point13

Pavel ,

I've recently bought a Sigma EF 500 DG ST from B&H. I haven't use it much but it work perferly with my F65/N65 & Coolpix 995 (as digital remote slave). Since F65/N65 & CP995 doesn't do matrix-TTL I could have save some money with the non-DG version. I chose the DG version is to future-proofing myself for a DSLR.

It is about the same price as a SB-50DX but EF500 uses AA battery & the head swivel in additional tilt. It also came with a plastic mount with tripod thread so that you can use it as a slave (or slaves). SB-80 or SB-28 is just too expensive for me even it is 2nd hand.

The only downside is that it is quite top heavy on a F65/N65. I'm a bit concerned that it might snap the hot shoe off the camera.

Regards,

Koi

Paul,

My wife & I went on a Trafalgar Tour of Central Europe in 1994. Had a good time. I would recommend their optional tours (you'd have to pay extra). We went on all of their optional tours except in Paris where we went roaming ourselves. We really wanted to see Mona Lisa & the Eiffel Tower which weren't cover in their optional tours.

Coach tours tends to be quite rush. They seldom drop you off at the right place & the right time for photos. Then you'd have to compete with thousands of other tourist trying to get a good shot. I'd go with light SLR with zoom & P&S for backup.

Anyway, monopod is useful. They don't allow tripod in most places. Fast films. Be vigilant of your belongings. Have fun.

P.S. Can someone comfirm the report that they (French) are trying to outlaw street photography? I read it at "Black & White" (UK) magazine.

Regards,

Koi

My Dad bought one roll for me when he was in Malaysia. Looks like you can only find them in Asia. I think they are very similar to the Portra 160NC.

See the last pic in www.pbase.com/koi/rollei2.

Regards,

Koi

Chris,

I don�t want to spoil your mood but tourists are big targets�.

Trust no one, including fellow backpackers.

Be careful in subways & on buses.

Best to go out with someone who is interested in photography & take turns taking photos so that you can check each other�s �six o�clock�.

Are you sure you want to carry all those gears around? How about a light SLR with a zoom lens or rangefinder? Stone paving & summer heat will wear you down. After all you are there not only to take photos but also to experience other cultures.

Read/research on travel photography & Europe (Lonely Planet etc.)

Enjoy yourself! I wish I am there again.

Regards,

Koi

Thank you very much for all of your fast responses.

Dave, the 995 has spot metering which I've been using in tricky situation.

Yes, I am fully aware of the limitations of this method. Hopefully I'd have a incident/spotmeter one day.

I've been using Nikon Coolpix 995 digital camera to assist in the

metering of my Rolleiflex 2.8. I don't have the money to buy a hand-

held meter.

I've been using 100 ISO films so far. I'd just set the 995 to Apeture-

priority 100ISO, points the camera at different spots of the scene,

read off the exposure values and adjust the Rollei accordingly.

The questions are:

1. If I use NPS 160 or Portra 160, do I set the 995 to 100 ISO and -

0.7EV? (Note: Coolpix 995 can have exposure compensation from -2EV to

+2EV in 1/3 steps, 100-200-400-800 ISO)

2. What settings should I use for 320 ISO, 50 ISO & 25 ISO?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Koi

Hi,

Q1: I came upon a Rolleiflex filter which the vendor claimed it was

Bay III. Normally bay III would have a 'RIII' marking on the filter

rim but this one has a red R on it. Is it a bay III or something

else? Since I haven't had my camera with me at the time I can't test

the fitting.

Q2: Someone told me that some bay III filters have no 'RIII' marking

at all, is he right?

Regards,

I have a Rolleiflex 2.8F TLR. Rather than paying the inflated price

of 2nd hand Rollei filters, I was thinking of using my existing SLR

filters.

The other day I saw adapter rings being sold at www.camera-depot.com.

Has anyone tried these type of adapter ring?

Would either the 49 or 52 mm blocked the installation of Rollei metal

hood?

Would they cause vignetting?

Regards,