Testing S4

What a great way to test my brand new Pentax Optio S4. I am backing up my PowerBook, when a sudden burst of lights flash before me. I look out the window to see a fireworks display and laser show shooting off the top of buildings from across the harbor.
The fireworks go off synchronously from atop a row of buildings, while beams shoot off in every direction far into the sky. The sky is brightly lid and the view, magnificent.

I quickly but clumsily take out my S4 to capture the moment. Here is my chance to test how well it shoots night scenes, as they are most problematic to capture with digital cameras. By the time I turn my camera on and push the window open, the fireworks is already dwindling down, but the laser show is still crisscrossing the sky.

I snap a shot but it is too far. Then I zoom-in to shoot several more. When even the beams are gone, I take the camera back inside to check the results. The lighting is terrific when it is set in "Night-Scene Mode," but the images are blurry, in part due to my hands, having to zoom-in, and the extra sensitivity of the night mode.

While I am transferring the pictures to my PowerBook and regretting the little time I had to take them, The sky lights up again. I immediately abort the transfer and slip the SD card back into the camera. My motions are faster this time, so I am able to capture several more images of the glorious display from afar.

This time the pictures are better but still somewhat blurry. I know the 3rd time's a charm, so I have my camera strapped to my wrist and ready to shoot when the show comes back, but it never did.

I call my neighbor to tell her, and she tells me this is a celebration that will go on every night throughout Chinese New Year. That means I will have more than 3 tries to do it right. I will be ready with my S4 tomorrow night.

Filed Mon - January 19, 2004, 06:13 PM in

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