Giveaway of the Day Forums » User Favorites: NolafromNZ

Giveaway of the Day Forums » User Favorites: NolafromNZ 2191 Giveaway of the Day Forums » User Favorites: NolafromNZ en-US Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:02:39 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/search.php Whiterabbit-uk on "The latest free game using Alawar's gamebox" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/3533/page/3#post-67927 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:15:53 +0000 Whiterabbit-uk 67927@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Thanks for the heads up Dragonlair. :) W.R. Maud on "The latest free game using Alawar's gamebox" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/3533/page/3#post-67880 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:31:20 +0000 Maud 67880@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Thanks for the heads-up, Dragonlair. This is a fun game although, at level 47, I may be getting to the point where the wolves are too fast for me. They seem to be young wolves, with better reflexes than mine! Dragonlair on "The latest free game using Alawar's gamebox" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/3533/page/3#post-67761 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:43:41 +0000 Dragonlair 67761@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ The new Alawar Gamebox monthly freebie is out! It's "Tiny Worlds". It's a cute little maze game. Surprisingly, it downloaded and unlocked in one try for me this time and it even shows as a full game within Gamebox. It reports 250 levels and FREE upgrades for future versions. That last is something I haven't seen before! I got mine! hotdoge3 on "Internet Explorer v FireFox - I need some answers - please" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/3503/page/2#post-67665 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:08:20 +0000 hotdoge3 67665@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ IE8 is a vast improvement over IE7 if that is so IE 7 must be bad Test on browser-security IE 8 & Firefox all most the same but the ActiveX how you know if it ok to let it run I don't like may be it just me? you don't have it in Firefox, You can make Firefox very safe with NoScript & Adblock Plus & add spyblock, The fist thing I did with window 7 was try IE 8 very slow so got Firefox & Opera 10 go very good & fast, Hear is some if and Test on browser_battle most on IE and Firefox hope it help. <a href="http://www.esecurityplanet.com/features/article.php/3829396/Firefox-35-vs-Internet-Explorer-8-Which-is-Safer.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.esecurityplanet.com/features/article.php/3829396/Firefox-35-vs-Internet-Explorer-8-Which-is-Safer.htm</a> <a href="http://nsslabs.com/browser-security" rel="nofollow">http://nsslabs.com/browser-security</a> (Tested products include) * Apple Safari v4 * Google Chrome 2 * Microsoft Internet Explorer v8 * Mozilla Firefox v3 * Opera 10 Beta <a href="http://nsslabs.com/test-reports/Q309_Browser_Security_Summary_Final.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://nsslabs.com/test-reports/Q309_Browser_Security_Summary_Final.pdf</a> <a href="http://nsslabs.com/test-reports/Q309_Browser_Security_Summary_Final.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://nsslabs.com/test-reports/Q309_Browser_Security_Summary_Final.pdf</a> <a href="http://www.favbrowser.com/internet-explorer-ie-vs-safari-vs-firefox-vs-opera/" rel="nofollow">http://www.favbrowser.com/internet-explorer-ie-vs-safari-vs-firefox-vs-opera/</a> (2007) <a href="http://www.spreadfirefox.com/node/2990" rel="nofollow">http://www.spreadfirefox.com/node/2990</a> <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/browser-comparison.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/browser-comparison.aspx</a> <a href="http://lifehacker.com/software/feature/special-top-ten-reasons-to-switch-to-firefox-126313.php" rel="nofollow">http://lifehacker.com/software/feature/special-top-ten-reasons-to-switch-to-firefox-126313.php</a> <a href="http://secunia.com/advisories/product/19089/?task=statistics" rel="nofollow">http://secunia.com/advisories/product/19089/?task=statistics</a> (Mozilla Firefox 3.0.x) <a href="http://secunia.com/advisories/product/12366/?task=statistics" rel="nofollow">http://secunia.com/advisories/product/12366/?task=statistics</a> (IE 7) <a href="http://secunia.com/advisories/product/12366/?task=advisories" rel="nofollow">http://secunia.com/advisories/product/12366/?task=advisories</a> (IE 7) Unpatched. Secunia Advisory (IE 7 Red not fix = 9 some long time) Secunia has issued a total of 39 Secunia advisories in 2003-2009 for Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.x. Currently, 23% (9 out of 39) are marked as unpatched <a href="http://secunia.com/advisories/product/19089/?task=advisories" rel="nofollow">http://secunia.com/advisories/product/19089/?task=advisories</a> (Firefox 3.0.x.) 21 Secunia Advisories in 2003-2009 Secunia has issued a total of 21 Secunia advisories in 2003-2009 for Mozilla Firefox 3.0.x. Currently, 0% (0 out of 21) are marked as unpatched. More information about the specific Secunia advisories affecting Mozilla Firefox 3.0.x can be found below. Each Secunia advisory is enclosed by a box highlighted with a color representing its current patch status. Note all are Green that is all is fix. All so look at Graph On secunia Website Firefox vs IE 7 <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/mythbusting.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/mythbusting.aspx</a> The Real Deal: In tests, Internet Explorer 8 performs as well or better than Firefox and Chrome. <a href="http://www.spreadfirefox.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.spreadfirefox.com/</a> <a href="http://www.firefox10.com/internetexplorer.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.firefox10.com/internetexplorer.php</a> ( Crashes IE can be crashed with only a few lines of code. Take the test) <a href="http://www.firefox10.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.firefox10.com/</a> (Hot Firefox Girl have a look & Firefox Crop Circle) 1. Customization with Plugins and Extensions The real power of Firefox lies in it's added functionality through the use of 'extensions'. Thousands of developers program small additional tools for the browser that allow you to do almost whatever your heart desires, and make your life easier. Top 5 Reasons to dump IE 5. Security Internet Explorer's integration of ActiveX and Active Scripting allows websites to install programs and control your browser - taking the power away from you and giving it to unsecure websites. 4. Web Standards IE ignores many web conventions, making your web experience worse. 3. Crashes If you use Internet Explorer, you've seen it crash, and its tight integration with Windows generally means that it may take the rest of your computer with it <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=220000292" rel="nofollow">http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=220000292</a> September 15, 2009 Some vulnerabilities have remained unpatched for as long as two years." (IE) More than 80% of the software vulnerabilities being found by security researchers involve Web application flaws that allow attack techniques like SQL injection or Cross-Site Scripting, the report says. <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/161616/browser_showdown_ie_8_vs_firefox.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.pcworld.com/article/161616/browser_showdown_ie_8_vs_firefox.html</a> <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/150828/browser_battle_firefox_31_vs_chrome_vs_ie_8.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.pcworld.com/article/150828/browser_battle_firefox_31_vs_chrome_vs_ie_8.html</a> <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5044668/beta-browser-speed-tests-which-is-fastest" rel="nofollow">http://lifehacker.com/5044668/beta-browser-speed-tests-which-is-fastest</a> <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/tested-chrome-vs-ie8-vs-firefox-3-1-vs-safari-4-582159?artc_pg=2" rel="nofollow">http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/tested-chrome-vs-ie8-vs-firefox-3-1-vs-safari-4-582159?artc_pg=2</a> <a href="http://www.trap17.com/index.php/Speed-Internet-Explorer-Fast-Firefox_t38925.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.trap17.com/index.php/Speed-Internet-Explorer-Fast-Firefox_t38925.html</a> (Fix IE Speed) <a href="http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/howto_speed_up_customize_and_secure_firefox_chrome_ie8_and_opera" rel="nofollow">http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/howto_speed_up_customize_and_secure_firefox_chrome_ie8_and_opera</a> <a href="http://www.gadgets-reviews.com/chrome-vs-opera-ie-firefox.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.gadgets-reviews.com/chrome-vs-opera-ie-firefox.html</a> <a href="http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/howto_speed_up_customize_and_secure_firefox_chrome_ie8_and_opera" rel="nofollow">http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/howto_speed_up_customize_and_secure_firefox_chrome_ie8_and_opera</a> <a href="http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/03/microsofts-own-speed-tests-show-ie-beating-chrome-firefox.ars" rel="nofollow">http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/03/microsofts-own-speed-tests-show-ie-beating-chrome-firefox.ars</a> IE loads mozilla.com faster than Firefox, and Firefox loads microsoft.com faster than IE Dragonlair on "Alawars free monthly game - Snowy: Lunch Rush" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2964/page/2#post-66244 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:06:14 +0000 Dragonlair 66244@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ You may also want to make sure you play it OUTSIDE the manager. AGAIN, I downloaded and unlocked it, but it thinks it's the trial version within Gamebox. It's fine and says "Thank you for Registration" when played independently. knighthawk on "Alawars free monthly game - Snowy: Lunch Rush" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2964/page/2#post-66242 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:42:10 +0000 knighthawk 66242@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Hi Face this game is only available for free if you download and install the game manager from there site. goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-66239 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:54:24 +0000 goodgotd 66239@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ ah, the colors they are a-changing... <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8962861-aba"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8962861-aba.jpg"></a> And I found a small plasma lamp at the goodwill for 5 bucks... <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8962865-f19"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8962865-f19.jpg"></a> Face on "Alawars free monthly game - Snowy: Lunch Rush" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2964/page/2#post-66238 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:56:26 +0000 Face 66238@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Does anyone have a direct link to the free game? Whiterabbit-uk on "Alawars free monthly game - Snowy: Lunch Rush" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2964/page/2#post-66214 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:16:11 +0000 Whiterabbit-uk 66214@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ This months free Alawar game is Snowy: Lunch Rush W.R. goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65971 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:50:48 +0000 goodgotd 65971@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ that indeed was what I was trying to come up with- less fluffy than 'talks', less goal-oriented than 'general'- perhaps a 'regular's lounge'? BuBBy on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65966 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:06:37 +0000 BuBBy 65966@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ "Talks" was intended for stuff that doesn't quite fit - but obviously out of courtesy to people who actually want computer/software/giveaway related topics we keep them to an absolute minimum. Perhaps another forum entirely ? goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65965 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:02:03 +0000 goodgotd 65965@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ midori, painting too benefits from practice, and even given the talent still uses the tools of 'breaking it down into mechanics', as several of my more artistic friends assure me. They've certainly had much good advice on the composition of pictures for better impact. I always keep those words of wisdom in mind when cropping! as I've said before, most of my absurd number of photos are to jog my drug-tattered memory, but if something pretty or interesting crosses my path, it would be folly indeed not to record it. and churlish not to share what I've learned in the process. putting together panoramas to ease boredom (well, of a sort or three) rather lacks something if the only person who sees the result is, well, me. modlox, I shall ponder your wise words- and then consider as well. It seemeth to me that a category might be wanting added, but not just for pictures- the word association games, etc., are surely as far off 'the "right of existence" under our forum rules' as one that giveaway software can certainly be relevant to from time to time. perhaps I can come up with something more inclusive for BuBBy's attention.. hotdoge3 on "Internet Explorer v FireFox - I need some answers - please" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/3503/page/2#post-65963 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:36:21 +0000 hotdoge3 65963@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/05/fraudulent_paypay_certificate_published/" rel="nofollow">http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/05/fraudulent_paypay_certificate_published/</a> * <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/01/microsoft_crypto_ssl_bug/" rel="nofollow">http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/01/microsoft_crypto_ssl_bug/</a> * IE, Chrome, Safari duped by bogus PayPal SSL cert safe with Firefox <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/news/index.jsp" rel="nofollow">http://www.computerworld.com/news/index.jsp</a> Sneaky Microsoft plug-in puts Firefox users at risk up date to fix midori on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65961 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:31:52 +0000 midori 65961@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Gosh, I, too, admire the wealth of knowledge shared here, but it kinda goes out the other ear (or eye, lol). Not really interested in learning the mechanics, just know I appreciate the outcome! So thanks for the shares. My daughter has taken some beautiful nature shots on her geology field trips, but like me, she sees something pretty and shoots. Hey, we don't have to know what we're doin', do we? But I'm sure it helps, with all your exposure know-how goodgotd. Unlike something like painting, which you don't really break down into mechanics, photography does benefit from experience. But doesn't everything! Anyway, I enjoy the efforts here. :) notblocklox on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65960 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:15:10 +0000 notblocklox 65960@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Yeah, I thought when you and perhaps some others could contribute some know-how on the basis of your photos, it would be better to set up a new forum for photography. This thread is under "General Discussion" and that is - well - too general. There should be the possibility to bundle the different threads for Photo/Graphics. However, that is beyond the competence of a modlox. Perhaps it would help to bribe the AdminBuBBy...? ;) goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65955 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:49:46 +0000 goodgotd 65955@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Whiterabbit-uk started the (unofficial? surely not) blessing of a photo-thread, with the <a href="http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6139">Guide To Forum Image Posting</a>, and even joined in <a href="http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65382">here.</a> umm, <a href="http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65397">so did you.</a> I'll start working in some references to giveaway software like <a href="http://www.betterjpeg.com/">Better JPEG</a> and how & why to use it. that ought to calm the Moderatorlox, just a bit? right? see, there is a relationship. any panorama software coming up? (hint, hint) notblocklox on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65931 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:42:30 +0000 notblocklox 65931@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Thanks goody for your technical reviews and advice for shooting and preparing photos. Oh, and of course thanks for your pics. :) Would be great if we had a photo-community as active as the gamers are. Not only to show the latest pictures but to discuss techniques and to exchange experiences. That would give our pictures the "right of existence" under our forum rules. That said the moderatorlox. ;) Well, to be honest, it's very selfish of me, as I hope I will get the needed push that brings me back to my hobby. goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65926 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:27:40 +0000 goodgotd 65926@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Txnnok, I looked up the specs on that Kodak EasyShare C190, and it's got the same macro range as the HP PhotoSmart M517, (10 cm, though to get it to reliably lock there takes a simple widget to trick it) with better optical zoom (5x), 2.3x the pixel count (3968 x 2976- 12 Megapixel), a bigger, higher resolution LCD (2.7", 230,000 pixels) and over triple the ISO range- 64 to 1600. trust me, that camera can blow the M517 out of the water easily. And it can take bigger memory cards, too. OTOH, the M517 was only $60 a year ago, and had been outdated for years- like since the 2006 models hit the shelves. pretty much the same size. <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8919151-ae2"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8919151-ae2.jpg"></a> 2576 x 1944- 5.2 megapixels 3x optical zoom F2.8 - 4.9 (W) F4.8 to 8.0 (T) Auto focus Focus distance Normal: 0.5 m to infinity Macro: 10 cm to 80 cm ISO sensitivity ISO 100-200-400 2" TFT LCD 130,000 pixels <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8919152-14c"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8919152-14c.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8919153-540"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8919153-540.jpg"></a> However, this post was to point to a rough panorama I stitched together (still learning how to correct the software's goofs- there are a couple real bad spots I missed) of the post-repair winchester, oregon dam on the 2nd of this month, with a thumbnail here, a 16.6 mb half-size-each-way reduction (12300x3937)on divshare under 'view full size', and a 51.2 mb 24621x7861 jpeg image at <a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/ebx0lo">this link on SendSpace</a> for download. Enjoy, and forgive the mistakes. 92 images, 405 megabytes of images, several hours of fiddling and number-crunching went into it. Only 13 minutes to shoot it, though.... <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8919136-a3a"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8919136-a3a.jpg"></a> goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65838 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:33:43 +0000 goodgotd 65838@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ not nearly all in the camera, just taking *lots* of photos and learning what works. and always looking. the super macro- yeah, that's tough to get around, but things like that virginia creeper- that was at a range you could duplicate with no trouble. That's cropped down to 4.5 megapixels from this 8.1 mp shot using xnview: <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8906018-438"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8906018-438.jpg"></a> the camera before this was a 1995 era HP PhotoSmart M517 full-auto only (a few scene and flash modes, but no control over focus, no stabilization, iso 400 max, 3x optical zoom, etc) point & shoot, and I got a fair passel of neat shots out of it before the tripod mount (and the case) cracked apart. it still works, but holding it really still is difficult. it had a bit closer macro, but you have enough extra pixels- it was only 5.1 mp- you can crop and beat it. Not to mention if you don't hit the 'view full size' link at divshare, unless you have a really hi-rez screen you see those pictures at no more than a megapixel at best, to fit them into the browser frame. Half the cool factor is cropping for impact, as I found when I stepped from a 1 mp C200 to the M517- 1 mp you *can't* crop for beans, so you have to get the stuff framed in the shot. the cat pix above of bandit were 1 mp source. here's some from the M517: nigella nativa, just starting to open buds: <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8906161-429"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8906161-429.jpg"></a> cropped from this shot: <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8906163-961"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8906163-961.JPG"></a> the charles and anna drain house, near sunset for the gloomy, brooding lighting effect: <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8906159-e0a"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8906159-e0a.jpg"></a> some african daisies fighting for room <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8906162-549"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8906162-549.jpg"></a> some flowers are too big to get close to- and still you find the dangdest things when you look later: <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8906160-e8e"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8906160-e8e.jpg"></a> like a crab spider. btw, over a day or so those can shift from white to yellow to match the flowers they perch on. I'd like to catch a funnel, but out here they're scarcer than hen's teeth. rain, oh my yes. Txnnok on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65781 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:19:36 +0000 Txnnok 65781@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Very nice pictures, I'm starting to get jealous of your camera, goodgotd. Unfortunately here south OK close Lawton. It has been cloudy and rainy for a week now. Were at the season change time of year. Warm air mixing with cold, thunderstorms, sleet hail, tornado's, the usual. Don't worry tornado's are rare this time of year, but they can happen. It the following season that you go stand on the porch every time there's a storm, so you can get your shelter if one drop's. I would love to get a pic of a funnel, that would sweet.With some lightning arcing down the side. goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65779 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:57:01 +0000 goodgotd 65779@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ back again. here's some virginia creeper berries- <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8896923-e45"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8896923-e45.jpg"></a> a red mum- <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8896921-e9f"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8896921-e9f.jpg"></a> and a small (~1") spiral seashell. <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8896922-9ed"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8896922-9ed.jpg"></a> goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65442 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:31:05 +0000 goodgotd 65442@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ yeah, ISO is a bit of a rubber ruler, but still- ISO 1600 film would be real fast, and real grainy- in digicams ISO 1600/3200 is noisy as all get out- the smaller the sensor the worse the noise, generally. The more pixels in the same size sensor, the worse the effect, plus purple fringing due to microlensing. ('pinhole effect') the few photons that hit each sensor pixel are getting 'swamped' by the random electron noise generated by the sensor light or no light. Best to use the lowest ISO you can get away with. If you're finicky about the 'best picture' thing. To a degree the camera image processor tries to remove that by various routines before it hits the memory card, a program like <a href="http://www.neatimage.com/">Neat Image</a> allows you to make a 'noise map' of your camera's sensor and remove the noise that is unique to each sensor array. In long-exposure work, like starfield photos, it's SOP to take a 'dark frame' with the lens covered and the camera at the same temperature and exposure settings, so you can 'subtract' that dark-frame's noise in post processing to get better results. I got a flash unit at the goodwill for $5 that has both hot-shoe and corded triggers, and I'm going to make up a 'slave peanut' to go on the cord to fire it by sensing the camera's flash- for times like firing through a window I'll block the canon's flash by taping the 'peanut' over the built-in flash with dark tape, then hold the external flash flat against the window some distance away. I mostly will be using it for 'fill flash' when doing macro shots close enough the built-in flash is blocked by the extended lens. Some things (like mushrooms- it really makes a difference!) simply do not look right unless that brightly lit. I've also had good luck eliminating the camera seeing it's own flash by using a chunk of toilet paper tube around the lens and up against the window. cheap but effective. digital cameras at the goodwill are the exception, not the rule. what you find the most of are 35mm cheapos and the more expensive 35mm's that were built to take the self-loading kodak Advantix film you can't get any more. somebody bought that HP C200, I'll have to take some shots of mine to show how well it held up. here's a bug I caught on some goat's-beard: <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8810750-c8c"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8810750-c8c.jpg"></a> and a couple of rose campion above a red rose... <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8810819-7a8"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8810819-7a8.jpg"></a> copmom on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65414 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:53:12 +0000 copmom 65414@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ I use the iso setting when taking my kitty pictures that are outdoors, and I'm in the house. Since I don't want a flashback from the flash reflecting back from the glass door I use the low light no flash setting on my camera. Especially helps on a gloomy, rainy day, like today. Whiterabbit-uk on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65404 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:36:03 +0000 Whiterabbit-uk 65404@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Where iso becomes important is in action photography, or in low light conditions. To capture a moving object you require faster shutter speeds, which means the interface where the image is being recorded, whether it be traditional emulsion films or electronic sensors gets less light. so you need a more sensitive interface to be able to record the object more accurately, otherwise the image will be blurred. Okay, less of the theory and more images, lol. notblocklox on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65397 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:22:19 +0000 notblocklox 65397@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Thanks, WR, now even I'll be able to remember how to set up the ISO: small ISO = small grains - LOL :) Whiterabbit-uk on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65382 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:11:37 +0000 Whiterabbit-uk 65382@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ iso used to be important when we had the old style negative/positive film. The lower the iso number the more light you would need to get a good picture, , the higher the iso number the easier it would be to take pictures in dark conditions. for example I used to use an iso 400 film to take pictures at parties or if I was going out at night and lower iso numbers for very bright conditions. The disadvantages of a high iso number with the old films was that you would get very grainy results. I used an iso 25 for positive slide film to get brilliant colors, plus it was possible to get much larger projections of the image because the gran size was much smaller. Lower iso negative films would enable bigger enlargements. . With digital cameras the iso number is another way of being able to adjust the exposure of a camera; for example if you have a very limited point and click camera that has a dial to adjust the iso number, you can use it to control the light entering the camera to a certain extent, thus enabling a little control over the exposure of your picture. I hope the above wasn't too confusing. WR p.s. Just to clarify things I did a little research on the net to confirm what i said: What is ISO? In traditional (film) photography ISO (or ASA) was the indication of how sensitive a film was to light. It was measured in numbers (you’ve probably seen them on films - 100, 200, 400, 800 etc). The lower the number the lower the sensitivity of the film and the finer the grain in the shots you’re taking. In Digital Photography ISO measures the sensitivity of the image sensor. The same principles apply as in film photography - the lower the number the less sensitive your camera is to light and the finer the grain. Higher ISO settings are generally used in darker situations to get faster shutter speeds (for example an indoor sports event when you want to freeze the action in lower light) - however the cost is noisier shots. I’ll illustrate this below with two elargements of shots that I just took - the one on the left is taken at 100 ISO and the one of the right at 3200 ISO (click to enlarge to see the full effect). Read more: <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/iso-settings#ixzz0TEVL8UIj" rel="nofollow">http://digital-photography-school.com/iso-settings#ixzz0TEVL8UIj</a> reference: <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/iso-settings" rel="nofollow">http://digital-photography-school.com/iso-settings</a> accessed 7th Oct 09 copmom on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65366 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:31:57 +0000 copmom 65366@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Goodwill stores! Never thought of that for finding digital cameras!! Then again, I heard that with this economy, Goodwill and Dollar stores are doing a booming business! goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65355 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:15:28 +0000 goodgotd 65355@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ No kids here, all 3 my wife's and a mixed bag indeed. nothing wrong with that- I've just barely shifted off auto to '[P]rogram mode to set a smaller focus frame and other small touches. generally I don't take people photos, so I haven't even tried the face focus mode on this thing. with my disability budget and the economy, I sure haven't done much socializing for the last, oh, 10 years.... Occasionally I'll use aperture priority to get a deeper depth of field in strong light, but that's about it. Aside from using the CHDK software for time-lapse or exposure bracketing (the first is to watch flower buds open to make slide shows, the latter is to get a range of exposures to get a high dynamic range overlaid picture to do a decent photographic slide conversion.) just scratched the surface of the features it adds without actually changing the camera. most of my knowledge is semi-theoretical, semi-school-of-hard-knocks, and a lotta research. having been disabled since 1994, and on memory damaging drugs, I use the camera far more to remind myself what I was doing and where I was on a given day, plus prices, what was on the shelf, etc. this is a much-less-worn example of my first gift digital camera (all 4 have been gifts, all 4 still work- the 1998 HP PhotoSmart C200 1 megapixel, a 1999 Ricoh RDC-4200 1.2 megapixel, a 1995 HP Photosmart M517, [that I got a year and a half ago- it lasted 4 months and 14,000 photos before the tripod socket broke] and this Canon PowerShot A720IS 8.1 mp [just screamed past 26,000 photos and cruising]- the last 3 from my high school data processing teacher from 32 years ago) that I found in a goodwill store, much to my amusement. They wanted $10.00 for it, in 1998 they sold for $499.95.... with a 4 megabyte/8 shot compactflash card. :) <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8787245-67a"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8787245-67a.jpg"></a> BTW, would you believe this is the same cat? <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8787280-bf9"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8787280-bf9.JPG"></a> <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8787278-2ed"><img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/8787278-2ed.JPG"></a> midori on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65348 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:45:32 +0000 midori 65348@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Love it, goodgotd! Great idea to have a "picture place." Admire ya'll with such abundant camera knowledge... I'm the "point and click" type set on Auto. Don't have any pretty flower pictures, but I do have a beautiful flower... <img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/mamamoomoo/Art%20and%20photography/IMG_4686-1-1.jpg"> ...my daughter! At the beach w/ a friend. A good friend, lol. :) goodgotd on "just a place to post nice pictures on a random basis" http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6288#post-65347 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:46:06 +0000 goodgotd 65347@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ here's a link to the sticky topic that keeps coming unstuck addressing this: <a href="http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/6139">Guide To Forum Image Posting</a>. I can jabber for pages on stuff I've learned taking digital images over the last year and a half (40,000 images plus), so feel free to ask. Ah, the images came back-cool. and if you look, there are flowers even now that most people overlook- but then, few take pictures of flowers under a quarter inch across, so they don't 'see' them. These are forget-me-nots, <a href="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/snapfocus/littleflowers_7051.jpg"><img src="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/snapfocus/th_littleflowers_7051.jpg"></a> but there are a lot of little wildflowers too. <a href="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/snapfocus/I_0920.jpg"><img src="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/snapfocus/th_I_0920.jpg"></a> <a href="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/snapfocus/IG1i_2039.jpg"><img src="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/snapfocus/th_IG1i_2039.jpg"></a> That's a pretty good sunflower from that far away. I wasn't satisfied with the HP PhotoSmart M517's 3.5" minimum, that's one factor in my getting the A720.