Photograph from Rome

Second, the 8400's widest setting : 24mm

Third, the 8400 set at 24mm and me taking 7 shots (without a tripod) and then spending a total of six hours joining the sods up.

Very impressive count. Mind you it's an impressive city and should inspire.

Howard

Very impressive Count.

May I ask out of interested curiousity/advice as to your choice between the Nikon Coolpix 8400 & 8800?

Travel, candid portraiture, landscapes, the occasional sports shots would be of prime 'standalone' shooting interest, and I'd also be mindful of either of these two Nikons being used as a lighter/smaller/travel camera/'supplement' to ownership of an SLR.

Thanks for sharing those great shots, and for any comment you would care to make between these two Nikons.

Best Regards

John...

Dear count

I prefer the first piccie which has a pleasing symmetry.

If I wanted a good image of the whole thing, then I would probably buy a postcard.

Count, the first one is the best 'cos you don't notice the tourists. Great to see the inside , gives a much better idea of its size.
being in a tour group we were not given sufficient time to appreciate the detail and feel the drama of the setting. A few wild animals would really set the scene. The tourists would be more useful then don't you think???

Morning Count.D,

I actually quite like your panorama shot, each to their own I suppose!

But why spend six hours joinging them up when this little programe will do it for you....

www.panoramafactory.com

I bought the download off the net, think it only cost about 30 quid, and you can try before you buy.....but your images have the panorama factory logo in the middle.
I was impressed by the results......check it out if you wish...

Cheers,
Ali

Lomo, it's interesting that you mention the crowds as I actually like the crowds to be in it. If you take into context as to what I've photographed, it's a tourist attraction! The shot is not a dramatically lit architectural work of art. People add scale and a time period. If this shot was done in the 60's or 70's you would find yourself looking at the people just as much as the monument. I would say the bloody horrible wooden flooring they've put in is distracting. So you record the Colloseum as seen in May 2005 and look back on it in twenty years when it and the people will have changed.

Ali, Thanks for the link. I will look into it, but I just can't see how it would work to the standard I've taken mine to. You won't be able to tell from the low res image, but there's not even the smallest brick out of alignment or a crooked line. To make the line of bricks from the centre to the edges, flow naturally was the hardest part of retouching. Taking six hours to do it was an enjoyment and not a chore. I learn every time I do something like this and there's no other way of improving one's skills. I've done many panoramas before, but this was a sod. I also photographed the Rome landscape from the Vatacan's dome (highest point in Rome), again with seven shots, but I've not touched that one yet.

The overall image length ended up at 7600 pixels, so that would give me a 25 1/2" print at 300dpi! and it's pretty damn sharp throughout.

John,

"I'd also be mindful of either of these two Nikons being used as a lighter/smaller/travel camera/'supplement' to ownership of an SLR."

That's the reason I bought the 8400, so I didn't have to lug my D2x kit around with me. I'm not lazy, but a holiday is a holiday. I have been very impressed with the Coolpix and I can't fault it. The main reasons not to go for the 8800 is that it's larger and the lens is not as wide angle. I also think the 10x zoom is a compromise on image resolution and has poor max aperture. The 8400 is the perfect travel camera, but I would be a little wary for sports use.

There is something "religious" about the first image.

I like it best.