My Titusville FL Real Estate Blog

Photo taken by Gail MacMillan, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without the express
written permission of Gail MacMillan, Home Sweet Home Florida Realty Inc., Titusville FL. Permission usually granted with a link back to my website and/or blog, providing site is appropriate for all ages. 
Thank you for respecting my creative expression and not plagiarizing. 

www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com  
www.Titusville-FL-Real-Estate.com

 

Photo taken by Gail MacMillan, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without the express
written permission of Gail MacMillan, Home Sweet Home Florida Realty Inc., Titusville FL.  Permission usually granted with a link back to my website and/or blog, providing site is appropriate for all ages. 
Thank you for respecting my creative expression and not plagiarizing. 

www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com  
http://activerain.com/blogs/homesweethomeflorida

 

 

 

I'm looking for a new long-range lens and have narrowed it down to the Canon EF100-400MM f4.5-5.6L.  It's imaged-stabilized and sells for $1440 on Amazon.

My other choice is the Sigma APO150-500MM f5-6.3 also imaged-stabilized and $875 on Amazon.

The reviews have been favorable on both lenses, with some saying only Canon optics will do while others saying the difference in optics is not worth
the difference in $$$'s. 


Canon's lens uses a push/pull which has been criticized for
possible dust intrusion.  Also it is not tropicalized, which proved to be a problem for the 75-300 I'm currently using. The slight clouding on the inside has no major effect until a 2x is added, then the lens is rendered useless. 

Is the "f" factor the main thing I should be weighing the decision on.  I'm no expect on Lenses, so my question to you is....if you could have either of these lenses...which  one would you purchase, and why?

 

 

 

Look at these STUNNING photos - my apologies to the original artist who received no recognition for these brilliant photographs.  No doubt the photo expedition was also quite expensive!!!

I received an email today which contained these, among other, incredibly exquisite photos.  I did a little digging on Google to see who might have taken them.  Sadly, here is what I found:

Mr. Stanley,
Thank you. The pictures are indeed beautiful. But, I am not the rightful owner of those. I found them somewhere in the internet.

Sorry, this just doesn't work for me and it shouldn't work for you either.  I'm looking for solutions and will share what I learn.  If you have protective ways, please share them for all of us.  Thank you.

 

 


What you are looking at to the left is about half the information which is stored on my saved RAW images. It is a permanent record and is part of every picture I take with my Canon Rebel XSi, using the Digital Photo Professional software (DPP).  Near the bottom you see Gail MacMillan Copyright 2009. 

It doesn't just show up, you have to take the steps to program your camera with this information.  I will explain how it is done using the DPP software which came with the camera.  Most DSLR's will have something similar.

First thing is connect your camera to a USB port and turn it on ;-) which will open the EOS Utility.  Click on Camera Settings/Remote Shooting.  The window which opens allows you to work with your camera settings similar to using the menu on the camera.  The second icon half way down is a "hammer and wrench" which opens the set-up menu.  Click "Owner's Name" and enter your information.  Mine: Gail MacMillan Copyright 2009.  Click OK - that's all there is to it! 

You are now 1 step closer to protecting your rights, you have proof the photo belongs to you.  Another thing I have started doing in the Title section up uploaded pictures is adding the copyright claim.  When the mouse hovers over, there is no mistaking your notice.

For all of you who upload to Flickr, I suggest you read the following article so you understand that your rights may be very limited.

http://duncandavidson.com/2008/04/flickr-strips-copyright-metada.html

As I go through all the features on my new Camera I will post short turorials which should make it easier to learn if you're just getting started in DSLR.  

Previous post:  Photo 101: Batch Processing of RAW Images

 

If you have any questions or want to share your methods, please post them in the comment section.  Feel free to share the "how-to" for your camera brand.  HAPPY SHOOTING :-)

My goal here is to save you some valuable time...

And make your digital experience more efficient. I'm using a Canon Rebel XSi with Canon Digital Photo Professional Software (DPP).  I imagine most camera software works much the same, but this tutorial is based on CANON. 

I prefer to shoot in RAW format as it allows the most flexibility when it comes to the digital darkroom.  When you shoot in RAW format you cannot view your photos in say...Windows Picture and Fax Viewer.

Once you've downloaded your photos to the desired destination, open the DPP.  At this point all your images will be displayed as "IMG_"#".CR2.  In the upper right corner is an icon "Batch Process"  Here you get to choose between Jpeg and Tiff (or both, huge memory hog).  Most will select Exif-JPEG.  (You also have the option of choosing both Raw and Jpeg in your camera settings.  If your computer can handle the load, then you can do it that way).  Once you EXECUTE your selection they will be saved alongside your RAW images as jpgs and ready for sharing.

In the CR.2 mode you can delete the pictures you don't want before you start working in the darkroom.  Only the pics you select will be saved as Jpeg or Tiff.  You can do all your editing in DPP before you save the very best so you don't clutter up your files with useless information.  RAW saves all the original data about the shot and if you back up your files, will always be there for further processing.

This is the short version, if you have any questions or want to share your methods, please post them in the comment section.  Feel free to share the "how-to" for your camera brand.  HAPPY SHOOTING :-)

For those who visit my website regularly you will be familiar with the stats I update every few days.  Today I want to draw attention to a trend which is developing and I feel is important if you have been putting off your next home purchase.  To the left is a snapshot of the listing inventory as of 2/14 as listed with The Space Coast Association of Realtors for all of Brevard County.  Titusville itself, in MLS areas 102, 103 and 104, has 712 active residential listings with 91 currently under contract.  The market is very active right now and the best properties are not staying on the market long.  Average days to close is 98 compared with 132 same period last year.  Don't let the high number of listings lull you into a false sense of market inactivity.  Undesirable homes and/or unattractive prices are plentiful.

 


Now if you look at this snapshot, you can compare units closed over a 4-year period.  Over the last several months the number of closings has started to out-pace the prior year.  For example:  Jan 2009 had 176 closings compared to 122 in 2008.  BTW this number will likely inch closer to 200 as late comers update their listings.  We have now experienced 2 solid quarters of improvement.  When this trend solidifies, prices will start to increase as well.  No-one can perfectly predict the market, but we can parse the numbers which are definitely pointing to an improving market.  So if you have been waiting on the sidelines....it might be time to "get serious".  I'm here and ready if you are.

 

Gail MacMillan Broker-Realtor®                                  
Home Sweet Home Florida Realty, Inc.                   
At Home With Diversity (AHWD) 
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
e-PRO Internet Certified (e-PRO)
Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI)
Relocation Specialist
Titusville, Florida
Cell: 321.544.6808

www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com   great website - check it out - pass it on
http://activerain.com/blogs/homesweethomeflorida  -  my blog

It finally happened and I want to say a great big THANK YOU to the many friends who helped all along the way :-)  I've tried other forums, good ones too, but never have I participated in anything like Active|Rain.

The best  Real Estate Network site on the Internet

I've often picked up the phone to share a thought, ask for some help, or just say hello to someone I like.  The response on the other end is always happy surprise accompanied with their full attention. 

I believe in trickle-down management so this platform's enormous success has everything to do with the folks who run the show.  Thank You all for everything you do....everyday!

 

 Photo taken by Gail MacMillan, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without the express
written permission of Gail MacMillan, Home Sweet Home Florida Realty Inc., Titusville FL.  Permission usually granted with a link back to my website and/or blog, providing site is appropriate for all ages. 
Thank you for respecting my creative expression and not plagiarizing. 

www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com  
http://activerain.com/blogs/homesweethomeflorida

Photo taken by Gail MacMillan, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without the express
written permission of Gail MacMillan, Home Sweet Home Florida Realty Inc., Titusville FL.  Permission usually granted with a link back to my website and/or blog, providing site is appropriate for all ages. 
Thank you for respecting my creative expression and not plagiarizing. 

www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com  
http://activerain.com/blogs/homesweethomeflorida