cliff_gallup

<p>I am in the market for an inexpensive (i.e. sub-$100) digital P&S for a 7 or 8 year old. Looking for something easy to operate with as few menus and dials as possible. In the film days this would have been easy -- something like the old Stylus Epic -- but it seems much harder now. Any suggestions would be much-appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

I am interested in finding a professional lab that, via mail order, does a nice job processing and making prints from

color and black & white 35mm and medium format film. Any suggestions (preferably in the Northeast) much-

appreciated.

 

Also, any views on Dale Laboratories in Hollywood, FL? Have heard they do a nice job.

 

Thanks.

One puzzle here is the seeming redundancy between the 16-85mm VR and the new 18-105mm VR, given the closeness of their focal lengths and max apertures and the fact that they each have VR. The 16-85mm is more expensive by about $200.

I ended up ordering a 16-85 (now watch the price drop) and will probably take that, my 35 f/2 and the 12-24 along

with an SB 400. I lose on the longer focal lengths, but I can't bring 'em all. Also tempted to bring a p&s (I don't own

one) as a back-up, but that's a whole new can of worms.

 

Thanks for all the insights.

Matt -- that wasn't agony; that folder is superb. Thanks.

My standard digital kit consists of a D200, an 18-70mm Nikkor, a 12-24mm Nikkor and a 35mm f/2 AF. The 35

stays on the camera more than any other lens -- I guess I am a fast 50 sort of shooter -- and to my untrained eye it

produces the best images of all of these lenses. I also own a 55-200mm VR lens but seldom find a need for long

focal lengths, although the 70mm on the 18-70 is sometimes a little short. I also seldom shoot wider than a 24mm

angle of view on a full frame camera.

 

I am going on a family vacation to Italy later this month and because space and weight will be a at a premium, I will

not have the luxury of bringing a large, overstuffed camera bag. (I also plan to bring a Contax G2, a 45mm lens and

some Tri-X.) Here's the question -- do you think it is worth my while to get the new 16-85mm lens as a one size fits

all travel lens (I'd also bring the trusty 35)? Money is an object, but if the lens represented a meaningful upgrade

over the 18-70 (and enabled me to leave the 12-24 at home) I would consider it. About half of what I shoot these

days consists of portraits of my kids, and the balance is street/architectural. Any suggestions for consideration

would be much-appreciated.

 

Thanks.

Thanks for all the advice. I will continue to advocate for a fast prime, but will also recommend, in this order, the 24-85mm AF-S and the 28-105mm AF-D. The 24-85 is hard to find, alas.

A friend of mine who lives in the middle of nowhere and has no access to a decent processing/printing lab would like

to know if there are any places in the NY area that would do a good job (especially with black and white film) of

processing and printing 35mm film and would do this by mail (e.g. with mailers). She is looking for a pro lab as

opposed to a Walmart-type operation. Any suggestions much-appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the responses so far.

 

Budget is up to $250 or so used. I think (but am not sure) that the recipient owns an N65. She is using a crummy third party lens but actually has quite an eye, so I told her I would track down something a little better from KEH. I proposed a 35 mm f/2 or a 50mm f/1.8 but apparently she wants a zoom to live on her camera.

Is there any received wisdom on the best non-pro Nikkor zooms in the 24 through 120 mm range? Not looking for

top of the line fast glass -- gift (preferably used) for a beginner -- but something that is reasonably

lightweight and with solid IQ. Have been thinking about 28-85 AF-S, but I am not familiar with Nikon zooms.

 

Thanks.

Dan -- interesting, thanks. In general (as opposed to at the extremes) are you seeing a meaningful difference in images shot with the 16-85 compared to those shot with the 18-70mm?

I own a beat-up old Domke F3x but for a forthcoming trip overseas I am

considering a different bag. I need the bag to hold a D200, a couple of mid-

size zooms, a small flash and a Contax SLR with 3 primes. If I really

squeeze, I can just about get all of that gear into the Domke, but it turns

the bag into an awkward shape and I worry a bit about the lack of padding.

Any other alternatives? Have been thinking about the Crumpler, but am not

sure it will hold enough. Not interested in a back-pack -- really prefer a

shoulder/messenger bag sort of shape.

 

Thanks.

I am trying to find a quick release for my ballhead Velbon Maxi 343E, for use

with a Nikon D200. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks to all. I went with a standard B+W MRC haze filter for a mere $80. These 77mm filter sizes hurt.

I need a UV or haze filter to live on a 12-24mm Nikon zoom. Is it the case

that regular size filters will cause vignetting? Assuming it is, I am looking

at a Hoya Pro 1 D filter ($85) and a B+W slim MRC filter ($110). Is there any

reason to prefer one over the other?

 

Thanks.

Just found my answer (should have searched a little harder); Shun, please feel free to delete this thread.

I'd like to replace the standard screen on my F100 with a split image screen

so that I have an easier time manually focusing. Does anyone know if there

are any options, e.g. the K3 that comes with the FM3A?

Does DxO only work with RAW files, or can it be used to correct JPEGs too?

Can CA in JPEGs be fixed?

I'd be curious to know if any users of this lens view chromatic aberration as

a real problem or even a potential deal-breaker. I am in the market for a

lens with this range and am reluctant to pony up $900+ for the Nikkor version

(which rarely can be found used). The Tokina seems like the next best thing,

but many of the reviews highlight the CA issue, and it looks pretty bad in

some of the test shots I've seen. If I were a raw shooter I guess I wouldn't

care that much, but I primarily shoot JPEGs. Thanks.

For the first time in a while I will be flying overseas (to France) and plan

to bring a bunch of film with me. What's the latest story with respect to x-

ray of film? Should I invest in a lead-lined bag, ask for hand-checks, or

both? Any tips on how to successfully negotiate this issue would be greatly

appreciated.

 

Thanks.

I am thinking of picking up an X-700 and a 50mm Minolta manual focus lens to

go with it. KEH sells a bunch of fast 50's, including f/1.4 and f/1.7 MDs and

MD-Rokkors. Prices are all insanely cheap. Any consensus as to which of

these is the best in terms of image quality? I don't need the extra speed of

the f/1.4 and am more interested in things like bokeh and overall look,

sharpness, contrast etc.

 

Any other legendary manual focus Minolta MD lenses -- primes or zooms -- I

should be looking for?

 

Thanks.

My latest babysitter would like to buy a manual film SLR and lens and has a very

limited budget (under $200). (Funny, this is the second babysitter who has

asked for advice about film SLRs.) I am thinking of sending her to KEH.com and

suggesting that she get a Nikon FE in EX condition (or an FE2 in BGN condition)

and a 50mm f/1.8 AIS (early version) in BGN condition for a total of a little

under $200. Any thoughts about whether this is the right advice? Would an FG be

a better bet? Is an FE in EX condition preferable to an FE2 in BGN condition

from KEH? Should I recommend a Series E 50mm to save a few bucks, or steer her

to, say, a 75-150mm Series E?

 

Thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

I will soon be traveling to France. In order to charge my D200's batteries I

will need an adapter so that I can use wall outlets, but does anyone know if I

will also need a transformer or voltage adapter so as to step the French 220V

down to 120?

 

Thanks.

Thanks to all.

 

Ellis, what is it about Lightroom versus DxO that you think makes it a better solution? As a lazy technophobe, I am sort of intrigued by the automatic correction and enhancing features of DxO, as well as the "Film Package" they offer that replicates the look of various classic films.