Olympus VR-330, In iAuto Micro Mode

Compact Comeback: Image making with a 14MP CCD Olympus VR-330 in iAuto Macro Mode.

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I am accentuating my interest in vintage digital cameras with CCD sensors with the addition of a compact superzoom from Olympus to the collection. The camera, an Olympus VR-330, is one of a pair of VR cameras launched by Olympus in 2011, and it comes fitted with a 14MP CCD sensor. Features include a 24-300mm equivalent zoom lens, dual image stabilization, 720p HD movie capture, 3-inch LCD screen, 1cm super macro mode, Olympus Magic Filters, auto-focus tracking, and Intelligent Auto Mode.

The VR-330 is also fitted with a 3D mode that merges two consecutively shot images, where the second image is taken from a slightly different perspective. The data is processed in-camera.MPO file, the universal industry 3D format for easy display on 3D televisions or laptops. The VR-320, on the other hand, does not have the 3D mode feature. Both are available at very low prices on the auctions, and for CCD sensor enthusiasts, this could be a very strong bet.

Testing the point-and-shoot was straight and simple. The Menu System of the VR-330, selectable from the LCD display, lists Program Auto, iAuto (Intelligent Auto), Scene, Magic, Panorama, and 3D as selectable or intelligent options, each with its own selection of subset variables. For example, the iAuto (Intelligent Auto) mode switches itself to the iAuto Macro Mode for the close-up shots posted here.

Olympus VR-330

A very intelligent start, and with the impressive set of images captured by the CCD sensor, it looks like the camera is in for the long run.

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JCPenny Auto 135mm 1:2.8, Take II

Digital Moments: Image making with A JCPenny Auto 135mm 1:2.8, Take II on the Olympus E-P5.

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An extension to my previous images with the JCPenny Auto Lens 135mm 1:2.8, a manual focus prime telephoto lens from the 80s. While many comments and reviews mentioned that the lens was made in Korea, mine comes with a 'Lens Made in Japan' stamp, and no mention of it having multi-coated (MC) optics. So I am assuming here that the lens is an earlier version made before its production was moved to Korea.

The (MD Mount) lens is a solid glass and metal construction, has a 55mm filter ring, and comes with a built-in lens hood. Nice and handy in the hand, it is a bit of bulk, though, and tips my kitchen scale at 390 grams. The lens was mounted on my E-P5 with a common variety lens adapter that comes with a tripod support.

Olympus E-P5, JCPenny 135mm 1:2.8

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JCPenny Auto 135mm 1:2.8, Mild and Mellow

Digital Moments: Image making with a JCPenny Auto 135mm 1:2.8, Take I on the E-P5, impressive images.

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The JCPenny Auto Lens 135mm 1:2.8 manual focus prime telephoto lens that I tested is probably an early version manufactured in Japan (as it carries the 'Made in Japan' mark) before production was moved to Korea and the elements multi-coated (as seen on a few other images of similar items posted on the Net).

Looking up the lens's heritage was also quite impossible. Aside from a very scant mention that 'Pentax had a deal with JCPenny and some other department store chains some years ago...', there are no clear indications of which manufacturer the lens originates from.

Olympus E-P5, JCPenny Auto Lens 135mm 1:2.8

The test unit is an MD-mount, very well done, in all metal and glass, with superb mechanics and very smooth focal action, and as far as I can see, it is still in top-mint condition. I had the lens mounted on the E-P5 for these shots, wide open, handheld. Impressive images.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Living Colors

CCD Resurgence: Images with an 8.4MP CCD Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 CCD - high-quality, low-noise, and almost film-like.

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Top and backlighted images from just outside my door were captured with the vintage Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, a super zoom bridge camera with a 1/2.5" 8.3MP CCD sensor, an 18x (28-504mm equivalent) zoom lens, and is also capable of doing images with a 1cm macro mode. The camera was launched in 2007 and has a 188,000 pixels EVF and A 2.5" 207,000 pixels LCD monitor, switchable to function only alternatively. The function, which can be confusing at times, is controlled by a button switch located near the thumb rest area (when holding the camera up to the eye) on the upper part of the back of the camera.

The camera itself, compact and lightweight, weighs 360 grams without battery and measures 117.6 x 75.3 x 88.2 mm. The low pixel count from both the EVF and LCD monitor (by today's standards) is insufficient to give you a thorough image of the frame you are looking at, but believe me, the proof will be in the images themselves, which will blow your mind away. CCD sensor images have a following among photographers who prefer the images' different look and feel, which are high-quality, low-noise images that some say are almost film-like.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

If you are wary about the ever-spiraling cost of film and the equally high cost of acquiring new high-end digital camera products, vintage cameras with CCD sensors are more than adequate to cater to your interest. Even though CCD sensors on digital cameras have virtually been replaced by CMOS sensors, there is still a following among photographers who prefer the images from these sensors that have a different look and feel, with some saying they are almost film-like. CCD sensors are more sensitive to dynamic range, and lower noise output, with more vibrant colors.

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Photax T-Mount Preset 400mm 1:6.3, Take II

Digital Moments: Image making with a Photax T-mount Preset 400mm 1:6.3 telephoto lens, totally unexpected images, Take II.

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The T-Mount Photax 400mm 1:6.3 Preset Telephoto Lens, sometimes just referred to simply as a long tube lens, dates back to the 1960s, is a low-cost commonplace lens, and can be found under a variety of brand names such as Astranar, Impakt, Photax, D&N, Prinz-Galaxy, Paragon, Sirius, Ensinor, Quantaray, Optomax, Kenlock, Praotor, Hanimex, and more.

Typically, these are 4 elements of front-end focus T-mount lenses with a two-ring preset aperture and a very convenient built-in tripod mount. The unit I tested weighs 741 grams minus the soft velvet pouch and the 340mm hard faux leather sheath it comes in.

Olympus E-P5, Photax T-Mount Preset 400mm 1:6.3

Images, shot here with the lens mounted on the 2x crop sensor Olympus E-P5, are at the equivalent focal length of an 800 mm lens on a full-frame camera.

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SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.4, Pastel Art II

Digital Moments: Image making with an SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.4, soft and subtle images.

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Pentax SMC (Super-Multi-Coated) lenses were introduced in the early 1970s, at the end of the M42-mount era, when it was launched with the introduction of Pentax K-mount lenses. Though not designated officially as the K-series, the lenses are usually given this designation to distinguish them from later K-mount lenses (such as the M, A, F, FA, and DA series). K-mount lenses were exclusively manual focus lenses with no electronic features.

The K-series was followed by the manual focus M-series, which is again without any electronic features, though they are generally smaller in size to match the more compact bodies of the Pentax M-series 35mm SLR film camera bodies that were being produced then. The A series of lenses saw the introduction of "automatic" aperture settings. The lenses had an aperture ring that could be set manually, and a click-button "A" mode setting, which allowed the camera to control the aperture automatically.

SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.4

Like all A-series lenses, this very fast standard lens supports P and Tv exposure modes in addition to Av and M and is adaptable to all K-mount Pentax SLR cameras, including digital. It is slightly softer at 1:1.4 but reaches excellent figures from 2.8 downward. The lens is also recommended for portrait photography on digital cameras and produces soft images with smooth out-of-focus blurring. These images were shot with the lens mounted on an Olympus E-P5.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Up And Running Again

CCD Resurgence: The preference for image making with an 8.3MP CCD digital camera, high-quality, low noise, and almost film-like rendering.

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I

asked Bing to write me a fun story to read, and the AI language model came back with a story about a boy, Jack, who found a door on a magical tree. Jack opened the door and stepped inside, and to his surprise, he found himself in a magical world filled with talking animals, fairies, and other magical creatures.

Jack spent the next few days exploring this magical world, making new friends, and having all sorts of adventures. He even helped a group of fairies who were out looking for their lost treasures. Eventually, it was time for Jack to return home. He said goodbye to all of his new friends and promised to come back and visit soon. As he stepped out of the magical tree, he found himself back in his own world.

The story is reflective of me as well, as I went trudging through the storage bin and picked up the Lumix DMC-FZ18, last used 10 years back, put away because the battery was not holding its charge anymore.

I ordered a pair of new batteries online, had the battery installed, and Walla!, the camera came back to life just like it was switched off only a few minutes ago. Took the camera out to the porch for the trial re-run, had the few shots post-processed on the digital tabletop, and went head over heels for the excellent quality images. Images like these are preferred by some photographers because of their look and feel, which are different from those of later digital cameras.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

Is this my magical door, then? An opening to the days of the old, and a chance to re-live images captured with the CCD sensor? Let's stay on and find out what happens.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-S5, A New Use

Compact Comeback: Finding a new use for a vintage ultra-compact 16MP CCD Lumix DMC-S5 as a product shoot camera.

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Found a new use for the ultra-compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-S5, an ultra-compact that I acquired recently. The camera, introduced in 2012, is just slightly bigger than a credit card in size, comes with a 16MP CCD sensor, a 28-112mm (35mm equivalent) Leica DC Vario 6 elements in 5 groups, with 3 aspherical elements, and weighs 112 grams with battery. As reflected in the images I am posting, I am testing it out here as a product-shot camera for my online side hustle.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-S5

While my first couple of tests with the camera for normal imagery were decent enough, with photos that are crisp and clear, and almost technically perfect, I do feel that there is still an aspect missing from the images that I have yet to put my finger on. I instead turned to other things that I could put the camera to good use, and product shots seemed to be an answer. The testing continues...

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