Sorry, I just got back to this thread for the first time in a few days. I like the colors in this shot much better than your first two attempts... of course, that's just my opinion, but there it is.I remembered that first shot that you posted and that's what I was trying to go for, but it seemed like when I started to get the lights where I wanted everything else was too blue. White balance is probably what I have some of the hardest time with (as you can tell!) Here is my next attempt, without the HDR, using only PS Elements and Topaz.
The other shots you posted look like they have nice white balance, too.Usually there should be settings for that kind of thing. "Image tone" or something similar. You can also usually manually turn the saturation up slightly, that will give you brighter, punchier colors (sometimes unrealistically so - you might find skin tones going too red if you turn it up too much.)Thanks I only own a P&S at the moment. My sister in law has a Canon and to me all of her pics looked washed out. I just wanted to avoid that
Both cameras are big upgrades over the K100D! With the K-x, you will lose the red focus lights in the viewfinder, but you'll still have the green hexagon to tell you that it's grabbed focus.
Both cameras are big upgrades over the K100D! With the K-x, you will lose the red focus lights in the viewfinder, but you'll still have the green hexagon to tell you that it's grabbed focus.
Do you feel like you've outgrown the K100D's controls, or are you still happy with it? The K-x will have a similar number of external controls (though several more functions are easily available, like ISO, WB, etc.) The K-7 will give you many more controls, including a front dial under your index finger. The K-7 also is weathersealed, has a larger and higher resolution LCD screen, bigger and brighter viewfinder, built-in level, and can do 30fps videos. (And lots of other upgrades.) The K-x, on the other hand, is notably smaller and lighter and has better high ISO performance (at least a full stop better, I'd say.)
Oh, and the K-x comes in all those pretty colors. Basic black only for the K-7.
The viewfinder is definitely the way to go. I use mine with glasses all the time - though I do switch to contacts during the day when I'm at Disney, and it does make using the viewfinder easier. But viewfinder beats Live View any day! Once you get used to it, you'll find it much more intuitive. The only downside is the nose smudges on the LCD.
You probably realize that if you want to focus in Live View mode, you can hold down the AF button. It's slow and only really works well on static objects, but it does work (and even does face detection.)
