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bob_mcbob

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Posts posted by bob_mcbob

    Dropped 20D - Help

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    In regard to the strap thing, I've often avoided using straps in the past because they can in the way in a lot of situations, and they do tend to get caught on things. I also have a great strap story. A few years ago I was heading down to the basement with a digicam (Nikon Coolpix 4500). I walked into the room, shutting the door behind me, and walked away, only to have the camera yanked out of my hands and hear a sickening thud on the door behind me. The camera strap had caught on the door handle on the other side of the door as I was shutting it, and it was completely pinned. Luckily there was nothing wrong with the camera, and it still works perfectly to this day! It kind of put me off straps completely for a while (on a Leica M2, Canon A-1, etc.).

     

    I have a 30D now, and heavy zooms without a strap are just a pain in the arse. On the advice of friends, I ordered an Optech Pro strap with quick releases, and it is perfect for me. When I don't want the strap to get in the way, I just remove it with the quick releases, then it goes back on with two snaps.

    Canon 70-200 f4L upgrade to Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX APO IF HSM?

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    There are objective reviews of both lenses at <a href="http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html">http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html</a>. I can't comment on the optical quality (check photozone), but the build quality of Sigma's EX lenses is superb, so that should not be a worry for you. In a few months I will have to make the same choice, and the only reason I'd go for the f/4 is the significant weight and size difference.

    EF 50mm/1.8 and flash

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    It is annoying, but I've never understood why people are so bothered when you pop them with a flash. Some practically act like you've shot them! Meanwhile they will be doing exactly the same thing back to you with their digicam and red-eye reduction flash on permanently...

    How to use a film retriever

    in Black & White Practice

    Posted

    I ordered the basic Kalt film retriever from B&H a while back, and it was a useless piece of crap (I almost send it back to B&H for a refund on principle, even though shipping it back would have cost more than the thing itself). I am not sure about the "deluxe" version though.

     

    The best thing I have ever tried for retrieving leaders is the adhesive tape used in Dymo label embossing guns. Remove the backing, shove it into the cassette a bit, wind it inside the cassette until it's firmly attached to the leader, and pull it out again. I don't think this technique has ever failed. The only problem is that each piece only lasts for a few films. Of course, I generally just leave the leader out, as my film cameras are all manual rewind! :)

    USA Release date for the new Canon 30D?

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    I'm not really sure how cross-border shipments to the US are evaluated for tax/duty purposes, but based on experience with a number of friends there, anything below about $2000 is not usually caught. Beware though, this advice is worth as much as you paid for it! :)

     

    It is a far cry from Canada where everything you import over $20 ($60 for a gift) is molested by customs (15% tax in Ontario). It's true that UPS charges absolutely insane amounts of money for customs clearance into Canada with their ground service (same with FedEx). Shipping from Henry's to the US is through Canada Post XpressPost (EMS).

    Nikon accessories: this is getting ridiculous.

    in Nikon

    Posted

    I ordered my D200 on December 8, and I have no idea when I will receive it (I am in Canada). I have also tried many times to get an FH-3 film strip adapter for my Nikon film scanner, but they are NEVER available. Waiting for the D200 has given me time to consider whether going with Canon would be a better idea... I am sticking with the D200 for now, but we shall see.

    speaking of freezing - cold weather classic cameras?

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    I also live in Ontario, so photography in sub-zero temperatures is pretty much a fact of life. I can't say I've ever had any problems using my cameras in the winter, but I haven't tried them below -20 more than once or twice. My main classic camera is a Kiev 4a, and that always deals with the cold like a champ. My Canon AE-1 and A-1 (not quite classic) also both work fine in winter. My Nikon Coolpix 4500 works okay other than the fact that the LCD gets rather sluggish. I would be concerned about using that for extended periods.

    Extended Warranty or Not

    in Nikon

    Posted

    All I ever see is people harping on about how extended warranties are a scam, blah blah blah. I will agree that on most items, an extended warranty is not worth the money. However, there are certain items I would almost always buy with one. Laptops for intance have a very high rate of mechanical failure, especially later in their lifetime (i.e. after the manufacturer's warranty has expired). When I buy a computer, I indend to keep it for around 3 years, and if it fails after the one year warranty, I have to replace the faulty part out of pocket. That is okay for a dekstop (I build my own), but laptop components are VERY expensive to replace ($160 for a 24x CD-RW? Nice). I have saved 10 times more on parts replacements for laptops than I've ever spent on extended warranties (and that doesn't include my dad's PowerBook: $1400 LCD replacement covered under AppleCare).

     

    Expensive digital SLRs are again items for which I would purchase an extended warranty if I could afford it. For an item as expensive as say, a D200, I would intend to use it for the same 3 year time period. If it fails in that time (and do not give me that crap about most failures occuring in the first year), it's likely to cost as much as a new camera to replace. Fortunately for me, the DSLR I'm looking into buying appears to have a two year warranty in Canada, which I can extend for an extra year by buying it on a MasterCard. However, I'm not sure I would buy a warranty on a D50, given its low cost. The MasterCard extended warranty would probably cover allt the warranty extension I'd want.

    D200 Canadian Warranty

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Yet another part of their site says that the two year warranty applies to SLR bodies, but digital SLRs have a one year warranty... wow, they really don't make it easy. I'll see about giving them a call tomorrow afternoon.

    D200 Canadian Warranty

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Is the Canadian warranty on the D200 one year, or two years?

     

    I spent quite a while searching Nikon Canada's site, and came up with

    a number of different explanations. One page in their support centre

    says all digital products have a two year warranty, while specifically

    mentioning the Coolpix cameras, with a list of all their digital stuff

    at the left. Another page says the 2 year warranty only applies to

    Coolpix cameras. A third page says it applies to Coolpix cameras and

    the D50/D70/D70S. I tried e-mailing them, but they never replied

    (it's been several days). I'm pretty confused... I have a feeling the

    D200 warranty is only one year, but a two year warranty would make a

    big difference to me. So, which one is it?

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