The View Findercvcameraclub.org/Newsletters/CVCC December News19.pdf · Photographs by Donny Teague...

Catawba Valley Camera Club Newsletter

The View Finder December 2019

Photograph by Donny Teague

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Volume 8, Issue 12 December, 2019

How do you get current customers to upgrade cameras? How do you get someone new to buy a dedicated camera for the first time? Answer those two questions, and you have a job in Tokyo. The industry has mostly punted or given lip service to the second question (finding new users). That's because they can't respond to the yearly smartphone cam-era improvements as the ROI isn't there to turn processing chips that fast for cameras. Thus, the camera companies are now in an existential fight that will require them to keep as many existing users upgrading (or switching systems) as possible. Worse still, some of the long-established product iteration keystones are no longer working to generate upgrades from existing users (better sensors, more pixels, faster frame rates, etc.). A half stop dynamic range boost and 20% more resolution is simply not dramatic enough to get most sane folk to fork out another US$3000 for a new camera body. Put in an automotive context, that's like offering 1 MPG more and a 0-60 speed reduced by a half second and expecting that to generate a sale on its own. Not the reason I'd buy a new vehicle when my current one is perfectly operational. Cameras now have to wear out or be dropped/broken in order to get someone to ra-tionally upgrade now. This is why I continue to reiterate the same thing that drove my multi-decade Silicon Valley career: what are the customer pain points? What user problem has to be solved in order to get another grab at the customer's wallet? Sony sort of accidentally hit on one such thing while doing their usual product iteration: tracking focus. I've been observing for awhile that the way that most users approach "focus" isn't the way the camera makers were trying to make them do it. The dissonance in that made for a lot of focus failures, even on cameras capable of doing precise, fast focus. Why? Because the user had to learn something in order to make focus work. Worse still, the user had to change what they were doing if the situation in front of them changed. In other words, there was another thing for them to control. What I'm noticing a lot of Sony users do (and Nikon users, too, with the D5 genera-

tion DSLRs), is what I'd call identify-and-track. "Hey camera, this is what I want in

focus, now follow it." Nikon users will recognize that as AF-C with 3D Tracking Area

mode. Sony users will recognize that as some variation of Flexible Spot. Put the cur-

sor on the thing you want to track, press the AF-ON/half-press the shutter button, and

re-compose or follow the subject as it moves in the frame. The result for most people

is that the camera now seems to do what they want it to do (and this is why Nikon's

T R C S S

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S ’ S L Q A P 5

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W S T 4

A T G C P 5

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R Z F T P

6,7,8,9, 10,11,12,

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Q A C P 14,15

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C O P R

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A M 19

Inside this issue:

C a t a w b a Va l l e y C a m e r a C l u b

The Reason Camera Sales are Stalled

by Thom Hogan

Continued on page 16

http://bythom.com/

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In general, the higher the resolution of a camera (read: the more megapixels it has), the worse it will do in lowlight and high ISO compared to a lower resolution camera of the same age.

Calendar of Events

Dec 4 Presentation - David Crosby - TBA

Dec 18 Annual CVCC Dinner & Awards Presentation Dan Kiser

Jan 8 Competition - Projection - Holidays - (This Year) Randy Knauf

Jan 22 Presentation - Davis Goodman - Abstracts & Processing

Jan 25 Field Trip - Asheville Breweries Judy & Tom

Feb 5 Competition - Print Open Lifetime Randy Knauf

Feb 19 Competition - Projection - Repetition - (This Year) Randy Knauf

Feb 22 Field Trip - Atlanta - Aquarium Tom Devlin

Mar 4 Presentation - Dave Kelly - Lightroom Instruction


Questions and Actions By Jared Lloyd


https://www.bing.com/search?q=jared+lloyd+photography&form=EDGEAR&qs=HS&cvid=b22f154e993e41f7bbbba4a3c8ac8b7a&cc=US&setlang=en-US&elv=AXK1c4IvZoNqPoPnS%21QRLOPzWaL*4Z8aCKU89HPMbm6WPRpAn21gyA4xtHj9PsnTDc7n4ixcZFpGZmI33tHgOrvt5FfJ7tAV3xq7loez74%21T&plvar=0

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Santa’s Shopping List Quiz When the folks at the North Pole need a little help, they head to North Carolina Christmas shops and craft fairs for toys, trim-mings, and lots of holiday spirit.

1. O.P. Taylor’s has thousands of toys in its 6,000-square-foot flagship location. This business calls itself “The Cool-est Toy Store on the Planet” and is located in what Tran-sylvania County town?

A. Bat Cave

B. Marshall

C. Brevard

2. The Appalachian Christmas Craft Show in Haywood County offers a wide variety of handmade holiday wares in a mountain setting. This event is held at the Lake Junalus-ka Conference and Retreat Center, which is operated in partnership with what organization?

A. United Methodist Church

B. Southern Baptist Convention

C. Moravian Church

3. Snowy Mountain Christmas Shop and Sweets offers every-thing from fudge to fresh-cut-Fraser firs from the owners’ nearby farm. This High Country holiday haven is on what highway north of Crossnore and near other attractions such as Grandfather Mountain?

A U.S. 64

B. N.C. 107

C. U.S. 221

4. Wolfetown Road in Cherokee is the site of a Christmas-themed shopping and entertainment experience that dates back to 1966. What is the name of this attraction, which features a zoo and rides?

A Santa’s Land

B. Santa’s Workshop

C. Santa Claus City

5. The aptly named Holiday Light Store specializes in Christ-mas lights; animated, Illuminated yard art; and other out-door décor. This shop has more than 3,000 square feet of display space and is located on what street in Raleigh that’s named after a North Carolina port city?

A Wilmington

B. Morehead City

C. Greenville

http://500px.com/popular

http://digital-photography-school.com/

http://photonaturalist.net/

http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/

http://www.steeletraining.com/

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/

Click on the links above

Web Sites to try

Ask Tim Grey:

I think it is also important to mention that if you shoot in RAW then the white balance doesn't really matter compared to shooting in JPG.

Tim's Quick Answer:

An excellent point. It is worth repeating that if you are shooing in the raw capture mode (rather than, for example, JPEG), the white balance setting on the camera has no im-pact on the actual raw capture data. In other words, you could use any white balance setting you'd like on the cam-era, and adjust that setting in post-processing with no im-pact on overall image quality.

More Detail:

When you are using the raw capture mode on your digital camera, many of the in-camera settings don't actually affect the capture data you're recording for each photo. That in-cludes the white balance setting, which means you can use any white balance setting you'd like at the time of capture, without worrying about how it impacts the final image.

To be sure, it can be convenient to have the colors in your photos be as accurate as possible right from the initial cap-ture. But if you're using the raw capture mode, that accura-cy is a convenience rather that a requirement in terms of

Continued on page 5 Answers on page 5

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Santa’s Shopping List Quiz Answers

1. C. Brevard

2. A. United Methodist Church

3. C. U.S. 221

4. A. Santa’s Land

5. A. Wilmington

Back to Page 4

Back to Page 4

Continued from page 4 Ask Tim Grey

overall image quality.

For raw captures, the in-camera white balance setting is really just a metadata value. That setting determines the initial color appearance when you process the raw capture with software such as Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom. Howev-er, you can refine the setting for white balance with your initial processing of the raw capture, and that adjustment will not have any negative impact on the overall image quality.

So, if you find it is helpful to set a particular white balance setting for your raw captures, by all means take advantage of that option. But keep in mind that regardless of what white balance setting you use for raw captures, you can adjust that setting during the initial processing of the raw capture without any negative consequences in terms of the color or overall image quality for those photos.

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Riverbanks Zoo Field Trip Photos

Photographs by Tom Devlin

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Photographs by Tom Devlin



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Photographs by Judy Young



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Photographs by Judy Young



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Photographs by Stan Bolton



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Photographs by Dan Kiser



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Photographs by Donny Teague



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Photographs by Donny Teague



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Continued from page 3 Questions and Actions

Continued on Page 15

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Continued from page 14 Questions and Actions

Back to Page 3

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Continued from page 2 The Reason Camera Sales are Stalled convoluted 3D Tracking function on the Z cameras is wrong: the user has to spend too much time fiddling with and con-

trolling it).

The next inevitable user desire, whether they know it or not, is for the camera to use AI or some algorithmic

way to figure out what should be tracked in the first place. At that point, the user doesn't have to say "hey camera" at

all ;~). Maybe they'll have to say "no, not that," though ;~)). This is why Face Detect and Eye Detect got so much atten-

tion, by the way: if you want the camera to focus on a human, then those are good choices to look for. (Note: Olympus

thinks you want to follow trains, planes, and automobiles. Nope, not faces, not eyes, not trains, not planes...but all of the

above, automatically figure out the subject and follow appropriately.)

As I've tried to point out for over a decade, the other big pain point is workflow. Yes, that means that some peo-

ple want to immediately have something shared, without having to pull out another device and doing any work on it. But

they also want things backed up automatically (where's the Time Machine equivalent for cameras? iPhones have Apple

iCloud Photos, after all. Funny thing is, Nikon has Nikon Image Space and Canon just shut down their cloud approach.

The problem isn't the cloud, it's how you use it and don't require the user to do anything).

The list of things that the camera could help with downstream of actually taking the photo is actually pretty ex-

tensive, but nothing regarding workflow is being done by camera makers. That's software, after all, and the Japanese

camera makers think they only make and sell hardware. No, they sell useful (or non-useful) products, and these days in

tech, that means software that makes hardware solve problems, do chores, make decisions.

Mirrorless had a bit of a selling wave because of another coincidental thing: it solved a pain point and user prob-

lem, not that the camera makers immediately recognized and marketed that (they are now). With film cameras we wait-

ing hours to days to see what our shot looked like. With digital we all started chimping, and that reduced the wait down

to seconds and minutes. With mirrorless, we see the preview of what it will look like before we take it, and can adjust

prior to the moment happening. With mirrorless, correctly exposed and composed selfies are even possible ;~).

But frankly, that's not enough, and particularly for high-end practitioners. What we see in the EVF on a mirror-

less camera isn't actually our raw data. Histogram and Highlight displays lie to us about what's actually going on in the

data. Why we don't have a different measurement system for raw shooters I don't know. I've asked for it for 17 years

now. So have plenty of other high-end shooters. Talk about not solving a user problem.

Then there's the half-done features our cameras seem to get. Sony's pixel-shift, for instance. Okay, we get a huge

batch of data, but no actual image. To create a useful image requires a lot of downstream work (what did I say about

workflow?), and we have no way to evaluate—via preview or chimping ;~)—what it will look like. Nikon's Focus Shift

[sic] feature is worse: not only do we not see the result (though the latest cameras can give us a geeky estimate of what's

in focus after the fact), but we have no idea what the values we enter into the system actually do.

The problem I keep coming back to is that the camera makers keep throwing more features into cameras as if

that's the problem with cameras not selling. Not that there aren't features I wouldn't want to see added, but the real rea-

son I ever want a feature is because it solves a problem for me. So it had better actually solve that problem, not just tease

me.


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Continued from page 16 The Reason Camera Sales are Stalled Camera makers need to spend much more time solving our problems than they do on iterating the tenth time for

a feature few use (let alone understand; what's Regist. Face Priority again and when would I use it? Does anyone use

it?).

Everyone reading this probably has a very competent camera (that would be pretty much anything post 2012, when cam-

era sales peaked). You might consider upgrading to a new camera, but it's amazing to me how many of you are basically

stalled at the moment. You're stalled because the camera companies aren't necessarily changing the things you think

would do you the most good.

In the Nikon world, for instance, you'll find D6xx, D7xx, and even some D8xx users who would consider mov-

ing to full frame mirrorless. In the Nikon lineup, though, Nikon put the Z6 and Z7 in the middle. The Z7 is not > than

the D850 or even =, it's < than. This creates a buying friction that keeps many from pulling the trigger. A D800 user

thinking to upgrade sees the D850 as the best choice, but then wonders what happens when DSLRs go away. (Marketing

message, Nikon. Get one.)

Meanwhile, Canon came out with the RP and R, which really are older generation sensors in lower end to mid-

dle market cameras when you look to what DSLR they equate to. So Nikon shot middle, Canon shot lower. And then

they wonder why you're not buying.

Both Canon and Nikon seem to be a little bit too worried about preserving any remaining high-end DSLR vol-

ume than they are in moving you to mirrorless. This was exactly the issue I worried about prior to these two companies'

inevitable transition from DSLRs to mirrorless: too protective of the existing product. They should have blown away

their existing products and gotten everyone to transition.

Sony, on the other hand, has had five years to figure things out, having done this same transition (almost as

poorly) quite some time ago. To their credit, Sony has done some very good things in that time. Yet, when I contemplate

the A7R Mark IV versus the Mark III, I'm down to "does 20% more resolution solve any problem for me?" Not particu-

larly, and it introduces some new problems (file size, lens choice, diffraction avoidance, etc.). So things really start to

boil down to mostly some changes in ergonomics. You might have noticed that I stuck with the A7R Mark III for my

current "best-all around camera" (number two behind the D850). And camera makers wonder why the high-end isn't

selling as well as they guessed it would.

The camera makers will eventually figure things out and the market will stabilize, or they'll pilot the plane right into the

ground. We seem to be a ways from either option happening (unfortunately and fortunately, respectively ;~).

What I worry about today is peripheral damage. Can the camera shop I rely on stay in business? How about all those

software makers trying to unseat Adobe? Will the flash and tripod and accessory makers other than the Chinese

knockoffs of IP still remain standing?

I think we're about to find out.

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As we approach the end of yet another year. It seems appropriate to take the time to reflect briefly on the Club's success-es and challenges. SUCCESSES At least from my end, 2019 has been very productive. Our line-up of presentations was excellent. Topics included land-scape photography, tricks and tips in Photoshop, inkjet printing, the business of photography, night sky photography, and monochrome photography. These lectures covered a lot of ground on very useful topics. As much as I enjoyed the lectures, I have to admit that the Field Trips were my favorite aspect of the schedule. From the weekend trip to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, to the short hop to the Henry River Mill Village, and every-thing in between, these on-location events allow hands-on experience, many times facilitated by highly-skilled mentors who are happy to share their expertise with less experienced Club members. The third leg of our schedule is the series of internal (and thereby low-stakes) competitions of both projected and printed photos. While the projected images competitions are easier, less expensive, and more popular, my personal favorites are the print competitions which take the photos through the traditional sequence of shooting, developing (i.e. post-production editing), and public display. CHALLENGES FOR 2019 The Club is in need of members who are willing to take on leadership roles. Many of the officers have held their posts for considerable periods of time, and they need a break. I would ask that you consider rolling up your sleeves to pitch in at the leadership level. We need your help! While the next election cycle will take place next fall, it's not too early to volunteer to help the officers carry out their work. There is a very strong network of ad hoc mentors who are more than willing to offer guidance and suggestions when asked. I know this because, as a new member, I reached out to a few of our experienced members via email, and I have continued to do so when I run into questions I can't answer. While this has worked out well for me, I would like the Club to consider reinstating the mentor program in a more formal way. I've said this before, but it bears repeating in this forum. Our greatest asset is is the considerable collective expertise! When someone asks me to talk a little about the Club, my first response is, “These guys are really, really, good!” We are all members of the Catawba Valley Camera Club because we enjoy photography and because association with the Club makes us better photographers. While the ad hoc method works well for folks who are comfortable making contacts directly, I would like to consider reinvigorating the mentor-ship program a bit more formal. As we approach the holiday season, I wish for all of you special times with your families and friends and a little time to relax. Dan

President’s Report

We’re on the Web http://cvcameraclub.org/

Club Officers

President: Daniel Kiser [email protected] Vice President: John Hildebrand [email protected]

Secretary: Cindy Martin [email protected] Treasurer: Stan Bolton [email protected] Image Coordinator: Randy Knauf [email protected] Webmaster: Tom Devlin [email protected]

Programs: Judy Young [email protected]

Newsletter Donny Teague [email protected]


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Application for Membership

NAME_____________________________________________________DATE__________________

ADDRESS_________________________________________________________________________

CITY_____________________________________STATE________________ZIP_______________

PHONE: HOME (____)____________WORK (____)___________CELL (____)_______________

E-MAIL___________________________________________________________________________

Dues are $35 per year. Meetings are the first and third Wednesday of each month. Students: $15 per year.

New Member ____ Renewal ____ CLUB USE ONLY: Date Received______________ Cash_______ Check______

Please indicate your preference for committee membership on which you would serve if asked.

Program ____ Field Trip Leader ____ Working on Website ____ Newsletter ____ Mentoring ____ Social Events ____

Publicity ____ External Judging ____ Club Website: www.cvcameraclub.org

Photography Mentoring available by request:

Experienced club members are available for photography mentoring if you desire help with your photography. If interested contact the club president and a mentor will be assigned to assist you with any questions you have.

Please print clearly as our club correspondence is conducted via e-mail.

Occupation:____________________________________________________________________________

Website:_______________________________________________________________________________

My skill level in Photography would best be described as: Beginner ___ Intermediate ___ Advanced____ Professional ____

Do you have accounts with: Facebook ____ Google+ ____ Twitter ____ Other ___________________________________

Shoot Mostly: Film ____ Digital ____ Both ____

Camera Make: Canon ____ Nikon ____ Sony ____ Other _____________________________________________________

Photography Interest: (Check All that Apply)

Architecture ____ Eclectic ____ Events ____ Family ____ Landscapes ____ Macro ____ Nature ____

Photojournalism ____ Portraiture ____ Sports ____ Travel ____ Underwater ____ Waterfalls ____

Wild Flowers ____ Wildlife ____ Other ____________________________________________________________________

Computer System: Mac ____ Windows ____

Photo Editing Software: Aperture ____ Elements ____ Lightroom ____ Photoshop ____

Other _____________________________________________________________________________

The View Findercvcameraclub.org/Newsletters/CVCC December News19.pdf · Photographs by Donny Teague...

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