Introduction To Digital Photography

Week 1 Assignment by Pat Kalbaugh

All digital photos on this page were taken with a Kodak DC210 Plus at the highest quality setting and highest resolution (megapixel 1152 x 864) in FlashPix (FPX) format. This camera can capture in two file formats, .FPX and .JPG. The images were imported directly into Paint Shop Pro 6 using Kodak's Twain software. PSP supports the FPX format and is my favorite image editor. When converting from FPX to JPG format, I did not use any compression so as not to degrade the image further.

On the positive side, the Kodak DC210 Plus has a CCD chip, glass lens, zoom capability, close up focus (limited to 8 inches), 4 flash settings (auto, on, off and red eye reduction) a LCD finder and a TTL finder (I believe it's TTL--the specs term it "Real Image"). The media used is the "Compact Flash Card". It also has a tripod mount. During this assignment, I also discovered that I can shoot in "tethered mode" which I was previously unaware of.

On the downside it only connects to the computer via serial port or IrDA and does not have manual focus or auto focus override. I am fairly happy with this camera and it suits my modest point and shoot needs although I would like to have an auto focus override and the ability to capture in the TIFF format.

Note to self: Add tripod to the shopping list as well as a card reader to transfer images more quickly.

Concerns: It is very difficult to tell whether a closeup is in focus when taking the shot due to the limited view from the TTL and LCD finders. Any hints or tips on how to better accomplish focusing with this camera?

Wide angle shot of my desk taken with flash at approximately 3 feet distance. There is some additional lighting from a desk lamp coming from the upper right.

Resized for use on the web. Original before resizing appeared to be in focus.

Wide Angle Focus Length: 1.64 ft -- Infinity

Telephoto shot of mouse and pad with flash off. Shot was taken at approximately 3 feet distance.

Resized for use on the web. Original was out of focus (Reason? Not enough light, camera shake or possibly a little too close?)

Telephoto Focus Length: 3.28 ft -- Infinity

Thumbnail view (click for larger view)
Close up shot of MS mouse taken with flash on, cropped and resized for the use on the web.

Taken at 8 inches (close up focus distance)
Appears to be in focus

Thumbnail view (click for larger view)
Close up shot of MS mouse taken without flash, cropped and resized for use on the web. Taken at 8 inches (close up focus distance)

Slightly out of focus due to resize (? original appeared to be in focus).

Thumbnail view (click for larger view)
Close up shot above, cropped and rotated 45 degrees right
Slightly out of focus due to resize and rotation. (? Original appeared to be in focus)

Thumbnail view (click for larger view)
An even closer shot taken at about 3.5 inches with flash on and exposure compensation set to -2.0. Gamma corrected to 0.80

This time I made a real effort to keep the camera still. It was much easier when using the flash to do this. The experiments I did without the flash applying positive exposure compensation values were totally out of focus.

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Copyright © P. Kalbaugh 2000
All Rights Reserved


	Wide angle shot of my desk taken with flash at approximately 3 feet distance. There is some additional lighting from a desk lamp coming from the upper right. Resized for use on the web. Original before resizing appeared to be in focus. Wide Angle Focus Length: 1.64 ft -- Infinity
	Telephoto shot of mouse and pad with flash off. Shot was taken at approximately 3 feet distance. Resized for use on the web. Original was out of focus (Reason? Not enough light, camera shake or possibly a little too close?) Telephoto Focus Length: 3.28 ft -- Infinity
	Thumbnail view (click for larger view) Close up shot of MS mouse taken with flash on, cropped and resized for the use on the web. Taken at 8 inches (close up focus distance) Appears to be in focus
	Thumbnail view (click for larger view) Close up shot of MS mouse taken without flash, cropped and resized for use on the web. Taken at 8 inches (close up focus distance) Slightly out of focus due to resize (? original appeared to be in focus).
	Thumbnail view (click for larger view) Close up shot above, cropped and rotated 45 degrees right Slightly out of focus due to resize and rotation. (? Original appeared to be in focus)
	Thumbnail view (click for larger view) An even closer shot taken at about 3.5 inches with flash on and exposure compensation set to -2.0. Gamma corrected to 0.80 This time I made a real effort to keep the camera still. It was much easier when using the flash to do this. The experiments I did without the flash applying positive exposure compensation values were totally out of focus.
\| Week 2 \| Week 3 \| Week 4 \| Copyright © P. Kalbaugh 2000 All Rights Reserved