danny_weber

I think the chance of this happening on an in-camera copy is minute, plus the original is still on the XQD card. I have never had a file garbled in a copy operation or even in many-generation copy operations. I could argue that my suggestion is safer, since the original is untouched in case there's a problem, but either argument is specious in my view--it just doesn't matter in reality. Danny W

I think Ed meant that his reply doesn't belong here. Danny W.

Rumors about new Nikon bodies suggest there might be more with XQD/SD, but they're just rumors. Using the D500 to copy other XQD camera cards to SD is a good idea. What do you mean by "2nd generation copy issue" ? Danny W.

An easy, if slow, way to transfer to a laptop is to copy in-camera to an SD card and pop that into the laptop. Danny W.

Of course I copy files to an external device as soon as I can, but not when I'm actually out shooting. :-) Danny W.

I have a fast XQD card and fast SD UHS-II (both Sony 64GB) in mine, with the XQD being primary storage and the SD set for overflow. If I have time, I copy files from the XQD to the SD, so I have a backup without affecting the camera's operation. Not sure what info about XQD cards you're looking for--they work fine, don't slow the camera down, are more robust and less easy to lose than SD cards, and copy really quickly into my computer. Danny W.

I picked up a 16-80 unused out of a kit for about half price to replace my 17-55, primarily for the weight savings but also for the improved range and VR. I've been very happy with it so far. The image quality is fine and the smaller aperture is a non-issue for me. Thom Hogan wrote a good, balanced review of it: Nikon 16-80mm f/2.8-4E VR DX Lens Review | DSLRBodies | Thom Hogan Danny W.

That sounds like a plan. Danny W.

The first photo is overexposed overall, so it could be Matrix metering calibration, A simple test would be to turn off the flash, take a photo, make sure the overall exposure is about right regardless of dark shadows on the subjects, turn on the flash and aim it straight up or to the side and shoot again, then aim it at the scene and shoot again. Danny W.

The OP has a problem with overexposure. If the flash is keeping the shutter speed too low, that could be a cause. Using Auto FP eliminates that possibility. Danny W.

About ten years ago I used a CS 5000 to scan about 60,000 slides and several hundred strips of negatives. Although it was probably the best scanner available, it has a reputation for accenting grain because of its hard light source. I found this to be true, so I scanned to TIFFS to allow post processing. Danny W.

When you set Auto FP, there is no upper limit to shutter speed when the flash is on--especially outdoors, this is important to prevent your ambient exposure from overexposing. I don't want the shutter speed to get stuck at a top of 1/250, in fact, exactly the opposite. The downside is that you lose power at higher shutter speeds, but this is a better result than having a limit to the shutter speed. Danny W.

I always have great results using Nikon automatic fill flash. On the flash set compensation to -1.7 as a starting point and the flash mode to iTTL BL. On the camera select Matrix metering and set the sync speed to 1/250 FPS (Custom Setting e1). The latter is important to prevent overall overexposure due to a low shutter speed. On cameras with pop-up flash, be sure the flash comp on the body is set to zero That's pretty much it. I've never used a D600, but it's worked for me with the D2h, D200, D300, D500, D750 and D7200. The only Nikon DSLR I've used that had flash issues was the D1, in which the flash implementation was widely acknowledged as being broken. Danny W.

I'll hit 20 in five months. Danny W.

There is no reason to think that a DX 70-200/4 would be any smaller or lighter than the current one, so you might as well enjoy the FX version. It's a great lens and noticeably lighter than the f/2.8 version, which I used for years before deciding I had gotten too old to want to carry it around. ;) The f/4 works really well on my D500. Danny W.