Nikon D5100 – Review and Bootcamp

September 5, 2011 By 5 Comments

Every so often, I get asked to review things which REALLY appeal to me. I mean, REEEEEEALLLYYYYYYY appeal. So when I was invited to attend a Nikon Camera Bootcamp in London to play around with the new D5100, I was VERY happy.

Now first off, I should stress I’m not even a Nikon user. I’m Canon through and through.

*Waits while all the Nikon users close the browser and all the Canon users disown me*

Ok, so for those who are left, Nikon PR paid for me to go to their bootcamp for the morning. Learn about the new D5100, take some photos with it and see if it’s something I would like to use more often in general. First of all you can read the D5100 bumpf here; I’m not here to repeat their words.

My initial thoughts on the camera – well it’s a Nikon and I don’t like Nikon. NOT because it’s any better or worse than Canon (so just stop right there with the X vs Y vs Z – that’s not what this is about), but simply because I don’t like the feel of Nikon cameras. But that’s a PERSONAL thing.

I did like the vari-angle LCD monitor. Everyone who knows me and my photography already knows I like to move around to crazy positions. So flipping that open and putting the camera in Live View mode, viewing the image on the screen before I took the photo, was really useful. In fact, brilliant for that classic “kid looking wide-eyed up at the camera” shot. I also liked having a quick play around with the video mode, but I didn’t get as much time as I would have liked for that during the bootcamp.

Nikon D5100

As part of the Bootcamp itself, we had a (very brief) brief, then sent out in groups to go and photograph our “subject”. As I said, my group was given babies and children, and it was, um, different. I love photographing children, obviously, but we were told we must use the fancy pants settings on the camera for our final shots. So I’m trying to get a decent photo of the kiddos, while fiddling around with the camera settings, in the freezing cold (my GOD it was cold) with kiddos who were kind of “required” to pose for the camera. I felt uncomfortable, but I just don’t do children’s photography that way. As a result, my best shots were the ones where the kiddo thought they were being ignored. Or not of the kiddos at all.

Nikon D5100 Bootcamp

The camera itself was reasonably easy to use – but I was a bit bothered by the zillions of “effects” settings, combined with none of the settings feeling easily accessible. Selective colour, “miniature” effect (Tilt shift), colour sketch, silhouette and more…lovely ideas, but I found myself messing around with the settings too much and therefore missing very important shots. If I’m doing one of my children’s photography photo shoots, or just photographing children in general (which is what we were doing) I just know I’m going to miss several key shots (and I did miss several key shots). Once you start using these settings the camera is desperately sluggish – I ended up shouting at it in private. A lot.

Nikon D5100 Bootcamp

I guess it would also have helped if Nikon had sent me the camera to play with first like they did with everyone else, but that fell through for some reason. So I took advantage a little bit while we were walking to our location.

Nikon D5100 Bootcamp

On the whole – would I recommend the camera? Not for me personally. I don’t like fiddling around with settings to get a special effect; I would rather capture the perfect photo then edit to my heart’s content in Photoshop or Aperture or whatever if need be. Also, as I said, I don’t like the feel of Nikon dSLRs. This has nothing to do with the capabilities of the camera, I just don’t like the feel. But I know Nikon and Canon cameras can easily give each other a run for their money (the Nikon D5100 is currently £670 body only).

Would I recommend it to someone looking for a dSLR that does it all once you’ve learned how to use it? Maybe. A parent looking for a dSLR above entry level (so just above the D3100) maybe. A very keen enthusiast who doesn’t like to fiddle around in Photoshop. But they’re going to need all the patience in the world to deal with the hideous layout of the controls; it just doesn’t feel natural at all.

Score: 6/10. Theoretically, everything is there. But is shouldn’t be up to the consumer to jigsaw it all together – at this level, get the thing out the box and go, please.

Bootcamp score: 7/10. Too short, forced photography and not getting the camera beforehand did not make me feel good. BUT it was great to get out in the field and actually having a play with one. Combined with having Nikon experts on hand to ask questions, it’s on the way to being a winner. Would I do another? For sure! But maybe it’s worth securing a back-up indoor venue. With tea and warmth.

Nikon D5100 Bootcamp

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

The bootcamp and camera were provided for me by Nikon PR in return for this review. All images are straight from camera. Images of the Nikon D5100 are provided courtesy of Nikon PR.

Filed Under: photography, photos, Reviewing and reviews and stuff Tagged With: D5100 dSLR review, dSLR, Nikon, Nikon Bootcamp, Nikon D5100, Nikon D5100 Review, Nikon London, photography, Photography Bootcamp, , ,

“Mums On Three” or “Three Moms and an App” or “All You Can Eat Data” something equally as geeky

June 1, 2011 By 2 Comments

Another parent blogging event recently, this one down in Laaahhhndahn. That’s “London” to us northerners. *pfffft*

Three UK (you know, the mobile network provider) are running this campaign where they reckon that loads of moms aren’t managing internet time as effectively as they could do. Loads of us have smartphones (iPhone, HTC, Crackberry, whatever), but apparently we’re not using them to the max. So Three are all about time saving, being cost effective and using our phones to do more than sex-text our partners and play Angry Birds.

I only do one of those things.

The event they had in London a few weeks ago saw various moms from different walks of life talking to other moms in the same situation. It was also cool that we had Denise Van Outen with the ambassador moms, as she described similar situations to many other moms using a mobile phone with internet access. Up in the middle of the night, tweeting through midnight/3 am feeds, asking for help on facebook. Basically just that feeling of not being alone. Like any other mom, she’s a human being, regardless of being a celeb. Makes no diff to me; she’s a mom with needs like the rest of us.

My iPhone is crammed full of all kinds of apps, mostly photography or games. There’s the odd app which is designed to save time and/or money, but at the moment, I’m yet to find a favourite. So our goal is now that – design an app for “mums on the go”. Now, before all you blokes reading this start having a rant and a rave about how sexist this is, I am in no way going to take on board your arguments. This is not my campaign, it’s theirs. However, I will say I assume they’ve approached moms since the majority of parents looking after the kids during the day tends to be the mom, and supposedly moms aren’t as tech savvy as dads. THIS IS MERELY SPECULATION. So put your balls back in your trousers and calm down.

Just because it says Mums On Three, doesn’t mean you can’t get involved if you want to. In fact, it would make sense to get involved, then at least you can state your case fairly.

MOVING ON!!!!!

It was a fun event, lots of info going back and forth. Plus there was cake.

Three sent me an HTC Desire HD with All You Can Eat Data to trial. Well I gotta be honest, the phone made me want to throw things. It’s pretty, it does stuff, but no. Sorry, no. I’m an Apple Fan Girl. Can’t help it. Nothing wrong with HTC, I just don’t want to spend donkeys years customizing my phone trying to get it right. I just want it out the box, turn it on, put my crap on it and go. So Three took back the HTC and sent me an iPhone 4. Oh GOD I has a happy, oh yes I do.

Well I have no probs with the phone at all. And I tell you what, the data guzzling plan is just brilliant. I’ve downloaded LOADS of stuff, purposely spent forever browsing the net, streamed all manner of stuff on YouTube and haven’t panicked once about hitting any kinds of limits. I am LOVING this idea, and I’m yet to understand why it wasn’t done sooner. In fact, I’d like to know the availability options for this to use abroad, because if the package is just as good, I’ll pimp it like a pimped out pimpy crazy pimpable thing. Thumbs up, Three. Well done!

So now that “us moms” have all this data to guzzle and all this time (or lack thereof) to manage, our next step of the campaign is to have regional meet-ups to design time saving apps for moms on the go. If you’ve got any ideas I would LOVE to hear them. Whether it’s scheduled to-do lists or general time management (with alarms going off every 15 seconds) I’m genuinely interested to hear. You can find out more info on the page too.

And now, some pictures.

Cbeebies presenter Katy Ashworth is mental. Lovely, but mental. She has more energy than any other human being I have ever met in my entire life. I do like her monkey though.

Some of the “Celeb Mums” working with Three, including Denise and also the lady who founded JojoMamanBebe. Now if I was clued up on celeb moms, I would remember what her name is and tell you. I’ll get back to you.

And then I got distracted by a cake I decorated and some cute little people.

Filed Under: iphone, Mums On Three, Reviewing and reviews and stuff, Three UK Tagged With: All You Can Eat Data, Mums on Three, Three Mobile, Three Network

“In The Night Garden” iPad/iPhone app review. It Sucked.

March 31, 2011 By 4 Comments

You know…I was going to vlog this, but quite frankly it was all over so quickly, I barely had time to turn the camera on.

A PR company got in touch asking if The Smalls wanted to review (another) app. I’m starting to get a bit twitchy about it, but that’s mostly because they’re getting too familiar with my Apple goods.

MY Apple goods.

I’m all for education.

But the Apple goods are MINE.

Anyway…

This one was In The Night Garden. They sent me the code and I downloaded it to my iPhone and iPad (omg did I mention I have an iPad? I have an iPad. No wait… I have an iPad 2. There’s a difference. It’s quite delicious. The iPad is delicious, not the difference. This could be a whole other post) where the app sat waiting for the right moment to trial on the kiddo.

In The Night Garden iPhone app

In The Night Garden iPhone app

There was no way Noah was going to play it. No chance; I think he’s well and truly done with all ITNG has to offer. Can’t say I blame him; he’s 3 years going on 13. Isaac, however, still seems to love ITNG, so he became the guinea pig.

In The Night Garden iPad

In The Night Garden iPad

He spent the first 30 seconds mashing the screen, looking for the interactive bits. He didn’t get many.

90 seconds later, he handed me the iPad, sighed, and wandered off into the garden. (A real live garden, one which needn’t be contained on an iPad…just saying…)

To say he was disappointed was an understatement. The activities are as follows:

In The Night Garden iPhone app

In The Night Garden iPhone app

I didn’t get as far as “Options” or “More Fun”. The point of iPhone and iPad apps is interactivity, for kids in any case. So when he discovered that hardly any of the screen was interactive (especially the “Dancing!” game, whereby you have to just watch what happens without actually doing anything), he got bored. Really quick. Why have this, when he can watch the big stuff on the TV? This is quite possibly the most dull app I’ve seen, and Isaac’s behaviour clearly showed this. In fact, I suspect the conversation could have gone as follows:

Me: Look Isaac! In The Night Garden! On my iPad! MY iPad! I love you, son.

I: …oooo looky greasy fingers shiny screen *poke poke* oooo look In The Night Garden is it time for me to poop yet SHINY!

Me: Ok, look, that screen doesn’t actually do anything…

I: *prod prod* this isn’t doing anything and why is she just singing at me why is she not moving on the screen mom why can’t I get her to move?

Me: Ok Isaac, just – look! Look, Upsy Daisy’s bed is um, “hidden” behind that bush. Look, touch it and -

I: *stab stab* Mom Upsy Daisy is on the screen and she’s not doing anything why mom why mom look I’m stabbing her and she’s just standing there saying her name over and over again and yeah seeya.

Me: Ooooo look! INFINITY BLADE…

Turns out I should stay on telly.

Turns out I should stay on telly.

** The “In The Night Garden” app was sent to use for free under the agreement that it would be reviewed on this blog. You can download it from iTunes for 59p. Or you can go find a better app, probably for free.

Filed Under: Isaac, Reviewing and reviews and stuff Tagged With: In The Night Garden, iPad, iPhone,

Three MiFi review (Like WiFi, but better)

March 22, 2011 By 1 Comment

Given my occasional posts about my iPhone, I was a bit excited when Three asked if I wanted to review their MiFi Broadband. It’s kind of like WiFi, but, well, mobile. Hence, MiFi. Now it’s common knowledge in this house that I do not get on very well at all with Virgin Media, and my mobile network provider Orange haven’t exactly left a pleasant taste in my mouth. I haven’t got time to waste on the phone calling these people up asking them to do their job, and Three Mobile  have been next on my considerations list. I liked the idea of being able to take my WiFi out and about with me; I quickly get tired of waiting for 3G which can sometimes be slow to transfer the huge amounts of data I’m dealing with (more often than not, emailing, posting or tweeting photos of whatever it is I’m up to).

Interestingly, the press release info sent to me with the MiFi gizmo seemed to be aimed at moms who had little to no access to mobile internet. I was a bit shocked at the figures given how much, um, I uh, see people tweeting and updating facebook statuses:

Busy mums lose 133 hours a year by not being technology-savvy, according to Three.

  • Access to mobile internet could save mums 5.5 days a year
  • 30 per cent of mums don’t know what a smartphone is
  • 53 per cent of mums with babies struggle to find time to sit down at their computer to go online

If I’m honest? Those figures weren’t of interest to me, and I struggled to believe them too, given that almost everyone I know either owns a smartphone (and therefore connects to the web). Or, they know what a smartphone is because they’re lusting after one. I’ve seen numerous bloggers reviewing the Nokia N8 (and saying it was crap). So I was more interested to use the MiFi from a working point of view.

It’s basically a little dongle about the same size as the palm of an average hand. You charge it up via the teeny tiny usb plug or via your computer (love the adapter, minimalising cables and plugs) and turn it on. Turn on your device (Nintendo DS? Phone? Laptop? Computer?), wait for it to find the MiFi network, key in the code and GO.

That’s it.

I took it with me on various photo shoots, and D stole it off me numerous times for work – we both travel around the country and neither one of us had any trouble using it. In fact, I found the Three MiFi great for when Orange didn’t have the 3g coverage I wanted, and my iPhone jumped straight to the MiFi network instead.

BRILLIANT.

On numerous occasions, I turned it on, linked everything up and then just shoved it in my bag. I can honestly say there were a couple of times when it was still going some 6-8 hours later, having used it via whatever means throughout the day. There were all sorts of other things to be done with it which we didn’t get around to; we just wanted WiFi on the go, which is exactly what we got. You can read more about it’s bits and pieces on Three’s website, including finding tariffs which work for you.

Would we recommend it? Yes. In a HEARTBEAT. D and I are actually looking at sharing a contract where we both use the product. Drawbacks? We had none. In fact, D took it to the middle of nowhere, somewhere up north, and still got a signal. He’s not entirely sure where he was at the time. If other networks get on board this sharpish, I’ll be interested to see how competitive their package prices are; that could be the only thing that would make me go elsewhere.

**This product was sent to me for free on the proviso it was to be reviewed and shown on this blog. So we did. All views are mine/our own. And we think it’s marvellous.

Filed Under: Reviewing and reviews and stuff Tagged With: Dongle, , Three MiFi, Three Mobile, Three Network, Wireless

Kids Toys, Technology and Peppa Pig “Polly Parrot” App Review (It’s the way forward, right?)

February 28, 2011 By

REVIEW POST

Having recently reviewed technology and IT related apps and toys with Noah and Isaac, I’ve started to pay WAY more attention to what they actually play with. Both my boys are hooked on cars. Anything with wheels, in fact. Anything. However, I’m a bit precious about my Apple products, so they don’t get that much of a chance to indulge in technology. Despite this, when they do get to have a go, they’re frighteningly slick, pick up the idea insanely quickly and seem to know their way around incredibly well. And they love it.

Noah regularly asks to play games on my iPhone or iMac and Isaac can often be often be found trying to “swipe” my MacBook Pro screen. He’s only 22 months remember, he’s just a teeny bit behind in figuring it out… (I’m hoping for an iPad soon. That will confuse him.)

So after the Humf review, I had no problems with them reviewing a Peppa Pig “Polly Parrot” app. Especially since they both received a bazillion Peppa Pig DVDs for Christmas (God bless the swine).

Now, if I’m honest, Noah hasn’t taken much of an interest in this one. He’s played all the available games in there, all of which you can see in the vid at the end of this post. His favourite was easily Where’s Polly, where you tap various parts of different rooms to see if Polly Parrot is hiding underneath. Loved it, for all of 10 minutes. Of course the problem we face, is that he has is obvious favourites. And I don’t mean within the game, I mean on my iPhone in general. But I also start to wonder – are major companies trying too hard to rule all markets?

Both Noah and Isaac will happily sit and watch Peppa Pig on TV, but neither are particularly bothered by the app itself. The Talking Parrot game, where you can make Polly Parrot say a variety of silly phrases was way beyond 22 month old Isaac, and whilst Noah engaged in it for a minute or two (most of that time was spent just figuring out how it worked), again he too didn’t last long. I’m not entirely sure why.

Surprisingly, the least favourite was Sticker Book where you collect virtual stickers and decorate a ‘sticker book’ with many different items and characters. Noah sees stickers as rewards, whether at home or at school (and even as presented to him in a few other apps he adores), and as for “sticking for fun”, well, I think the fun for him seems to be in the actually stickiness of the sticker, as it were.

My view? I think some of the bigger names could be trying a little too hard. Well, in our house in any case. The boys love Peppa Pig. Love her to bits. But they have become a bit selective as to which niche they choose to enjoy her. The same is said for other characters. They both love their tv characters, but will not make a fuss of them in an electronic game.

On the flip side, both of them still pester me to play games on my iPhone and iMac. Interestingly, they always go for the ones that they wouldn’t normally see on tv. Are my kiddos just a wee bit odd? Wouldn’t surprise me. If kids and technology are the future, should we draw a line somewhere? Or will they draw it for us?

*The Peppa Pig “Polly Parrot” app was sent to us for free on the proviso that we review it and post it on this blog.

Filed Under: Isaac, Noah, Reviewing and reviews and stuff
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