jimcee

<p>Well.. if you're interested in the Gitzo GT0542 tripod now would seem the time to buy one. B&H Photo is showing it presently with a "Holiday Special" $150.00 mail-in rebate that's available until January 29...</p> <p>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1034909-REG/gitzo_gt0542_mountaineer_series_0.html</p> <p>Jim</p>

<p>"It's just too cumbersome to worry about both formats at the same time. I shoot film around home -- it's called "fun"."</p> <p>I agree with JDM von Weinberg. Film is for "fun" around my home base. On a trip I only carry a DSLR (presently a Nikon D7000) and DX lens. Fortunately, I'm still able in my city (Tucson) to have film processed very well by a local lab (Photographic Works).</p> <p>Jim</p>

<p>"So now the Olympia Sonnar is reunited with its Flektoskop. All I need now is a Contax ..."</p> <p>There's a Contax IIa with the Sonnar 1.5 lens that's been listed on the APUG (Analog Photographer's User Group) since December. Based on the latest post (01/16/2015) it's still available. The seller has it listed for 275 EUR. The link is below:</p> <p>http://www.apug.org/forums/forum379/136265-contax-iia-sonnar-1-5-a.html</p> <p>Jim</p>

<p>Ditto to Elliot and Owen's responses. I bought my Nikon D7000 in November 2013, during a sale at B&H Photo. It's performed perfectly with no "back-focus" issues (I've also tested it to confirm there were no issues).</p> <p>Jim</p>

<p>Hi Sri, the auction site I was referring to is eBay. They don't, however, show the lens I was suggesting as being in an active auction at this time. It's available on the KEH site, but not presently in a Nikon mount. Obviously, these lens come and go...<br> Jim</p>

<p>I'll have to wait for the winning PowerBall ticket to own one of those... LOL!</p> <p>Jim</p>

<p>If you're interested in a Third-Party lens that can be picked up very inexpensively, you might wish to consider the older Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8-4 EX DG Aspherical lens. It is no longer manufactured, but it can be picked up quite inexpensively from the "auction" site. Here's a test from DxO that compared this lens to the much more expensive Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II lens -<br> http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/%28lens1%29/565/%28brand%29/Sigma/%28camera1%29/436/%28lens2%29/220/%28brand2%29/Canon/%28camera2%29/436<br> And another test by Popular Photography magazine -</p> <p>http://www.popphoto.com/gear/2008/12/lens-test-sigma-17-35mm-f28-4-ex-dg-af</p> <p>I own one of these lens and found it to be a nice lens. It can be used either with a DX or an FX camera. The only caveat is that it will not function in live view. I've contacted Sigma in the past and the lens cannot be re-chipped to function in live view, so if that's something you use very often the lens may not be suitable for your needs.<br> Jim</p>

<p>In the Nikon groups this is called "Nikon Acquisition Syndrome" or NAS, so I guess you have CAS!<br> <br />Jim</p>

<p>+3</p>

<p>The Think Tank "Speed Convertible" bags are quite nice. They can be carried as shoulder bags, but they also have a waist strap that tucks inside the bag and can be deployed when desired. I purchased the "Speed Freak V2.0" bag and it nicely accommodates my Nikon D7000 camera with a 18-105mm lens attached and two additional lens in the sides (usually a Tamron 70-300mm and a Tokina 12-28mm lenses).</p> <p>http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/speed-freak-v2.aspx</p> <p>There's also plenty of room for accessories in the bag's pockets.<br> Jim</p>

<p>It's obviously specific to large-format view cameras techniques and features, but the "View Camera" magazine is a very artistic and nice presentation of photography as art.</p> <p>http://www.viewcamera.com/<br> <br />Jim</p>

<p>If your photographic interests are primarily old buildings and landscapes a good wide-angle zoom lens with low distortion would probably be a nice choice. <br> The Tokina 12-28mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro lens would be a sensible option. Its equivalent range in a 35mm format is 18-42mm which is a useful range for architectural and landscape photography. It also has very low distortion, so your architectural photographs will not end up with a lot of barrel or pincushion distortion.<br> Here's one test of the lens: http://www.popphoto.com/gear/2013/10/lens-test-tokina-x-12-28mm-f4-pro-dx<br> You can pick up this lens for a very attractive price at B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N=10969885&InitialSearch=yes&sts=pi<br> Jim</p>

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<p>Some very nice photos of <em>The City by the Bay</em>!<br> Jim</p> <p> </p>

<p>I received my 18-105mm lens as part of a kit when I purchased my Nikon D7000 in November, 2013 when B&H Photo was selling the kit with a very substantial discount (obviously in anticipation of the release of the D7100 the next year).<br> The lens has surprised me with its fine performance and it's been the primary carry lens that I've used with my D7000. I've subsequently purchased the new Tokina 12-28mm lens but haven't had much opportunity to use it.<br> I carried the 18-105mm lens this year on a trip to the Southeast Utah parks and on to some monuments in Arizona. It's certainly been a very useful lens, and I do find the VR feature quite useful for handheld photography!<br /><br /><br> Jim</p>