mike simons

<p>Pulled the grip this morning and put it into my secondary camera, and that camera - with grip and one of the batteries from the night the first rig went bad -- worked just fine.</p>

<p>Put another battery into the original bad rig, sans battery grip, and closed it up with a 511 and battery compartment cover swapped out from the 2nd rig. Turned it on, and all symptoms are the same. Drawing power, but whole rig is wonky. Would I / should I be looking at the battery contacts on up inside the compartment? The mirror is down, not jammed/stuck.</p>

<p>Thoughts?<br>

-Mike</p>

<p>Recharged battery partially, and power's back on. WB can change. AF can change. Drive & ISO, as well. on "M" all that shows is shutter speed, and it won't change. Same on Tv. On Av, neither shutter speed nor aperture is shown. on "P," the same. Focusing point button works. <br /> <br /> Grip and main power are both set to "on."</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for help.</p>

<p>Here's what I know:</p>

<p>My primary 5D died during a wedding (the dinner, thankfully, so I moved to my backup) last week. No response to AF button (set custom to the * button), to shutter button, no LCD in viewfinder, but top LCD still worked. Relative response to AF/WB, Drive, and metering buttons, but absolutely nothing on Menu, Info, or other back buttons.<br>

Camera is receiving power.<br>

Shooting with 24-70mm 2.8 L and a BG-4 battery grip on it, with two BP-111s.<br>

Pulled the batteries, let it idle, and reinstalled - nothing. No change. Still reponds marginally to top control buttons, but can't use control dial to make selections.<br>

The backlight button will not work at all.</p>

<p>Ok, so it was JUST receiving power a minute ago as I was typing this, and now it's doing absolutely nothing. Total brick. My mind went first to thinking that something is sucking down power at a tremendous rate; no blinking "low batt" indicator. It was on one second, and now it's completely dead.<br>

Thoughts? Anyone seen this before? No sudden jarring or trauma to the rig just prior to it going kaput. It was fine one moment, then not.</p>

<p>Oh - only thing I could think of that was marginally out of the ordinary was that I powered it up, opened the card bay, pulled the card, turned it off, THEN shut the card bay (I have no idea why I did it like this, I just remember in my panic of "WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?" I thought of the card door sequence. Almost never pull a card while it's under power. Could that be it?) Incidentally, that card and all images on it are fine.</p>

<p>Please help - I appreciate your time and insight. <br>

-Mike</p>

Lindsey -

I have exactly the same question. I have seven different albums I've developed for clients, and want to house one permanently in the studio... But I'm wrestling with whether to show a 'start to finish' or a 'variety of couples in a variety of contexts' to show clients where/how I've worked in different situations. Hmmm... perhaps one of each?

I'll be interested to see what people have to say.

-Mike

Hi folks -

Looking to do a better job displaying my portfolio via my website; looking for good flash gallery resources that I can

upload to my server space --- something to plug into a site, with some editability/customization.

Music is not a need, and my biggest concern is that the gallery present well and professionally, and not be annoying

in its interface, use, or navigation....

Thoughts? Suggestions? Examples?

-Mike

Sarah - made by whom?

Thanks!

-Mike

Tired of lugging my big 'ol Lowe Pro for smaller shoots... Looking for a satchel-type solution for a 5D, 24-70 f/2.8, and

580ex speedlite, plus a little wiggle room. Would be interested in solution that could conceivably take a 70-200

zoom, if one exists.

<p>

Domke? Shootsac? Other? Price range up to around $175.

<p>

What advice would you give? Much obliged, in advance.

<p>

-Mike

Thanks for that, Michael ---

Now I see it open, and it immediately closes...... Or, it opens when the camera's not plugged in, then crashes/closes.....

Any other/additional thoughts?

-mcs

I've got a 5D I'm trying to shoot with the EOS Capture Utility --- a laptop borrowed from our high school which I'm

using at a seminar tomorrow morning..... EOS CU won't open via DPP or the desktop icon.... gives an hourglass for

a second, but no active open (no dialog that looks like the 5D screen/lcd).

Long story short - anyone have tips on what I might be able to try to load the capture utility? Running XP...

Thanks in advance (panicpanicpanic).

-mcs

PS - yes, should've made sure this worked before I left home....

www.candid2000.com

-mcs

Try Jessica Claire - specifically, her blog....

Here (engagement): http://www.jessicaclaire.net/index.cfm?catID=2

...and really, I'd just explore her wedding post archives - she's incredible. Let me know if you like it!

-Mike

Maybe I should invent something SLR-ready.

:-)

-M>

If you check out the links, the Cullmann looks just.... gimmicky... to me. I googled a few different search strings (Cullmann, review, etc.) looking for a post at a photog's blog or somesuch, and can't find anything (yet).

Same for the novaflex system, which at least "looks" more robust, if that counts for anything.

-mike

Ken -

a fair question/comment, and one I'm looking to answer. Hopefully someone can chime in from their own experience. A single-point groundspike with a 5D and L zoom doesn't feel robust enough to hold up.... unless the spike is >12-14in long, which can be unwieldy.

I'd be interested, too, in a 12-24in (or greater) nylon webbing strap with a buckle and attachment point for some sort of ball head --- strap to struts, joists, trees, etc.... not sure if there's one on the market.

-mcs

I shoot on a 5D, and I'm looking for a "multi-base" tripod kit like the

Novaflex or Cullmann kits for myself and my father for Christmas. Looking for

anyone with practical experience who could dissuade me or encourage me in one

direction or another. The kits include a ground spike, ball head, clamp, etc.

Cullmann: http://www.adorama.com/CU1001.html?searchinfo=cullmann

Novaflex: http://www.adorama.com/NVSURVIVALKT.html

All input welcome - I appreciate the time.

-Mike

Folks -

Not sure where to post this; travel is a possibility ---

Is anyone familiar with the Cullmann and/or Novaflex multi-base tripod kits

that include a ground spike, woodscrew, clamp/bracket, strap, and ball head?

Trying to find people with first-hand experience who could let me know if

they're gimmicky or actually a useful tool. Looking into one for my father for

Christmas.

Novaflex: http://www.adorama.com/NVSURVIVALKT.html

Cullmann: http://www.adorama.com/CU1001.html?searchinfo=cullmann

All replies/input appreciated.

-Mike

Afternoon, all --

<P>

I've posted just over 100 images from last weekend's wedding, my 9th of the

year, and I'd appreciate it if I could get some eyes on it for critique. I'm

pleased, and the bride & groom, as well as the bride's family, went over the

moon for these, which is what really matters. However, I think there's plenty

I can do better.

<p>

I welcome comments on the good, the bad, and the ugly: <a

href="http://www.mikesimonsphotography.com/weddings/julieeric1"> Julie & Eric

</a> <P>

Thanks, folks - <br>

-Mike

OH!

Got it!

Nadine - Thank you, with many kind returns!

-mcs

This might be a "Hey, buddy, read pg. 37 of your manual" - but I've misplaced

mine...

Two things:

How and/or under what circumstances does the AF assit light on a 580EX (mk I)

trigger? Mine seemingly "never" helps me out.

Second - shooting off-shoe with PWs or the GI Cactus remotes, how does one keep

a strobe that's mounted 12 feet in the air on the other side of an

arena/hall/event from "timing out" and hibernating? Again, a setting? A

simple half-push of the shutter (as when shooting ON shoe) doesn't do the job.

Thanks for insight -

-Mike

Bob -

Here's my contribution: all 65 guests and the couple at a backyard wedding shot in late July. First shot was off roof with 24-70L; too straight, too plain, too boring.

This version was a favorite of the family. A few blinks (in the sunshine, with my fill flash 580 off shoe), but I'll composite a few exposures together for a final.

16mm Zenitar (Ukraine) off Eb*y, typically $125-->$185

-Mike<div></div>

Yesssss - GOT IT.

Step 1) identify bolt at bottom of 18-inch tube; panic.

Step 2) loosen 3 set screws.... (hey, what could it hurt?)

Step 3) twist, turn, twist, pull....

Step 4) catch breath

Step 5) bang on upper plate with large, heavy wrench (hey, what could it hurt?)

Step 6) twist plates gently by hand, and

VOILA!

Thanks, gang - new head installed; set screws re-set.

-Mike

Matt --

Is that bolt "hard" mounted, such that once loosened, it won't spin freely? Because if it spins freely upon separation from the old head, then I'm screwed because I won't be able to force resistance against tightening the new head down.... get me?

Got the Bogen - Manfrotto Midi Ball Head with RC0 Rapid Connect ---- it's a BEAUT.

I welcome any other tips....

Hi, folks - not sure where to put this, but here goes.

Just picked up a Manfrotto quick-relase ball head from Adorama to replace a 3

thumb-screw head that came with the Bogen tripod I use. Want to swap it out,

and don't know how to pull off the old one....

Looking up the tube of the center shaft, I see a bolt waaaaay up there (a good

16-18 inches) that looks like it might secure the base of the current head. No

easy access to that; bottom plate/anchor of current head (below the pan pivot

point) has 3 set screws that look to bind it to the plate above, but when I

pull those three set screws out, no change - nothing falls apart in my hands;

no help.

I'm probably doing a god-awful job describing this, but if anyone's got some

tips, I'm open to advice..... How do I get a "bare" center upright, ready to

accept a new ball head?

-Mike

Anyone able to point me in a direction for a DIY or commercially-available SLR

mount that can handle the stresses of being slammed around in the midst of a

basketball game --- namely, by being mounted to the rear of a gymnasium's glass

backboard and the SLR in question triggered remotely via PWizards?

Any links/info/experience/anecdotes are much appreciated.

-Mike