From the press release: "Owners of the original Sony eBook were thrilled with its revelations about the DSC-F707/717 cameras and the new Version 2 includes the 5-megapixel DSC-V1 and 8-megapixel DSC-F828 Cyber-shot cameras, each explored in depth.

Revised and updated throughout, the new 322 page eBook features interactive examples and even movie illustrations imbedded in the pages. A total of over 900 images help explain concepts as small as photons and as big as panoramics."

Readers of Outback Photo get a special shipping discount of $6.50. We read Peters earlier Coolpix book and found very well written indeed.

We just published our new 8MP Digicam Buying Guide.

See our evaluation in the table above.

Yesterday we were with the F828 in Carmel. Here is one of our favorite shots

Carmel Door

We call the process to create such an image "colorizing". It is a blend of the color and B&W version of an image (described in our new "Digital Photography Workflow Handbook").

For such subjects the aspect ratio of 4:3 is clearly better than 3:2 of normal 35mm digital cameras.

See same shot with the Olympus E-1. The result with the F828 holds up very well. But again composition with the EVF is no real pleasure for us.

Read our brief overview on Tripods, Haeds and Plates we use. Of course we usually use much more heavy cameras and lenses. But if you are into photography for the long run then you should buy a good tripod, good ball head and use Arca Swiss compatible plates.

F828 on Tripod

Really Right Stuff Plate

As you can see the Really Right Stuff plate is pretty small and still very well connectd with camera and tripod.

A tripod is not only a stabilization device but also a tool that helps you to improve framing!

The word "snapshot" has a pretty bad meaning for many serious photographers. We don't see it that way. With the F828 we have a camera with us that covers an amazing range (28-200mm equivalent) and in case we like the shot allows us to make pretty nice pictures from our snaps.

Clock in a Hollister Cafe

This an about two feet in diameter wall clock and it is some sort of replica. But to us it looked nice and we took some snaps with the F828 using the built-in flash. We feel that this shot shows what we liked about this clock. That means the F828 did the job. Yes we had some work in PS to remove the reflections from the flash, but was no big deal either (even removed some green from CA :-)).

Already at the time we took the shot we planned to make it into a B&W. But also our new hybrid technique (merging color and B&W) makes the clock look interesting:

"Colorized" version

Note: Our general workflow is covered in our current workflow booklets. The B&W conversion and the hybrid technique will be featured in an upcoming e-book.

Just for the record we show the original snap:

Please read Michael Reichmann's excellent article.

"The real issue is that we are about to enter a new era where the line between interchangeable lens DSLRs and fixed lens digicams starts to blur, and where measurable parameters like pixel count and sensor size are becoming increasingly of lesser importance than how suitable the device is for its intended task. And the things that determine suitability can't always be quantified."

Yes, this is exactly the reason that we now also cover this class of cameras.

"..because cameras are about much more than just measurements and specs...."

Yes again, your eyes are way more important than your camera.

Here are our main gripes with the F828 (in that order):

1. We find the F828 EVF (electronic viewfinder) not in par with any SLR

2. CA can be in cases tough to correct

3. Camera should be used at lower ISO values

That said we conclude that the F828 is a fun to use camera and can produce serious results. We will not hesitate to include prints from the F828 into our portfolios.

Have a look at our F828 Gallery.

To improve the white balance of JPEGs can be tricky (although the automatic WB is pretty close). Here is a Photoshop plugin that does a nice job:

PowerRetouche White Balance Plugin

 
Before and after correction

The goal is actually not to make the colors absolute correct but make them pleasing. The colors in the original are too cold and in the corrected version maybe slightly too warm but at least more pleasing to the eye.

This tool allows you to correct WB either automatically (we would hardly use any auto tools) or by using settings that are equivalent to classic photo filters.

You can find a link to this plugin in our PS filter directory.

You can do nice B&W work with the F828. We use PowerRetouche B&W Studio for our grayscale conversion. The advantage of B&W is that it does not show the chromatic aberrations. Noise is as much a problem in B&W as in color. Try to stay in low ISO.

California Oak near Niles Canyon

Door at San Jose Mission

Door closeup

For a long time we promote a workflow that uses raw files. But the reality is that most photographers use exclusively JPEG for many different reasons. Especially the Sony F828 is much better used in a pure JPEG workflow (read in our review why).

We create versions of our booklets that feature a pure JPEG workflow. The first booklet (90 pages) features a layer based workflow in Photoshop Elements 2 and is modestly priced at $12.95 (you can order here).

We will soon release a second booklet that uses Photoshop CS for a JPEG based workflow.

Outback Photo Camera Evaluation Chart Sony F828

• Michael Reichmann
• Steve's DigiCams
• Phil Askey
• Owner-posted reviews on PCPhotoREVIEW.com
• Imaging Resource's review of the Sony Cyber-shot F828
  (Also visit Imaging Resource for reviews of other Sony Digital Cameras)