China Report - Equipment - DSC F707 Camera Accessories and Extras

Filters - in adverse weather conditions or with very bright sunlight or polarised light , filters can be very useful for enhancing your pictures. Overexposure is possible with a digital camera , but with one of the available Sony filters the chances of this are markedly reduced.

The clearglass-filter is used in rain, fog or otherwise harmfull conditions. The polarisation-filter is used in intense lighting conditions or when clouds are scattering and polarising the light. The polarisation-filter should always be used when photographing on or around large watermasses when on a sunny day. Photography will be essentially enhanced !

Both the clearglass- and the polarisation-filter are add-on / screw-on and come in their own plastic box and complimentary neat bag for safe-keeping.

Storing Media- The Sony DSC-F707 cybershot , like other Sony systems, uses the Sony Memorystick storing media. As hinted above, extra memorysticks are essential for any serious photography. With enough memory available you don't have to worry. Just snap away, try new things! Sorting usually comes later , except for really bad shots.

Transfer Media - Sony and affiliated manifacturers have a number of convenient transfering media available. The models shown above are , on the left : the Memorystick/PC Card-adapter MSAC-PC2. The model on the right is the Memorystick-USB reader/writer MSAC-US1A for use with your home PC. As one could expect I use both systems in a variety of settings.

Back-up Power - essential in the field is sufficient back-up power. When you are close to home, or just at a small party , no extra's are needed. (In fact the F707 would be a bit overdone for the occasion.) For larger travels however, or historical monuments such as the Forbidden City at Beijing , China , I have found that with the need of extra memory there comes the need for extra energy. Luckily the Sony System provides for an available extra battery and an excellent battery recharger. In addition the F707 special carrying case contains room for an extra battery to have it at the ready but safe at all times.

Lenses - Extra Lenses for the F707 are also available. Where the total of 10x zoom or the narrow picture of the normal camera are not sufficient there are currently 2 options.

The First is the model VCL-MHG07A add-on wide angle conversion lens.

The wide angle conversion lens is very helpful when confronted with large spaces like squares or lakes, or when dealing with exceptionally bulky buildings or more distant objects such as mountains.

The Second model is the VCL-HGD1758 Zoomlens.

With this extra add-on 2.0x zoomlens one can achieve sharp images at an even larger range.

However, in normal landscapes or situations it is not very likely you will need it. The F707 camera in itself achieves a 10x zoom (digital & non-digital). This lens therefor is for the true perfectionist with need for large range. I myself intend to purchase the VCL-HGD1758 for photographing the extends the Great Wall of China. I advise using a tripod in combination with this lens. The larger the zoom , the more difficult to shoot off-the-hand. It is impossible to shoot sharp images of distant objects , especially when these are moving (wildlife), without a tripod.

Do note ! : both lenses are add-on lenses. In practice this means constant screwing on and off of the lens. Plus a reprogramming of the camera since one has to set/switch the F707 into "conversion lens" -mode. This can be somewhat troublesome on the move or with other people moving about near you.

(you are carrying a mega-expensive piece of electronics attractive to many a thief ! )

Lighting & Flash - In and of itself the Sony F707 Camera comes with an excellent built-in halogenic flashlight. This built-in flasher with it's 3 controlable intensity levels is excellent for most occasions. However, when using the F707 Camera in combination with both the VCL-MHG07A and VCL-HGD1758 add-on lenses, the HVL-F1000 external flasher becomes an absolute necessity. This reason for this is that the Add-on lenses, with their large size, will be in front of your F707's built-in flasher and prevent the light from hitting your subject. Part of your subject will not be illuminated and a shadow will appear in your picture.

An external flasher will protrude from your F707 camera (using the extension bracket) and thereby avoid flashing the add-on lenses themselves. Only with an external flasher like the HVL-F1000 flash-photography can be achieved in combination with add-on lenses.

Laptop Computer -

When I travel I store all my photo-images on a laptop computer. It allows me to work on the material while traveling, and with todays hard-drive capability saves on memory-sticks. To find out more about the use of my Laptop as a reporting-support tool, CLICK HERE and red the Information Page.

DSC F707 Camera Extra's -

External Infra Red Lighting - HVL-IRM. Like the HFL-F1000 the HVL-IRM supplies you with extra powerful lighting for your camera. However as the HVL-IRM emits only infrared light, -continously-, it is specifically used for Nightshot photography only. With the HVL-IRM you can effectively light objects in a range from 3 to 20 metres. Adjust light intensity on the move with your thumb. The HVL-IRM fits to the accessory-shoe on your camera and comes with an extension Arm (shoe bracket) for angled lighting.

Power can from ordinary AA-batteries or from a rechargeable battery for longer operation time.

Great for spy-photography , nightshots at a distance and for capturing wildlife in the Wild without disturbing it. Not very useful for creating photographic masterpieces.