rudy - ny, ny

I just started shooting with one. My Canon F1 was stolen and so I bought a used FA with this lens. It's only been 4 weeks or so. I've shot and processed 10 rolls so far. I haven't had the opportunity yet to print large but I definitely have been impressed with the contact proofs. They are more dynamic - they have a "zing." There is something to be said for Nikon/Nikkor optics - very clean and sharp and dimensional. I haven't taken good enough notes to rate the aperatures but open wide does seem to soften. I need to sit down and hone in on the tightest. To the others using this lens... what's your take on the best aperature (dependent on lighting, etc.)?

 

Rudy

Thanks Brian.

 

Now... perhaps some sort of PBS-like membership drive?

 

Or... (and this will also combat the abuse issue as seen in this forum), how about just selling the POW spot to the highest bidder each week?

 

:)

I guess that I'm naive but I had no idea that this sort of thing would go on. Is someone so insecure that they have to cheat to inflate and parade their own scores or so immature and threatened as to maliciously lowball another photographer? Talk about being in 3rd grade.

 

I have no good answer as to what needs to be done.

 

I personally stopped numerically rating photos after the 4th one but this was only because I didn't feel that I was helping the artist. My "5" is based on my perception & appeal and could be someone else's "2." Everybody's definition of 1-7 is different and to compound the matter, each photo is not rated by a consistent group. And geesh... now that I realize that there's abuse, that's another wrench in the works.

 

I've made a lot of comments though. This is where I can give thought about the person's work. More importantly, if I'm mistaken about the shooter's intent, this allows the person to clarify and/or defend.

 

And I want to hear what people think about my stuff. "Add a comment" is what helps me - not the numbers - but I realize that we need a rating system in order to provide rankings.

 

In order to combat abuse, I agree with:

1) making ratings public,

2) necessity of added comment to explain rating, and

3) only paid members or a panel group can give numbers (non-paying, though, can comment).

 

An added benefit for #3 is that perhaps photo.net will receive more financial support. They deserve it.

 

The issue of critiquers who haven't posted their own work was brought up. I find this annoying also. Several times I've seen someone bash another's work, I go to their page as a means of finding out their background knowledge, and they have none of their own work posted. Let's walk the talk (or however the saying goes). Perhaps this should become a requirement?

 

Oh, and Marc... thanks for the "odd" comment! That's what I wanted. You hit the nail on the head. :)

 

Rudy

The funny thing is that this started for me about a week after I signed and paid for 3 years.

Yep. I've had a 100% failure rate for 7 days now. I've even gone as high as 18 resubmits to make sure.

 

Is there someone out there that can at let us know that the problem is being worked on or at least recognized?

I get the error in several places now and backing up/resubmitting usually works. But... I get a 100% failure rate trying to upload and overwrite an existing image. Uploading and filling out a docket for a brand new image that didn't preexist on the site is fine. Trying to update existing images and info gives me "Server Error" 100% of the time.

 

go figure... I'm making the 4th attempt to post this. Hopefully this one will go through.

Harvesting addresses is wrong. And sending abusive emails decrying a low rating is childish and completely uncalled for! (if you are not sincere about accepting criticism then WHY THE HELL DID YOU JOIN A COMMUNITY STEEPED IN CRITIQUING??? And then, on top of that, WHY DID YOU POST YOUR PHOTOS??? aarrrgghhhh!!!)

 

I want to bring up another concern that could be lumped into this email retrieval issue.

 

When I first joined (only 3 weeks ago) I sent email to a couple of other members; one concurring about posted remarks, the other building on a remark made in a bio. You'll have to excuse my molasses but I assumed that the messages were being posted into their photo.net workspace. After the second message I sent, it dawned on me that I was emailing to their personal account. (it's a long story why it didn't occur to me before I had even sent the first email - let's just say "dingbat" and leave it at that :) I immediately looked at my action from the other person's point of view and subsequently felt unease. Yes, the emails were completely benign (not derogatory whatsoever) and specifically photo.net in nature, but still... the other person did not ask for a personal email. Someone could very rightfully be offended by my intrusion. I do not regard this as abusive but I did, in all essence, go outside of this community to strike up conversation. Does this violate their privacy? I cannot answer for the two people that received my email and therefore I have to accept the valid fact that perhaps, from their point of view, I did indeed violate their privacy.

 

My whole point is that even innocent, constructive unsolicited email might be considered abusive by the receiver. (I've since taken to keeping all of my communication within the "comments" section)

 

What do you guys think?

 

Fostering community is paramount to photo.net. I've only been here 3 weeks or so and I am VERY impressed with the level of community here! (and an aside: Brian, the logistics of this site is breathtaking!) The free flowing exchange of ideas is vital and the ability to email one another, unsolicited, is a necessary part.

 

BUT... I do think what needs overhauling is the ability of one member to gain another member's personal email address with nothing more than a 20 sec. wait.

 

If a member receives an abusive email, they may be offended but they should have the security that their email address hasn't been divulged.

 

We need to protect privacy while still allowing open exchange.

 

What about how eBay does it? They don't reveal personal addresses but rather have you fill in and send an "anonymous" contact form (as an earlier poster suggested). With this, educate. When someone joins photo.net, make them aware that they are placing themselves in the line of fire - unsolicited criticism and remarks and email. "Tighten that belt and toughen that skin!" It is then up to them whether to ignore or to reply (and subsequently divulging their personal address).

 

Brian... obviously you're the one who knows what's feasible and what's not. There are always going to be bad apples no matter what system is in place. If you deem the current method as the best route than so be it. Rather than restricting communication (which goes against everything that photography stands for), let's just educate members regarding the issue of abuse (which will open up a whole other 100 threads :)

 

Thanks for letting me butt in.

 

Rudy

Oh... and this is the URL request:

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo-edit-2.tcl

 

I get the error even if the only change I'm attempting is to enter in a zip code.

 

Thanks!

I've attempted to update a photo of an existing submission and I

consistently receive this error:

 

Server Error

The requested URL cannot be accessed due to a system error on this server.

AOLserver/3.3.1+ad13 on http://www.photo.net

 

I also get this message when trying to update my portrait.

 

Is this related to the photo cache updating problem that I saw listed

from last month? Or is this something temporary going on at the moment

and I just need to be patient while it's getting worked on?

 

Rudy

I totally agree Austin. While researching it I was very impressed with its specs and abilities. I didn't see the used ad until 2 weeks after it was posted and I remarked to the seller how lucky I was that it was still for sale. I mean, the thing was MINT; even had the manual, sell sheet, and an f1.4. (The fact that it's 20 years old is a testament to the name Nikon) He said no one really knows about them. Everybody gets caught up in the din of the F#s.

 

I strongly urge anyone looking for a used Nikon to see if an FA might fit their needs. Maybe not but it's worth a shot. It's a great piece of equipment and meters damn well. As far as I'm concerned, not only would it be at home with a pro, it is also a great camera to set up a beginner. It was ahead of its time.

Austin.

 

I don't think that your question could have come at a more meaningful time for me.

 

I hope you don't mind a story. If you do mind, I apologize - please just scroll down to the next post.

 

-

 

My Canon F1 had been lost in a move some time back and, while I still had my 645, I started relying extensively on a CoolPix 950. Man! Talk about ease and convenience! Within a little over a year I had taken some 3000 pictures and they were all in my Mac, available within a moment's notice.

 

And then, four weeks ago, my CoolPix disappears. I don't know about you but I can't be without a camera too long. I can kick the cigarettes no problemo but a camera is always going to be that one monkey on my back.

 

I've debated the pros and cons of film vs. digital for many years now and I always reach the same impasse. To declare one better than the other, king of the mountain, is a disservice. Each provides tremendous advantages and maintains areas of expertise that can not be matched by the other.

 

I spent a solid week trying to determine the best route to take. Not to get philosophical or too wavygravy, but man, did I spend some serious time questioning needs, wants, intents, motivations; all of that stuff. I scoured the internet. I devoured everything at mir.com, I took the Nikon guru entrance exams, I came thiiiiiis close to beating out a Nikonos in an underwater breath holding contest, I discovered a new buddy - photo.net, I was able to recite any camera's market value within plus or minus 30 minutes, I even spent hours traveling from shop to shop fondling the F5s and D1Xs (though a few of those moments were spoiled by some damn nosy security guard asking me silly questions like "Was I going to buy it?" )

 

I even test drove a Holga 120 (the "S" model). It was raining that day and boy, did that thing leak like a sieve. But I was making excellent progress in whittling down my options.

 

Well... here's the "defining moment" part... Three weeks ago I took the ferry out to Larkspur to meet a fellow off of craigslist selling a Nikon FA. I tried to play it down but it felt like fate. Even the first two letters of "fate" were the same as the camera I was going to meet. I hadn't slept in days. I was tossing and turning all night over the whole honeycomb titanium vs. alloy shutter debate. So many decisions to work through. Thank goodness that I didn't have a job.

 

 

"They" say that you know within 5 minutes of meeting someone whether you would marry that person or not. Well, it's true. That's exactly what happened with me and the FA. Except it was more like 19.5 seconds. I paid the man his $375 and he pronounced her "Rudy's FA." The gorgeous look of her design felt so much more contemporary than any of the current styles I had fooled around with during the past week. I felt as if I were racing on Ducati a 916, making out in the back seat of a '65 Mustang, dancing with Grace Kelly. This was a design meant to withstand time come and gone and never be anything less than the belle of the ball.

 

The Nikon FA seems tailored to my style and disposition like no other; like a hand to glove. I'm neither a gearhead nor techhead but rather, just a simple geek that gets confused by bells and whistles and widgets and thingamabobberswhatchacallits.

 

The FA instantly settles in and provides me with an old-time tactile romancing that I need, love, and appreciate. I suppose that it might be analagous to audiophiles who would rather be thrown into a Lake of Fire than turn over their vinyl and join the Columbia House CD club. For them, the whole process of vinyl connects directly into their passion and soul in a very erotic way.

 

I've been reconnecting. With the FA, I get to do all of the work (focusing, metering, advancing, whatever). This adds so much enjoyment and intimacy to my shooting. And before long, I'll be once again running my fingers through the fixer and along the Oriental Seagull - old friends never missing a beat.

 

The FA is a paint brush. That's what I love.

 

If I were someone different, say, owner of a commercial studio, I would probably laugh the FA out the door.

 

Nor do I shoot sports. I don't shoot for AP. I left the $5000 in my other wallet. The sensuality of the latest high tech, for some reason, seems to escape me. I'm not needing to shoot and upload 75 web shots each day.

 

That's nothing I need to fret over. My worries are over. I've found what I believe may be the only Nikon I'll ever own. And if not, she will still always remain my first.

 

 

 

Rudy

I have a 150mm f4 that I bought 10 years ago. It's worked well and I've never felt a need for a wider aperture.

I bought a used 645 1000S in 1988 for $400 specifically to have the larger negative to use in my grad classes. Though it's been through the wringer, I'm still shooting with it and I love it. Just last week I picked up a Super body on eBay for $160. It'll be a bit of time before until I can pick up a finder and back but I'm patient. One thing that always came up for me with my 1000S is its inability to switch between b&w and color on the fly but, more importantly, its inability to shoot Polaroid. Ahhh... that'll be nice. :)

 

For how I like to work best the 645 provides me one of my favorite tools. I went through a Hassy drooling period but once I learned how to turn on a calculator and added a few numbers together, I quickly wiped up the drool, ran over to my 645, and promised that I'd never treat her like that again! :)

 

I'm very happy. Hopefully yours will turn out to be a good fit. I'd like to know. Please keep us informed if you can.

 

Rudy

Yes I did. That was a few days ago and I haven't heard anything. This might be one of those instances where it takes a company several weeks to reply and so I figured that I'd give it a shot here. This site is a BONANZA of knowledgable folks!!!

I can't find any info on the net regarding the old m1000 pack. Can

anyone here tell me specifics (and generalities would be great also)?

And what was additional about the m1000x?

 

Dynalite has a great set of PDF manuals but not for this far back.

 

Thanks much.

 

Rudy

FYI: Gamma's webpage.

 

http://www.gammasf.com/

I was dropping off some film at NewLab yesterday and one of the chaps there recommended Gamma. I've also heard 50/50 feedback about Light Waves which is in that alley by Extreme Pizza off of Folsom.

 

Quite honestly (and this probably goes for most of us anal b&w types), the only time that I'm happy with b&w processing and printing is when I do it myself and even then I have to go a few rounds with myself. :) Like any art, it's extremely subjective.

 

I've taken to processing my film at home (using a changing bag and bathroom and my desired chems), having contact proofs made at a shop (not a critical stage for me), and then visiting the folks (dad's an old timer photog) or renting darkroom time here in SF.

 

Not sure what it's worth but there's my 2 cents. :)

 

rudy

Thanks for your help guys! I'll do some more testing tomorrow. It's obvious that I need to be precise with my testing. That's what I'll do! I spent a bit of time reading the manual and other internet tidbits and have come to realize that the metering falls short in certain instances. Hopefully it was my "ignorance" that produced the overexposing and not the camera itself. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I've been shooting 6x4.5 for years now and this camera has made me fall in love again with the versatility of 35mm.

 

Rudy

Hi. First let me say... I love this site!!!

 

I searched all of the threads and wasn't able to find an answer

dealing with my problem. So, I'm hoping that someone can help.

 

I bought an FA last week w/50mm 1.4 AIS. It looks as if it was just

taken off of the shelf - mint condition. I went ahead and ran some

slide film through to test (all outdoor shots, no flash) and it

appears that at the small apertures (f11, f16) the exposure is right

on but then taking the same picture at the large apertures (f2, 1.4) I

get an overexposure of probably 2 stops.

 

For all shots I used AMP along with aperture priority.

 

So... is this an issue with the metering system or the aperture or the

shutter (it's the titanium honeycomb).

 

Obviously, I would need to take quite a few shots along with copious

amounts of notation in order to pinpoint the problem but even then I

don't know if I would be able to figure it all out (scientific method

is really not my forte).

 

I've read a lot about issues with the metering on the FA and so I'm

hoping that someone here might know exactly what's going on. Is there

some workaround like having to manually increase shutter speed when

using wide apertures?

 

The camera is beautiful and perfectly fits my requirements. The least

it can do is expose properly.