I am still enjoying the Samsung NX10. I am looking forward to receiving the 30 mm and the 50-200 which may arrive in early May. This photo was edited in the camera with the Samsung Photo Style Selector. I selected Vivid. I also re sized the photo to make it easier to post. I have not used a camera to edit my files before and with the NX 10 have found that this is very easy to do. There is a cropping mode too and I could see myself using these features when traveling and posting photos to my blog. The large 3 inch AMOLED is also useful for in camera edit. I took this photo this evening of my chair and the rising river. The vivid mode added a little snap and my lawn has never looked so green. Bill

Here is another of my photos taken with the Samsung NX10. It was taken in the West Edmonton mall with auto white balance. It was resized in the camera with no PP. I have set the camera to Adobe RGB colour space and not the default SRGB. The black and white was converted in camera. I was attending a meeting held at the mall. I am looking forward to some more travel with this camera and viewing this photo reminded me that it has been over a year since my last trip to Europe, way way too long ago. Bill

It has been a very long time since I have posted to my blog. My mother has again even stopped looking for new photos. Well spring is here and I have a new camera to play with so between those two things I hope to catch up. I now have the Samsung NX10 in stock and have been using one this past weekend to get to know it. You may know how much I love my Panasonic G1 and I did feel just a little uncomfortable and a bit unfaithful when I first picked up the NX10. Myself like many people are looking for the ideal camera to travel with that will be light, small and still delivery the quality and photography experience we enjoy with a full size SLR. The Panasonic M/4/3 cameras were the first to enter this market and because of their success there may be several other companies who will follow. The Samsung NX10 is the latest. I have enjoyed using the nx10 and it is similar in someways to the G1 and different in many others. The first two things that were different for me was that I found myself using the manual mode often because unlike the G1 it does not gain up the display. I also used the AMOLED screen more because it is very impressive. I do wish it would tilt and swivel like the G1 but it doesn't. I also can't remember what AMOLED means but it is very good. I will look it up, I did read the book, something that I don't always do but the NX10 is very easy if you are also someone who may not get around to use the book. The second thing for me is that I did use the movie mode. They look great in the camera now I just need to learn what to do next. When traveling in the past there have been times I would have like to capture movement and sound. I do have the two extra lenses that are made for this camera on order and am looking forward to seeing more including something very wide. The photos I have posted are jpeg's straight from the camera and re sized in the camera to make them easy to post. I do plan on posting more. I do also have an entertaining movie of two sea lions performing in the West Edmonton Mall. I am also looking forward to receiving the next new Samsung camera, the EX-1. Cheers Bill

Happy New Year every one. Time can go by very fast this time of the year and for this year much faster than most. It has been awhile since I have had time to post a photo, just ask my Mother. She has stopped checking my blog, like I am sure most of you have too. This year is going to be a year of many changes for us. The biggest change is the sale of Contact Photo Arts, our family owned camera store and photo lab. The sale will be complete at the end of January. For our customers who may be reading this please do not panic, I will be working for the new owners part time for the next year. The new location of Contact Photo Arts photo department will be inside Value Drug Mart Grand Forks with the new owners Carol and Dave. We have been working together to create a win, win and win situation. Firstly Sandra and myself will be now semi retired. Secondly the increased traffic and extra services for Carol and Dave will add to their already busy and successful business. And thirdly our customers will benefit with increased service from more days open and more service staff. There is also a new dry print photo lab and more customer photo kiosks. We also plan to offer more instruction including camera and photography workshops. We would also like to help people become familiar with our web site, Foto Depot that enables customers to order and archive their photos. Back to my blog, I was able to take this photo of a blue heron because of my day off on Monday. With more time at home I hope to be able to take many more back yard wildlife photos this year. The camera was my Panasonic G1 with the 45-200 lens. Bill

So how many deer are there in this photo? I captured this photo on my walk to work. The weather has turned colder and the deer don't get up quite as early, not a bad idea. The camera, Panasonic G1 with the 45-200 lens. Bill

Another day, another beaver photo, I captured this photo last week. Again I found myself sitting on the river bank visiting with my beaver neighbours. They don't seem too concerned about the shorter days and colder weather, it may be because of those warm coats. The camera Pentax K7 the lens Sigma 18-250 os Bill

Meet my friend Bob. Bob the beaver and I have been crossing paths for several years and if you look back in previous posts you will find several photos of him from a distance. After sunset last night I noticed him on the river bank looking for a snack. I was very surprised and even a little excited to find out that Bob actually likes having his photo taken. He doesn't even seem to mind the camera flash. He also wasn't alone and maybe he was showing off for the camera just a little. The other thing I learned was that Bob likes to talk. He even manages to talk and eat at the same time. His talking wasn't directed at me but at the other friendly beaver who had swam across the river to join him for a snack. I would have recorded the conversation but I was only using for a camera the Panasonic G1 which does not include sound. Tomorrow I am receiving my first shipment of the Panasonic GF1 which does have sound and video. Lets hope I can find Bob in a hungry and talkative mood so I can test the new Panasonic GF1. cheers Bill

There has definitely been a change of weather, it may still be Summer but Fall is in the air. The river is cooler as witnessed by this deer family during their morning crossing. I have been taking home my demo Pentax K7 and this photo was taken with my store demo Sigma 70-200 at 200 mm f5. The photo has been cropped a little. The lens can be found for sale on my web site http://www.contactphotoarts.com/ under products. This is a very good lens at a demo cost. Bill

It is going to be an exciting Fall, the new Panasonic GF1 will be available in time for Christmas. I know I won't wait until Christmas to get one out of a box and check it out. I expect my first shipment mid Oct. Here is a link to dpreview's preview. Link. Bill

It has been awhile since I have been able to post. There has been much to do and little time to do it. This past week I received the new Panasonic FZ35. This is Panasonic's most resent ultra zoom camera, if you have read earlier posts you will know we use a Panasonic FZ18 for our family point and shoot camera. What I have found so far is that the FZ35 has faster focus and a better electronic viewfinder commonly referred to as a EVF. The EVF is not nearly as good as the Panasonic G1 and GH1 but it is an improvement on the FZ28. Here is one of the first photos I have taken with the Panasonic FZ35. Bill

This time of the year living in the interior of B.C. we often have smoke in the air. There are no forest fires near by but we still have smoke. It makes for great early morning light and adds a little magic to the view of the river. I am still taking my Panasonic G1 home every night and used it to capture this photo with the 14-45 lens. Bill

I took this photo of our daughter Ann as she was arriving back in Canada. This was last Saturday. Ann has been living in France for the last year. If you were to look back in my blog to this time last year you will find a posted photo of Ann leaving the country. In that photo she is holding her pillow. The travel pillow Ann is hold in this photo is an idea that I have been working on for the last year. This pillow is the first prototype of that idea and she has been field testing it while traveling Europe. Prototype number two is almost ready for testing are there any volunteers? Bill

Another photo with the Pentax K7 and the Sigma 18-250 os lens. This one is not a photo of another deer but Gus is keeping his eyes on them.

Another deer photo taken with the new Pentax K7 and the Sigma 18-250 lens. I took this photo while walking to work this morning. These twins are very fast and only stand still like this for a split second. Bill

This is my first photo posted from the new Pentax K7 and the Sigma 18-250 os lens. I took the camera home for the weekend but didn't get around to using it much. Bill

We have had some fawns in the yard this year. This one has a twin that was quicker at finding the open gate to exit the yard. Camera Panasonic G1.

Here are a few resent photos from my Panasonic G1. I can't believe it has been this long since my last post. I have received my stock but not had the time to try them. The Panasonic GH1's have come and gone without me opening the boxes. I have the new Pentax K7 and the new Sigma 18-250 os with a Pentax mount. I think I will try my demo K7 this week a see what I can do with the video. These two photos are part of a "walking to work" series that I am taking. Bill

Not much happening here these days, I am waiting for the first fawn to show itself, should be soon. I took this photo this morning of Jane Deer, mowing my lawn for me. This is with the 45-200 lens F7.1 at 200 mm, on my Panasonic G1. I have cropped the photo to make it vertical. Bill

I took this photo last night when a storm was blowing by. I thought I should show you that it does rain here sometimes. It doesn't last long and the air is very fresh when it stops. The wind and the rain on the river can be quite captivating and changes quickly. The photo was taken with the Panasonic G1 and the new 14-140 lens. Bill

I now have the Panasonic 14-140 HD lens in stock. This is the kit lens designed for the new GH1. I think people may consider owning this lens even if using it for video is not their intention. The range is excellent for a walk around lens and not too heavy to carry all day. After using the lens for a short time I also have had the thought that people who don't own a Panasonic G1 or GH1 may consider buying one just to use this lens. The reason, two words, incredible " BOKEH" this word is used to explain the appearance of the out of focus area in a photograph. Here is an example. Bill