I've had an itch for a while now.  Most people would probably tell me that I need to see a doctor but this itch is one that a doctor couldn't help me with.  This itch was for a new camera.  I received an excellent digital camera from Suzanne for a birthday about 8 years ago and it is still performing as well today as it did the day that I got it.  The problem with it is that it is too big, the pictures are not high enough resolution, the zoom (optical and digital) are not powerful enough, the LCD is too small, and it cannot shoot video.  Actually, for an 8 year old camera, it is amazing that it still does an excellent job shooting photos that are just for digital display (vs. printing).  When Suzanne bought  it for me (actually she bought a different one that we exchanged for this one), it was very leading edge.  It is the Olympus C-2000 Z.  It received excellent reviews and I've been very happy with it.  However, as Robert Zimmerman (AKA Bob Dylan) would say, "the times are a changin'".  What I want from a digital camera now is quite a bit different than it was 8 years ago.

Like I alluded to above, there were a few main criteria that I used to narrow down the list of cameras that I would consider.  Size was a major factor.  A lot of my photos are during bike rides and trips so I want something small that I can shove into a Camelbak that does not take much room.  Picture resolution was another factor.  My current camera really can't go much above 4x6 for printed photos without starting to loose some resolution (although I do have a very nice 8x10 photo of me in Moab taken with it on my office wall along with several 4x6's).  I also wanted something with a higher optical zoom (digital zoom in most cameras just results in poorer image quality).  Finally, I wanted something I could take some basic video shots with as the Olympus didn't have this feature (not available for the most part when I got my Olympus).  Ease of use is another major factor.  I'm not really a smart photographer and don't really understand a lot of features so I need something a little more idiot proof.  Finally, I wanted a camera with a larger LCD so that I could more accurately judge picture quality on the camera before I waste time and memory storing a crappy photo on the camera.

After doing my searches there were about 4 or 5 cameras that met all of my criteria.  I looked closely at each but there was one stood above the others in the fact that it met or easily surpassed all criteria.  The camera that was standing out was the Sony DSC-T100.  I read several reviews (e.g. this one and this other one) by professionals and many by users (such as these) and everyone was saying wonderful things about it.  I also was very impressed by the photos by a fellow rider on my Colorado Singletrack trip last summer which were done using a Sony digital camera).  For me, the choice was a no brainer.  I had recently received a special invitation from Ultimate Electronics for a sale where I could get 10% off any digital camera.  I've done business with Ultimate several times and would rather give them my money than Circuit City or Best Buy (due to crappy service).  Ultimate only carried the DSC-T100 in black but that was my second choice behind red so that didn't bother me any.  Unfortunately, they didn't have any in my local store so they shipped one down from Fort Collins.  In the mean time, I ordered a 2 GB memory card off of eBay for under $30 (including shipping) so that I could store more photos and videos than the built in memory (31 MB) can hold which isn't a whole lot (standard for any digital camera that I saw).

I must say now that I've had the camera and played with it for about three weeks, I am extremely pleased with it.  It is much smaller than any of the images I saw online convey.  I read the dimensions (3.6 x 2.3 x 0.9 in) but didn't realize how small this camera actually is until I got hands on with it at Ultimate.  It is light (6.9 oz), but heavy enough to help you steady the camera.  The camera does all the things an idiot photographer like myself needs.  It adjust all the settings automatically to help you get the best possible photo.  However, it gives you manual control for all the settings most any photo guru would want.  The LCD is bigger than most cameras, especially any in the ultra-compact category such as the Sony.  It is 8.2 megapixels (I just wanted something that was 5.0 megapixels or higher), has a 5x optical zoom (10x total zoom with SmartZoom technology), gets excellent battery life, and captures video.  It also has a steady shot feature which was another requirement for me.  The Sony has a proprietary Face Detection technology that helps get better photos of people in many conditions.  I also wanted a camera that would take photos quickly and allow me to take another as soon as possible (without using a burst type mode).

So I guess I should stop spewing about the camera and show you some of the results so far.  Enjoy!

 
This is one of the very first photos that I took with the camera.  It was shot at Elk Meadow in Evergreen during one of my lunch rides.

 
Alex celebrating after a goal.

 
A photo shot of the trail and the hog back while I was still sucking wind climbing up Hayden Green Mountain after work.

 
The whole famn damily at The Manor House (where Suzanne and I were married many moons ago) after Mother's Day brunch.

Surf's up!

Photo taken from the cheap seats on the second level in right field at Coors Field (notice you can see the ball leaving the pitcher's hand!).

The heavily swollen Platte River at Waterton Canyon.

Click here to view a video of Steve riding a pain in the ass rock at Elk Meadow.

Posted @ 5/22/2007 11:27:00 PM | 1 comments

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you should know that I am a big fan of XM Radio and have been scoring points for it over regular FM radio.  However, this week FM radio scored one over XM.  I've never had my FM radio stop working because of a software error.  :P

When I got home last night, I was so frustrated with the signal coming and going I was ready pull out and investigate the antenna wiring because I was sure there was something wrong.  That was until my sweetie mentioned that she was having issues as well.  I was wondering if the issue was possibly solar flares but never had time to get online and research it.  This AM, Suzanne heard a news story about the problem which saved me the trouble of researching it.

Posted @ 5/22/2007 04:20:00 PM | 0 comments

A few things that caught my attention recently:

• Check out this disgusting story about a couples lifestyle that lead to the death of their child.  I would have to agree that these two need some prison time for their (in)actions.
• Here is another wonderful story about a US Marine.  Don't they do psych profiles on these people???
• A third story about two quality individuals in Austrailia.  Apparently two teenage girls were thrown in the slammer for life for killing a friend simply to see if they would feel remorse.  I think they are a little confused about the morality of killing.  Let's see, let's form a hypothesis and then go kill a friend to see if I'm right.  I'm sorry, I have to think this is another case of a lack of parenting; that or something a bit off in the water supply.

Geez, they say television is bad for you.  I think I will stop digesting the news all together :(

Posted @ 5/10/2007 10:45:00 AM | 0 comments

This is one scenario of technology going a bit too far...

http://www.adcritic.com/interactive/view.php?id=5927

Posted @ 5/10/2007 10:35:00 AM | 0 comments