11.11. 11:11 carnival has started!

[seemolf]

---please look at the following link for the missing pictures: ---

http://freenet-homepage.de/seemolf/TripsAndTicks.html



We (the non manual focus world) read all the comments on the restrictions of the FZ5!
But we all decided that it has a nice size and reasonable optics (or more).
We were not disappointed and started our successful fights against autofocus.

But there were some things left:

1 - noise
2 - the display can't be twisted
3 - there is no hotshoe
4 - it is nearly impossible to attach bigger things in front
5 - you can't remove battery or SD card on a tripod
6 - no remote shutter release
7 - the flash does not reach the macro region
7a-the camera needs a more "professional" outfit
8 - LCD and EVF is invisible in low light
9 - only 5 MB, this is not enough for professional contests (>3000*xxxx pixel)
10- contrast range
11- no eye piece
12 - digiscoping
13 - restricted DOF
.......
14 the flash can`t be twisted (look at page two)

All these issues will all be solved with the FZ8 or FZ6 or ????

If you don't want to wait, here are solutions to all (!) these problems:
(- sorry the firmware is holy, we can't solve our moving pictures problems -)

1 - noise - trivial, 100 ISO has to be enough (or 200).
2 - display is visible in unusual positions by a cosmetic mirror or a prism (webcam?)
3 - hotshoe, ok it's getting harder - special constructions reducing the measuring flash provide a good slave signal:


4 - it is nearly impossible to attach bigger things in front
light weight: sanding, heavy without vignetting: raynox rt5264P (thanks fmoore!)

5 - you can't remove battery or SD card on a tripod
6 - no remote shutter release

7 - the flash does not reach the macro region

7a-the camera needs a more "professional" outfit

8 - LCD and EVF is invisible in low light


These are the results of my first 6 months with my FZ5.

Sven

look at the date, there are only funny answers allowed!

-- and please add some other workarounds!

[msantos]

I'm really impresse with your imagination.

[tiger98]

You are toooooooo much Sven! I can see a new TV series in the works! "Mr Magic does Panasonic!" The great thing is they look like they would work! Jim

[seemolf]

thanks msantos and Jim,

following the simultanous dpreview thread we should call this:
--- FZ5 samba edition ----

now it is your turn to help me:

9 only 5 MB, this is not enough for professional contests (>3000*xxxx pixel)

So where is the professional pixel doubler (I have seen such things in the web!)

Sven

[msantos]

I have never heard about it. What I use is Paint Shop Pro to rezise (bicubic intepolation) to create pictures with better print quality, however you can not get more information where it isn't. My thought

[tswill2]

Check out Genuine Fractals plug-in for Photoshop. It does great resizes.

[seemolf]

thanks msantos and tswill2,

splines and fractals can do wonderful things to our pixels!
Genuine fractals does not fit to my low budget line, but the examples look very good!
I found this little comparison:
http://thepluginsite.com/knowhow/enlargingplugins/
"Photoshop's Bicubic option is OK for upsizing images up to 200%"
So the 5MB barrier is broken. (ok stitching helps too,,,)

Sven

[seemolf]

-Killing me softly with your sensor-

Advanced version of the hotshoe:
Advantage - covering the original flash, so all slave flashes will not be confused by the measuring preflash and can be very cheap: sensors like this: 5$ and powerful hotshoe thyristor flashes around 10$ (ebay) - like the metz shown above.

[seemolf]

I am still working on an electric release -actuator or solenoid- wireless..
The wire release is too short, so there has to be a long range version:
This is my "bird feeder" release, pneumatics has an old tradition:
FZ5 retro V2
(this one is called: give me steam, a bigger version: sledgehammer)


The tube can be expanded to several meters.
(Someone thought that some of these constructions might work...
So lets call these ones "working jokes")

Sven

late addition:

10- contrast range

photoshop cs has a HDR tool, combining shots with different exposure.
This tool automatically enhances our contrast range (thanks to linuxworks).
This job had to be done manually before with several shots and masking technique.

11- no eye piece
take a tube, think a little bit and start to cut (gene found this solution somewhere)

Sizes are variable as the light.
Avoid the commercial eye pieces: no fantasy - round, such a nonsense!

.....
If you are searching for the relation between diopter and distance, or diopter and field, viola:


This is my reversed lens table:


50mm = +20 diopt.
35mm = +29 diopt.
28mm = +36 diopt.
16mm = +63 diopt.

these are DOF killers!

....but DOF is no problem with dead material:

12 - digiscoping
13 - restricted DOF
this is pure digiscoping with an old leica microscope.

DOF was eliminated - simply combining 26 layers in one shot

hope you like it!
..and you are allowed even to answer old threads!
This keeps my work going - the thread is still alive! (but I will not bump it up)
Sven

[fmf]

HAHAHAHA............I LOVE it! I knew there was a reason why I've held on to some of those old Lego kits from when I was a kid!!!!!