Sunday, June 16, 2013

Australian Interurban

I think we have another candidate for an amazing Standard Gauge set!  MTH other manufacturers, check this video out from Australia.  This interurban is just gorgeous!  No doubt about it, this has got to be one of the nicest interurbans I've seen still running on rails.  Check out this Youtube.  If you have the bandwidth, push the quality up to high.



 Marc

PS Some advice - my webpage (blogger) cuts off some of this.  If you double click on the Youtube you will go directly to the Youtube site.  Go to the site and view full screen or use full screen instead of viewing on the blog.  You'll get it when  you see this thing in action.

Saturday, June 08, 2013

Great Train Camera

Hi All,

Periodically I get asked which camera is best for taking pictures of trains.  I tend to really like small cameras that offer huge amounts of flexibility.  I have DSLR's (Digital Single Lens Reflex) and the like, however I really like what are called Micro 4/3rds cameras for train photography.

Micro 4/3rds is mirrorless photography.  That means that the cameras themselves differ a bit from an SLR as it has no mirror.  However the body is significantly smaller and I still get the benefit of many options for interchangeable lens's.  If you've never heard of Micro 4/3rds (and many folks haven't), there are tons of web articles on it.

Carrying around a giant camera to capture HD video or high quality colors (like in standard gauge) is a pain in the neck.  What got me thinking about this is a price I saw on one of the best cameras out there.  The body (I bought it for $550) came down to about $230.  You'd need to buy a lens but the quality of the pics for low light layouts and the like is worth it.  I also like the fact that this looks like a camera or at least like cameras used to.  It isn't the high tech type of gadgety feel we all pretty much can't stand.

Check out the Panasonic GX1 here: great toy train camera.


No, I don't get paid or make any money from Panasonic or the like.  But I do make great pictures with this camera and frankly it is way less expensive than when it was introduced.  I also don't buy cameras to sell on eBay next week.  I keep them for years (so you know how I think when I do have to make a purchase). Now go out and capture that standard gauge in action!!

Marc

Monday, June 03, 2013

Check this one out too!

More amazing German tinplate here: Completely Amazing German Tin


Here is a sample.  Ya gotta love this stuff!  Click on it to expand.  I think I've found life after standard gauge!  It's called "Marklin Tin!"

Marc


Check out this amazing German Tinplate Layout

You gotta see this....Amazing Layout in German Tin


Click on the link to be mightily impressed.  Also, the above pic is from Michel and it is original Marklin running in Switzerland.  Thank you Michel for both the shots of the amazing layout and of this Marklin beauty.

Marc