triode___

<p>I too prefer to use the aperture ring over the wheel. It is a lot more intuitive and quicker IMO.</p>

<p> </p>

A light gray Limited Edition M16 A3 carbine made by Nikon..?

: )

I used to own one and liked it because pictures taken with it exhibited a warm tone - it was like it had a 81A filter

built into it.

Mine had a loose F- mount too but that never affected the pictures. It was a heavy and solidly built lens.

If I remember correctly, it isn't a true zoom lens but it was more like three separate lenses in one housing i.e. if you

focus on something at 28mm and zoom out, you have to refocus and vice-versa.

I eventually sold it with some other gear because it had become infected with fungus and it would have cost more

that I paid for it to have it cleaned. I do regret selling it sometimes.

It is a normal malady of the 50mm f1.4 Ai-S.

I bought a mint FM2n and 50mm f1.4 Ai-S years ago and it too suffered from the same problem.

I believe it is due to the grease that was applied when they were made.

Nikkor 50mm f1.2 Ai/Ai-S

Nikkor 85mm f1.4 AF-D

Zoom-Nikkor 70-180 Micro

Hi Ellis,

"One more thing to consider: At these big expositions there are are always back room meetings with selected trusted and credentialed journalists and possibly buyers from very big outfits (B&H, Calumet, etc.,) where things that are not publicly announced are discussed under strict non disclosure agreements. there certain people who are prominent in spreading rumors and leaking information in internet forums and blogs are not invited to these meetings no matter how important they think themselves to be."

Have you been invited to these meetings?

I have noticed of late (one equipment forum in particular) that the moderators are very aggressive in

censoring/quashing any rumours/speculation of new products and deleting any discussion on topics that might not

put that particular company's products in good light.

I have also noticed that the moderators are invited by the company to attend product launches and shows.

I wonder how much of this affects the ability of the moderators to remain neutral and fair in the discharge of their

duties and with their opinions/biases.

Also, how are moderators elected/appointed? Was it by democratic election?

What kind of lenses are they?

Are they AF lenses with aperture rings?

"more recent if not more robust design of the N80"

Actually I have found the complete opposite to be through. The N90s (F90x) is more robust than the N80 (F80) IMO.

Remember that the N80 was not the replacement of the N90s, the F100 was.

Also the N80 doesn't have the Auto Indexing (Ai) tab that will allow older MF (Ai/ Ai-S) and AF-D lenses to relay

aperture settings to the meter. If Cathy already has existing lenses that can be used with the N6006, it is most likely

they will be either MF (Ai/Ai-S) or AF lenses with aperture rings.

Also the N90/s and N6006 share similar User Interfaces, if Cathy's daughter has already had experience using the

N6006, there will not be a steep learning curve adjusting to the N90s like there would with the N80.

Used N6006 and N90s cameras are now as cheap as chips on Ebay.

If funds can be stretched, then the F100 would be good as you can also use them with the newer (but not better) G-

lenses.

Just writing once again to say a big 'Thank You' to everyone who contributed to this thread. The information was very

helpful and I had a blast in NY even if it was only for two weeks.

I'd like to add the following (for future reference) :

1. City Pass ticket is excellent value as it gives you access to many of the attractions for one low price.

http://www.citypass.com/city/ny.html

2. I concur with the advice to visit the Rock instead of the ESB - the view from the Rock is much better than from the

Empire State Building. I did both. :)

3. The advice on wearing walking shoes was a good one. I trekked 30kms on one of first day in Manhatten.

4. Don't eat at diners located next to tourist attractions like the ESB. e.g. Sbarros next to the ESB charges more for

the same food you can get from their other outlets (just 1-2 blocks away).

5. Prebook your tickets for the Statue of Liberty if you want to climb the monument. They have closed the walk up

inside the statue itself though (because of 911).

6. Avoid hiring bicycles from touts operating at the entrances to Central Park. Their operations are illegal and you

may find yourself paying more that you bargained for.

Thanks to everyone for taking the trouble to post so many helpful tips (esp the ones regarding the weekly metro

ticket and avoiding the queues for the ESB).

I don't really have a preference in terms of type of photographs, I generally tend to take a lot architectural shots while

on holiday (probably because I am too shy to ask strangers for their permission to photograph them)

Since I'll be visiting NY, I'd like to try polish up on my skills at slice of life/street photography (and developing a

thicker skin).

I'll be taking my trusty Rolleicord Vb along with me.

Besides having to wait in a long line to make purchase at B&H, does anyone know where one can purchase B/W

120 roll film in NY? I am not bringing any with me as I don't want to have my rolls of film confiscated from me at the

airports or fogged by repeated exposure to x-ray machines.

I know NY is now safer than it was before but how safe is safe (esp carrying a bag load of equipment)?

What precautions should I take while out and about?

TIAA

I'll be heading to New York on the 9th of August for two weeks. It was a last minute decision to go.

Does anyone have suggestions on what to do, see and photograph?

I've already planned to visit B&H, Adorama and Camulet.

And the Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero (not in any order).

TIA

The only advantage I can see that installation of a SWM (AF-S) brings to a lens like the 85mm f1.4 would be the ability to override AF on the fly. i.e. not have to disengage AF on the lens or body.

But if having an SWM motor installed also means that the AF screw (mechnical) drive is removed...I rather not have it.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I own both an F90x and two F5s.

The one nice feature the F90/F90x has over the F5 is that it displays the chosen aperture on the viewfinder LCD when you adjust the apeture via the aperture ring (on AF-D and Ai-P lenses). With the F5, one has to read the aperture through a tiny window in VF which can be difficult in low light.

Also the F5 has a number of locks which can be a hinderance in some instances.

The F5 value has dropped significantly in the past two years and will probably continue to do so.

Instead of a Rolleiflex, consider carrying a Rolleicord Vb instead. At f8, the pics are just as good as the Rolleiflex f2.8, it lighter in weight and easier/faster in use (thanks to the inbuilt EV dial).

I travelled extensively throughout Europe with my Vb and a Nikon SLR a few years ago. I had more keepers (95%) with the Vb than with the 35mm SLR.

Check this out...

http://www.photojpn.org/dir/listings.php?cmd=viewlistB&cid=188

http://www.photojpn.org/dir/listings.php?cmd=viewlistB&cid=36

Remember to bargain.

Robert,

With film, that kind of work (processing and printing) used to be done by the lab, freeing up the photographer to do other things.

While with digital, the work is usually done by the photog himself.

William,

Neither will I.

It should technically possible to have an aperture ring on current lenses.i.e. those with VR. The 80-400VR is proof of that.It is a marketing reason why Nikon doesn't want to include them.

And you cannot weatherseal a lens entirely as evidence by users reporting dust contamination issues with their Micro 105VR (a G lens which is supposed to be better sealed than Ais/AF-D lenses).

I don't see why Nikon continue to make lenses with aperture rings. The existence of the 80-400 VR lens rubbishes claims that the aperture ring cannot co-exist with VR.

Also the fact that owners of the new 105VR lenses have had their lenses suffer from dust contamination also rubbishes the claims that G lenses are better sealed against dust.

I see it more of a marketing reason that Nikon has chosen this course of action. Myopic Bean counters are probably at the reigns at Nikon rather than photographers.

Surely it would not add to much to the cost of each lens to retain the aperture ring especially their pro spec'd lenses. e.g. 70-200VR. A small cost I (and I bet many others) would gladly pay to be able to backup my dSLR with my film cameras w/o having to carry two types of lenses.

The new 14-24 is a G lens which lacks the aperture ring the 17-35 has.

With the 17-35, you still have full metering capability with older camera bodies. e.g. FM2.

Shun,

Not being in the States, the 5 year warranty is not recognised by the Nikon repair facility where I am. Plus the lens was two months out of date by the time I discovered the lens had died. Sending the lens back to the States for repair would have been just as expensive as paying for service at a local Nikon facility.

I should have been specific, I was only referring to the AFS zoom lenses. I did not look at AFS tele primes in my searches on Ebay.

I too am curious to know if Canon users have problems with their USM lenses.