fancying for a porsche - part 9

I have mentioned that a snow white car with black wheels is very difficult to photograph. Because in most lighting conditions the dynamic range between the highlight and shadow far exceeds the dynamic range capability of digital camera's imager by many magnitudes. Even computer LCD monitors has better dynamic range capability (though not to believe the marketing specs which is fudged with artificial test conditions designed to boost the "contrast ratio"). But our eyes are magnitudes higher - close to 1,000,000 : 1.

I have tried to take some photos with a Canon 7D DSLR and the result generally is not as good in comparison to the ones taken with the iPhone 6 Plus. Even without resort to HDR mode the iPhone photos are superior for dynamic range - probably I would not take the effort to properly use the camera's manual mode. In this post all the photos were taken with the iPhone HDR mode enabled, unless noted otherwise. The difference with and without HDR enable can easily be seen at the black wheels and tires. All the photos taken were under a partial cloudy sky. The ones that have a warmer white paint color were taken when the sun was behind the cloud. All the photos have not been post-processed except down-sized. They have been selected to be the best out of 25 or so taken.

camera at higher elevation

camera at higher elevation

again I have to admire how good this photos is; the photographer took advantage of the overpass to reduce the illuminance of the white paint as well as increase that on the vertical surfaces

this one was taken with the Canon 7D without post-processing except down-sizing

I did the first fill up and calculated the mpg. It is exactly 17 mpg. That includes some in town driving in congested traffic and highways.

I went for a drive this afternoon. I am eager to get it broken in - passes 2000 miles. I got onto the highway and headed south. Leaving Portland towards Wilsonville there is a stretch of the interstate highway the speed limit increases by 10 mph. Before I reach that section, I could see a state trooper car 1/2 mile behind me. I was well within the speed limit at the time. I monitored him and it is clear that my car attracted his attention and he was tailing me thinking that I would likely "open up" on the higher speed section. He kept hide behind a car as he tailed me from very far. Then he pulled over onto the median on the left side as if he parks there to catch speeders. His speed radar clearly visible on the dashboard.

I kept within safe speed limit, and monitored the center rearview mirror. Guess what? His deliberately create the appearance that he pull over to catch speeders after me. No, he did not. As soon as I gained more distance from him he pull back onto the highway and stay in the middle lane hoping I am stupid to "open up" at the higher speed section. He kept hiding behind a car but obviously the traffic around him slow way down below the speed limit. I have no intention to speed today. I just want to add more highway mileage to break the car in. I am sure he was very disappointed.

This is one reason I dislike sports cars/sedans (think Corvette, Camaro, Mustang GT350, and Challenger). that have elevated rearends that you have very poor visibility of traffic behind you. There is nothing that replaces the center rear mirror for situation awareness. Notwithstanding the big rear wing, the GT4 affords very good rear view with the center mirror. I like that.

Driving around the greater Portland metropolitan now requires constant vigilance. There are perils everywhere in the form of big potholes. One can always tell wealthy neighborhood from the less well to do by the filled and unfilled potholes. Socioeconomic discrimination? You can bet that it is alive and well, and will only get worst with Trump in the White House.

I cannot image this car with PDK unless one wants the best time on the tracks. Driving engagement is most important for a car like this, as no one need this for practical purposes. It is a toy pure and simple. I have not bothered to try out the automatic engine rev-matching.

Update: 25.03.17:
My second fill up mpg is much better. 20.92 mpg, with a bit more highway driving though some in the city as well. Most s-miles per gallon for sure.