fredscal

Hi. I've been asked to cover a wedding. It would take the whole day, from the ceremony to the dinner to the party. Technically I feel up to it, but I'm unsure how much to ask. Right now I'd like to provide them with a quote that includes everything but the physical wedding book, because I still need to think about that. Btw, what's in a wedding book - how many photos or pages? I never paid too much attention to that. I'm thinking of providing a price that would include a couple of prints already - is that a good idea? Thanks

Hi. I'm considering transitioning progressively to mirrorless (yeah, I know, I'm a bit late). Anyway, during that transition period, I'd like to mount my Nikkor reflex lenses on my new (probably) Sony Alpha A7 something something. Can I count on the adapter ring (the one that adapts the electronics too of course) to make this seamless, or is that looking for bugs ? Thanks in advance

Hello. I've been away from photography for the last 5 years, and I'd like to renew my equipment. Back then, eBay was the place to buy and sell gear. I don't suppose it is anymore, is it? Is there a new site for second hand photo equipment? I am located in Europe, so Craigslist won't do. Thanks

Hello. I'm an artsy photographer with little professional experience or imperative. A flood having destroyed some of my gear (including my Nikon D810 body), I hesitate between buying the same equipment, or selling everything left and go mirrorless. My motivation mostly comes from the belief that mirrorless are the future, and reflex equipment is gonna be outdated and worth nothing soon, if not already... But I may be wrong about that? Also, I find the quietness and light weight of mirrorless desirable, but not at any cost. Here are a few questions I hope will help me decide: - Are DSLRs on their way out, marketwise ? - Are mirrorless bodies just as quick to react to actuation as DSLRs ? (not "almost" as quick) - In that same spirit: are electronic viewfinders really latence-free nowadays ? Are they like the real thing? - Is there a mirrorless body/lens combination that will give me the same amount and quality of bokeh as my Nikkor 85mm F/1.4 G on a full frame ? (see example pics) http://lahoopa.org/_img/photodanza/ex/FS1407-DSC_6899.JPGhttp://lahoopa.org/_img/photodanza/ex/FS1407-DSC_7693.JPG ...and now the $1M question: if I asked these questions in the mirrorless forum, would I get the same answers ? ;-) Shoot.

I'm not sure what you mean. Although I have a fancy camera, treat me like a noob please. I know what TTL means, but TTL-BL is beyond my knowledge... of abreviations, at least.

Hi. It's been a while since I've used my D810, so I forgot how to achieve this pretty simple setting: I would like the camera to take a picture every time I press the shutter release, whether the flash is ready or not. I seem to remember one same setting works with both the pop-up and external flashes, but I can't find it anymore... Ca n anyone refresh my memory please ? Thanks

<p>As a general rule, within the same price range, a prime lens will perform better (in terms of sharpness and light) than a zoom, and a zoom will perform better than a superzoom.</p> <p>So you should list your choices in that order :<br> 1. 35mm<br> 2. 18-55mm<br> 3. 18-105mm<br> ...were the first one gives you best quality and aperture, the last one most versatility, and the middle one a compromise between both.</p> <p>Then there isn't an objective good choice. It's up to your approach to photography.</p>

<p>Here's a non-exhaustive model comparison :<br /> <br /> - D750: fastest and most accurate auto-focus, quietest shutter/mirror action, prosumer layout, tiltable monitor.<br /> - D810: highest resolution, quiet shutter/mirror action, professional layout, fixed monitor.<br /> - D800E: highest resolution, crisper images (possible aliasing effect), loud shutter/mirror action, professional layout, fixed monitor.<br /> All have outstanding dynamics.</p> <p>Moreover, I don't know if the D750 has the same sensor as the D600/D610, but just in case: I find the image feel more natural with the D800 series than with the D600. (The most natural feel I get is from the D700 but obviously that's outside your consideration, since it is now one generation behind in terms of both dynamics and resolution... But now that I think of it, since you don't care for high ISO, why not a used 24Mpix D3x ? The D3/D700 series had the most uncompromising sensors in terms of image quality.)</p>

<p>Congratulations !</p> <p>Me, I own a D700. I then upgraded (or downgraded?) to a D600, then shortly traded the latter for a D800.</p> <p>All I can say is this: while the D800's higher dynamics and pixel count make it a better camera (I never have to worry about exposure anymore: as long as the sun isn't in the frame the whole scene almost always fit the histogram without trouble), I could never sell my D700 because, in normal conditions (= not in the complete dark), it has the most beautiful, most natural picture texture imho. "Picture texture" is hard to quantify: I just mean the D700's pictures feel as natural as film, while the D600 and D800's, though excellent too, have a slightly more electronic feel. This is very subtle though.</p>

<p>Here's a list of all Nikon's lenses ever : http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html with a top link to go deeper into the specs. No third party lens there, but between the ancient and the exotic, you might find what you'd like...</p> <p>Me, I'm an afficionado of the <strong>Nikkor 70-180mm AF Micro</strong> : no VR, and the color feel is a tad dated, but a true macro zoom is a precious thing to have ! (Note that the price tag makes it precious too...)<br> Its sharpness holds up excellently to my D600's 24Mpix sensor. I still have to test it on a D810's 36Mpix but I'm confident it would remain very good.<br> Since it's only Nikon's first (or 2nd ?) generation of autofocus lens, don't excpect too much speed there. On the other hand, since it doesn't have all the modern features, it is also more compact and lightweight than you'd expect.</p> <p> </p>

<p>As a sound engineer, this reminds me of the first all-digital jazz recordings. For the first time it was possible to get both clean and loud high frequencies, and hear all the subtlety of a cymbal hit, so of course, for a couple of years (around 1990~1991), a great deal of jazz albums had that overly crystaline sound that not necessarily fitted the music.</p> <p>All I'm saying is, it's a trend, due to the expected fascination any new toy brings at first... and it will pass.</p>

<blockquote> <p>(Is there a "clarity" slider on PS?)</p> </blockquote> <p>There is one in Lightroom, and (correct me if I'm wrong) the Photoshop equivalent would be the Unsharp Mask filter with a fairly wide radius.</p>

<p>I have. Though my camera was not exactly an SLR... Here's the thing :</p> <p>In front of the Pentagon, Washington DC, there is a rather graphic tunnel passing below the highway between the Pentagon's parking lot and the district known as Pentagon City. I went there twice, several years appart. The first time, I noticed the tunnel and the second time, I went back with a tripod-mounted 6x12 camera. Yes, I know: not the most inconspicuous equipment, but there were no 36MPix DSLRs at the time and I thought the scene absolutely needed the best possible definition (this was in 2010).</p> <p>Technically, to take that shot I needed to stand right *outside* the ground-marked "no photo" zone (though only a few feet away from it), and shoot 180-degree *away* from the Pentagon building. Since I knew this was still asking for trouble, I contacted my embassy in DC (I'm Belgian) six months prior so they could help me get an authorization. They kindly put me in contact with some chief of Pentagon security, but after a few email exchanges, that line went dead, and I didn't get any answer.</p> <p>So there I went anyway, at night of course, because that's the light I wanted to capture. My teenage brother and sister came along, for the opportunity of a nightly trip away from their parents in a legendary foreign city.</p> <p>So of course, while I was painstakingly setting everything up and measuring the light and calculating exposure time, a cop (or some sort of armed public servant in uniform) came to ask what I was doing. When I explained it, he laughed and said something like he found the idea quite lovely too ! He was about to leave me alone, but then, in fear of being chewed-up I suppose, he asked his superior over the radio. The superior wasn't there, so he couldn't see me with my innocent tourist family, and, alone in his office, was in no position to find anything lovely: all he heard was the words "people taking photos on the parking lot" so of course he said "No way !". So the nice cop asked me to leave, after he took our passports to record our identities, soon joined by a colleague, saying something like: "this is to ensure you don't come back. Once is okay, but please do not push it any further, you'd get into grave trouble" (I think I would push it further anyway, since I now have a 36MPix DSLR with which I can take a shot in 2 secs and then run away before anybody asks me anything...!)</p> <p>While he was scribbling our identities down, I was ordered to pack everything. So I took the shot while pretending to pack (counting 30secs in my head while fussing around, and hoping that timing was right), and... it's a great shot !!! Except the composition would have been a little better had I had more time.</p> <p>My brother and sister were very impressed by that US cop (ours don't look that cinematic) and now have a great near-death experience to tell their friends... As for me, all I can say about it is: it's frustrating.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.fredscalliet.com/host/img/FS1405-_DSC0437-600x600px.JPG" alt="" /></p>

<p>Ok, here's how it is: Nikon will test it thoroughly for (only!) 30€. Then I'll know if there's something to be done, and at which price.<br> Thank you all for your inputs.</p>