5Z wrote:
I can tell you from experience that the viewfinder or even the LCD are
of not much use in the cockpit. I typically hold the camera too close
to my face to use the LCD. I don't look through the viewfinder as
that's also quite impractical. I just "point and shoot", typically
tring to take seveal shots while moving the camera a bit between shots.

I know that works fine for scenic shots with a wide angle. I'm not sure
I could make it work for pictures of another glider when the camera is
zoomed to the maximum telephoto. How do pictures of other gliders work
out? Of course, even a 120 mm (35 mm equivalent) zoom is not so great it
has to be aimed precisely, and 5 megapixels gives some cropping
flexibility.

My wife's V550 has a "burst" mode which takes 5 shots over a couple of
seconds, which might improve the chances of at least one good shot of
another glider, even with motion from flying, turbulence, and poor
aiming. I haven't had chance to try it yet in a glider.


THat's the cool thing about digital. No worries about wasted shots -
unless the composition goes away.

No more changing film in flight!

I've learned how to hold it and be
reasonably sure of the approximate outcome.

My current camera is an Olympus 5060WZ (Wide Zoom: 28mm). The one I
used for that cover shot was a Nikon CoolPix. I had to generally hold
the Nikon alongside my head to het the wide angle shots. THe Olympus
works better due to the 28mm wide angle, byt I also still try to hold
it as far to the rear as possible.

I don't understand the reasons for this.

The 23mm on that Kodak, and the MUCH smaller size would IMO provide
even more "usable" shots. If it had been available when I was shopping
a bit over a year ago, I would have seriously considered it. Just slip
it into a shirt pocket and it's always availavble. The Olympus is
relatively small, but not nearly as convenient. I have to be careful
about storage and keeping it secure while flying.

I agree a small camera (currently, I use a Minolta Dimage X, about the
size of a deck of playing cards) is much more likely to be in the glider
and get used, and safer to pilot and canopy.


--
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Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA

www.motorglider.org - Download "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane
Operation"