1719: Superzoom - Revision history

174.27.3.136: Updated incorrect word "everyman" to correct "everyone".

2026-04-05T19:37:57Z

Updated incorrect word "everyman" to correct "everyone".

162.218.182.23: Fixed formatting error

2025-10-16T18:43:57Z

Fixed formatting error

FaviFake: Fixed old http:// link

2023-06-27T15:01:38Z

Fixed old http:// link

LostXOR: Rewrote part of a paragraph to be more clear.

2023-04-04T17:21:48Z

Rewrote part of a paragraph to be more clear.

SilverTheTerribleMathematician: Abused. Abused. Abused.

2022-12-21T02:10:19Z

Abused. Abused. Abused.

Natg19: /* Transcript */

2022-09-22T23:25:11Z

‎Transcript

Kynde at 13:26, 5 June 2022

2022-06-05T13:26:49Z

Davidy22: Reverted edits by 162.158.107.30 (talk) to last revision by BetaOS

2022-05-15T03:02:21Z

Reverted edits by 162.158.107.30 (talk) to last revision by BetaOS

162.158.107.30 at 02:16, 15 May 2022

2022-05-15T02:16:56Z

BetaOS: Undo revision 267142 by 👖🔥 (talk)

2022-05-11T17:58:03Z

Undo revision 267142 by 👖🔥 (talk)

Show changes

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Even with the ability of these cameras, it would be difficult for Cueball to be able to make out a specific worker inside the store, but if he is standing near a window it is not impossible, and if he has a stain on his shirt, it is in the same league as spotting a band on a bird in the air. Of course he has to be in a spot where he can see straight to the front of the shop.
-The last panel and title text is also a remark on how such cameras can be used to spy on people for quite a far distance, which has often been (ab)used by {{w|Paparazzi|paparazzi photographers}} taking pictures of famous people (often while almost naked or in a bikini or other bathing clothes). Now everyman gets this disconcerting possibility to spy on their neighbors and others for just a few hundred dollars.
+The last panel and title text is also a remark on how such cameras can be used to spy on people for quite a far distance, which has often been (ab)used by {{w|Paparazzi|paparazzi photographers}} taking pictures of famous people (often while almost naked or in a bikini or other bathing clothes). Now everyone gets this disconcerting possibility to spy on their neighbors and others for just a few hundred dollars.
 There are lenses that can do what Cueball describes about Jupiter's clouds in the comic (e.g., the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRq18WpQZC0 Canon 5200mm]), but so far not such a small consumer camera as shown in the illustration.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 | title     = Superzoom
 | image     = superzoom.png
-| titletext = *click* Let him know he's got a stain on his shirt, though.
+| titletext = <nowiki>*</nowiki>click* Let him know he's got a stain on his shirt, though.
 }}

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 In this comic, [[Cueball]] is showing off his new {{w|superzoom}} camera to [[White Hat]]. These are cameras with large zoom lenses, often 25× or higher magnification. He is very excited and starts by exclaiming how they can take detailed photos of the craters on the {{w|Moon}}, and (on better models) relatively large photos of {{w|Jupiter}} even with a resolution so individual clouds can be seen. (See examples of zoom on these objects [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwLbj0fBvXk here] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de2LjQ5F3HE here] without cloud resolution though, but with Jupiter's {{w|Galilean moons|four large moons}} and {{w|Saturn|Saturn's}} {{w|Rings of Saturn|rings}}.)
-He then spots a bird (which is just a speck in the sky) and uses the superzoom for {{w|birdwatching}}, which is a popular use for these cameras. He can see that it's a {{w|peregrine falcon}} and that it has been {{w|Bird ringing|banded}} (ringed) and he can even read the number on the band (later it seems he has more trouble locating birds with his camera in [[1826: Birdwatching]]). He then spots an airplane and having taken a picture of it, he can tell that it is a {{w|Boeing 787 Dreamliner|787 Dreamliner}} from {{w|Japan Airlines}}, and he can even make out the registration number. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-0X3xJf-kg All this is possible], with a {{w|Nikon Coolpix P900}}, which may not be much larger than the one Cueball stands with here, with an extremely long lens, and at the time of this comics release that type of camera could be [https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B00U2W4JEY bought at Amazon] for less than $600. If that is within the limit Cueball gives of a few hundred dollars can be [[1070: Words for Small Sets|debated]]... A [http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/powershot-sx60-hs-refurbished|Canon SX-60, refurbished] with [https://www.flickr.com/groups/2290116@N21/pool/|65x optical zoom] currently sells for $379. Its predecessor, the SX-50 sold, refurbished, for less than $200 until going out of stock.
+He then spots a bird (which is just a speck in the sky) and uses the superzoom for {{w|birdwatching}}, which is a popular use for these cameras. He can see that it's a {{w|peregrine falcon}} and that it has been {{w|Bird ringing|banded}} (ringed) and he can even read the number on the band (later it seems he has more trouble locating birds with his camera in [[1826: Birdwatching]]). He then spots an airplane and having taken a picture of it, he can tell that it is a {{w|Boeing 787 Dreamliner|787 Dreamliner}} from {{w|Japan Airlines}}, and he can even make out the registration number. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-0X3xJf-kg All this is possible], with a {{w|Nikon Coolpix P900}}, which may not be much larger than the one Cueball stands with here, with an extremely long lens, and at the time of this comics release that type of camera could be [https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B00U2W4JEY bought at Amazon] for less than $600. If that is within the limit Cueball gives of a few hundred dollars can be [[1070: Words for Small Sets|debated]]...
 Note that before each comment he has taken a picture, presumably zooming further in after each photo of each new object, zooming out again before beginning with the next object.

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 Note that before each comment he has taken a picture, presumably zooming further in after each photo of each new object, zooming out again before beginning with the next object.
-Finally, White Hat exclaims that he is sold and states that he also want a superzoom camera like Cueball's. Cueball then points the camera down the street takes a picture and tells White Hat that the shop on ''Union Road'' has these camera in stock, indicating that he can see this inside the store (or in their window). He then takes another image and is able to make out not only the worker Kevin inside, he also recognizes him and (as mentioned in the title text after taking yet a further zoomed in picture) notice a stain on Kevin's shirt. He seems to like Kevin and asks White Hat to tell Kevin about the stain when he goes there to buy a superzoom camera. (This was the first time the name Kevin was used in xkcd for a fictive person, see more in [[1795:_All_You_Can_Eat#Kevin|this trivia]]).
+Finally, White Hat exclaims that he is sold and states that he also want a superzoom camera like Cueball's. Cueball then points the camera down the street, takes a picture, and tells White Hat that the shop on ''Union Road'' has these cameras in stock, indicating that he can see them inside the store (or in their window). He then takes another picture and is able to recognize the worker in the store, Kevin. As mentioned in the title text, after taking another picture he notices a stain on Kevin's shirt and asks White Hat to tell Kevin about the stain when he goes there to buy a superzoom camera. (This was the first time the name Kevin was used in xkcd for a fictive person, see more in [[1795:_All_You_Can_Eat#Kevin|this trivia]]).
 Even with the ability of these cameras, it would be difficult for Cueball to be able to make out a specific worker inside the store, but if he is standing near a window it is not impossible, and if he has a stain on his shirt, it is in the same league as spotting a band on a bird in the air. Of course he has to be in a spot where he can see straight to the front of the shop.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Even with the ability of these cameras, it would be difficult for Cueball to be able to make out a specific worker inside the store, but if he is standing near a window it is not impossible, and if he has a stain on his shirt, it is in the same league as spotting a band on a bird in the air. Of course he has to be in a spot where he can see straight to the front of the shop.
-The last panel and title text is also a remark on how such cameras can be used to spy on people for quite a far distance, which has often been (mis)used by {{w|Paparazzi|paparazzi photographers}} taking pictures of famous people (often while almost naked or in a bikini or other bathing clothes). Now everyman gets this disconcerting possibility to spy on their neighbors and others for just a few hundred dollars.
+The last panel and title text is also a remark on how such cameras can be used to spy on people for quite a far distance, which has often been (ab)used by {{w|Paparazzi|paparazzi photographers}} taking pictures of famous people (often while almost naked or in a bikini or other bathing clothes). Now everyman gets this disconcerting possibility to spy on their neighbors and others for just a few hundred dollars.
 There are lenses that can do what Cueball describes about Jupiter's clouds in the comic (e.g., the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRq18WpQZC0 Canon 5200mm]), but so far not such a small consumer camera as shown in the illustration.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:25, 22 September 2022
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	[[Category:Photography]]		[[Category:Photography]]
	[[Category:Animals]]		[[Category:Animals]]
		+	[[Category:Aviation]]

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 {{comic discussion}}
 [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
 [[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
 [[Category:Animals]]

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-⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀<br>
+{{comic
 | number    = 1719
 | date      = August 12, 2016