apple | At Home with Tech

January 1, 2017

Which Premium Compact Camera Should You Buy?

If you’re looking to purchase a new point-and-shoot camera, you should consider upgrading to a premium compact camera. You’ll be able to snap superior pictures and successfully battle photo blur, but it’s going to cost you…

You might be wondering why anyone would want to spend an ungodly amount of money on a newfangled compact camera that can fit in your pocket? Haven’t those kinds of cameras been around forever for a couple of hundred bucks? Plus, can’t your smartphone already take care of all your photo-snapping needs?
Well, not quite…

For me, the challenge is still how to capture a great moment in low light without a flash. That eternal blur is killing me. Unless, I’m shooting a bowl of fruit, any kind of motion creates some amount of blur!

I just want to be able to generate a crisp shot!
But for that, I’m going to need a bigger camera sensor. And I want it in a small camera.

Exactly…

The ‘Better’ Pocket Camera
They’re called ‘premium compact cameras.’
And they belong to a relatively new category of camera that’s supposed to solve the blur problem by using a much larger 1 inch-type sensor that’s typically built into larger and better DSLR cameras.

This upgrade provides a massive improvement over all other compact cameras that use smaller sensors.

If you think that ‘premium’ means it’s going to cost you more, it certainly will…

You may recall I recently destroyed my old Canon S100 pocket camera while performing an especially silly and pretty dangerous parenting maneuver. Since then, I’ve been on the market for a replacement camera. I questioned whether another standard point and shoot would really be that much better than the camera on my old iPhone 6 Plus. Not to mention the more advanced camera(s) on the iPhone 7.
(By the way, I think I’m going to wait to upgrade to the 8.)

And here’s the major reason for the creation of the premium compact camera market. Why else would anyone shell out anything for a pocket camera unless that camera could knock the socks off your smartphone?

And with that ‘promise’ in front of me, I decided to shell out some big dough in search of a little more clarity.

How to Decide…
There are essentially three choices to consider:

Sony DSC-RX100 V
This is the fifth generation of the camera that launched the premium compact camera market. By most accounts, it’s still the one to beat.
Among its superior features, it’s the only one of the three to have a separate pop-up viewfinder in addition to its LCD screen.
The problem is it costs a thousand bucks!
(You can save some money by buying an earlier model… The III and IV are still on the market and are solid choices.)
Canon G7X Mark II
At $700, the Canon is a little easier on the wallet. But the jump from what I’m used to spending is still startling.
The G7X II also has lots of fans out there. So I wouldn’t go wrong remaining in the Canon orbit.
The one big drawback is it doesn’t offer 4K video like the other two.
(More on this later.)
On the plus side, it has a longer 24-100mm zoom lens than the other two.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10
This one will also set you back seven hundred bucks, but it has a slightly brighter lens. (F1.4-2.8 24-72mm equivalent) Every little bit helps when you’re fighting the blur in low light.
(But you only get the F1.4 boost when you’re framing at 24mm. I really like the 24mm wider angle when trying to handle group selfies.)
The Panasonic also has 4K-video capability. (As does the Sony)
But the LX10 can create MP4 video files in addition to AVCHD unlike the Sony, which can only generate AVCHD.
(I prefer editing with MP4 files in Final Cut Pro X.)
The LX10 has a cool ‘4K Photo-Burst’ mode, which gives you the option to generate a specific jpeg from a short MP4 clip that’s captured at 30fps.

Process of Elimination
You’ll find tons of camera reviews out there comparing these options. And you’ll probably spend hours (days) trying to digest it all. (I certainly did!)

I don’t think you can really go wrong with any of these three amigos. But each has its own advantages. There’s no perfect choice.
(Is there ever?)

For me the decision comes down to this…

As much as I don’t feel the need to start shooting my family videos in 4K right now, (1080 is just fine, that you very much.) I want to future-proof this camera as much as possible. iPhones already shoot in 4K. I don’t think it’s going to be that long until 1080 HD video becomes yesterday’s dated 720 HD format.

As much as I’ve been a Canon guy for over a decade, I have to make the difficult decision to walk away from the G7X II, because it lacks 4K.

And I just can’t bring myself to spending a thousand smackers on a pocket camera. That means I can’t go with the Sony.

So that leaves the Panasonic…
Though the process of elimination does lead me here, I don’t feel I’m going with a runner up. The LX10 gets its own great reviews.
(And by the way, I don’t mind that it doesn’t have a separate viewfinder. I never have the time to frame like that. I’m lucky if I can pull the camera out of my pocket and point it at a family moment before that moment has moved on!)

Click.

Hello, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10!

Consider Yesterday’s Model
So I set myself back $700. And I’m not done yet.
(More on that in a moment.)

But before you take the same financial plunge, you should remember you’ve always got a fourth choice…

If you buy an older camera model, you’ll certainly save some money…
(Newer versions seem to get cranked out every year.)

The popular Sony RX100 III is selling for $698 at B&H Photo. That erases my Sony price premium concern. But it doesn’t have 4K video capabilities.

Amazon’s got the original Canon G7X for a hundred bucks less than the G7X II.
But I figure if I’m ready to spend $600 on a camera, then it’s worth ponying up a little more to get the latest and greatest.

As for the Panasonic LX10, there’s no earlier model that enough of an apples to apples comparison.

Should You Buy the Insurance?
I decided to purchase my Lumix LX10 online at B&H for $697.99.
As I looked at B&H’s check-out screen, there was the option to pick up an insurance plan through SquareTrade. (3-years of Drops and Spills for $128.99)

I quickly dismissed it, as I’m not a big believer of insurance for tech gear, except for my Apple products. My curser hovered over the camera-purchase button, but I just couldn’t press it…

What was wrong?

My subconscious was communicating with my conscious self…
It reminded me that I’ve broken more than one camera since becoming a daddy. The odds weren’t good that this one could go through the next few years totally unscathed.

Why wouldn’t I protect this camera, as I’m sure to be putting it in harms way?

I’m spending a boatload on this camera! It’s not going to be a throwaway item the first time it needs a repair. So why wouldn’t I buy the insurance?

Okay… enough said.
Hello, SquareTrade!

Accessorize!
Remember when I said I wasn’t done spending money…?
Well, there are a couple of important accessories to consider…

Soft Pouch
I’ve got to protect my new precious. It just can’t bang around with all of my spare change in my pocket.
(What little is left!)
A stretchy, soft pouch will do the trick. The question is which one?
(There are dozens out there.)
So I called up B&H and asked the sales guy. He pointed me to this:
OP/TECH USA Digital D Soft Pouch – $17.95 at B&H.
Done.
Extra Rechargeable Camera Battery
I always like to carry one with me. You never know…
It’s the Panasonic DMW-BLH7 – $39.95 at B&H.
Battery Charger
Guess what? The LX10 doesn’t come with a separate battery charger.
Surprise!

You’re supposed to charge it in-camera using a supplied USB cable and AC charger.
While that felt like a game changer when I opened the box, after I sat with it for a bit, I realized it wasn’t such a big deal.

That said, I am getting that second battery. It would be nice to have a charger instead of always having to shuttle batteries in and out of the camera.

The B&H guy told me Panasonic hasn’t come out yet with its charger. But you can buy one from this manufacturer…
The Watson Compact ac/DC Charger Kit with Battery Adapter Plate for DMW-BLH7 is $19.95 at B&H.

It’s Not So… Small
And how pocketable is the LX10, really?

Well, it’s quite a bit bigger than my obliterated Canon S100. (R.I.P.)
But it’s smaller than my old Canon G9 (R.I.P.) …not as tall and thick.

Does the LX10 fit in my front pants pocket? Yeah…technically.
But honestly, it’s kind of tight.

I’ll make due…
(There’s no smaller camera with the same specs… especially a fast 24mm lens at the wide end.)

The Bottom Line
So I’ve got three takeaways to review as you consider your own decision:

#1
I love my new Panasonic Lumix LX10. It’s built like a tank, and my early photos look super!

#2
Yes, I’ve been suckered into buying into the world of 4K video to create my family videos.
(But I bet my future self will soon come back in time to thank me for this forward-thinking move.)

#3
If a camera costs a lot… go buy the insurance to protect it! You don’t have to feel good about the fact that you need it. (I still don’t.) Just do it. Trust me.

You can’t control your world. But now, you can certainly take better pictures of it. At some point along your photo-snapping journey through life, I expect you’ll decide it’s worth it to spend the extra money.

As my father likes to say, we go around once.
Get the nice camera…

October 23, 2016

Cheap Portable Power to Feed Your Smartphone

goes for your tech… and your smartphone. If you can keep it going all day, that takes it a long way to “happy.” Can the Anker Astro E1 power stick do the job in a pinch? Let’s find out!

Happy Vs. Not Happy. That’s much of what life boils down to, right? And so it goes for your tech… and your smartphone. If you can keep it going all day, that takes it a long way to “happy.” Can the Anker Astro E1 power stick do the job in a pinch? Let’s find out!

My 83-year-old father likes to keep up… technologically speaking. Every time we have dinner together, he pays attention to each piece of tech I’m carrying. And then he invariably decides he wants to get it for himself.

Barrett’s iPhone? – BAM! Now, the Octogenarian has one.
That Bunker Ring on the back of my iPhone? – Yes, please.

One day as we were having tea after dinner, I checked my email and realized I needed a little more juice for my iPhone. So I pulled out a tiny battery-driven ‘Innergie’ charger out of my briefcase.
(I don’t use a Mophie Juice Pack battery case for my iPhone 6 Plus only due to size considerations. The Plus is bulky enough in my pants pocket!)

“What’s that?” my dad asked.

“Oh, this? It’s just a rechargeable battery to help out my iPhone.”

“Do I need one of those?”

“I don’t know. Do you?”

Power Sticks are a Must
Well, you can imagine how the conversation went from there. Before I knew it. I was on the hook for helping him figure out which portable charger to get.
No big deal…

These little power sticks are everywhere. Like little sticks of gum. I figured it shouldn’t be too difficult to quickly choose one for my dad.

And in fact, I’ve been somewhat consumed in recent years by how to generate my own power, especially if I’m off the grid…

So where’s the harm spending a little more time on this mini obsession…?
(But not too much time)

Anker Astro E1
So it wasn’t a big deal to simply go to Amazon, type in ‘portable smartphone charger’ and see what quickly rose to the top.

It was the Anker Astro E1.
(self described as ‘The Candybar-Shaped Powerpack’)

19.99 at Amazon
That’s so cheap!
It’s highly reviewed- 4.7 stars.
And it comes in multiple colors- black/blue/white.

The E1’s capacity is 5200 mAh
(Which can charge an iPhone one to two times)

The truth is there are plenty of other choices, and I’ve always liked my own Innergie ‘battery bank,’ power stick but I must admit I didn’t do much more competing research.
(Okay… None.)

The Anker seemed just fine for what it was.

Click.

Powering Up Takes Time
But when I opened up the box, the Astro E1 seemed more than just fine…
I was pleasantly surprised by its sleek black design, its practical, spongy carrying bag, and an enigmatic little card at the bottom of the box.
(More on this in a moment)

My father will love the Astro E1… if he ever ends up using it!

A word of minor caution:

A 1-amp iPhone charger is supposed to take 5 hours to charge the Astro E1.
That said, I spent more than 6 hours charging mine before I packed it in to go to bed. So think of it as needing an overnight charge…
(Anker of course sells its own charger, which does the job much faster.)
Don’t forget you’ll need buy/provide a separate USB cable to connect the Anker.
(The Astro E1 doesn’t come with one.)

Happy/Not Happy?
Remember that little card in the bottom of the Anker box?

There was a “Happy?” on the front with a little icon for the sun.
And “Not Happy?” on the back with a rain cloud.

Hmmm. What was this?
I was simultaneously confused and invigorated.

What was I supposed to do with this card?

I quickly imagined I could have hundreds of these little cards and carry them with me as I moved about my life, placing them in choice locations to reflect my experience.

After attending a two-hour meeting that was scheduled for only one, I would get up and leave a card behind, positioned appropriately to display my sentiment.

“Barrett, you forgot this ca….. Oh. Oooh.”

Or when I leave a movie theater after watching a great flick… I would deposit one on my seat with the right side up.
(That’s far more polite than leaving behind an explosion of popcorn, right?)

I wasn’t immediately sure what Anker had in mind with the Happy/Not Happy card, but I liked it!

Then I realized the card actually opened up…
And inside it invited me to share my happiness online or how to reach customer service should I have a frown on my face.

Of course.
(Now I felt I needed a ‘Silly/Embarrassed’ card.)

Survey Says…
All right, then.

So they say money can’t buy you happiness.
But sixteen bucks for the Astro E1?

“Happy.”

October 2, 2016

Try This Time-Lapse Idea with Your iPhone

I’ve found numerous opportunities over the past couple of years to shoot slow motion videos with my iPhone. (My six-year-old boy usually moves so fast… it’s often fun to slow some of that down.) But time lapse? Not so much.

In fact, I’ve rarely attempted time lapse. Part of the challenge is you’ve got to plan for it, and it’s going to take you some time to capture.
(That’s the whole point.)

Imagine my glee when I spontaneously generated a time-lapse sequence over the weekend during one of my more mundane of chores… recycling cans and bottles at my local Stew Leonard’s supermarket.

The new variable this time was my son had accompanied me…

What makes this 28-second movie more than the sum of its parts is the fact that my first grader took over all of the heavy lifting.
(I quickly realized I was just along for the ride.)

Take a look at the top of this post!

DIY Tripod
Being an observer for fifteen minutes allowed me the opportunity to try this time lapse.

The hard part was figuring out where to put my iPhone without a tripod. I ended up propping it up against a two by four near the ground, hoping it wouldn’t fall over.

Repetition is the Key
I think this movie is fun because it magnifies repetition to tell its story…
What is boring in normal time is something entirely different sped up.
(Though it’s clear my son was not particularly bothered by the challenge of popping over 300 cans and bottles into the recycling machines. I suppose it didn’t hurt that I told him he could keep all of the redeemed nickels for his piggy bank.)

My difficulty with time lapse to date has been my limited belief that time lapse is supposed to show something grand that’s playing out very slowly.
(You just can’t do that in the moment without some planning.)

Something like this turns that equation on its head. Now we’re looking for repeating, ‘simple’ moments to capture that are anything but grand.

But by collecting the sum of them, you’re creating more of a ‘point of view.’

Now that’s interesting.
(And if you find this obvious, please cut me some slack. We all learn at our own pace!)

Lots of Cans
You might be wondering…
Why so many cans and bottles?

One word – seltzer.
My family loves the stuff.
(But to be fair, I was long overdue for this recycling trip. This represented all of our summer seltzer fun.)

Find More Time Lapse in Your Life
So keep an open mind as you traverse your day to day.
If you find yourself thankfully sidelined during an otherwise mundane series of moments, that series could have some fun visual value as a time-lapse video.

Try it out!

Tag: apple

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