Panasonic FZ1000 arrives

I am hopping over quite a bit to arrive here, but the Lumix FZ1000 is my first 4K Bridge phone. Susan handed it over to me yesterday, since when I have set it up, checked a couple of stills, and am otherwise starting the long learning process which always accompanies a new device. Luckily most of my cameras are from Panasonic, so the Menu system is no problem. Unfortunately there are no guides by people like David Thorpe who provided a great guide to his setup on the GX7, which helped me quite a bit.

However, learning about this superb device is half of the reason for buying it.

I was very much surprised by the Røde Stereo Videomic Pro. It is unbelievably light, such that one feels the need to handle it with extreme care when opening the battey cover, or setting the tiny switches.

I came across a Chris Hull on YouTube who uses the same gear to produce some superb videos of ducks, and various other subjects., with great sound too.

I also came across him as a well known user on AVForums Camrecorder forum, where he answered a query and gave me a lead to a software package which just happened to be on offer as it was Memorial Day in the US, so I got several bonus packages at a very good bundle price :)

All for now, but expect more here anon.

Where have you been Fraser?

I''m afraid 2013 was spent mostly with visits to the Drammen Eye Clinic, where I had cataracts fixed in both eyes, trips to a skin specialist in Asker concerning an itchy spot on my back, which she operated on. The biopsy showed more needed to be removed, so next it was a trip to Bærum Sykehuset Clinic, first for a check by the surgeon who would operate, then for quite a deep operation on the same area of my back to remove everything.

Once that was done, I was able to start a treatment for the results of too much sun in Singapore back in the 1950s, and later in Qatar during the early 60s. The treatment was horrific, turning my forehead into something you didn't want to look at! It took a month, and left me with clear baby skin on my forehead :)

The repeat trips to Drammen concerning my right eye, proved to be a Lamellar Macular Hole, and unfortunately could not be fixed, unless some major issue crops up. I can't complain though, as my colour vision is phenomenal, and with 20/20 cheapo glasses I can read really clearly close up :)

Otherwise, 2013 was the return of my interest in photography, triggered by Susan purchasing a new Nikon D7100. I had done quite a bit of reading about the various alternatives, and decided in the end to go Micro Four Thirds, by buying another Panasonic Lumix, the GX7. Then in quick succession I came across another Lumix, a demo LZ200 Superzoom going for a song at Komplett.no.

Both of these gave me lots of opportunity to add new neuron circuitry..

Later, I came across another bargain, this time for 5K, an Olympus OM-D E-M5 with a good Kit lens. This camera has a fantastic Optical Image Stabilization system, which operates over 5-axes or directions, and takes super photographs.

Of course, all told the above cost a bit, though much less and lighter than typical Canon DSLR gear.

More about this anon :)

PS The next episode will be about my purchase of a Samsung TV (another bargain) in order to try Google's Chromecast.