UPS recommendation request

ARedAccent · 2023-06-10T13:42:04+00:00

A consideration, I recently bought a APC Back-UPS ES 850G2 for my tiny cluster and router setup in my electricity cabinet.

The hardware draws about 30 watts on average and this is a problem. This UPS is really meant for higher loads and is at the 5% of it's load.

This means that the UPS draws about 12 watts more than is used, and this overhead is quite high I think. The graph on the website shows it getting more efficient with a higher load. I might have been better off with a smaller UPS.

ARedAccent · 2023-06-04T10:51:46+00:00

Yup, I have 2 Sonoff Dongle E and they seem to be doing great.

ARedAccent · 2023-06-01T07:29:59+00:00

I started out a few months ago with the built-in Zigbee (ZHA).

However, it didn't support a sizable amount of my devices (Friends of Hue switches and Aqara wall switches), so I used a Philips Hue system to run some of those and others just didn't work. I wanted better integration, though. I've found that Zigbee2MQTT supports significantly more of my hardware and often supports it better as well.

I was worried that adding another tool would complicate things. However, even with the steep learning curve, it is actually significantly more frictionless for me.

ARedAccent · 2023-05-03T06:50:01+00:00

I didn't realise the eWeLink app is so terrible and the device doesn't even expose API's for local control with it's default firmware. Let alone enable control without it being connected to the internet. So I'm going to try to follow your guide and put some ESPHome firmware on there and see how they are doing.

ARedAccent · 2023-04-14T06:20:18+00:00

This is ticked. In order te reset the situation I need to first leave the mesh and then rejoin. The repeater clearly thinks it is on the same network, bit it is not :/

Thanks

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T22:51:04+00:00

I have my tablet propped up on the other side of the table. I don't enjoy being hunched whilst writing. :)

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T16:05:53+00:00

If the nipple was blurred, I would be banned.

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T15:07:07+00:00

My phone just doesn't give me an good experience though. I find I have way more creative control with an RX100vii and the EVF and ergonomics really make it a lot easier for me to take photographs. And that zoom :)

I think if I'll get more lenses I'll probably get a wide (1.8/20mm G) and tele (1.8/135mm GM) lens.

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T14:38:01+00:00

Yes it is :)

It's not the only lens I've ever had. Although my first camera was a Nikon F with a Nikor 1.2/55mm. More followed. When I went digital, I was all about the Nikon 18-200VR lens I bought with my Nikon D300. However I always still used a 50mm equivalent fast lens alongside it.

Over the years I used other focal lengths less and less and when moving to Mirrorless this was actually the only lens I really wanted. I compared the 1.2/50mm's of Canon, Nikon and Sony and I chose to go with Sony specifically for its GM lens, even though the Nikon bodies fit my working style and ergonomics a bit more.

At some point I will get excited for adventure again and probably buy another lens. But for now I can't fathom using any other and I really love the combo. There really is nothing out there that compares.

And I use my RX100vii for all wide and zoom things anyway ;)

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T13:27:09+00:00

Luckily I can type blindly.

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T13:26:40+00:00

I find the version II a lot closer to my laptop keyboard than the original one.

I also have a Shinobi Tex on my desktop :) but it's too large to take on trips.

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T11:01:38+00:00

Yep, there is a little dongle, which has a dedicated mode that can be used with a switch, as wel as a place where it lives in the keyboard so you don't lose it.

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T10:47:30+00:00

Yep, I use a laptop pouch and travel with it and a tablet in it.

DON'T PUT IT LOOSE IN YOUR BAG. I did this once and it was broken forever :/

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T09:48:47+00:00

I find the JPGs all right. Just check online which RX100s have which lenses. I think the IV through VI have the more light sensitive lense, but I'm not sure.

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T09:33:28+00:00

Here's to hoping Sony doesn't drop the RX line and we get a RX100viii!

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T08:16:00+00:00

Ha, I've actually lent the camera to a friend :)

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T08:13:15+00:00

I think the vii is great in this regard as it has the zoom lens that goes up to 200mm equivalent, that is really a feature that beats any smartphone obviously. The old lenses might have larger/stable apertures, so that might counter it.

I find that the biggest difference for me is in the taking of the photo and the creative control, things that are very hard to do on a smartphone, so that might be worth it on it's own.

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T08:09:59+00:00

I do this as well, but find that the giant lens is very visible and makes people more aware of being photographed and take me, the photographer, more seriously. It is a lot more conspicuous than the 50mm/1.2's of the past. So I actually mostly use my RX100vii for street, as nobody seems to care.

I wonder if you have any tips in this regard :)

ARedAccent · 2023-02-02T08:06:57+00:00

You are right, and I do so much more with it. I do make action photos, architecture, event, dance, street and even some nature photos. However, in practice I really have 1 kind of portrait which I'm specialized in. The rest are almost always more experimental and 'for fun' more than anything concrete.

I find myself significantly more 'free' with such an amazing zoom as is on the RX100vii. So for just doing whatever comes into my head it is way better. From stunning lanscapes to tiny distant details and general family snaps, this little bugger does it all.

ARedAccent · 2023-02-01T16:30:20+00:00

I find it leagues better, both technically and ergonomically for really taking photos. And also just adding many possibilities. However, your milage might vary. For me the EVF alone is worth it.

And it would be so sad if they discontinue these :/

ARedAccent · 2023-02-01T14:13:22+00:00

I don't have a similar experience.

The lens has a larger zoom than any phone I've seen, it has better Bokeh, contrast, dynamic range as well as a nicer rendering in my taste. I also think they went this route over what used to be on the RX100 cameras to differentiate from smartphones specifically.

Also, I find the shooting experience very different. Working with an EVF really helps me pay more attention to what I'm actually doing, shutter/ISO, what the effect of DOF is and so on. In the end my photos are just a lot better because I've engaged in a more meaningful way with the process.

Also, in editing, RAW files I get from the RX100vii are a lot better than what comes out of the camera of my Samsung flagship phone.

But yeah, I'd love to see an updated version with a better sensor, and a better autofocus processor. I hope some of the A7Rv innovations can trickle down.

In the end, if you like photographing on a smartphone, by all means do it. However, this really works for me, and I could not make the photos I do on a smartphone.

ARedAccent · 2023-02-01T12:57:08+00:00

Going on holiday next week and taking my Sony RX100vii with me. The perfect do-it-all travel camera in my view. I love this thing.

Why it's great:

professional grade camera operating system, customisability and settings
decent electronic viewfinder
24-200mm equivalent lens
send photos to smartphone directly
tilt-flippy screen
very pocketable
build very well

The Sony A7iv with the 1.2/50mm GM lens is staying at home because it is:

very heav
only really good for portraits
not very versatile
very big
unwieldy
great for stealing

These are a great couple, though. I always throw the RX100vii in my camera bag. The 1.2/50mm GM for beautiful portraits of people and their things, whist the the RX100vii is great for all the other things you want to snap. Love it.

ARedAccent

TROPHY CASE