DLR LEXICON IN DUN LAOGHAIRE

18/08/2023

Today I used a Sony FX30 and a Sony FE 12-24mm G lens.

Some of the images include the Royal Marine Hotel which is highly recommended if you plan to visit Dun Laoghaire but it might be expensive.

The 2004-10 DLR CC development plan included a new library and cultural centre as part of its urban regeneration scheme. It stated: " The need for specialised and centralised services in a Europe of the Regions setting will be promoted through the development of a Europe of the Regions Centre of Literature and Culture, which will be both a local and European focal point for literature, culture, and related co-operative activity."

The site chosen was Moran Park, a partially derelict public park with bowling green, running perpendicular to the coastline down an escarpment. The site was chosen because it was already owned by DLR CC and would link The Metals (Queens Road) on the busy seafront to the north with George's Street, Dún Laoghaire's main shopping street, to the south. Carr Cotter & Naessens, with a design by David Naessens, won the architecture competition in November 2007.

In May 2009 DLR CC launched the public consultation required under Part 8 of the Planning & Development Regulations; a special development review meeting in November 2009 approved the plan by 22 votes to 3, rejecting Richard Boyd Barrett's proposal to locate the library on Carlisle Pier. Sisk Group won the request for tender and began construction in April 2012. Thirteen 40-tonne concrete rafters constructed in County Offaly were each brought on site in a single night. The building was opened to the public for preview on Culture Night (19 September 2014) and Open House Dublin (19 October 2014) and opened for general use on 8 December 2014. The building won the 2014 Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland award categories Best Culture and Best Public Building.

The library is located on a prime piece of real estate on the waterfront in Dun Laoghaire. It is a four-storey building with a total floor area of 18,000 square meters. The library houses a collection of over 80,000 books, CDs, and DVDs. It also has a number of other facilities, including a children's library, a 100-seater performance space, a local history section, and a cafe. Note: The area be described as prime real estate but it was in reality a no-go area because of antisocial activity [eg drugs dealing especially neat the old pond] - I worked for two years on Haigh Terrace and we were advised not to remain in the building later than 7PM and to avoid walking through Moran Park.

The library was built at a cost of €36.6 million. This was a significant amount of money for a public library, and some people felt that it could have been better spent on other projects. Others criticised the library's size, which is much larger than many of the other buildings in Dun Laoghaire. The library's design has also been controversial, with some people finding it too stark and uninviting.

Despite the controversy, the DLR Lexicon has been a popular success. It is used by over 1 million people each year, and it has won a number of awards for its design and sustainability. The library has also been credited with revitalising the area around it.

Here are some of the features of the library:

• A children's library with a variety of books, toys, and games
• A 100-seater performance space for concerts, plays, and other events
• A local history section with books, documents, and artifacts about the history of Dun Laoghaire
• A cafe with a view of the sea
• A 24-hour book return service
• A self-service book sorter
• A number of meeting rooms and study spaces
• The DLR Lexicon is a modern and innovative library that offers a variety of services and facilities for people of all ages. It is a valuable asset to the community of Dun Laoghaire and is sure to continue to be a popular destination for many years to come.

I have had every  Sony A7R camera and still use all but the original A7R which I gave to a friend who still uses it. The A7RIV is, without doubt, my favourite camera and  I had planned to purchase the A7RV as soon as it became available. However I  was unwilling to pay Euro 4,499.00 for the A7RV and decided to wait until the next version became available. Then the Sony FX30 was introduced and was available to me at Euro 1,999.00 and as a result I got one of the first in Ireland. It is not a full frame camera as it has a 26-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor while the A7RV has a 61-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor.

In that past I have had problems with my Sony cameras overheating but the FX30 has a fan so this is not an issue. The FX30 does not have a viewfinder and normally this would be a deal-breaker for me but I have other cameras that lack viewfinders and sometimes if I am wearing my glasses it can be easier to use the display.

For the last few months I have concentrated on gaining experience with the FX30 and in reality I am now more inclined to use it rather than the A7RIV. The problem with the A7RIV is that it is large and now attracts a lot of unwelcome attention and that was not the case a year or two ago.

The FX30, which is not recommended for stills, produces images that I find acceptable but because of the lack of a mechanical shutters many images are unusable especially if there was any movement within the frame but this is a problem that I can live with.

A week or two ago Sony launched the A6700 which could be a better option for those who are more interested in photography rather than video and it is available here in Ireland for Euro 1699.00 but to be honest I feel that the FX30 is much better value for money.

It is expected that Sony will announce two (entry level) full frame cameras later this month [August 2023] one being the A7CII and the A7CR. My understanding is that the CII will have a full frame 33mp sensor and the CR will have a 61mp sensor. I would be disappointed if as rumoured the price for the A7CII is Euro 2699. It is claimed that the A7CR will retail at Euro at Euro 3599 which is about Euro 900 less than the A7RV.

At this stage I will not be spending any money on equipment until late 2024 or early 2025 and by then I may consider solutions not yet available.

The Sony FX30 is a compact and lightweight digital cinema camera that is designed for everyday content creators and aspiring filmmakers. It features a newly developed APS-C sensor, 5-axis in-body image stabilisation, and a wide range of features that are typically found in higher-end cinema cameras.

Some of the key features of the Sony FX30 include:

• 6K oversampled UHD 4K video recording
• S-Cinetone™ and S-Log3 gamma curves for cinematic color science
• Dual Base ISO for wide dynamic range
• Cine EI for precise exposure control
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 425-point phase-detection autofocus system
• Real-time Eye AF
• Breathing compensation
• Threaded accessory attachment points
• The Sony FX30 is a great option for content creators who want to make the jump to cinema-quality video. It is also a good choice for filmmakers who are looking for a lightweight and portable camera that can still deliver professional results.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the Sony FX30:

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight design
• 6K oversampled UHD 4K video recording
• S-Cinetone™ and S-Log3 gamma curves
• Dual Base ISO for wide dynamic range
• Cine EI for precise exposure control
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 425-point phase-detection autofocus system
• Real-time Eye AF
• Breathing compensation
• Threaded accessory attachment points

Cons:

• No full-frame sensor
• No built-in ND filters
• No headphone jack
• No Mechanical Shutter

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