ronald_smith2

<p>For anyone who has followed this thread, I did a shoot for a RE agent two days ago, the listing is here: http://www.remaxsouthshore.ca/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=195</p>

<p>Couple things - when I created the JPEG's from the original NEF's and sent them to the agent, the upload service to REALTOR.ca resized them to a mere 20 KB or so (from 1.5 MB!). My agent friend found many had become pix-elated, no problem to see the artifacts. He has found this to be n ongoing trouble spot. He can easily resize with PhotoShop Elements to 320x214 to fit the limitations of the Web page.</p>

<p>He can still use the high-quality JPEGs for brochures.</p>

<p>I had no trouble with the 16-85mm to get what I needed. I used the D80 and SB-800 in bounce mode at ISO 400 for the images, I was able to strike a happy balance between available outdoor light and the Speedlight exposures. Many RE listings feature washed out windows and door areas, he agent noted these are a big improvement over what he can do.</p>

<p>The slightly curved distorted lines in some of the files are not a problem, the agent wasn't concerned about that.</p>

<p>My big challenge is to convince more agents to use my services. Most realtors only take 10 or so files (this one wanted 30, the max REALTOR.ca allows) and are traditionally on the cheap side. Of course, their photography speaks for itself.</p>

<p>Even if I had two or three local agents that were willing to pay me for their listings, I'd be satisfied to get 10 a month at this point - that would be $1000 if I charged $100 per session. Of course, I might be able to get more if I branched out my business to the Halifax/Dartmouth area and charged higher fees for the gas expenses involved.</p>

<p>If I was busy enough to do this much shooting, I'd try to get another SB-800 or the new SB-900 - that would seem more useful than the 10-24mm, although the latter would certainly create unique perspectives but I'd need to be exceeding my goal to entertain the idea.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>FWIW, I have read that using an external battery pack with the SB-900 alleviates the overheating issue. I have the SD-8A that I use with my SB-800, works like a champ. I will probably be getting the SB-900 this spring and I am ready with the pack.</p>

<p>Ditch the UV filter. Those things are just a cheap accessory (unless you get a B+W or similar high-end brand) that camera salespeople will try to sell you as they have a 100% markup on them. The best protection is the lens shade.</p>

<p>Shun, all I really want to do for now is get a decent portfolio of images, maybe even create a Website. I think it would not be very prudent of me to spend over $1000 for a lens unless I am actually earning regular paychecks from my endeavor. I have one realtor who I am working with that seems to want my services and have had good dialogue about this potential side business. Once I get to know some of these agents, I will have a better understanding about the local market.</p>

<p>Many agents take a break this time of year, as I was told by one, today.</p>

<p>All the advice in this thread has been sound and very useful. Now, if only a good photo.net member would buy me the 10-24mm for Christmas!</p>

<p>I am thinking that wintertime isn't going to be a lucrative time to start this endeavor. Of the 50 emails sent, only two have given me positive signs, I guess that's better than no responses. There will not be any great influx of new listings this time of year.</p>

<p>I could/should possibly look at offering this same service to the general public sector - many people sell their homes, on heir own, without a realtor's help, surely good images would be needed for those individuals.</p>

<p>Yes, all my work will be from a tripod. It's a love/hate thing with that piece of equipment. I have been reviewing the Sigma 10-20mm, it gets decent comments but the HSM model (at least in Nikon mount) lacks an AF/MF switch, as does my Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8, which is a superb optic.</p>

<p>The Nikon 10-24mm is an investment; I think I need to try to shoot a couple homes before I plunk down the money for it, and I know I could sell it and get back most of my money if it didn't work out, or it pays for itself in short order. I have successfully shot many interiors with the 16-85mm to show of their sweeping lines.</p>

<p>Again, I stress, this doesn't have to be a full-time job, I'd combine it with many other facets of photography - shooting aerials from my dad's float plane, inventories, weddings and even freelancing with the local rag. Today's shooter needs to be a jack of all trades to some degree.</p>

<p>All great responses. I got some more feedback from my emails, one wanted to be taken off the email list=) One had a wife who was aspiring to be a photographer. I had someone else interested only if I had a super wide angle lens to get into tight quarters. This is request from someone who is not a photographer, not sure if they really are referring to the likes of the Nikon 10-24mm.</p>

<p>My target area are homes that are under $200,000 - at least for now. If/when I can build a portfolio of decent work, the rest should follow, naturally. The hard part is to convince someone they need my services.</p>

<p>I am wondering if I should take a leap of faith and get the 10-24mm - with the intention it would help sell my work, kind of like getting a nice power-saw before becoming a wood lot developer. I would *think* I could sell it down the road for a good price, I am giving myself a time line of a month to gauge true interest. By the end of January, if I don't see light at the end of the tunnel, it may be time to try something else.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>For various reasons that I won't bore you with, I am now forced into cultivating a secondary (and maybe primary) income from photography. Starting in the new year, my hours at my workplace will be cut in half as well as the earnings. I have been slowly developing and marketing myself and have been able to expand my photographic horizons to the point where I have a name and a reputation - being published in local newspapers helps.</p>

<p>No, I really need to step up to the plate and make enough income to at least match the loss of earnings. I have investigated doing some real estate imaging and have contacted about 50 local brokers and offering my services. From yesterday's mass email ad, I already have had one person who wants to try my services; I am doing listings for portfolio development at no charge to the first three who commit to my offer.</p>

<p>From extensive work with doing photographic inventories of personal belongings for clients, my 16-85mm VR can serve me well but I feel I will ultimately need to go wider. Of course, for Nikon people, they have the new AF-S 10-24mm f/3.5~f/4.5 along with the older AF-S 12-24mm f/4. I can easily implement my SB-800 and SB-600 into the equation as the best RE images often blend both available light and flash.</p>

<p>Has any regular reader done any real state imaging? Do I really need the UWA zoom? I know there are third-party alternatives, such as the Sigma 10-20mm.</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

<p>If you use flash a lot, I'd stay the course with Nikon. If you decide to switch, the SB-900 should sell easily.</p>

<p>After careful examination, I now see the problem - my Nikon D40's aspect ratio is not quite the same as the D80's, the trouble prints were with the entry-level camera. I had no issues when matting the files shots with the D80, I even measured the matts to see if any were cut larger than I had asked.</p>

<p>So, 3:2 is a bit different with DSLR's, maybe no two are quite the same.</p>

<p>For now, I'll simply use the D80 files to create these 7x10 full-frame prints, although I have a buddy who runs a lab that can print to whatever size is need to mimic the 3:2.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I recently had a bunch of 11x14 matts custom-cut to fit a 7x10 opening as I know that DSLR aspect ratio for "full frame" necessitates it. The person who cut these matts made the opening about 6-7/8 x 10-1/4. I can barely fit the print inside without getting a bit of a white border showing - I should have had the opening a but smaller.</p>

<p>I am finding out that the "full-frame" parameters mean, for the 10-inch length, that the height is more like 6-7/8"so the actual file is not quite a 3:2 proportion - I am using Nikon D40 and D80 bodies - maybe there are slight differences between the cameras for aspect ratio. Anyway, I am trying to find out if I can make a custom print with the Hewlett Packard 7960, HP no longer has email support on this aging (but excellent) printer.</p>

<p>I find, in general, that 3:2 is a rather clunky ratio to deal with, you always need a custom matt if you want to make full-frame - I guess you could use 8x12, but you'd need to have a larger-format printer.</p>

<p>Would it be best to simply use a compact camera for making traditional 8x10 prints? The aspect ratio on my Coolpix 8400, for example, is easier to work around.</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

 

<p>Yes, there is always eBay, I have checked, this flash is running around $300 - $325 USD, but not new, of course.</p>

<p>I already have an SB-800, I want a second unit. The new SB-900 would be my second choice and I'd be looking at the SD-9 battery pack.</p>

<p>BTW, your battery level has to be at least 75% of max or you won't be able to use this feature. It's a saftey mechanism that Nikon uses on their DSLR's and manual sensor cleaning.</p>

<p>I, too, would like to know where you can get an SB-800.</p>

<p>I'd use Manual exposure mode, set the aperture to about f/8, and use ISO 400 - if you have the SB-600 or SB-800, it should be fine for direct flash results.</p>

<p>I am guessing you will need the AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR. If you are using a slower zoom, it simply won't cut the ice. (pardon the pun) The typical f/4.5~f/5.6 telephoto zoom will mean slow shutter speeds and a lot of blur.</p>

<p>Seems everyone now offers double-digit MP cameras even as entry-level models, the days of clean files are over. I recently bought a D40, seems kind of old school compared to the D5000, but high ISO shooting is assured.</p>

<p>The new 10-24mm is exciting news if it performs up to its heritage.</p>

<p>The D60 is only $40 more than the D40 up here in Canada, it would be a no-brainer to get those extra 4 MP and a more updated body. I still need to try one out, though. Thanks for everyone's input.</p>

<p>I checked into getting a D200, Best Buy won't ship to Canada. I think I will visit a lcoal shop and play with the D60, it would only be a secondary camera.</p>

<p>You bring up a good point about the top LCD on the D80 - my last few SLR's (all film ones) have had LCD's on the top, I don't know if I could go away from that.</p>

<p>I know I'd like the D90, it has a few features of note - namely a more durable shutter assembly and better display screen. To boot, it uses the same battery and grip as the D80. The video thing is nothing I would use, but it's there if you want to try it.</p>

<p>I'll keep my eye on the price of the D90, it needs to come down a bit - I just got my D80 at a bargain basement deal, I like the idea of getting a higher-end DSLR for $700 CDN=)</p>

<p>I often feel I need a second body, even as a back-up or for general shooting. The D60 does have the same 10.2 MP sensor as the D80 and X-sync of 1/200th sec. It should be able to deliver identical results with my 16-85mm VR and 70-300mm VR, both AF-S lenses, as I am seeing with my D80.</p>

<p>I know the D60 has just three AF points and no DOF, what about build quality?</p>

<p>Thoughts are welcome from those who own/use both.</p>

<p>The answer is simple - get the 16-85mm VR and 70-300mm VR, the dynamic duo of Nikon consumer zooms.........</p>

<p>Win the lottery and get the AF-S 200-400mm f/4 VR, this is the king of super tele zooms on the market.</p>

<p>I have the 70-300mm VR, it's a great lens, but I find myself wanting to have 400mm a lot of the time. I have tossed around the idea of the 80-400mm VR, as I don't need blistering-fast AF, it would be nice if Nikon upgraded that lens to AF-S - it would sell like hot cakes.</p>

<p>Wow, why would you even think of getting a third-party lens with QC issues abound like this? As the previous poster says, it can happen to anyone, but it's a roll of the dice.........</p>

<p>You'll find TONS of complaints about the SB-600 if you do some research, hope it's under warranty.</p>