Mike D

<p>Up to several years ago, I used to buy the appropriate latest-and-greatest Nikon flash unit when I purchased a new Nikon body. As a result, I now have a drawer full of hardly-used Nikon flash units. It adds up to a couple thousand dollars. </p>

<p>If $2,000 is your upper limit, the big and heavy Sigma 150-600 Sport is pretty decent. If you want lighter and hand-holdable, the C version is good.</p> <p> </p><div></div>

<p>Checkout Think Tank for a bag that fits into the overhead bin on the smallest plane on which you will be flying. They have a bag that fits into the bin of a Regional Jet (Canadian or Brazilian) and a slightly bigger one that fits into a 737 class jet. If you only fly in 747 class jets, there is a much bigger choice. For me, I usually have to take a second connecting flight to wherever I'm going and that requires the smaller, CRJ sized bag. Think Tank keeps changing the names of their bags so you just have to go to their site and read the descriptions. If you have a limited budget for the bag, get the external measurement sizes from the Think Tank site and start your research from there. FYI, I've never regretted purchasing any of my Think Tank or Tamrac bags. Each different sized bag has a different purpose. (After size, the zipper may be the most important feature.)</p>

<p>For $2,200, it's not a very good looking lens. While performance should be the most important factor in buying a lens, looks play a part in the final decision to actually purchasing a lens. Hence Leica, Zeiss, and now Sigma. Phase One Schneider blue-ring lenses, wow. </p>

<p>Getting reasonable quality images is a lot easier today than it was 10 years ago. Latest generation digital camera, ISO 800, aperture priority, F8, auto focus, some light and composition and your're 90% there. </p>

<p>One of my coworkers wanted to know what sports oriented DSLR to get her son when he turned 18. She ended up getting him the Canon 7D Mk2 because all his friends had Canon telephotos which they willingly lend him He never did buy a lens. Nice friends. </p>

<p>Shun, I just tried it again at home and I cannot figure out why the 150-600 S won't connect to the TC 14E III. The diameters seem to be OK but when I actually try to insert the two pieces together, there is some sort of extra metal on one side, maybe tab, that keeps it from connecting. Short solution, carry the Nikon TC with the 80-400 and the Sigma TC with the Sigma lens. </p> <p> </p>

<p>I use Nikon's latest TC 1.4 with my Nikon 80-400 and auto focus works and the quality is pretty good. I then tried to put my 150-600 S on the same TC and it wouldn't connect mechanically. As a result, I bought Sigma's latest TC 1.4 to use with the 150-600. The auto focus worked but the image quality wasn't very good. From a point of reference, I also think most Nikon TCs aren't very good but their latest TC 1.4 seems to be a major improvement. </p>

<p>Nobody does care about my photography...unless I take a picture of them. Then they are really interested. This is why social media is so popular. You can be the worst photographer in the world and if you take a picture of someone, that someone will think you are the best photographer in the world. </p>

<p>Since the poster only mentioned Nikon lens, I didn't see anyone mention the Sigma 24-105 Art lens. I still own the Nikon 24-120 (latest version) but prefer to use the Sigma. I just get more clarity in my images out of the lens. I'm sure it's purely subjective. </p>

<p>If Hasselblad introduces a high resolution, medium speed, relatively compact, 24-70 or 24-90 equivalent zoom lens, I'm good to go. The current lenses are a real limitation for me. </p>

<p>It depends on the situation:<br> <strong>Walk (casual) in the park:</strong> iPhone and Nikon P900 (24-2000 optical equivalent) P&S.<br> <strong>West US trip requiring flying in a CRJ:</strong> Think Tank Airport Antidote v2 because it fits in overhead bin.<br> <strong>Longer trip in larger jets:</strong> Think Tank Acceleration v2 (larger) because it fits in overhead bin. <br> <strong>Car Trip: </strong>Usually larger Think Tank bag plus I throw a Sony A77 II with Tamron 150-600 in the back just in case.<br> I always take a travel tripod (or larger) with ball head and use it 75% of the time.<br> </p>

<p>I've sold a number of lenses and bodies to KEH along with the boxes and papers including any unused straps. I always seem to get more than I thought I was going to get because they upgrade the condition a notch. I do take care of my equipment even though some of it has a lot of mileage on it. If the transaction takes place at a camera store, you often get another 10% off any purchase of new equipment at that store. </p>

<p>"I think it comes down to style and confidence." I think the decision also comes down to personality. One of the guys I shoot with has a very A-type personality, loves to talk to people on the street he doesn't know, and just exudes fun and friendliness. He uses his D810 to his advantage and even shows his street subjects the images he took during and after shooting them. </p>

<p>I pack my camera bag with body and lens combos that "fit the purpose". (Mostly I just don't get rid of my older cameras.) The D810 is great for outdoor scenics, the D7200 is great for general purpose when traveling lighter and macro, and the D500 for fast moving subjects. I don't do street photography but a Sony 6300 with appropriate zoom seems to be the most fit for purpose. </p>

<p>Smaller image.</p><div></div>

<p>Here's another interpretations.</p>

<p>I can understand Wade's frustration with a bad copy of a lens. In the late 90's I bought a Nikon 85mm tilt shift lens (1st version) and simply couldn't get any sharp images with it. I sent it to Nikon for calibration and they advised that the lens was in specifications. I still couldn't take a sharp image with the lens. I have over 18 Nikon and Sigma F-mount lenses and all are tack sharp using proper technique. I haven't sold the lens because I don't believe it is ethical to sell a knowingly faulty lens without divulging its lack of sharpness. Sometimes in life, you end up eating a little crow. </p>

<p>In case it wasn't mentioned above, let WIN 10 download and then just DECLINE the Terms & Conditions and everything will reverse itself. It takes a while. You won't be bugged again. (at least in my experience)</p>

<p>The Induro AT014 8M mentioned above looks decent. I generally use a travel tripod for framing an image properly, exposure bracketing (in case I want to exposure blend), panoramas, and focus stacking. Only when shooting in darkness and doing long exposures do you need a really heavy duty tripod. I used a Benro A1190T Travel Flat Tripod on my last photo trip because it lays flat in my checked suitcase.</p>

<p>Mac ... Since I had the same problem, I did an extensive search and found a detailed discussion on another site that solved my issue. I don't know your issue but I have included the following link to that discussion. Hopefully that will be OK with the moderator. I didn't want to cut and paste the discussion in case of copyright issues.<br> http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3996435#forum-post-57667487</p>

<p>It's nice to have a fun camera like the P900 when you are walking your dogs or doing something else and don't want to be slowed down with a bunch of gear. You are not going to capture fast flying birds. In fact, I couldn't even capture surfers on waves but it is great for capturing birds sitting on branches that you can barely see. <br> <br> http://mdougherty.com/100-THEPHOTOEXPERIENCE/120-WILDLIFE/birds/woodpeckers-parrots/00-birds-woodpeckers&parrots-intro-htm.htm</p> <p> </p><div></div>

<p>In the late 60's, I used my dad's Contax 3A until he got me a Nikon F on a business trip to Hong Kong. </p><div></div>

<p>I am really stoked about what DP Review said about shooting the D810 at ISO 64 comparing it to medium format. I have never done that before. I just got back from over 2 weeks in Patagonia but the wind was so relentless, I don't think I would have ever had the opportunity to shoot at ISO 64 but I am going to give it a try when the opportunity avails itself. (Low ISO equals low shutter speed, add 30-60 MPH wind, equals blur.) </p>

<p>I saw that but I only intend to use the D500 with a Nikon 80-400 and Sigma 150-600 S so I will almost never shoot at infinity. I was also thinking that since the D500 is a sports camera requiring continuous focusing, it's strange that you can't AF fine tune in AF-C. I would never have thought that AF-S was required to fine tune. I can live with that though. I generally shoot at infinity with a wide angle on my D810. Strategically, this is an advantage of carrying several combos (bodies and lenses together) instead of an individual body with an assortment of lenses. </p>