tcrowe

<p>I have been a photographer, wince, since, I bought my first Nikon FTn in 1969. I also bought 4 Nikkor lenses, at that time, from 300mm to 28mm. I have taken a few shots here and there and worked professionally, now retired, for 27 years.<br>

I see a lot of cons about weight, ever done astro photography? The weight is due to the lens barrel, for a start and the number of elements and, to a lesser degree, the coatings on the glass although this is minor as to weight.<br>

The Tokina is a specialized lens. Yes, I have one. It is heavy. That's why I have tripods. I am fast with tripods. Comes with the territory.<br>

It is not the weight, that must be dealt with with any pro lens, depending on the glass. 13 elements presents weight. It is the method of steadying the glass in the lens. If I need a high camera angle, out of reach of my tripods, I use a ladder and a bean bag. The bean bag merely cradles the camera and lens to keep it still for the shot. Works great for those who are not familiar with this simple fix.<br>

The 11-16 is one of the best values you will ever see in pro glass. It is a great lens and should be in every ones bag.</p>

<p>I see that no one has mentioned copyright issues and contract issues. So I will. If you are going to shoot photos commercially, which is what you are doing, should you proceed with this, you could lose more if anything goes wrong than anything you might make due to licenses, insurance and no contract. Who retains the copyright for your images? I sometimes "lease" a copyright to a client for a limited period for which I am paid a surcharge above what I charge per hour and per photograph. I also make sure that each photo is recorded as to copyright.</p>

<p>I realize that this is probably a casual assignment. I urge you to follow through with a lot of thought to the homework you need to do. You don't enter a lions cage without knowing something about the lion. You are enering a legal contract by taking money from someone on a commercial basis. Be careful and good luck.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I have used a Mac Pro for many months. I do NX, PS 3 and also have an external HDD. The Mac Pro is almost, for the near future, capable of Terabites of memory, fast and is smooth as silk to use. I installed 8G's 0f RAM to the standard 1 G for 9 G's. I have never been happier for dealing with NEF's and RAW. Fast, did I say that before?<br>

It is expensive at first but the ease and speed of workflow makes up, in production time, the cost. I came from PC and am quite happy I did.</p>

I so much appreciate your responses. I think I'll rub them together and work off the loose electrons and call it good.

 

What about the nomenclature I mentioned (Kodak KX13 1.35 volt)? Are they still available? they worked very well for a while and the finder seems to have been calibrated to these. OK, duh, I'll check the Kodak site. Thanks friends. Sorry I missed the obvious.

I just pulled out my FTn, 70 vintage and found the batteries dead. (They have been replaced and the FT finder has

been worked over to perfect) They had been replaced when I had the finder overhauled a few years ago. I need new

batteries and I know they are available. Just don't know what to look for. The batteries that I took out are two;

Kodak KX13 1.35 volt. They lasted a few years. What is the battery that will work on my old girl now? Love this

camera. Sharpened my photographic teeth on this and am going to go to my grave with this camera.

 

OK, enough drama. Just need to know the proper replacement battery (s) for my wonderful Japanese friend. Any help

needs to be knowledgeable. Please. Sorry for my ignorance, I can't cover all bases.

It's just me. I have been shooting since I was a wee lad. Film. I just didn't realize how good digital would be. On the other hand, the D300 is just a few hundred dollars more than I paid for my D70s. I appreciate your taking the time to respond. I followed up, in general, each of your responses and learned a lot. Thanks as always to the courtesy and understanding for a 60 year old photographer just coming on line. TCrowe

An interesting problem. The D300 seems to be shooting as with a soft focus filter. I have tried with about ten photos and all lenses (2) give the same result. I did this at default and then tried AF-fine. Any answers? It is easy to see through the soft focus that all are in critical focus and yet they come out soft. Never seen this before and I think it might be me. Is this a d300 set up problem. I only just started to go through the menus as I have the next few days off shooting. I want to use the D300 but can also use the F5.

 

The D300 I bought Sunday. It is next to right out of the box.

I just retired, well, not really, my D70s. A great camera but I had to move on so purchased the D300. Just

setting up the camera, only had it for 2 days, and am really pleased with it. I have been a film photographer for

the longest time; 1971 as a serious amateur.

 

I am shooting professionally now and just love what Nikon has done, for the price point, with the D300.

 

Custom settings seem to slightly relate to the F5 which I have had for some years. Just wondering what others use

for their custom settings on the D300?

 

Thanks as always.

Mac Pro is extremely dependable. Been running it for four months now without a hitch. Colors are consistent out of the box. Much better colors than the PC ever gave. Even after calibration with the Pantone.

Well, I've moderated a photo forum or two and jump in here when I get the chance. I rarely stick my nose into "casual" threads.

 

Actually, I think photography is about ego to the extent that one should want to be the best. Egos are easily kept in check by a bit of humility. So, I think what some are speaking of is a lack of humility on the part of some others. Lack of humility is a lack of kindness in interpersonal relationships. Or, just plain being an AH. You pick.

 

As for Photo.net, I am comfortable here and I think that many amateurs are up lifted just by the quality of photographs in the galleries. Most show an aim point for their aspirations.

 

At any rate, I love this place and it is the only one I have paid to be a member of. I should participate more but just get in here once in a while.

Since I started out with a camera (1957) there have been arguments about brands

and lenses and filters and factors and whatnot. This is a given in our persuasion.

 

I wonder what happened to the CLEAN argument in the years that followed. I have

dumped most forum interests as even the friendliest forums are full of louts

that accost folks at random for disagreeing with what they say.

 

Perhaps I am still a kid at sixty but I really can no longer see a forum being

anything other than a filter for insane egotists.

 

 

THIS FORUM EXCLUDED!

 

 

The exception is here, at photo.net. Here I can get grilled and understand the

line from start to finish. A critique here is one I listen to. There is also a

ton of help with no back track towards criticism of the initial question with a

plethora of fetid onion comments attached.

 

 

Thanks for giving me my monies worth, in all phases.

You need to see an Optimologist for specialized glass and a specialized frame to hold the glass that is your target eye sight. I have the same problem. I did what I advise. It works. Wish it could be cheaper.

It's interesting, since the advent of PS and Capture, that Michael left in the "milky" skies.

 

Forums are tough due to a lot of adverse jealousy and some fall prey to this criticism (milky skies and not "captured to deep blue"). Michael did not and I am glad to see no azure skies due to post processing.

 

Nice shots Michael. Good truth. I love it.

7 Points. Try this one. Good stuff, lots of repetition.

Kelly, no, I haven't. I just got back in and the last thing I need to do is to go under the digital knife to see why all is working so well. I love it. It is smooth and just a kick to sit down in front of.

 

My best answer to available RAM for PS is 3 GB's to run. That is not correct for all as some run it, albeit slowly, at 2 GB's.

 

I would have to run "rember" to give you particulars and I am not available to do that right now. Thanks for the query.

 

My added RAM becomes a comfort zone of speed, blinding.

 

It used to be that PC ms/dos engineers sold Apple down the river for the added memory it took for Apple's, at that time, to do the same thing that they could do with item coded entries such as "goto". Now, the RAM and all has changed so that, if you can get around some of the egos in the Apple realm, that the OS, Leopard, is so smooth and fast that PC's are getting archaic. Hey, I didn't do it. I just do what I need to do when funds permit. Don't give me a flogging. Just needed to move on.

Kelby has a ton of books. Try Amazon for titles. I have no idea as to his knowlege, yet. I will get one of his though I have not yet gotten a correct title as far as I can parallel to any post. Sway it goes on a forum. I'll be in touch when it gets to me.

OK, I added the 8 GB's of RAM to the existing 1 GB and it is amazing. CS3 and Capture NX plus a browser and email open at the same time run at speeds I cannot get used to. No slow down. No hesitation between applications and no difference in speed while rendering in either photo app. Now I jusst have to get up to speed with CS3 as it is much more complex than my old CS. I never got CS2 so I have made a jump to all the additional niceties.

 

Thanks for your participation in my post. Much appreciated.

Kelby has been recommended, also, to me. I'll take a look at all of them and see which fit my style. Thanks.

Eye of the Beholder is a term I have used for years. As long as the "beholder" has the depth of experience to properly judge with a critical eye.

 

I joined some years ago and have had a wonderful experience with the members and their expertise; what ever level.

 

I have helped and been helped. There is nothing in photography that can ever be completely learned. Best we can all do is keep shooting and driving our minds and artistic abilities

Levels is what I was just playing with and I do save and rename from the original. Great tip about the opacity and building up. Thanks for the tips. And, yes, it is going to take some time. I did a simple B/W conversion of a portrait of my son and it worked quite well for my limited knowledge. I did use some curves and brightness/contrast and found the result pleasing.

 

I am open to any other suggestions. Thanks Again for the Responses.

I will check out the two books. TCrowe

I am just starting to shut down the darkroom-wet. Not quite through but making a

transition to digital PP.

 

I just got a Mac Pro and have upgraded it to 9 GB's to handle PS CS3 and Capture

NX. This is a question about CS3.

 

I am old to photography but new to the digital darkroom. CS3 came with a DVD of

tutorials that encompasses a ton of lessons. Where do I start?

I am having a bit of confusion as to how to parallel the wet darkroom with the

digital darkroom. I need to understand how to interpret the first things first

with CS3.

 

If anyone can answer this in as general a form as I have posted this question,

just for a start, I would appreciate your input. Just looking for beginnings and

I can take it from there. Thanks.

Eric, the Mac Pro is very interesting. Coming off a PC I have a lot to learn. However, it is light speed compared to what I had to work with all these years. It is quiet, very quiet. It reacts to commands at the blink of an eye. It renders so quickly that I have to watch to see it happen. This is with two 512's for 1 GB. I would be only to happy to let anyone know how my addition of another 8 GB's work. I have to wait until they arrive.

 

The speaker on Mac Pro must have come off a dung heap. Tinny as a cheap horn. That is, so far, my only objection.

Thanks Kelly, I am going to start with the 2 GB sticks closest to the logic board, as recommended, on both A and B risers. The 512's I will place on the A riser behind the 2 GB sticks (A). Any other explanation as to "the other" methods? Very curious.

I have the Mac Pro and am just getting used to the interface. A lot different than the Pc as to the icon communications. Still, the only real difference is the speed and clarity of the its communication to the user. Very nice. I am now waiting for the RAM to get here. Capture NX was a second to download thanks to Michael Rubin who has worked with me due to the failure of that program on my PC. thanks Michael.

 

I am just really getting the Mac set up and have PP'd a couple photos with Capture and it is very fast.

The new Mac version installed just fine and updated smoothly. What a luxury. It will be a day or so before I start editing with it as I need to become much more familiar with the Mac. Thanks very much, Michael, for the help. Even if I did have to buy a new computer! ;>)