shawn_rahman

Robert is correct about B&H's too liberal grading policy. I've personally seen many items in their used department graded 9 to 9+ with significant scratches and other defects. Go with KEH for your used stuff; go with B&H for the new stuff.

Now THAT'S a capture! (no pun intended)

 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/04/germany.fire/index.html?

eref=rss_topstories

I can't imagine a world-class outfit like A&I in Los Angeles/Hollywood wouldn't do this for you. Have you called them?

I've owned and used all versions of the 50mm lenses. I agree with Lex (above) - look into the 50/2.0 AI lens. I think the sharpest lens of the four speeds is the 50/2.0 AI. If you don't need the extra speed, I'd look into this lens on the used market. I picked mine up for only $40 two years ago.

 

My ideal kit - and you have to decide on the 24 v. 28:

 

28/2.8 AIS

50/2.0 AI (or 1.8 AIS or 1.4 AIS)

105/2.5 AIS

 

Combined with the FM2N, what else do you need for the rest of your life?

I'll take a stab at this and predict that B&W film sales are up in the next year.

 

It is clear that film will be available through our lifetime and probably beyond. Anyone who thinks otherwise is being foolish.

Josh - I forgot to mention that you will also do great at JTNP with the 50/1.8 lens, so don't worry too much about not having anything wider.

Josh,

 

Great advice from the others. I spent a couple of days at Joshua Tree earlier this year, and absolutely recommend a wide angle lens if you can get your hands on one. I used an F100 with the 24/2.8 AF-D and was very pleased with the results. You can see some of my pics from that outing here:

 

http://www.pbase.com/hrahman/joshua_tree_natl_park__march_2007

 

 

As for a tripod - that is a terrific recommendation, especially if you are going to use slow slide film. I used Fuji's Provia 100 & Astia 100 on all of these shots, but ALL of them were handheld. If you go on a very sunny day, you will do fine at Joshua Tree without a tripod. If you get a tripod and take it there, try to make it a light one, as you will spend a lot of time walking and climbing.

 

Good luck.

I asked a similar question a few years ago, and the discussion was quite informative:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=006Pyw

Thanks, Ellis. I should know better.

 

Settings: Aperture Priority on camera; usually ISO 200. Indoors, moderately lit interiors, with people/faces approx. 10-30 feet away. Consider a party or wedding, if you will.

 

I suppose I do not realize what i-TTL is doing above what TTL is doing, so I will tray to seek this answer. Perhaps this will help me with my confusion.

Setup: D70, with - alternately - an SB800 & SB-80DX, indoors often with low-light.

 

Dilemma: I've become used to manual flash settings and straight TTL with my

SB-80, and can use it successfully without failure.

 

But after I purchased the SB-800 and tried to use i-TTL with it (with and

without the BL setting), I find many shots are underexposed, and some even

downright dark.

 

What am I missing here? The result is my SB-800 is collecting dust, while I am

using the SB-80 with my D70 (and F100) with great success.

 

Am I doing something wrong using the i-TTL (and BL) settings? Should I give up

on the SB-800 and stick to what is working for me?

So sad to hear this, but not surprised. When I lived in NY, I luckily always had B&H close by, but now I am in L.A., where Samy's had been dominating the market for years.

 

Unfortunately, Samy's is forced to maintain high pricing on their in-store merchandise, while discounting their web-sales. For instance: It is quite frustrating to consumers to see the differences. For example, Samy's is selling a Domke bag for $59 online, and over $90 in their stores.

 

How long can stores continue to do this and still exist? And if this is happening to a giant like Samy's, it does not bode well for the smaller, regional pro shops.

Bruno Trematore wrote:

 

On the other hand, a fiber print done from TriX film is still unbeatable.

 

 

What is truer than this? You are absolutely correct.

Hire Matsu wrote:

 

I really liked my 28-105 3.5-4.5 when I had it and the F100.

 

I second this choice wholeheartedly. The 28-105 is a terrific all around lens, and quite a bargain these days.

Don't know the answers to your questions, but I bet there are hundreds and thousands of superb photographers who have never heard of or given a thought to f/64. I know about the group from my history of photography interests, but I frankly could not care less about their philosophies.

 

But it sounds like you make a number of very broad based assumptions when you ask questions like "Where are we going?". Who is we?

Every single one of my lenses has some dust under the glass. All of them perform wonderfully with no visible effect from the dust. Are you sure you want to take the drastic step of having the lens disassembled? Are your pictures being adversely affected from the dust?

Keith,

 

I agree with Shun - you should return this lens if possible. As for what you paid, this lens runs around $700-$750 USD in excellent shape here in the U.S. This would convert exactly to what you paid in UK pounds. I understand that the scale is not the same for gear purchased there, but it is something worth considering.

 

Good luck - it is a great lens.

steven moseley wrote:

 

...this is the sort of mad question you find on the Leica forum...

 

..."oh no, my Summarrcrap non-ASPH has two tiny marks on the lens hood, what can I do?" etc etc

 

 

Sorry Steve. This is not that at all.

"It might be a feel like a dump actiion to some professional shooter's eyes, but hey, ppl wants to dump them with low price, it is just hard to resist."

 

Sorry - but I am trying to figure out what this means.

Eugene Scherba wrote: "Why is this question being asked?"

 

 

I'm sorry, but this response is full of elitist crap. As much as we all want to pretend that the camera is just a tool, and blah blah blah, I often wonder why it bothers some people when others ask about what camera is being used or is used by a specific photographer.

 

Don't we all actually care about equipment to some degree - granted some care more than others, but if the OP wants to know what camera is being used, why is this not okay?

After revisiting "On Photography" after reading it ten years ago, and reading this article, I am convinced more than ever that no one has been more full of sh*t that Sontag. Please put this woman out of her misery (oops - too late). I guess you can see my disdain for this woman's faux-intellectual nonsense.

Steve,

 

What and where is the Camera Emporium?

 

NAS sufferers everywhere "need" to know.

 

Thanks!

Call up this place and ask whether they can do this work, and what the cost would be. If they can't fix it, no one can.

 

http://www.authorizedphoto.com/about.asp

Doesn't sound like much money in this racket. "Don't quit your day job" is quite right.

Murray,

 

Crazy question, but have you tried the lens on an AF Nikon camera to see if it works as it should?

Like those above, I used an SLR (F100) at first, but decided to get the Mamiya AE Prism Finder. Incredibly accurate, and includes a great spot feature too. You should look into this as an option, although a separate hand-held would do the trick nicely.