neal_vaughan

I've put it through the paces shooting in a few bars and dark gyms the past couple weeks. I'd say the performance is decent. Very good if there is significant subject contrast, poor if contrast is lacking. This is without using the illuminator and using 2.8 lenses.

If you are looking for an MP3 player that can double as a data backup, the best out there is the iaudio X5. The photo viewing on it is too slow to view d200 thumbnails, but it's got USB on-the-go, meaning a simple cable connecting to camera to the player is all you need to backup the data. And it's fully mass storage compatible, so you can later transfer off the data to nearly any computer platform.

 

To top it off, the sound quality as an MP3 player is among the best.

 

It's about $250 for a 20GB model.

I've got a lumiquest snoot, and am moderately happy with it

working on my Nikon SB-800's. I see that sto-fen has one, but

I'm unable to find a picture of it anywhere to get an idea of it's

light throw.

 

Any other suggestions?

"The point in this thread, though, is whether the d200 responds like the d2h/x or the d70 when it comes to flash photography?"

 

 

My point is, I get better results on a SB800/D70 combination that I do with a SB800/D2H. Especially with the improved color rendition of the D70. I really don't know what problems you are experiencing, I preferred the D70 to the D2H when shooting flash, but I never much noticed much of an obvious difference specifically in flash performance.

Not quite sure what you mean, I'll trigger them by radio slave (for action photos) or by the SB800's built in wireless for other shots.

Having a digital SLR does not make one a capable wedding photographer.

"Also... just to keep the record straight for the archives...

"The D70 takes the EN-EL3a while the D200 takes the EN-EL3e. I assume they are not compatible, but could be wrong."

 

Yep, this info is wrong.

 

I already have two EN-EL3e D200 compatible batteries due to the recent recall on D70 batteries, so, yes the D200 will work with same batteries and charger as the D70."

 

 

You only made things more confusing. No, the batteries are not compatible. You cannot take an original D70 battery and use it in the D200. Grooves on the battery prevent you from inserting it into the D200.

 

The D200 batteries can be used in the D70, as evidenced by the fact that the D70 batteries being recalled are sometimes being replaced by D200 batteries. But you cannot use D70 batteries in the D200.

 

The D200 batteries will charge on a D70 charger though.

"The d70 is notorious for poor iTTL flash exposure control,"

 

Suprising! I used the D70 in a professional capacity for nearly a year on a daily basis and found it's flash control was excellent.

"Instead they seemingly pushed a large number of cameras to chain stores instead of distributing them through tjhe normal photo stores. "

 

I dont understand this comment. Could you explain please? Why does it matter if I buy it at Circuit City or at B&H?

I dont think the problem is as prevelant as many of these blowhards want you to believe it is. Might seem prevelant because a small group of very vocal people publicly complain, but there are dozens of satisfied users for every one of those...

Thanks for the picture. Looks like I could just attach them via the standard speedlight stand that comes with the flashes.

 

http://www.adorama.com/NKAS19.html

 

I wasn't aware it was that easy.

 

FWIW, I'm knowledgable about the lights I'm using. A couple of the SB-800's will be just fine for the purposes of 10 minute setups/breakdowns in HS gyms.

 

I'm not fond of the spring clamp, I'd rather use a super clamp.

I'm wanting to use a couple of superclamps to mount some

SB-800's in gyms for action photos. But I'm having a hard time

understanding how they mount to the clamp. Could someone

point me to what I would need to attach the flash to the super

clamp?

I've been searching without luck for a lab that will process my

files into pre-cut yearbook/senior portrait sized photos. Can

anyone help?

Hi Curtis,

 

I'm an OU PJ grad working full-time now. The answer above

hints at the direction the program is going film-vs-digital, so I'd

definitely look at the 17-55, which is what I shoot with. You will

get annoyed with the crop factor of either of the other two lenses,

and a good ultrawide to complement them is going to set you

back even more cash.

 

That 20mm won't do you much good anyways. You'll still want to

go wider in many, many situations. 17 at the wide end is just

adequate, I'd say. I miss my 12-24 (which I used in conjuction

with a 24-70), but the 17-55 gives me the best of both worlds.

 

Have fun there. Don't party too hard. And stay on Marcy's good

side.

"Neal, send those very excellent lenses to Nikon. "

 

 

I'm looking for a turnaround time of less than 6 months and a

repair bill less than my car loan. Even with an NPS

membership, I can't count on Nikon for that.

 

I'll check out the last recommendation. Thanks. Other

suggestions are still very much appreciated.

I've used it with the AFS 80-200 with very acceptable results. The

AF slows noticeably, and I can tell a difference in sharpness, but

it was still very acceptable.

 

I returned it though, and would buy a 1.4 if I did it again.

I've sent stuff in the past to APS in morton grove, IL, but after

hearing quotes of $300+ each for an 80-200 2.8 and a 17-55 2.8,

I'm thinking twice. Nothing really "wrong" with them, save for a

sticky aperture on the 80-200 and slight misfocus on the 17-55.

Can I get some suggestions for reliable, reasonably priced

places to send to with a fairly quick turnaround time?

I was happy with the optical quality but the build quality was very crappy and as noted, there is no full time manual override like on the nikon lenses. No focus lock buttons either.

"The 180 mm AF-D is a spectacular lens and I've never noticed that it has slow AF. "

 

 

Do you shoot with it a lot? I use(d) multiple samples extensively and it most definitely has both slow and noisy AF, even on F5 and D1 cameras.

What is the required modication to be able to use the n90 with the

vertical grip? Can you do it at home, or is it a major modification?

How much does it cost if you have done it?

I read some AP staffers saying they expect final production units in the next couple of weeks. Of course that may not have any relation to when full production available to the public starts.

"Neil, speaking of missing the point, you obviously did not read my posts completely."

 

 

"The only way to speed up the handling of the F5 is to use the aperture ring on the lens. This is the ONLY way to speed the handling to match that of an ancient Nikon N8008s. In 2003, why are we forced to put up with a DECREASE in effectiveness in a camera reputed to be the pinnacle of film cameras? This is NOT progress, it is REGRESSION."

 

 

I find it much faster and easier to use the command dial, actually. Frees up my left hand. I'm very very happy the ring is starting to die a slow death.

 

 

 

"People, like you, who only use Program Mode, never use the program shift feature, and never override the cameras decisions don't have this problem. My problem is that I like to make the decisions, I like to be able to do it quickly, and I don't like distractions, or stupid finicky controls, interfering with this process."

 

 

Boy, what an insult. I shoot for a living and have not put my camera on P since I was probably 12. I find that freeing up my left hand for supporting the lens and focusing/zooming is much more effective in producing better images.

 

I agree it would be nice for Nikon to offer firmware updates that would allow selectable speeds, as I said previously.

"What I do not understand is why "g" mount users want to deny "D" mount users a parallel series of selected lenses."

 

 

Perhaps because there more to life than wanting to mount a 2003 hi-tech lens on a 30 year old low-tech body for novelty and then bitching because they wont work?

"I would.

 

It would do everything an 80~200/4.0 AIS did but have a very solid tripod mount because certain very vocal websites have embarrass Nikon into improving their tripod mounts. It would be one stop faster and it would have better optics. It would not draw power from the camera body as it can�t. It would not have AF or VR because the F3 has no such capability. The lens would do everything that lenses contemporary to the F3 did and it would produce fine images. Well it wouldn�t do a few things the 80~200/4.0 AIS did because it�s not has hand holdable as the smaller lens. In the right hand the images would look no different if the lens had an F3 or an F5 on the back.

 

One would not expect the typical F3 buyer to pay a premium for a VR lens for use exclusively on an F3 but for those who use a variety cameras bodies it makes excellent sense for all lenses to fit all bodies. Some photographers might value the optics and tripod collar enough to buy the lens for exclusive use on an F3 if it had an aperture control ring. If that�s what they want it�s their money. If they get the images they want who is to say they are wrong."

 

 

 

You're missing the point. Why would you not just use the 80-200 2.8 AFS? You're going to raise a huge stink about what, the missing 10mm of reach? Pfft. The tripod mount that most dont use, and that is easily replacable by a kirk mount? Optical quality? Certainly not an improvement with the 70-200, definitely not so when it comes to flare and ghosting. What practical advantage does the 70-200 give you that the 80-200 (with the aperture ring) does not, when shooting on a manual focus body that cannot take advantage of any of its advanced features?

We have a leafscan 45 at our newspaper that was formerly

associated press property. AP tech gave it to my boss several

years ago, with notice that it worked at the time. We don't have

the time nor the computers to hook it up to it's own dedicated

machine...but if anyone's interested in it we are looking to get rid

of it to save space. Best offer takes it, we aren't asking for much.

Probably would have to be pickup as it's heavy, I'm in the chicago

vicinity.