skip_wilson

I thank you for all your comments. Skip

I currently have the Nikon D 7100 SLR with a Nikkor 16-85/3.5-5.6 G AFS-S DX ED (VR) lens. I have been happy with it for the last several years. I am wondering whether getting the Nikkor 16/2.8-4 E AF-S DX ED (VR) makes any sense for the extra $400 minus resale for the 16-85. Is the extra stop of light and perhaps better VR worth the extra money spent? Is the IQ, lens coating, etc. also worth springing for essentially the same focal length? I plan to stay with my D 7100. Thank you.

Thank you for responses. I have not found any free versions of Photomatix Elements but won't be hurt financially for $39 if I do decide to get it. I have loaded the trial version now. You are right, Wouter, Google Nik's HDR version of the plug-in is HDR Efex Pro, and it isn't available when I load up Nik into my PSE 11. Nik's Vivenza 2 is and I love it for other aspects of editing before using the Elements expert editing function. Thanks.

am interested in hearing peoples' experiences with Photomax Elements. I have Photoshop Elements 11 with Windows 7 Professional on a Dell Optiflex 7010 64 bit OS with 8GB of RAM. I would get the Photomatix Essentials plugin for PSE 11. Do people like what it offers in features and with simplicity or do I go to Photomax Pro? I shoot RAW along with fine quality JPEG's. Is there a significant learning curve with the Pro over the Elements version of Photomatix? Thank you. Skip Wilson

<p>What is the current version of CombineZP by Alan Hadley and, being free, what are it's limitations and shortcomings compared to Helicon Focus or Zerene? Does it do a respectable job in focus stacking eg flowers, can it work with RAW files? Some people have said the interface is clunky and old. I'm not sure what the issues are? It would be a program I would only occasionally use. Am I giving up too much by not going with Helicon or Zerene? Thank you.</p>

<p>I have seen some comments that the Nikon 200-500/5.6 telephoto lens doesn't handle well with a ballhead and tripod vs. a Gimbal setup. I have the carbon fiber Sirui N-2204X , 4 section tripod with a max load capacity of 33 lbs. with the Kirk BH-1 ballhead as well as a heavier Bogen 3221 aluminum leg tripod. Is this lens when used with my Nikon D7100 of sufficent length and weight that it won't balance and move well on my ballhead-Sirui setup or am I ok? I'd like to avoid buying a Gimballed setup if I can and use what I have already, especially since with the exceptional VR gain of 4.5 stops potentially I will be handholding it alot anyway. Thank you for your inputs. Skip Wilson</p>

<p>I have used Photoshop Elements (PSE) 11 for several years. I am wondering if there are significant upgrades in editing tools, functions and workflow speeds with the newer versions of PSE to make it worthwhile to buy the newest version and relearn it. I don't plan to go to Lightroom and Photoshop. I shoot and edit mainly RAW images and duplicate the background layer in order to save a copy of my original image. Are there any significant bugs or issues with the later versions of PSE to influence what version I should purchase? Thank you.</p>

<p>I have used Photoshop Elements 11 for several years. I am wondering what the latest versions of PSE offer over my version eleven. I don't plan on going on to Lightroom and PS but want to make sure I'm not missing some newer functions and editing tools with the latest versions of PSE to make it worth me purchasing the latest PSE version and taking the time to get comfortable with it. Are there some newer tools and functions getting it closer to Lightroom in terms of editing powers and workflow speed? I work mainly with RAW images and make a duplicate background layer so I retain and unedited image once I'm done. Can the latest version be loaded directly from Adobe onto my computer and can it automatically accept my current catalogs and albums? Have there been any bugs or issues with any later versions of PSE that influences my version to buy a particular version? Thanks.</p>

<p>I thank you all for your responses. This site offers so much in the way of varied and cumulative experiences of many photographers making it very informative for the rest of us.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any comparitive experience with the Nikon 200-500/5.6 lens and the Tamron 150-600/5-6.3. Both these lenses came out within the last two years, I believe and seem to be about the same price point. I shoot with a Nikon D 7100 and want more reach than my 70-200/4 provides for sports and birds, wildlife. Thanks.</p>

<p>We plan to visit St. Lucia this mid- January at a resort in Castries for a week and then four more days at a plantation-resort near Soufriere. What type of island highlights and activities would one suggest at these two locations? Does the rest of the island eg. the east side and north central interior , offer enough to hire a tour guide for the roads, time and distance needed to travel for sightseeing and photography? We do not plan to rent a car while on the island but would plan to rely on airport shuttles and taxis or tours. Beyond the Pitons, are there some must- photograph sites that are less well known that we might want to visit and that people could recommend? Thanks Skip</p>

<p>Thank you all for your responses. Roland, you suggested not using the 1.4 TC on my Nikon AFS 70-200 f/4. Is this due to the need to shoot at f/8 in order to get a good IQ or does it degrade the IQ some other way eg. needing to ramp up the ISO and potential noise to get good IQ? </p>

<p>I have a fairly new and minimally used Nikon 70-200f/4 lens with which I use a Kenko 1.4 tele extender with my D7100. Does the significantly more expensive Nikon 80-400 f/4.5-5.6 G AF-S used without an extender offer that much more reach and light when I factor in my DX cropping factor on top of using my 1.4 extender with my 70-200? Does one figure the tele extender 1.4 factor on top of the DX 1.5 cropping factor using the D7100 along with the 1.4 tele extender when calculating the final focal length? ( That would I believe put the effective focal length at 420mm and 5.6 with my current 70-200 f/4 and 1.4 tele.) If this is true, is the 80-400 worth the extra cost to replace the 70-200? Thanks</p>

<p>Hi Martin,<br> We were in Munich last year for a bike tour and spent 3 days as a side trip before going on to the Boden See but had many photo opportunities. I had my Nikon D7100, Nikon 16-85mm and my Nikon 70-200/f4. When you are at the Marienplatz where the clock tower is, be sure you go inside Peterskirche (oldest church in Munich) for beautiful Baroque styling and climb up the tower for pix of the Marienplatz from above and other rooftop lines. Use your tele for some candid street shots of musicians, artisans, etc while around the platz and be sure to go inside the Rathaus (city hall) interior courtyard for gargoyles, interior walls and a nice outdoor meal. Go down into the Ratskeller for nice warm interior views of a restaurant there, too.<br> A bus ride to the English Gardens is nice and pick up the bus out to Olympic Park and go up the Olympic Tower for stunning views of the grounds, esp. afternoons. Light off the tops of the Olympic venue roofs is cool. While there, go inside the BMW World showroom (free) and get interior shots of the neat, modernistic stylish architectural lines...and see cars you wish you could afford.<br> Taking the trolley out to Nymphenburg Palace and its grounds is pretty, and finally, if so inclined, go to Dachau for a reality check of its grim place in history. Enjoy. Skip Wilson</p>

<p>I was just at the Big Island last week and the Waipio Valley is still closed due to Dengue Fever (a mosquito-borne virus) and Leptospirosis (a bacteria). You go into the valley at your own risk and no tours are taking you down there presently. A pretty photo op is the Painted Church of St. Benedict south of Captain Cook on the west south of Kona. Take a road map as the roads are a bit circuitous with back road coffee farms there, but it is pretty before sunset and take some flash exposures inside. Best to use DEET for the mosquitoes there, too, as it is a noted red zone for Dengue mosquitoes also. It also has been the driest in over 30 years there so less a concern. I made it out ok. EE Wilson MD</p>