Experienced users of Sony f828

[CyberF828]

I don't know much about cameras and I bought this two years ago and really never used it much. What really can you do with this camera in means of adjusting shutter speed and other manual settings? I went to Sonys website I read the manual and it doesn't explain how to adjust the settings. Thanks in advance.

[Photo-John]

Oh man - sorry I didn't see this when you posted. Your camera has full manual exposure controls. I did a detailed review of it a couple of years ago and I used it almost exclusively in manual exposure mode. If you read my post, give me a follow-up and give me some more detail about what you're having trouble with. The two settings that most matter are shutter speed and aperture. And they're both adjustable. If it's the whole exposure concept that you're having trouble with, you should take a look at our exposure guide >>

Sorry no one replied sooner. I hate seeing questions not answered.

[jasr71]

I'm new here and I've checked out many of the pics you've taken w/ the 828. Wow! Some really sweet shots of SF as well. I think you've got this camera down pat! I'll check back here to see how I can use this camera the way you have. Thanks!!

[jasr71]

Follow up question. Is there a recent software update available for this camera that can be easily downloaded? Perhaps one that may address some of the occassional purple fringe?

[DavyCam]

Follow up question. Is there a recent software update available for this camera that can be easily downloaded? Perhaps one that may address some of the occassional purple fringe?

The only firmware updates of which I'm aware, jasr, concern Memory Stick/folder and USB issues...not the CA/purple fringing.

I'll admit that CA is pretty bad on this cam, but it's an issue with most, if not all digitals. And, it's only a problem in high contrast areas of the pic...i.e., leaves against a sky, shots of bulbs or headlights, direct reflection of the sun on a shiny surface.

My shop posts everything anyway, so it's addressed in Photoshop CS. Easy fix. Plenty of preformatted CS actions are available online for free.

One I use is the eyedropper on the area, box select of the area then refine the area with the range of the color select so that nothing else that really IS purple is affected. The other is simply using the sponge tool. I do lots of airliner shots and those landing lights are an obvious candidate.

I've attached a rather extreme example (blown up 8x) of low light plus fringing...and this is handheld, slow shutter, full zoom while this sucker's movin' at 160mph! For reference, I've included the full frame, as well. Hope this helps. Normally, too, I wouldn't shoot above ISO100.