Waxing autumn in Yosemite

Late October in the high country of Yosemite National Park (California) is always special, but this past weekend was one of the most beautiful I recall, with quiet and pleasant days following a hard freeze at night, which yielded beautiful ice patterns in the streams and ponds.

With two daughters in tow, my photographic possibilities were more limited than on a solo trip.

In such situations, use of one’s imagination is a prerequisite, and I still managed to make dozens of satisfying images—many of them using a Fuji F30 “point and shoot” converted for infrared use by maxmax.com. While it has a few issues (to be detailed in a future review), I am quite impressed by the quality this diminutive 6-megapixel camera can provide. [Click images below for larger versions]. I also shot with my Canon EOS 5D-IR, but those images will have to wait for another day. Read on for details on the F30.

The Fujifilm F30 now has a $50 manufacturer’s rebate, and can be purchased for about $270 at amazon.com (click on “Used and New” to see all vendors). That’s about $220 after rebate, plus an infrared-conversion cost of approximately $175 at maxmax.com, for a total system price of $425 (diglloyd.com receives no commission from maxmax.com). The F30 is an excellent camera, with a very large sensor and low digital “noise” for a point and shoot.

You will also need an XNite 715 filter or equivalent. When purchasing an F30 through amazon.com, consider using the search box on the diglloyd Recommended page (a small commission accrues to diglloyd.com at no cost to the buyer). Use the search words “Fuji F30”.