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Message-ID: 
From: "Larry N. Bolch" 
To: 
References: 

Subject: Re: Where/Bob4/Ken
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 14:55:15 -0700
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From: "Bob Dial" 

> From: 

> A lot of the problem, it seems to me, is the physical difference in the
two
> cameras.  The Sony FD95 lends itself beautifully to a left hand cradle and
> forehead rest using the TTL eyepiece finder.  On the Nikon I am still
having
> problems trying to find any position in which it is both secure and
> comfortable.  Conclusion?  Tripods are needed a lot more using the CP5000
> than they are using a Sony FD95.  This would hold true over a great many
> camera to camera comparisons.  How we get a camera still is forever mated
to
> the size and style of the cameras.

There is a wonderful accessory - the MB-E5000 battery pack that screws into
the bottom of the CP5000 and looks like a motor drive on a 35mm camera.
While it is lovely to use six cheap NiMH AA cells that seem to last forever
on a charge, the BIG advantage is what it does for the handling.

My hands are not exceptionally large, but the camera just felt a bit petite.
Every time I picked it up when it was on, my thumb would hit the zoom rocker
switch and set it to telephoto. The battery pack has transformed it. I find
it the most comfortable camera I have ever used  hand-held now. The extra
weight and bulk makes it vastly more ergonomic without impacting its
mobility or "stealth". The extra shutter release and zoom rocker are worth
the price of admission alone. It feels as natural shooting verticals as
horizontals now.

I did a number of shoots of lightning and aurora using very long exposures
at ISO100 using bulb and noise reduction for super quality shots. I found
that the extra shutter release was perfectly positioned so I could rest the
heel of my hand on the tripod head while holding it down.

Over Labour Day, I flew to Las Vegas on Sunday, shot until late Wednesday
afternoon - filling a 256MB card or more each day before I needed to change
the batteries. I continued shooting, flying home on Thursday night with more
than enough battery power in the second set to shoot through the weekend and
beyond. These are just cheap Eveready Energizer NiMH batteries I picked up
with a very cheap charger at the drug-store down the street.

I now greatly regret having bought the second expensive Li-Ion battery. The
MB-E5000 will be on the camera until I sell it. I HIGHLY recommend it -
first for handing and secondly for freedom from batteries crapping out.

larry!
ICQ 76620504
http://www.larry-bolch.com/

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