Capturing the moment

So recently family and I went to this year's Malkara scale model exhibition. DSLR in hand I hoped to capture things better than with the compact. It would seem that the challenges with the compact are not that different with a DSLR. Models are small so getting in close is important. Light levels are generally low as most models are exhibited indoors. While landscape is a good subject, photographing the powered models is the real aim. Depth of focus is important, often I want a high depth of focus for two reasons:

1. 1) So that more of the model and landscape is captured
2. 2) So the camera is more forgiving in its focus.

Here comes the dilemma: capturing low light and/or moving objects generally means an aperture set to as open as you can get away with, while a high depth of focus usually means setting the aperture so only a pinhole of light gets in, keeping all the light rays straight on the same point of the lens. Playing with high ISOs can compensate but the higher the ISO, the lesser the picture quality due to noise. All this to say that many of my shots turned out one or more of:

• blurry,
• out of focus,
• too dark,
• grainy

Meanwhile the 16.5mm gauge layout continues and is down to electrical wiring before being moved in to the garage finally. Winter in Canberra is not conducive to much work out side and life gets both busy and tiring such that modelling activity slows down over that period. Soldering of wires seems to be getting better but up was possibly the only option for my handiwork. While I am wiring the layout in a block/cab fashion, I still only have one DC controller so really they are just isolating sections. DCC thoughts are starting to run around my head though and perhaps the leap will come soon. Price is still the big barrier. No matter how simple a system, making a full switch from DC to DCC involves quite a bit of kit. Some advice says start with the decoders first. As far as I can gather that means running locos on DC with a DCC decoder that handles DC power without frying. As I am keen to use sound, I will have to do further research as to what happens with sound decoders running on DC:

• cooked decoder,
• decoder that just lets the loco work with DC control or possibly,
• a loco that works on DC control with some sound (that would be nice :-)

THe other barrier to DCC is my soldering skills which are improving but are not necessarily up to electronics yet. Given that only one of my locos comes with a DCC socket, I will need to do many conversions. On top of that, the one with the DCC socket does not have room for a sound decoder if the socket is used instead of soldering the decoder in.

Roll on the warmer weather as spring comes soon, more outdoor goings on to look forward to!