joseph_passante

<p>@ <a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=2294844">Andrew Gilchrist</a></p>

<p>Andrew, I wanted to thank you for your earlier post that included the link from cambags.com. I was in the market for a new bag and was planing on buying a crumpler 7 million dollar home from B&H. The review on cambags.com was helpful but more importantly it pointed me to a sale at Adorama on the bag which saved be $40.</p>

<p>@Robert Macaisa<br>

I have a Lowepro Nova 4 which would hold your kit and more. After using the Crumpler 7 million dollar bag I would consider getting a 5 or 6 million for the kit you want to carry. </p>

Sorry you lost the 39mm drop-in filter holder and L37c filter for a 300mm f4 AF IF-ED lens.

If you are not successful in finding one and you have any interest in a longer tele lens the

Nikkor Both MF and first AF 300 F2.8, MF 500mm f4P and the MF 600 F4 ED AIS all used this

same holder and filter. You can look for broken versions or buy one used and get the part.

Have you tried the Nikon service center in your country? They may have replacements or perhaps they can service the lens and make it usable some other way.

Bob: Don't you have the LC-37 filter and holder in the lens. You don't need a separate

holder. Just unscrew the existing filter and put another Nikon filter in its place.

John: Keep checking KEH.com for 39 mm drop in filters. I scored a circular polarizer there

for my 300 mm F4 IF-ED about 6 months ago. They have a R60, O56 and a 4X ND right now.

Check under Nikon Manual Focus, Filters.

I am currently using a Fuji S2 with a Katzeye screen to manual focus with a Nikkor 500 f4P. While the

focusing screen has made a big improvement in the number of focused shots I get its still difficult to

achieve perfect with the poor viewfinder in the S2.

I plan to upgrade to a D300 in February and would like to hear from D300 users who MF with long

telephoto lenses. How do the 51 focus points indicate focus when using a MF lens. Does each of the

individual sensors "light up" as the lens achieves focus in that area or does one have to preselect a single

focus point and focus the lens until that point lights up.

None of the local camera stores have a D300 in stock right now so I can't run down to the store and see

for myself.

Thanks

Joe

The D200 is a good camera. You just have to weigh the added features of the D300 and

cost. Buying cameras after they have been discontinued can save you a lot of money. How

does 600 pounds compare to the the normal selling price? I have not seen much of a price

drop for used D200s in the states

Read this

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

I use the Sidekick and the Nikkor 500 F4P lens. It handles wonderfully. I can't imagine using

just a ball head with my 500. Buy it. You will like it.

Try the Whale Club (Bay Side) early in the morning. There is a pond that attracts a number of

shore birds and herons and osprey. Also don't miss the BBQ place in Old Corrolla! Yum!

Not sure if it runs in the evening but the Phila Zoo's balloon ride might give you a good

vantage point for a sunset. You might not be able to get a view of the downtown.

Another thought is the observation tower over city hall. You may have to make special

arrangements since tours don't run after 5 PM.

Belmont Plateau has a nice view of the sunrise over center city. Never been there after

dark.

If you find a good location please post.

Tocad who distributes the tripod emailed me stating that it was a misprint on the box. The

tripod does hold 25 lbs. Time to put a ball head and sidekick on the tripod and see if my

500 F4 is any more stable.

Ask your husband to pose for an hour under the lights. He may better understand why you

want to exchange them.

You're a lucky woman.

I just received a Velbon El Carmagne 530 A tripod from B&H. It looks great except the maximum load

listed on the box is only 8.8 lbs. That's much less than the 25 lbs listed on B&H's web site and in

numerous other web reviews. B&H is closed until Friday so I thought I would see if any forum members

had a 530 A and and recall what its max load limit was.

Thanks

Had a similar problem with my Fuji S2. It gave me a CF card error and would not let me

reformat the card in the camera. The card was readable from my Mac so I reformatted it on

the computer. Still no luck. So I put the card in my G6 which let me reformat it. The CF card

now works in my S2.

If you ever plan on buying MF glass you will be much happier (and able to meter) with the

D200.

KEH has two 55mm Nikkor micros for $235 (EX) and $265 (EX+). These are the first AF

models (55 F2.8 MICRO (62)). They are very good micros/

The major advantage that I see is the D200's ability to meter with MF Nikkor glass. So if you

have any MF equipment or just like the flexibility to buy relatively inexpensive but still great

MF lenses the D200 is the obvious choice.

You may want to consider a new focus screen. I have the Nikkor F4 and had difficulty manual

focusing with my Fuji S2. The replacement Katzeye focusing screen has made manual

focusing much easier (but its still takes some work). There's a replacement screen for your

Rebel XT.

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/cat--Canon-DSLRs--cat_canon.html

You can find a nice MF 500 F4 P lens at KEH for around $2200. Yes its not a VR or a zoom

but its an affordable long lens that will meter with modern film and digital cameras. Oh to be

able to afford a AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4D ED-IF .

The S2 is equivalent to an N80 film camera. It appears that the camera does not meter well

when the lens is <5 inches from the subject. Otherwise TTL seems to work but I need more

time to play with it to be sure.

Just purchased a used SB-21B macro flash. I'm using it on a Fuji S2 and a 60mm Nikkor macro lens.

I have some questions since I do not have the manual.

Is the flash TTL? What's the minimum focus distance? Some of my test shots are blown out.

Thanks