tomorrow." (Work that is!)
User avatar
sthughes
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2427
Joined: Wed 05 Mar, 2008 12:53 pm
Location: Ulverstone
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby cams » Tue 24 May, 2011 10:40 pm

That was a great suggestion sthughes. I went into a camera shop on the weekend and had a feel of them all. s95, p7000, LX5, XZ-1, NEX-5 and whatever the Olympus micro 4/3rds one is. I'm pretty much sold on the XZ-1. Lighter than most, good zoom range and despite being a bit more compact I thought it felt pretty good in the hand. Probably pick one up on ebay along with the adaptor before my next walk.
User avatar
cams
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 725
Joined: Tue 24 Aug, 2010 1:54 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby Nuts » Wed 25 May, 2011 12:12 pm

I had a play with sth's the other day, very nice! Much smaller than the p7000. I think ill stick with the Nikon, it takes a dedicated flash and remote (and the same battery as the d3100 for owners). From the reviews it may have slightly better pic quality especially in movie mode and it does have a few features left off the Oly. In favour of the Oly it doesnt have that dodgy leaf lens cover and the size alone is a good point. It focuses and functions faster and the lens speed would be very handy... look forward to seeing some results from it :wink:
User avatar
Nuts
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8632
Joined: Sat 05 Apr, 2008 12:22 pm
Region: Tasmania

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby cams » Sun 29 May, 2011 12:29 pm

Well, I did a bit on an about face. Ended up picking up the S95 yesterday. It was the cheapest of the lot and really fit the purpose I was looking for being the smallest and lightest while still taking good quality images. The main reason I wasn't considering it was that it didn't have an adaptor mount. But I did a quick search yesterday and Lensmate in the USA sell a 37mm adaptor that sticks on with a 3m adhesive. I'm hoping this works well, they seem to make some nice stuff. And the whole adaptor only weighs about 3grams plus about 10grams for the filter to minimise the force on the adhesive. Fingers crossed.
User avatar
cams
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 725
Joined: Tue 24 Aug, 2010 1:54 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby cams » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 10:08 am

Took the new camera out for its first proper walk yesterday. Overall, really happy with it. Won't go into a big comparison but will say that it might be a struggle to justify taking the SLR on any walks in the future. Also, very happy with the Lens Mate lens adaptor. Here are a few JPG's straight off the camera:

IMG_9315.JPG
Palms


IMG_9367.JPG
Grass Tree Flowers


IMG_9369.JPG
Wattles??


IMG_9376.JPG
Mt. Greville
User avatar
cams
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 725
Joined: Tue 24 Aug, 2010 1:54 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Filters on Compact & Buying from ebay

Postby north-north-west » Mon 20 Jun, 2011 5:50 pm

No, I don't think that's an acacia. There are melaleucas with blooms like that, and also some other types of plants. Lot of things it could be.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15069
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania


Return to Photography

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 4 guests