BenQ GH800：An all-in-one digital camera

BenQ GH800，a subsequent DC of GH700, is equipped with a 36x optical zoom lens that gives users the freedom to capture shots from a distance or take close-up shots with brilliant detail. In other words, BenQ GH800 is an all-in-one digital camera.

Sakura in full bloom. Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei (2013.02.16).

1. 36x optical zoom lens
To shoot landscape, most of the time, I have to prepare 2-3 zoom lenses, including a wide-angle, a standard and a telephoto. They are so heavy. Right now, BenQ GH800 is a good alternative. It features a 36x optical zoom lens ranging from 22.5～810mm, (35mm equivalent). It alleviates my burden when I travel abroad, go hiking or go mountain climbing.

Morning fog in Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei.

Take the subsequent pictures for example. I shot them in Yunnan province, China. I used 22.5mm focal length to shoot a wide-angle view, and a few seconds later, changed the focal length to 53mm, 115mm and 175mm respectively. GH800 helps me to shoot a serious of pictures with different compositions in very short time, without having the trouble of changing lenses. By the way, BenQ GH800 is also equipped with an anti-shake system that helps users to prevent hand-shaking when using telezooms.

Terraced fields, Yunnan, China. Focal length:22.5mm.


Terraced fields, Yunnan, China. Focal length:53mm.

Terraced fields, Yunnan, China. Focal length:115mm.

Terraced fields, Yunnan, China. Focal length:175mm.

2. HDR and Scene modes
Shooting terraced paddies in Yunnan, I used HDR to balance high-contrast lighting conditions sometimes. Especially when shooting sunrise, the sky and the earth has at least 4.0EV difference. It’s hard to record the details of the sky and the earth in one shot. The most convenient way to narrow down the lighting difference of both is to use HDR if you have a GH800 on hand.


Shooting without HDR.

Shooting with HDR.

According to BenQ’s official documents, HDR image-enhancement utilizes the exposure bracketing function to take three photos with different exposures and combine them to create an image that's more balanced in contrast and brightness. After that, GH800’s processor refines and enriches foreground and background details as a finishing touch.
Beside HDR, GH800 has a few interesting scene modes. Lomo is the one that I use most of the time. It simulates pinhole camera shots, bright and vibrant in the middle and darker around the edges. Users have the options of choosing to shoot in classic Lomo Mode, black & white, or add green or sepia tint.
The subsequent picture was shot with classic Lomo mode in Tungkang, a fishing port in southern part of Taiwan. On weekends, the bridge opens up and down to entertain visitors. I took 2 pictures to show the difference. I love the one shot with Lomo effect that darkens the corners of the frame so as to highlight the opening bridge and the people below it. In other words, it helps me to get viewers’ attention to the theme of the picture.


Shooting with P Mode.


Shooting with Lomo Mode. Tungkang, Taiwan.
3. Close-up shootings
BenQ GH800’ 1cm Super Macro is another feature that is worth showing off. It has the ability of getting closer to a subject to “see the world in the truest, finest detail.” On a sunny Saturday morning, I noticed that the sun tenderly shone on the blooming flowers in my garden. They were so vivid and colorful. I could not but bring out BenQ GH800, changed it to Super Macro mode, and shot the lovely flowers. They are so sharp and stand out of the shallow background.

Flowers under the morning sun in my garden.

4. Photography technique：Lighting is the key to good pictures
Even though GH800 has a lot of functions to help you shoot good pictures. If you want to acquire excellent pictures to share friends on Facebook, you’d better shoot them at the right time.
Yangmingshan National park is famous for Sakura in spring. So sad, almost every year, when the flowers are in full bloom, 9 out of 10 days are cloudy or raining. Luckily I live nearby the park. In early February, 2013, a friend told me that the Sakura in about to be in full bloom. From that day on, I paid close attention to weather report.


Sakura in full bloom. Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei (2013.02.16).


Sakura in full bloom. Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei (2013.02.16).

Sakura in full bloom. Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei (2013.02.16).

Finally, on Feb. 16th, it was a sunshine day with blue sky. Therefore, I went to the park early. The sun shone softly on the tender, pink flowers. The view was so colorful and full of light and shadow. The most important is that flocks of visitors hadn’t come yet. So I shoot a lot of beautiful views of Sakura with clean background.

Morning fog in Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei.


Sunset fog in Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei.


A sea of rapeseed flowers. Yunnan, China.
Beautiful country view. Guizhou province, China.