Sony RX1 – Haystacks Panorama http://www.richardjwalls.com
Sony RX1 – Haystacks Panorama http://www.richardjwalls.com
Wainwright said of the summit of Haystacks (in the English Lake District overlooking Buttermere) “This is in fact the best fell top of all“. How could anyone disagree? Looking due West in late December; in the centre far distance the snow dusted Helvellyn Range; to the left Fleetwith Pike; to the extreme right Green Gable; and in the mid-right Innominate Tarn where Wainwright’s ashes are scattered.
Sony RX1 – Haystacks Panorama http://www.richardjwalls.com
A little further to the right and Great Gable comes into view, with Windy Gap to its left. Two and a half years ago, as we rested in the Gap before the final effort up to summit, I’d gazed in the opposite direction, to where I stood now.
To the right again, and Southwards, with the summit cairn on the left, Kirk Fell behind and Pillar to the right; two fells I’ve still to tackle.
Sony RX1 – Haystacks Panorama http://www.richardjwalls.com
And with a little more of Pillar!
Sony RX1 – Haystacks Panorama http://www.richardjwalls.com
Looking West with Pillar on the left, and with High Crag, separating Ennerdale and Crummock Waters.
This is the first time I’d climbed a hill with my Sony RX1. Before, in the neolithic period, I’d lugged my full frame Nikons, along with assorted lenses and filters, to the tops, now I had Sony nestled in my pocket, and a lot more empty space in my rucksack!
To go wide angle with a fixed 35mm lens the plan was to stitch multiple shots, but I thought I’d test out the Sony’s panorama mode with no preconception as to the quality of the result. Without thinking, I simply switched to panorama and shot.
The first four shots above were taken in panorama mode and resulted in ~5mb jpeg files. The last shot is manually stitched. Though the quality of the latter is clearly superior, the quality of the Sony’s panorama mode, combined with the ease of shooting and lack of post processing means I won’t hesitate to use it whenever the need arises (the low quality jpegs above don’t really do it justice).
One day I may get bored with this camera, or tempted by the versatility of the new A7, but for now I’m just increasingly impressed, just as I am with the summit of Haystacks.