BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

want nice crisp indoor shots of my son

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January 23, 2007

Check out the Nikon Coolpix S4 I keep one in my jacket pocket.
Completely automated. Has great menu with icon selection for most any situation.
No manual anything. Camera focuses – sets lens aperture and shutter speed.
6 Megapixels so you can make enlargements. Magnificent 10x zoom + micro. Lens swivels to allow picture taking when otherwise you would need to be a contortionist.

Negative is poor viewing on LCD screen in sunlight i.e. no viewfinder. Fits in pocket. Price is right. I think a new model is out so the S4 might be reduced street price is about $200 US.

Alan Marcus
ammarcus@earthlink

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January 23, 2007

cheers from the beautiful rockies in Alberta canada

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January 23, 2007

I personally don’t know the camera. I took a cursory look on the web to see if it had a socket for a flash sync cord plug-in and I failed. However, it has a built-in flash so any unit that will act as a slave will work. Many units have a built-in flash sensor (eclectic eye) to detect a nearby flash. Your camera serves as the master and the slave fires as an echo. That being the case, no interconnection is needed. Even if the unit you choose has no slave ability, many strobes accept an accessory that causes it to fire in sync.

You say no bounce! That’s a surprise! The big advantage of an off axis flash is the shadows produced from a non-head-on angle give an illusion of depth. A single flash on the camera is harsh but virtually shadow less on the human face. Bounce is soft and nearly unidirectional. Many situations are enhanced by bounce. Especially in a home with moderately low ceiling height.

It 20° C in Anaheim across the street from Disneyland, not a cloud in the sky. No Northern lights tonight.

Regards,
Alan Marcus
ammarcus@earthlink.net

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January 23, 2007