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Flowers and Bugs: Shooting Up Close With The Kodak V705

I hike every weekend with my kids. We've got lots of great places to hike around Southern California.

It's a good workout. It gets me alone with my kids for hours at a time. And it allows me to take some photos, which I love to do. I usually focus on the big picture - panoramas, the mountains and trails. Yesterday, I decided I'd test my favorite little point and shoot out on the details.

The photos below were taken during a hike at Placerita Canyon Natural Area using the automatic preset for flowers that is built into the Kodak V705. I used the full zoom in each of the photos. As you can see, I was able to capture some very small Red Spiders and an active Bee. These are linked to their larger images on Localism.com.

Could I have gotten better photos with my Canon EOS Digital SLR? Probably. But it doesn't fit in the pocket of my hiking pants. :)

Posted by Jeff Turner on 05/14/2007 10:14 AM

Comments (81)

photos, kodak v705, localism

Originally posted at: Turner's Perspective: Flowers and Bugs: Shooting Up Close With The Kodak V705

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81 Comments on Flowers and Bugs: Shooting Up Close With The Kodak V705

MAY

2007

Jeff, Is that one of the last remaining Honey Bees I see in that photo? Nice shot.

Great shots!!! Love the detail on the "close ups".

when I was in Kentucky for last weekend's Derby - two of my parents' guests showed up with great cameras. one was a FANTASTIC SLR... one was the Kodak v705... I got to play with it. Nice camera...

want me to post one for you??

Herb and Lori... thanks.

David... I'd love for you to post one!

Hey Jeff, I went for a hike with my kid yesterday too. We found this amazing caterpiller nest, they were all squirming around. Your kids would have liked this!

kk bugs

.Taken with a Panasonic Lumix

Jeff,

Great photographs. It shows everyone what great features are in that little camera.

Kristal... that's an awesome photo! My boys would have been outside their minds!

Mike.. you are so right. LOVE this little camera. Have I said that before?

Jeff,

Some cool pictures. I actually have two cameras I am using right now. The quick point and shoot is the Canon SD500 and it has delivered excellent pictures for me...

I also use a Minolta Dimage Z2 for those pictures I need the 10x optical for...

I love taking pictures and would actually love to get a Canon 30D DSLR, but the price is too much for me to justify right now. I am contemplating the Sony DSC-H9 though as it has many of the features I need for my photography hobby.

How do I use the automatic preset for flowers? I didn't even know there was one.

Kodak's stock just went up again... You are really going to make me get one of these cameras!!! :) Nice shots.

Jeff: I love photography of nature-- and its surprises. I am also considering the Kodak v705 that earns the rave reviews from you, Mike and others. Thanks!

horse in the paddock at churchill downs

turf race starting gate

overcast day - and they've reached the starting gate for a turf race at churchill downs (inner track is turf, outer track is native dirt)

Melissa,

See Picture Modes. There is a link to a Kodak tutorial that explains all the modes and how to set the flower mode.

Wow! Great pictures...from everybody! I have a Kodak A620. It's a little point and shoot with a telephoto lens and 7 megapixels. I bought it because it had the best reviews for a camera in its price range. I love it, but I wish I would get in the habit of taking photos like this. You know, taking pictures just for the sake of taking them. Very nice.

{SVW Hubba} aka "Tool Boy"...

Can I make a bet with you that before the days out one of the lovely ladies is going to say...

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. LOL.

They probably won't say it now because I said that :)

TLW...ROAR!

Mike, thanks. I'll check it out tonight.

This is actually one of my favorite photos from the day. The colors are almost surreal, because the trees are recovering from a massive fire that swept through this area a few years ago.

Placerita Canyon Walker Ranch

Jeff. I love the photo of the Bee. What focus. I'll have to see if I can photograph something other than a house with my camera.

I use the Kodak V570 camera too. But, it sure doesn't take photo's like that. Oh wait, I don't take photos like that!

Lenn... I could just take photos all day and I'd be a pretty happy guy. I have a ridiculous number of photos in my iPhoto Libraries.

Missy... :) I use the rule of large numbers, which states, "If you take enough photos a couple of them are bound to come out ok."

I've been dying to try out that flower feature on the camera Jeff ....that one and the "use for bright snow scene" - those 2 pictures are amazing!

Ewwwwwwwww...... ;-)

Jeff - love these pictures you posted. I am wondering how this camera does for zoom or telephoto pictures. And what is the difference between zoom and telephoto? I've been watching some of these cameras on eBay, but just haven't jumped on one yet because I've wondered about the zoom quality.

Thanks!
Ann

Ines - so, are you gonna use that 'use for bright SNOW scene' down south??? ;-)

Sorry Jeff, couldn't help myself!

Ann

Ann... :) nor should you resist. The downside of any point and shoot is the zoom. You can only zoom so much when you've got such a small lens. But I bought this camera for the ultra wide angle lens... which rocks hard.

Ines.... seriously? Where are you going to find snow?

...it took you guys long enough!!!! : )

Great pictures, Got the V705 for Mother's Day and I love it already. What great photos it takes.

Ines... :)

Ava... Can't wait to see some of your photos.

MAY

2007

Great pictures. My dad taught me how to do several neat things with my camera this weekend. He says turning it on and using the automatic setting isn't doing today's camera's justice. I've got some practicing to do before my pictures are a good as yours.

Fran

Fran... your Dad is right. Mike Stankewich has put together the best tutorial compilation on this camera. Here is the first in his series. There's lots to learn. Luckily, it's fun!

Jeff,

Thanks for the plug on the tutorials, I hope it helps our members.

The last picture you posted of the trees is a beauty.

Mike... you're so welcome. You did an amazing job on that! That photo was just dumb luck. I was walking away from Walker Ranch and just turned around and snapped. I didn't realize how interesting it was until I got home and was looking them over. The whole area was ravaged by a fire a few years ago, so the trees were dark black. It made me wish I had an infrared camera to shoot it with. Now, that would be amazing.

I didn't even see the spiders until I clicked to enlarge the photos! That is pretty cool photography. To bad people don't pay as much for photos as they do for houses!

I have a Canon Power Shot whatever number that cost me about $450 and for a year have not known how to use all the features....I started playing around with it a few months ago and now know more...but picked up the book the other night only to find out I had a wide angle camera that zoomed in etc...well, I knew it zoomed in but I had someone tell me I need to get a wide angel Kodak like you guys....and may be easier to use?????

At any rate, you have beautiful pictures....mine's not pocket size...but when I do need it it takes some beautiful ones! Okay....just wanted to show off my flower arrangement I got for Mother's Day from my client.

I love the little red spiders and I love.... the colors are almost surreal ..trees!

Keep taking the pictures Jeff and I'll keep enjoying them! Thanks for sharing.

I bought the little Sony Cyber-shot just before you told us about the v705. When I drop this one, will replace it with your recommendation.

Lucia.. thank you.

Sally... thanks for sharing your Mother's Day flowers.

Margaret... here's to accidents! :)

Jeff- The trees photo looks so ethereal. Or that you touched it up with pastels. Gorgeous! And the purple flower with red spiders is so crisp looking.

Ines- I bet you could use the snow feature. Many times when I have been to a white sandy beach on a summer day, the glare off the sand rivals the glare off snow.

Debi... too funny. The camera also has a bright beach setting. It would be interesting to get into the settings to see how different they really are. :)

Jeff - Those shots are amazing. I'll have to try out the flower setting.

Have you ever heard of Geocaching. It is a kind of global treasure hunt using GPS devices. There are caches hidden all over the country. It kind of brings hiking to a whole new level. You can read more about it here.

Maureen... I had NOT heard of it. Looks like fun. I'll be reading more about it. Might be a great game to play with my kids when they are a bit older. :)

MAY

2007

{SVW Hubba}...

I went for an early morning walk in the orange groves and took a few pics that I would like to share. Bear in mind that I have been living in the "dark ages" as far as photography goes :)

These photos are the property of TLW...ROAR. I may want to use them in a post someday :)

That spider web is fabulous TLW - I feel like jumping on it to relax!

Thanks Ines...

I know I still have a lot to learn but I thought I did pretty good for a "Rookie" :)

TLW [SVW]... nice spider web! I like! And when the Oranges ripen and you have the green and orange set against a dark morning backdrop... that will be sweet. No pun intended.

I see a post in the making using that spider web. Can't wait to see what story you will be weaving. When will that green orange be ready to eat? Love your early morning photos!

Hi Margaret :)

I am soooo going to use that web for something in my blog :)

The orange groves around our house ripen in cycles. Soon I will travel across the lake and get pics of the ones that are ready for harvest :)

On the pics I took this morning I was after the water drops on the baby oranges :)

TLW

Don't think I didn't notice those wet glistening drops that you captured! What beauty!

It was beautiful out there this morning and I enjoy being able to share that beauty...

Photo...Property of TLW :)

Dang... nice view!

Here's one of the Lake...

I probably need to adjust photo temp on this one.

Photo...Property of TLW :)

I really have liked the Kodak 705 wide angle. Thank you for telling us about it.

Randy... my pleasure. Show us some of your beautiful Island!

Waikiki Canoes`

Outrigger Canoes

Here are a couple of shots taken from Magic Island in Ala Moana Beach Park pointed towards Waikiki.

Very nice!

Randy...

I love those pics. Thanks for sharing :)

MAY

2007

Wow. What beautiful photos from everyone. I'm ALMOST glad that no matter how many times I click subscribe, you still don't show up in my subscriptions! WTH?

MAY

2007

Lisa... very odd. Have you reported this to the rain gods?

Lisa... I just tried to subscribe to a blog and it did not show up as well. I'm about to click on the "contact activerain" link at the bottom of this page to let them know. You should do the same.

MAY

2007

{SVW Hubba}...

I know this is NOT a great pic but I want to show you my "BAM...Oooo...A Rabbit". SVW.

Oooo. A Rabbit :)

He was moving really fast. I can't believe I was able to get at least one pic of him :)

*Photo...Property of TLW...ROAR!

TLW...the same little booger paid a visit to us in Captiva last Summer!

Can you tell me what we're doing taking pictures of Rabbits? (I took this one because we were at the beach and had never seen a rabbit near the beach).....these city people!

Ines...

Oh Man. Your photo skills blow me away. Great pic. Can I shoot him now? LOL.

I have been outside a lot trying to improve my skills. I seriously need MORE practice :)

I don't think I have the right camera for what I'm trying to do :(

All the pictures are so great! I recently had my camera stolen, so I am in the market for a new one. I have heard a lot of good things about the Kodak V705, and by the look of your pictures, I think I'll definitely be investing in that particular camera. I like the fact that, as well as taking great pictures, it features a wide angle lense and is still small enough to fit in my pocket.

TLW - I don't think it's skill....definitely the Camera (I have a LUMIX with a great zoom for action shots of the kids and exterior photos - it does not do well with low light though) - as for the interior shots it's Jeff's Kodak with the wide angle (and it's small and has a big display).

go ahead and shoot the poor little booger before he drowns at the beach.

Nice bunny photos. :)

Jeff,

Thanks for sharing the information on your hiking trail (Placerita Canyon). Our kids love to go on hikes! We'll be sure to check this place out.

MAY

2007

Alma and Vincent... I see your faces all the time around town, so it's nice to see your comment!

MAY

2007

Beautiful photos..........I lived in Valencia at one time and my son did his Eagle Scout project in Placerita Canyon along with the help of his "mom."

MAY

2007

Teri... it's really a great place for a family hike. Not tough at all on the young ones. Eagle Scout, huh? Very impressive.

Great photos!

"I think it pisses God off if we walk by the color purple and don't acknowledge it" (hahaha, the movie, for anyone who is going, WHAT?!!)

MAY

2007

{SVW Hubba} ...

I found...Bugs...Boy...Did I find bugs :)

Those are "Love Bugs" which are a "Plague" in Florida this time of year.

Photo...Property of TLW...ROAR!

By the way...

I agree with Gwendolyn ... I am also quite certain that it "pisses off" God when we do not acknowledge the color "purple" :)

Elderberry? Imagine That :)

MAY

2007

I agree with Gwendolyn as well! :)

MAY

2007

Here's one from our hike today.

butterfly on wild flower

MAY

2007

APR

2008

Love, love, loe the photos and the fact that you take this time out to spend with your kids so often!! I recently purchased a new Sny SL camera and have no idea how to use it...I hope to take pictures at least half the quality of yours one day!

Just goes to show that any camera can take a good picture. A lot of it is the guy behind the camera and some good luck.

APR

2008

Jeff those are great pictures. I agree with you that if you take a lot of pictures you will get a good one. I also have a large photo library. Had to get an external drive to store the pictures on.