People concentrate on the sensor too much. Oh that’s just a Sony sensor I might as well buy a Sony camera. Sony fabs sensors for many companies often with that companies own back end electronic designs on the sensor.
Nikon for instance have often subcontracted three separate companies to manufacture their sensors, Sony and Toshiba used to get the bulk of the work.
But is it just the sensor. If you look at the results from a Hasselblad and Fuji medium format camera using supposedly the same sensor the results are very different. Each company puts their own spin on the raw data coming off the sensor and the processing chipset and firmware can make a big difference.
So while some of the underlying technology makes a difference such as BSI sensors verses none BSI sensors, ultimately the image is made of many things, and don’t forget the impact of the lens, the light and of course the photographer.
The aim they say is to protect children, which we can all agree with, but will it work and is it too draconian.
The act makes it illegal for content that could offend or cause distress, and also bans pornography for those under the age of eighteen. The issue with the act is that it does not define these terms. Pornography is something that could turn on a viewer.
These bans will be controlled through age verification. There are no standards around age verification, no authorised companies, you have no idea what these third parties may do with your data and the risk of security leaks, identity theft and having your sexual preferences use to black mail you are all high risks. Your a teacher at a Catholic school and enjoy gay porn, if that got out, your out of a job.
The question is also will it work. I would think most children know one of there peers who could help them access an anonymous proxy, install a VPN, point them at TOR sites where the content could be god knows what. Getting around this is pretty easy.
The other issue is that it’s putting small sites out of business. They just cannot afford age verification. If your a small forum website that promotes cycling, and allow users to put up pictures of there routes and cycles, you run a risk. One of those accounts get hacked, someone uploads ‘porn’, your on holiday, and do not find out till its been on line for a week. Along come Offcom and your facing Jail or a significant fine. It’s not worth the risk, you close the site and create a Facebook page and let Facebook take the heat. You’re driving people into the arms of big tech and making the internet smaller and more controlled by a small number of billionaires.
The picture at the top of this post I consider clean and none offensive, but will everyone. Anyone now posting material is at risk. How many will close their sites?
Beccles is typical of the slightly larger town you can find in Suffolk.
In places a little run down, as many places were post COVID-19 which accelerated the death of the high street, but places are opening up.
I remember just a few years ago when all there seemed to be on the high streets was instant coffee or corporate Starbucks, there were few independent coffee roasters and few independent coffee shops selling quality, well sourced coffee.
But now coffee roasters and cafes seem to be springing up even in the most unlikely of places.
What the high street will look like in the future now on-line shopping dominates is unknown, but cafes and good coffee seems to one thing that we will be able to find.
Beccles is an old town with lovely old churches and building, well worth a walk around after you have refreshed yourself with coffee.
Reminders of its links to the larger towns and London are all around.
So if you on route to one of the larger cities try a visit, whether a quaint book shop, a delicatessen or locally roasted coffee there will be something for you.
Leica M series range finders always have a mid season refresh, usually a different paint job, sometimes more RAM and additions such as sapphire glass and missing the famous red dot to make them a little more stealthy on the street.
Scooters in the Bailgate – Leica M4
The M11-P was released a year ago, and now we have another new paint job with returns every few years. The Leica M11-P Safari is now out so if your in the market and still have a M9, M240 or even a M10 it might be worth looking at.
With the new Nikon Z5 Mark II hitting the shelves of retailers Nikon have now launched there summer sale offers, and I am so tempted to pull the trigger on a Nikon Zf. I would be a spare backup body on professional shoots, and a every day fun camera when out and about.
