shay_ohayon

I found something interesting.

It's similar to the TZ5, but has manual control (and even a 25mm-125mm lens! WOW!)

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0803/08031802panasonicfx500.asp#specs

Hi All,

I am searching for a ultra compact camera to buy for our upcoming trip.

I am not a beginner and have had a lot of experience with (d)SLRs and MF.

However, since this is going to be a long backpacker's trip with many long

hikes, it seems that taking a SLR will be just too heavy.

Therefore, I decided to buy a ultra compact camera.

My main considerations are:

1. Weight

2. Battery life (and good charging options)

I thought about the new Panasonic TZ5, which have many great features, such as a

wide zoom (28mm), but the lack of manual control is a bit of a downside....

Can any of you guys suggest other good alternatives?

Thanks,

Shay

Hi All,

I am travelling to Hong-Kong next month and thinking on buying my first studio

lights starter kit.

Any recommendation on reliable store to buy studio equipment there?

Are prices really cheaper?

Regards,

Shay

Guys?

Can you leave the ego aside and give me a simple answer ?

Has anyone around ever used AlienBees with some kind of a step-down regulator, is so - what was it's specification?

Thanks,

Shay

Hi,

Since most people around here have praised the alien bee strobes, I am

considering to buying my first studio kit there.

One problem, though - they have stopped selling the 220V version (and exporting

it outside the US, but that is only a minor problem...)

My question -

Have anyone operated a 120V strobe using 220V with some kind of step down

regulator? what type of step down (how many watts?)

Did anyone encountered any problem using this approach?

And, finally - it is quite surprising the most stobes(monolight, actually) out

there opearte only on 120V. Any recommendation on a cheap, but reliable, starter

kit (400W/s) strobes that operate on 220?

Many thanks,

Shay

Hi,

I am doing some research before going into LF. I will probably start with Speed

Grpahics or similar 4x5.

I am currently using the smaller Bogen 486 ball head, which has proven to be

really nice. I am wondering whether the 488RC4 will be able to cope with a heavy

load such as a large format camera, or do I need to put the big $$$ and buy that

huge 490RC4 head.

Thanks,

Shay

Hi all,

Where can I find great backdrops, like the ones shown in

the phototips (under the "videos" link in the main Photo.net web

page)? I'm talking about the "Taking Senior portraits with Tim Kelly".

Anyone knows an on-line store?

Thanks,

Shay

Hi,

Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention that I got a Kiev 88.

Shay

Hi all,

Ok, I have a problem with my kiev (just got it from shitty ebay for

a few bucks...) - I have overlaping frames.

What are the chances that the problem is in the body or in the

back ? (I got two backs and in both of them I get overlaps).

Suppose it's in the backs - how can I fix it ?

If you think problem is consistent with two backs - how can the body

be fixed ?

Shay

P.S.

I get a lot of flare with the MIR 45. Is the Distagon/Flektogon any

better ?

Hi All,

Short question - does the 20D handle E-TTL OK ? (i.e. 550EX) ?

In other words - is there a backward compatibility between E-TTL II

and E-TTL ?

Thanks in advance,

Shay

Hey All,

Just wanted to share with you a good experience I had with a recent purchase in Ebay.

I bought a Yashica 635, which was supposed to be "mint". When arrived, I realized that it's pretty dirty, several shutter speeds don't work, and rust is visible on the shutter blades.

I informed the seller, and he said he is willing to give me a full refund, or pay for the repair. I send it for a repair, which cost almost the price I paid for the camera itself. The seller sent me back money for the full repair cost.

Just to show you there are still honest guys out there...

Shay

Thanks Yakim,

Again...this proves my inability to search in the internet :)

Shay

Hi,

Can someone please show me an example of the same scene taken with

and without a Tilt/Shift Lens ?

Thanks,

Shay

Hi Ido,

Yep. That was the problem. I was focusing at a distance of 1.5-2m.

BTW - they are both quite sharp at the middle of the frame, but the 70-200 defenitly win when I compare conrners. Both have nice results at F8. F22-32 turned bit blury, but I guess it's because the 300D doesn't have a mirror lock, and expsure was almost 3 sec.

Shay

Ok, so I'm burning with fever because I caught the cold, and I am

quite bored at home - so I decided to do a comparison test between

my two favorite lenses - Canon 70-200 F4L, and Sigma 24-70 EX.

I mounted the two on a 300D + tripod, and set both to 70mm.

Much to my surprise - the images I got were not the same. It seems

that the image with the 70-200, set on 70mm has a larger focal

length than the image I got with the 24-70 set on 70mm.

I did not move the camera orientation or tripod position between

shoots.

Any ideas ?!?!?!?!

And please don't tell me to throw away the Simga piece of junk, and

buy the 24-70L, since I am short on cash... :)

Shay

Hi,

Is there a website which shows a comparison between the various

films, with examples of same scene, taken with different films ?

(you know, much like the hunderds of comparisons of camera

lenses....) ?

I would want to see once and for all, the difference between

Tmax,Pan,and HP.

Shay

Thanks Jeff,

I took your advice - found a used copy in B&N for $3. :)

Shay

Hi All,

After trying to read some film specification, I realized I know very

little about the technical part of them.

I have quite a mess in my mind...Help is much needed! :)

- How do I determine if a film is "low contrast" or "high contrast" ?

- Low contrast means I would have more exposure latitude ? How can I

read this from the charts ?

- How does all of this fit to the "Zone System" theory ? Does it

mean high contrast films have less zones ?

- Does low ISO means high resolving power ?

- what is MTF Curve ?

- how do I read "Density/Expsure" charts ? what does density mean,

and how does it connect to "resolution" ?

Thanks,

Shay

Hi All,

I am planning a short photography trip to Petra in jordan. I thought

it would be wise to ask you guys for advices/tips - what to bring

(lenses, film). Is morning / sunset better for photography there ?

Thanks,

Shay

I always request a hand inspection, and security workers always agree (even in forgotten coutries like Egypt...)

I had only one problem, when I carried Kodak HIE (infrared film), since it cannot even be exposed to daylight. The security officer finally (after much discussion) agreed to "feel" it inside my darkbag (Always handy to bring one with you...).

Shay

So many people have talked about the heavyness of SLR MF, but they seem to forget that a solid 35mm with a decent lens isn't much lighter. I used to shoot with my EOS3+booster+24-70mm+540EZ... T

he first thought which ran through my mind during the first time I held a mamiya 645 was - hmmm... that's not that heavy....

U Can not advise you on the bronica, but I'm also intereste on buying one in the near future. Prices are low!

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the ideas. I actually used the simplest solution - glue :)

I attached it to the holder, which was a bit larger, and glued the lens to it. Works like a charm. (Only problem, I cannot change lenses anymore, but it doesn't matter, sinceI have only one...)

Shay

Hi all,

I ordered a beautiful Rodenstock 75mm for my enlarger from Ebay for

few bucks. Lens arrived, and looks great. The problem is - it won't

fit my enlarger :(

I thought I have a 39mm screw there, but apperantly it's a bit

larger. It's an old 6x6 enlarger manufactered in Poland. It

says "Krokus", and "PZO" on the label.

Any ideas what should I do ? Does someone knows enlarger lens with

something like 40/42mm screw ?!?!? Maybe an adapter ?

Thanks,

Shay

Hi Paul,

Thanks, but they only ship within continental U.S. :(

Sha