jack_floyd2

I would have to recomend two Fujis: 100ISO Reala (color negative) and Provia 100F (slide). Excellent color rendition wihout too much of anything. If you're going into known low light situations, Fuji Superia 400 is a good all around film.

Am already planning my next vacation, and would like any

information/recommendations on workshops or phototours in the Bryce,

Zion, Arches area, Santa Fe area, Pacific Coast, and/or Sierra Nevada.

I'd love to say "price no object", but, alas...the cheaper the

better. Either Spring or Fall preferred, but if someone had a great

experience in Summer or Winter, I'd like to hear that too. I shoot

35mm exclusively, and am a hiker/backpacker, so strenuosity (is that a

word?) not a major consideration. Thanx in advance. Jack Floyd

I made a Northern loop last year, from SF up the coast to Oregon and got to Bodie and Mono Lake, though I didn't spend that much time at Mono.

Hello, all, coming back for advice as what I got last year was great.

From Octo. 26 through Nov. 11 will be making a trip from San

Francisco south to Santa Barbara or a little below ( not down to LA

though) then possibly inland to Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Mono Lake,

finishing at Yosemite. The Inland swing is more a"maybe", the coast

trip a definite. Any suggestions on shooting locations, places to

stay ( I'll have tent and sleeping bag with me), and expecially places

to eat much appreciated

Couldn't help but jump in on the issue of cheap lens/expensive body (or vice versa). I have Canon Elan IIe and A2, not the most expensive, but with ALL THE FEATURES I WANT ON A BODY AND MORE. You got to put the house on a good foundation, the rocket on a good pad, the zazz on a strong pizz (sorry, lost it there). I know that I'll keep those bodies for a lonnnnng time, whereas I don't know that a real nice piece of glass, the!!! one I can't live without won't be released tomorrow, or sooner, the way the companies release without warning. If so, I'll sell, trade, something and try that lens, cheap or expensive, and keep it or return it based on tests, features, etc., something I no longer have to do with bodies. And I'm sure that , e.g., Nikon F100 or Canon EOS 3 people are going to switch lenses more often than bodies more than I am. A recent example: I had a Sigma 175-500, and Canon comes out wth the 100-400 IS "L" lens. Got the Canon, really like the IS, push/pull zoom with lock, manual override focussing, build quality. Tested both, COULD NOT SEE A NICKEL'S WORTH OF DIFFERENCE IN THE SLIDES OR PRINTS. Was totally amazed. The Canon was $1100 more than the Sigma, and probably $1300 difference when I figured what I could sell the Sigma for. I really miss the IS, push/pull zoom, etc. "Cheap (inferior)" lens on an "expensive (superior)" body? Even if I'd had the EOS Iv, that Sigma would still be in the camera bag, and the Canon back on the shelf.

Hi, all, back again for info. Last year took a trip from S.F. to

Arcata to Shasta to Lassen to Mono Lake to Yosemite, and got some good

advice from you.

Now, this year I think I'm going SF down the coast to Santa Barbara

to Death Valley to Mono and finish up in Yosemite again.

Any advice on places to shoot and to eat are greatly appreciated.

Dates for the trip are Oct. 27-Nov. 10, and if you know of any

fairs, festivals, etc. please feel free to suggest.

Thanx in advance, Jack.

Chris, I took a three week trip thru N. Cal. last Oct-Nov, with a Canon A2, Elan IIe, 50mm 1.8, 28-135 IS, and 170-500 Sigma. All the lenses performed well, the 28-135 was fantastic, and it was used in probably 70% of my 2000+ shots. I didn't miss having more wide angle capability, though that's more my choice of subject matter than an objective pronunciemento, and I really appreciated the reach the 170-500 gave me. For birds, even a 1200mm is not enough for all!!! the shots you want. The Sigma does appear a bit soft at the 500mm end, but that's a failing of all zooms that I've heard of or used. To me it's a question of getting a decent shot versus none at all: I'll take "decent" any day. Polarizing filter a must, 81A/B extremely helpful (lot of blue in that skylight out there, especially at the higher elevations), cable release, and as much film as you can afford/carry. You will love it out there, I ga-rawn-tee.

Am considering a workshop, Ansel Adams Gallery at Yosemite, called

"Crafting the Fine B&W Photograph", instructor is Alan Ross. Anyone

have experience with Mr. Ross, and this workshop in particular?

Josh, I just returned from a three week N. California trip, shooting about 2000 slides, color prints, and b&w's, 50% (at least) of which were done with the 28-135 IS. I am extremely pleased with color, contrast, resolution, distortion (or lack), and am thinking seriously about getting a second to go on my second body, as I like to have color and b&w both ready to go. As do most photogs when on the long road, I shot a number of "backups" at the same exposure to guard against having only one shot that was ruined by handshake. Well, big surprise, I don't think I had more than 10-15 shots that showed!! any!!! handshake, and I was shooting down to 1/8 in some cases. I've learned to really trust that IS, use it when I'm shooting up to 1/250 (yes, you can get more shake than you realize, even at that speed) and as noted above am pleased with the lens optically. The lens also has macro (or at least real close) focusing, not generally known, at all focal lengths, the AF is fast!!, and I find I don't mind the weight when backpacking. I hook a custom neck stap (customized by me, with scissors) that I clip with snap swivel hooks to the d-rings on my shoulder straps. I find the focal length range to be more than sufficient, and with a 50mm I think you're going to be constantly!! wanting that bit more wide angle or telephoto. I guess I'll stop now, but I'm crazy about this lens, if that's not clear already. Oh, yeah, let me add that I used the lens in IS mode for well over 35 rolls, with flash some of the time, on my Elan IIe, and the original battery still wasn't drained.

My thanks to all who responded: here's my report. The weather conditions changed while I was there, to the extent that I had one day of rain, the rest all Carolina blue skies with just enough clouds to add contrast and interest to the shots. I went from Lee Vining, at Mono Lake, over the Tioga Pass on the last day it was open in perfect weather, saw no smoke and haze to speak of in the Shasta-Lassen area: things could not have been any clearer. At a place called Hat Creek Radio Astronomy Ovservatory I had clear view of Shasta, 55 miles away, and!! Lassen, 45 miles. Got great shots of the elk at Pt. Reyes and at Prairie Creek,heavy surf and at least one great sunset from Pt. Reyes to above Crescent City, Emerald Point at Tahoe, tufas at Mono, bristlecone pines near Bishop, crystal clear shots of Half Dome, El Capitan, etc., in Yosemite, and of enough redwoods to rebuild Charlotte (provided I didn't shoot all the developers first, and not with a camera, neither). I appreciate everyone's input, you helped my planning immensely. .

Drove the Blue Ridge Parkway north from Asheville to near Linville Falls this past weekend (October 16) and the color is about 50%, hasn't peaked yet so trips this weekend should be great.

I'm taking off for a N. Cal. photo camping trip in a couple of days

(October 22). I'll start just north of San Francisco, go up the coast

to Eureka,and maybe some north, and then I had planned to cut through

to Redding/Mt. Shasta/Mt. Lassen, over to the Sierra, then on down to

Yosemite, for three weeks total. My question is about the fire

damage/danger in the Shasta/Lassen/Redding area: is it dangerous

there still, burnt out, roads closed etc.. Any advice helpful, and

thanx to all who posted on places to shoot (and to eat) previously.