rick_helmke

I suppose the value of the card depends on how badly you need the memory space it contains. This one failed at a football game and of course I had backups but if I hadn't.....kind of like the value of a roll of unexposed film. If you are just spending time doing a little photography, or is that a ship from the planet Vulcan that is landing right in front of you?

Rick H.

It appears I've finally suffered a CF card failure. It's a Sandisk 512, 16x I

think. It was one of my first cards dating back to when I bought my first 10D.

It's been used in a 10D, 20D and now that I've left the dark side, a D1X, D200,

D2h and D1h. I format my cards as a matter of course each time I want to clear

them and format it everytime I put it into a camera. I have several cards that

are used in this manner but now no matter what body I put it in I get a message

to the effect that the card is unuseable or can't be used. It's no big deal to

lose the card but I'm curious what might have failed in it and if there is some

sort of useful lifespan for these things. Maybe I should replace them on a

regular basis. Hell, I seem to replace bodies that way....

Rick H.

I think this is great news. For my wallet the D300 is horribly tempting and while the D1-x may get booted out of its spot in the bag, I still ain't selling it.

Question: will all my old AI glass,which works fine on all my DSLR's so far, still meter on the D3 and D300?

Rick H.

You can pick up 2 or 3 Nikon top of the line film bodies and a bagful of pro-grade manual focus glass for peanuts today, I'm talking well under $1000 for all of it. You could find 3 F2's or F3's, N90's or a pair of F100's or F4's in super condition, plenty of glass and be ready to go. There is plenty of it out there. I use digital every day but some days I just don't want to and film works as well as it ever did. For now at least invest in excellent glass and find bodies that will get the job done.

Rick H.

If it's in the budget I'd get another D200. Uses the same cards and batteries. If you are buying glass keep in mind there is a ton of AI and newer manual focus glass available for very little money and you wouldn't lose any functions on the D200 like you would on a D80 or 70. That may be one of the biggest reasons actually.

Rick H.

You might also consider a complete reset of the camera before shipping it off.

Rick H.

Batteries are the biggest reason. Lots cheaper on the D200 and they last longer. The D200 has a little bit better noise. The D1-x acts like the top of the line pro camera it is. I've got both and use them for different things. Other than the two things I've mentioned you won't notice a lot of difference in day to day shooting.

Rick H.

I understand the NFL has a new dress code for accredited photographers.

Apparently everyone will be required to wear a red vest with Canon and Adidas

logos on them. Even the Nikon shooters. Nothing a Sharpie won't fix I suppose.

Hell I thought NASCAR was bad, and it is. Can we say 'bought and paid for'??

Rick H.

I had an editor once who said you could find photos simply by stepping out the door. I thought that was was crap. He thought I was fired. We were both right.

Rick H.

Bill, what have you been up to? Haven't heard from you in a while.

Rick H.

Justin, local papers are a good place to start. They always need help but pay peanuts, sometimes literally. Still, the coolest part, like Bill said, is seeing your work in print.

Photoshop is pretty standard I think. Sure, you can alter the image in an unethical manner but that sort of stuff has always gone on, film or digital. There are strict rules on what can and can't be done and most companies have policies in place. More than a few shooters have gotten fired for going too far. A guy in Charlotte comes to mind in the recent past. Colors need to be adjusted for printing, cropping and so on though.

I'm not sure how to say this but disabuse yourself of the idea that photojournalism or regular journalism is about the truth. That's a nebulous idea and doesn't really connect with getting out tomorrow's paper. We write stories and shoot pictures based on the facts and the good ones do their best to be accurate, not always an easy thing. I recently had to cover a breaking news story about a guy who went to a convenience store, put a bullet in his ex-wife's head while she held a baby, then shot himself. There is a much bigger story there that we didn't get into. Just the facts of the event and some gory damn pictures. Then it was off to the ball park. That is not an uncommon day for me. Truth?? I don't know.

This is a great business to be in and as you progress in it you'll discover what it is and is not. I've seen a good bit of Bill's work and like it. It certainly beats the hell out of shooting weddings and so on at least for me. Get to work.

Rick H.

Get an F2 or F3. Really low prices, superb build quality, only one manual mode on the F3 and none on the F2. If you want to spend a little more money find a good F4s. The list is nearly endless on good Nikon film bodies. If I had to have just one and thank heavens I don't....F2.

Rick H.

I meant craigcamera.....

Rick H.

He needs the body to test the motor drive. Also, it has a back with the grip on it that also leaves the film leader out. The grip sticks out on the bottom and I think there are contacts on it as well. Personally I wouldn't have bought that back but it was there when I got the camera. Also I have 2 other F2's but I prefer using it with a motor drive. Almost 9 months in the shop is way too long, this shouldn't be that hard. I haven't leaned on him much so far other than to call every couple of weeks. I'll check cragslist but if you have one I'd appreciate a copy. Let me know how much. Thanks.

Rick H.

My favorite camera, an F2AS, has been in the shop since freaking November. The

camera is fine but the MD-2 is having the usual problems. After my once

reliable repair outfit couldn't find parts this forum led me to Sover Wong for

a gear set that only took 7 weeks to get. Now a wire has come loose from

wherever it was soldered and there are apparently 9,257 wires in the damned

thing. He tells me he can't find a wiring diagram and can't repair it without

one. I wonder how they've been in business so many years. The meanies over at

Nikon are not being helpful at all. Anyone know where I can find a schematic or

something that can solve this mystery? I'd love to get this rig back in use

before the calendar year is over. Right now it is in so many pieces I am afraid

to just bag it all and send it to Sover. Not to mention the bill is starting to

get out of hand. Anyone? Anyone?

Rick H.

Breaking into photojournalism isn't all that hard. You need to develop some competency with a camera and basic slection of lenses and learn your way around Photoshop. Offer to shoot stuff like high school sports to get in the door locally. When you put a good portfolio together, go to journalismjobs.com and web sites for all of the major newspaper chains, see who's hiring and start sending out resume's.

This business is great fun and has many rewards, none of them financial. You get to go places and see things from a point of view regular people don't. You get to go to sports and news events and see things up close and personal. You also get to work nights and weekends and holidays. I've tried other careers and keep coming back to this one. I guess I'll concede that the lottery or inheritence is the only way I'll get wealthy and just enjoy my work. That's more than a lot of people can say.

Rick H.

Since you have the D200 you can use any of the manual focus AI/AIS lenses that seem to be everywhere at super inexpensive prices. I picked up a 35/2.8, 50/1.4, 28/3.5, 85/2 and an 80-200/4.5 for a total of less than $350. All work on the D200, all are in good shape and give great results.

Rick H.

On the other hand, whoever put photo.net back on line yesterday might be able to tell us something about lost digital files......

Rick H.

Ooppps, I added to the other thread.

Rick H.

A Kodak 104 started it all, the family camera along with and Agfa Ambi-Sillette which was way cool because it could be 'adjusted'. Then I got my very own Kodak X-15, better than the 104 because the flash didn't need batteries. I could take 126 Verichrome Pan cartridges to the drugstore and get them back, along with a fresh roll, for about 2 bucks.

Penney's and Sears used to sell cameras in their catalogue and I think a Minolta Hi-Matic 5 and then a Mamiya/Sekor 528 were reponsible for a few miles of exposed film. A teacher sold me a Praktica for about $30 and then some SOB showed me a Nikon F2 and it's been downhill ever since. I also got a printing kit that had a horizontal enlarger that would make 3x5's from 126 and 135 film. Came with a safe light and small trays and I ruined the hardwood floor in my closet one year. Dad got me a B-22 and the other darkroom extras and I got one corner of the basement for B&W and Cibachrome until the wee hours. It was great.

Rick H.

A Nikon F2, 28/2.8 and Tri-X.

Rick H.

As a news photographer I do that sort of thing everyday, insert myself into a situation and photograph it, then get everyone's name. I almost always start out uncomfortable, always been that way. You'll work into it. I always use a big Nikon with a large lens. It makes you stand out but you'd be suprised how far that and an outwardly confident attitude will take you.

Rick H.

I have read only good things about him and his work and am mostly suprised at this. This isn't a big purchase, probably more trouble than it is worth to him but I wish I could track these gears down. It's a paper weight until they get here.

Rick H.

Mr. Wong was reccomended to me on this forum as a source for some MD-2 parts

and it looks as though what he sells will certainly be an upgrade to OEM parts,

specifically the brass gears. Problem is, my repair outfit ordered them, set up

on PayPal, paid for them, and a month later there is no sign of them. It's a

small package and has to travel a long way but still ought not take this long.

He hasn't replied to e-mails the last week or so. What's his normal turnaound

time? I just need parts, not service. I've been trying to get this rig repaired

since November and I guess I'm getting frustrated.

Rick H.

I picked up a 28/3.5, 85/2, 50/1.4, 35/2.8 and an 80-200/4.5, all Nikkors, all manual focus and all in super condition for under $300 total. Shop around a bit, watch ebay and places like KEH and you should be able to put a great package together for a similar amount. You might even consider a 2nd body as a backup. You can still come out under budget.

Rick H.