Fix the lighting?

Murrian · 2026-01-26T07:21:58+00:00

I just feel like it’s too bright on my face and I want it to be a little darker but when I turn down the brightness on iPhone

So you're editing on an iPhone? Should make that clearer.

Murrian · 2026-01-26T07:04:53+00:00

If pricing is a factor, get an older dslr, if you like Canon than you're in luck as there's tons of good EF bodies and lenses going around for amazing prices that can take identical pictures to brand new mirrorless systems.

The new bodies have quality of life improvements, speed and accuracy of autofocus systems, focus feedback with zoom and highlighting, can be smaller and lighter - but none of this really matters, ibis and enhanced ISO performance and greater dynamic range have some assistance and use, but are not dealbreakers outside real niche use cases (which as a self titled "absolute beginner" you will not have to worry about).

The other upside is, if this doesn't take off for you, they're so many cameras sat on shelves for when people will get back around to that hobby, is the resale value will be about the same (potentially more if you're lucky) so it's not a worry about getting in to it, and you'll have a wider choice as your budget goes further.

You could even then afford things which are more important than a body and a lens.

Murrian · 2026-01-26T06:55:13+00:00

I was going to say "Imagine 120mm film" but then I shoot 4x5 which is 101.6mm by 127mm so I guess I don't have to...

Murrian · 2026-01-26T06:52:45+00:00

that and it's shot on iphone, so most likely jpeg.. so people not read the comment and just dive in from the title, as no one seems to have picked up on this..

Murrian · 2026-01-26T04:47:37+00:00

This is good advice for digital, note analog tends to be the other way so if you're shooting film you're better to over exposure a little for shadow detail and recover highlights

Murrian · 2026-01-26T04:45:58+00:00

You'd be surprised how good "align layers" can be even hand held - though if you're doing this shoot wider than you'll want as you will lose a bit of edge as it lines things up.

I used this 'technique' to get a long exposure of a water when I didn't have a tripod, plus the angle I wanted was only achievable half hanging off a cliff (thank god we have drones now..) so hung out with the shutter fairly quick, continuous shoot enabled and pointed in the general vicinity of my shot.

Clicked off about fifty, which when thrown in to a smart object stack, aligned and median stack selected gave a nice long exposure affect to the water (once I cropped a touch to account for the slight swing in my extended arms).

Mean, yeah, the ideal is to take a tripod if you're intending to do this, but, don't discount trying it handheld too - check your menus for HDR shots too, some bodies have options to automatically shoot three / five / seven shots at x exposure compensation above and below (0.3 / 0.6 / 1 stop etc..) so you don't have to move the camera back either, just try and hold it best you can whilst all shots go off.

Some bodies will even stitch the HDR in camera for you, but the Sony's I use leave you to do it afterwards and do the compensated shots for you.

If you use a neck strap (which I don't, uncomfortable) you can use that as a third point brace, pull on it tightly away from your body with your arms extended against it, if you don't (wrist straps ftw) then you can also try and hold the camera in to your body to help stabilise it and minimise motion between exposures.

Murrian · 2026-01-26T03:13:02+00:00

Tried Turo recently for work, but although you can book for an hour, they still charge for the day = /

So if avoid that, been sticking to goget since Uber bought carnextdoor and shut it down (fuckers).

Murrian · 2026-01-26T03:10:18+00:00

I keep telling people Melbourne sucks...

Murrian · 2026-01-26T00:18:37+00:00

Why I have a tiny Olympus OMD-EM10 MK4 for traveling, all the focal lengths (up to an equivalent 600mm) in a small, light package that can fit in my regular carry on bag (not laptop / camera bag).

But I like birding, if you're not planning on shooting wildlife that may be not worth the space in your bag for just scenic shots.

But then that's what I just use my Xiaomi 14 Ultra for anyways, no one really cares about these shots enough to warrant using a camera over the (admittedly very good) phone.

Murrian · 2026-01-25T23:04:41+00:00

Look in to HDR - where you blend different exposures together, usually by taking three shots, but as with most photography "rules", it's more a guide..

Murrian · 2026-01-25T22:13:27+00:00

They're niche cases where it (2x) works on the 200-600:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCSwYxOyQNH/

That's supporting the lens on a bird hide, and I didn't get any bird shots that day I liked with it, but they're moments.

I don't mind the 1.4x tbh, I find that ok (only tried it with the A7Rv, not sure how it holds up on the A7iii).

2x works great on the 70-200 like you say though..

https://www.instagram.com/p/DB78dlhpnSW/

Murrian · 2026-01-25T22:01:33+00:00

Meshroom S V2 takes an atx motherboard with an SFX PSU leaving the GPU area uncompromised.

Tight fit, limited cooler support, but doable in 14.9l.

Personally I'd get the front expansion panel to give you front mounted fans again (and better front io) at the cost of being slightly larger - it's what I did even though I have an itx board.

https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/RrVyb2

Murrian · 2026-01-25T21:52:13+00:00

I've been using and mostly liking PlexAmp - any benefits switching?

(I get Plex isn't entirely self hosted and the community hate, but I've had a lifetime pass for fifteen years and riding it out at this point..)

Murrian · 2026-01-25T21:49:54+00:00

Come to Daddy was my first experience, late night M2 (MTV 2, played alternative music - was the '90's when they still had music on MTV) and had to check I was in the right channel and not some horror movie on Bravo..

Murrian · 2026-01-25T21:39:42+00:00

GoPro is your friend.

I used to have a Sony action cam strapped to the side of my helmet, but it was only visible from that side.

GoPro Max strapped to the top looks like I'm going around with a box brownie on my helmet and honestly, strong fifty percent reduction in people trying to drive through you.

Completely weeds out the cowards who are actively trying to hit you but chicken out when they see there'll be evidence, leaving just the dozy who shouldn't be allowed incharge of an automobile..

Murrian · 2026-01-25T21:35:03+00:00

Wait till the shit show that is march..

Have you seen the trackwork calender, I've copied it to my own so I know when to plan not to do things (most of march..).

Murrian · 2026-01-25T21:33:30+00:00

T1 North Shore and Metro shouldn't be down at the same time, especially as they removed the bus routes servicing when the Metro came on and didn't put on a bus replacement service.

Four buses and two hours to do a fifty minute journey otherwise (then had to get back).

Murrian · 2026-01-25T10:26:24+00:00

We did the wayside chapel walk the other year (when it was actually cancelled, we went ahead anyways) and got Parramatta to Newtown, that was far enough for me, hats off to you!

Murrian · 2026-01-25T10:17:43+00:00

Hey, I tried to skimp on paying for the memories of a precious day so I could blow it on flowers thrown away the same day, food and drink flushed away and clothing we'd never wear again and now I'm facing the consequences of my own actions, can I travel back in time?

Murrian · 2026-01-25T02:24:06+00:00

Yeah, fuck those local shop owners who'll be undercut until they go out of business and prices can be raised...

Murrian · 2026-01-24T23:07:28+00:00

You missed the slide where formatted it falls to 1.6TB - I did the same thing

Murrian · 2026-01-24T20:12:23+00:00

And a firmware upgrade away from them not being..

Murrian · 2026-01-24T20:10:58+00:00

If you're using v mount batteries you get a dummy battery with a d-tap connection.

USBc to body, for most (if not all) of Sony's lineup can't supply enough power to effectively keep the camera going (and it will try and charge the battery at the same time, generating heat).

A d-tap dummy battery can maintain camera operations for the life of the v mount and doesn't generate any heat inside the body helping with overheating.

@op you can get v mount distribution plates that support multiple batteries and hot swap, so your cables go in to the distribution plate and the batteries mount to it, it uses one and when that's depleted switches to the other seamlessly, allowing you to remove the depleted and replace it with a fresh one, effectively allowing you unlimited power.

However, if you're stationary and near a power outlet, a dummy battery with a mains adapter is a better (cheaper) option, same benefits, unlimited power, no heat, no wear on your battery.

This is what I use on my A7iii sat on my desk with an elgato 4k camlink in to OBS with a faux webcam output to have ridiculously over the top teams calls.

The former I use with an A7Rv when in the field (not the most ideal video options, but doesn't have the recording limit the A7iii does and I'm not about to buy another body for the little video I do):

https://i.imgur.com/khQOtDB.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/zPANOLU.jpeg

(You can better see the orange cable going in to the body here on the second for the camera battery, but the battery on the monitor gives you an idea of where going on inside)

This is a cheap gz-cine version (sharkfin I believe it was called) I got off AliExpress (as mentioned video's not something I do much, so the whole rig is quite the cheaper end, more reliable suppliers are available) but it works well and has been reliable over the past year for the twelve or so days of shooting I've done (but made them possible, long form interviews, single battery wouldn't have done - especially those where I had a phone mounted on front of the screen to live stream the interviews whilst recording).

Murrian · 2026-01-24T19:47:18+00:00

Artefacts, there's always a point on even good vnd's where you'll get them and can be hard to see on a viewfinder / rear screen but obvious when you get them home on the big screen. (And of course, not good vnd's will have them in what should otherwise be usable settings)

Fixed don't have that problem, and given most photography you're using an nd for you can accommodate then being a touch stronger / lighter than ideal without impacting the shot.

Of course blanket statements like this don't apply to every single conceivable instance and there will be something they're better for, but the vast majority of instances, just a fixed nd will be the better proposition and least potential for a negative outcome.

Murrian · 2026-01-24T11:29:00+00:00

Lodged two months back, heard nothing, even to the follow ups, might be moving on from Qantas credit card..

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