eric_m4

<p>I haven't read all the previous post so maybe this has already been mentioned. Ansel Adams, Weston and many others were greats but Ansel is often credited with developing printing/darkroom techniques which obviously appeals to photographers. He also appealed to the whole environmentalist movement, and he's subject matter had mass appeal with the general public who enjoy topics of Americana. He has much more mass appeal than others from his era. Weston and others don't get as much attention for all those qualities.</p>

<p>Laurie,<br> Very cool, thanks!</p>

<blockquote> <p>Unless the idea of building your own camera is really important to you...</p> </blockquote> <p>That's exactly it. I've been shooting LF on and off for the last twenty years so I'm aware of the expenses involved. I just like the idea of building one from a kit, preferably an 8x10, if available. I actually built a 4x5 from Bender about 15 years ago, and you're right, it is not as good as a toyo, cambo, etc... but it's something the weekend woodworker in me really enjoys. But I agree with everything you said as far as someone trying to get the most bang for the buck.</p>

<p>Don't know if anyone is aware of this site but I stumbled upon it looking for DIY Large Format cameras such as the old Bender kits : </p> <p>http://www.bulldogcameras.com/. </p> <p>Does anyone have any experience with this company? B&H use to carry them also but I'm not sure if they're still in business anymore. Their website states "they are currently undergoing maintenance". I wanted to get a Bender 4x5 or maybe even the 8x10 kit but Jay Bender retired several years ago - I think in 2008. </p> <p> </p>

<p>As usual, Photo.net comes to the rescue. Thanks very much guys!</p>

<p>When I convert Nikon NEFs (RAW files) to DNG in Lightroom 5, I can only view thumbnails in Lightroom. I can view NEF thumbnails in any folder by just opening up any folder that stores them but not DNG's. Is there something else I need to view DNG thumbnails the same as NEF thumbnails? Thanks.</p>

<p>If an FX camera and a DX camera have similar 24 MP sensor (such as a D750 and a D7200, or maybe even the newer D500) would an image from FX camera have the same detail as DX camera if FX image were cropped down to same size as the DX image? I know these cameras didn't come out at the same time and don't have same sensor but I was wondering if I was to shoot distant subjects, such as small birds, would I get a better image (more detail) with an FX cropped down so subject fills the frame or with a DX image that has subject filling the frame <em>without</em> cropping? Assuming lens, exposure, etc... was the same for both cameras. I'm thinking the DX format would be better for distant bird photography. Hope wording wasn't to confusing. Thanks.</p>

<p>I think you're better off getting a decent manual lens and attaching on camera with a reverse adapter. Maybe even some extension tubes if you really want to go extreme. Its also pretty cheap.</p>

<p>Going through stock topics it seems that Alamy is pretty popular with stock shooters. Just wondering: In addition to non-micro agencies like Alamy, how many photographers here are <em>also</em> signed up with strictly microstock agencies and which ones? Or do you only shoot for Alamy?</p>

<p>I notice that Alamy does not ask for I.D. to sign up as a contributor but somewhere on the Shutterstock site they state a "government I.D." (Driver's Lic, Passport, etc...) is required to become a contributor. Anyone know why that is?</p>

<p>Hey Guys, Thanks very much for the info. Brian, thanks for the Amazon suggestion. I don't know how good they are but they have tons of them! Problem now is I don't know how to get off the current tripod collar off. The tripod mount comes off but the actual collar just spins around. Seems I would have to hacksaw it off. A bit drastic so I'm not sure about that one. Manfrotto had an interesting device (Manfrotto 293 Telephoto Lens Support) that mounts to the camera and extends to support the lens with a strap around barrel to keep it in place. Anyway, thanks again.</p>

<p>I have a Tokina 400mm f/5.6 (model: SL 400SD) manual lens. It's pretty old but actually pretty sharp and well built. The only problem is the tripod collar is still a bit wobbly even after everything has been tightened down. Does anyone know if there is a sturdier 3rd party tripod collar that can fit this lens? It's a fairly slim lens considering its range.</p>

<p>Hey guys,<br> Weight is not a major issue. I was more concerned with following the action on the field. It's much easier with any lens when its mounted on a monopod. Handheld its a little tougher to get a tight shot when player is zig zagging down the field - even if the lens doesn't weigh that much. I was pretty sure it would be difficult to impossible to find a collar for this lens but sometimes, someone out there knows of some obscure adapter that solves the puzzle. Thanks anyway.</p>

<p>Nikon replaced older versions of 1.4x and 2.0x Teleconverters but the 1.7x TC remains the same. Does anyone know if the 1.7x will be replaced with newer version? Wouldn't it make sense to upgrade the 1.7 model also?</p>

<p>I know Nikon's 28-300mm doesn't come with a lens collar but does anyone know if there is some type of lens collar/adapter available for Nikon's 28-300mm? Third party? I know it has VR but I'd like to shoot sports from sidelines and no matter how good the VR feature is, it's much easier to follow a football player running down the field with a lens mounted on a monopod. Even if VR was as good, this lens gets pretty heavy after hanging around your neck for 2 hours. </p>

<p>If I want to submit photos to a stock agency and I photographed my friends and relatives every time I saw them, would they have to sign a model release every time I photographed them? For example, If I photograph my sister's kids 7 days a week do I need her signature on 7 different model release forms each week? Or is there a "Bulk" model release form for, say, the whole year of 2015, 2016, etc...?</p>

<p>I've seen a couple of YouTube videos recommending regular lubrication of filter threads so filters don't get stuck on lenses. Does anyone here do that to their lenses/filters? What do you use to lubricate threads? WD-40, vaseline, etc...? Thanks</p>

<p>Thanks guys, works great! By the way, Pete was right about the channel selection. The transciever on the flash is set to one channel higher. Thanks again.</p>

<p>I bought cable to connect PW Plus II to D7000 via cable release input. A second Plus II fires the camera and a remote SB-800, also hooked up to Plus II. Flash fires, camera shoots but they're not in sync. I've shot at various shutter/aperture settings, even at shutter speed of 2 full seconds the camera does not capture flash, not even set at full power. Exposure is not affected by flash. Camera and flash both set to manual. It seems like flash goes off just before shutter is released. I've changed rear curtain, front curtain, upside down... sync speed but still no good. I didn't find anything on PW website. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.</p>

<p>D600 frames per second rate might make it feel slow in overall handling. D3/D4 are in the 10fps range and the D600 about half that much. A huge difference that really makes just about any other camera feel slow. Something to consider...</p>

<p>ControlMyNikon is similar as far as control features but it's <em>not</em> wireless. A lot cheaper at $30.</p>

<p>It's just more fun. I even print color negs in Black and White darkroom. I don't spend as much time in darkroom as I'd like but it's always more enjoyable than sitting at a computer. </p>

<p>That's the question: Is Ilford's Delta-100 Professional 4x5" Black & White Negative Sheet Film (ISO-100) their version of Kodak's T-Max 100?</p>

<p>I recently found some old black and white medium format negatives that have been laying around in some old shoe box since around the 1960s. They were not stored in protective sleeves so they have a lot of caked on dirt and assorted gunk. Right now they are just sitting in plain water so maybe the dirt will loosen up. Other than that I don't know what to do. Any suggestions out there? </p>

<p>Hey Jeff, I was thinking the same thing but I thought maybe someone knew of an easy quick fix. I thought I once heard/read that putting lens in oven would take care of problem so I tried it earlier today since prices are fairly low for this lens, about $140 in "excellent condition" - whatever that means. At any rate, I left it in there about an hour at low temp. Still looks the same, works the same, hopefully won't get any worse until I get another one. I'm not a tinkerer but in a weird way I kind of want an excuse to take it apart. We'll see... BTW Jeff, why do you have three of them?</p>