stanley_sizeler

Lester Bogen was in Italy at a small photographic trade show where Lino Manfrotto was at his tripod booth. Bogen liked the pod, asked to market it in the USA, which Linfrotto had never considered. A contract for Bogen to market and service Manfrotto Tripods in the USA for five years, renewable on mutually satisfactory terms was made . There was also a standard agreement for Manfrotto to buy out Bogen at predetermined terms. Bogen originally set up his distribution in New Jersey for Manfrotto and some other brands. At some point Karl Heitz, who had the only USA gitzo distributorship with very poor marketing, sold out to Bogen around the time that Manfrotto bought out Lester. A few years later, the founder of Gitzo ( factory in Menton, France near the Italy border), died and his heirs sold Gitzo to Vitec ( English holding company ) which had already bought Manfrottto. Gitzo moved entirely to Italy, but has its own assembly section.I once visited the original Menton Gitzo facility which was very small and had many hand assembly sections and rigorous quality control testing of every tripod sold ( then). As to Manfrotto/Bogen product differences.: Originally imported Bogen tripods were EXACTLY the same as the Italian versions. Later on, prior to Manfrotto acquiring Bogen Distributing there were some Manfrotto models that had minor modifications for the US market, but have I no specifics. Manfrotto in New used the NJ service dept. only. Stan

All sold. Armando, I was never alerted that you wanted them. Normally, when there is a response I receive some notice in my email, bu nothing arrived. Sorry. Stan

If you are in New Orleans and have an automobile, two easily accessible areas sometimes have birds: 1)Bayou St. John begins near the center of the city and runs about 4 miles to its outlet at Lake Pontchartrain. The mid portion runs next to City Park and has an excellent parallel paved road. There are often wading birds ( herons, etc.) feeding. Parking is easy along side the road, 2) Audubon Park is a municipal park uptown that often has many birds since it abuts the Missisisippi river and flyway at its outer edge. The park may not be safe because many locals prey on tourists in the area and the New Orleans Police Department does not patrol it. Inquire at your hotel.

Five large ( 15-18 rolls 35mm film)bags( 2 super 1000 ISO protection, 3 regular) 2 super small travel tube(8 rolls each). Some new, all great condition.Perfect airport scanning undeveloped film protection. Original cost $60. I just want to get rid of them. Buyer pays shipping. Paypal OK. Stan size1atsbcglobal.net

I am very sorry to hear of your mobility problem. One of our camera club members has a similar problem which was helped by his getting a 3 wheel folding "Winnie Walker" (ordering online) . He changed his camera from Nikon DSLR to a lightweight mirrorless camera (Sony)which also helped. I hope you can continue mobile. Stanley Sizeler

There is a four segment Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod ( still in the Manfrotto line)that I have that is quite tall.With the center column down I think it is about 67" tall. It is now in another location from where I am so I can't provide the model number.

I went to the Galapagos on Overseas Adventure travel. There were 16 of us in the group, all on one large boat, a local guide. Zoom lenses are very helpful. We were all taken to all of the appropriate beaches, lookouts, tortoise areas, aat the right times.etc. The distances are relatively short, the boats or local cans take us all )( all tourists go to the same places but at different times). There was enough time to shoot what was there. the guide knew what photographrs wanted, but was not a photographer. My major compolaint was that I was not prepared for what was at each point, and if I had ( knowing the itinerary in advance)_ beden better informed on what to look for at each point my images would have been better. I am sure that in Africa and many other places a guide is essential, but not in the Galapagos . We had great weather, good calm seas, and were lucky. People we spoke to at the airport on the large National Geographic trip (100++ passengers) were not as happy.

Hello Eric, The mini 'Artcise' ball head you ordered has a maximum weight limit of what it can hold, but if your camera/lens rig is less than 8-9 lbs the ball head should be adequate. I assume that you have a metal 'Arca-Swiss' style metal plate screwed into the bottom of your camera boldy. You will be much happier if you attach the plate to the ball head using a metal 'Quick Release' clamp. The clamps have knob that closes a front and rear jaw that hold the plate. Most (not all) clamps have a threaded centrally located hole that twists on to the threaded bolt sticking up from the top of your mini ball head which itself is attached to the threaded bolt on the top of your tripod. If you use the rig that I described, you can release the camera from the clamp by turning the clamp knob. You can then carry your camera separately rather than always on the tripod. I use a thread locking liquid ( clear nail polish will also work, but less well) on the threads of the tripod and clamp central bolt to prevent them from getting loose. You can get a clamp from China on the internet for $12-150. Make sure that the clamp you order has threaded hole to attach it to the tripod. My own tripods, ball heads, clamps etc are much more costly than yours, but I need that level of performance . An experienced, knowledgeable camera store sales clerk cold have told you all of the above, shown the products to you and made a profit. I assume that there is no one like that in your area.

I have 24-85 VR and 24-120 F.4. VR. The 24-120 VR is sharper and more versatile. The VR function is essential since I assume most if not all of your shots will be handheld ( no tripod). I The Nikon 28-300 is more versatile but not as sharp as the 24-120 f 4.0. I would bring the 24-85 as backup if the 24-120 fails. I also would take a longer VR lens (70-300) for wildlife, but on a teahouse trek, I suspect there will be little or none. Take enough batteries and charger for when there is electricity. Rain showers happen in the mountains so you want some water protection. I have water resistant shoulder bag, and a plastic Optech USA camera/lens cover . I also use an Optech camera stabilizer to keep the camera from swinging as I hike, but am ready whenever. I discovered recently "Hood Hat" which is a neoprene cover which goes over the lens and lens hood. I attached a short string to the hood hat and the other end of the string to a high quality thick rubber band that goes around the base of the lens. I can flip the hood hat off the lens w/hood, shoot, and then quickly pull it back on., keeping lens clean and protected with hood in place.

Hello Eric, Many tripod makers have poor to awful different proprietary designs. Fortunately, there is a solution to the quick camera mount to a tripod , or esven better a ballhead mounted on a tripod - the Arca-Swiss (ball head designer and maker originally in Switzerland ;now France)plate. The A/ S style plates are made by every ball head maker and also sell on EBay for about $10-15. All the ball head makers I know of include a'universal' plate free with a clamp & ball head,.Ball heads WITH BUILT IN CLAMPS are sold on Ebay beginning about $20. to $800.. Both Really right Stuff and Kirk also make a 'custom' plate designed to fit individual camera models but those plates are about $50 each. I have plates on every camera body, and also on some telephoto lenses that have a plate fitting. I can mount my camera or lens, using the plates in about 10 seconds. .Once you have the ball head w/clamp to hold the plate attached to your tripod, it is quick, easy, safe. There are hundreds of internet articles on use of ball heads, plates, etc. Stan

ALL of the 3rd party batteries purchased for Nikon D300-700-810 have worked well. The supposed (how I do I identify a counterfeit?) Nikon batteries purchased on EBay all worked well. All sold for 1/5-1/4 the Nikon price and held charges as well. They all provide data on state of charge, etc.

The original RRS system conceived in the l980's used the arca swiss style grooved edge plate and an anti-twist flange on the upper rear surface of the plate, which continues now. The plates all fit the arca swiss style clamp, incorporated into most ball heads. The clamp is tightened on to the plate with a twist knob or lever. There is a universal adaptable plate as well as custom design plates for various cameras and lenses, now made by many companies. All plates are attached to the camera bottom tripod threaded hole using a 1/4x20 threaded metal ( brass, plated steel) bolt. Threaded hole depths vary and varying length bolts can be used. I was able to obtain several length bolts that fit perfectly at my excellent local hardware store . I am puzzled by all this confusion!

I discovered that using a monopod with a quick release, after deciding what I wanted to shoot, was so unobtrusive that no one noticed. I normally carry the pod collapsed, camera around my neck or in a pouch, and no one paid any attention to me.

Bill: Meter arrived today. Many Thanks. Stan

One of my Delkin 2 gb CF cards show err on my D810, others worked well. I returned it to Delkin which sent a replacement, no explanation. Years ago, I had a SanDisk card also not work on a D700. Nothing is perfect, but since my other Delkin cards work on the D810, I do not think it is a design or intrinsic defect.

Bill, Please email me for address and let me know how to reply to you. Stan size1@sbcglobal.net

I would like the meter. Stan Sizeler size1@sbcglobal.net [ATTACH=full]1372571[/ATTACH]

Years ago I discovered that a heavy canvas golf club bag and a three wheel 'pull along' golf club bag cart worked perfectly for my stands, etc. The bag was heavy canvas(not leather or similar), had a canvas 'top' that could be pulled up and tightened to keep rain out, bag contents inside, and fit the metal cart perfectly. I bought the whole used rig (about $75)on 'Craig's list' after another photographer told me how well such a setup worked. I made sure the bag was long enough for the tallest light stand. The bag came off the cart easily to fit in my car trunk, and the cart easily collapsed to also fit in the trunk. I told some others about my discovery, and one found a similar used setup for sale at the pro shop at a nearby golf club.

I have Nikon and generic En-El3e(and other) batteries. All of the generics have a greater mas capacity than the Nikons, all function and charge equally, and other than cost, I see no difference in performance. The Nikon branded and generic batteries are all made in China, as are the chargers. I recharge my batteries before they are completely depleted, and have NEVER (10+years) had a lithium Nikon or generic battery not accept a charge. I have at least 3 or more batteries for every camera since I used to travel extensively ( not in Covid19 era), occasionally to cold areas, and wanted to always be 'ready.'. My Nikon and generic batteries charge INTERCHANGEABLY normally in generic and Nikon chargers. They all work well, there is no need for replacement, and I have saved hundreds of over the years. Someone is overthinking the whole process, ignoring facts. FYI : I do not sell, market, advertise or have anything to do with the battery industry except to buy then online

My older AFD screw drive lenses are largely metal inside, unlike newer Nikon lenses which have many interior and exterior plastic components. The lens inteior plastic components hold many of the glass lens elements and if heavily shaken ( e.g., sudden auto stop) the impact of the glass against the plastic rim may break the stiff plastic. This happened to me, and according to NikonRepair is a frequent event, which they term impact damage. They informed me that it does not happen with the older metal mounts or the highest level Nikon Pro lenses which still use mostly metal rims inside. The newer lenses focus faster, are lighter ( due to plastic interior in place of metal) and optically are better, but not to my eye.

My California Nikon rep told me that Nikon refurbishing is done in at the Nikon Long Island facility, that returns from trade shows and reps are usually not carefully evaluated, that the complete checkout only occurs when the camera is sent by the official dealer to Nikon for refurbishing, hence refurb purchase should only be done from the major dealers (B&H, Adorama) preferably those near the Long Island Nikon facility. I have several refurbished Nikon lenses that are perfect. Hence, there is no risk to buy a refurb Nikon product since returns and exchanges are easy, albeit a nuisance.

The Markins (from Korea) ballhead company had a very long and detailed analysis of metal. wood, and carbon fiber tripods ( using their ballheads) on the internet. The highly qualified 3rd party engineer doing the published analysis carefully described the testing, which used the same camera/ lens/ballhead combinations on different tripods. The data was too complex for me to totally recall, but it established that mass AND rigidity, as well as vibration absorption all determined which tripod is best. The extremely heavy wooden pods worked best, but from that point down there was considerable variation. Not all carbon tripods are equal: the carbon fiber material, method of manufacture, number of layers, and the metal connections between segments as well as the top (spider) affect eventual performance. His study, about three years ago, is not current, but it shows the difficulty in anyone trying to make an educated guess as to which tripod to buy. Manfrotto(owned by Vitec) bought Gitzo, closed the French factory and incorporated it with its Italian facility. China, Taiwan, and Japan now all make excellent tripods, as good or better than Gitzo or Manfrotto, but the only way I know to compare them is to be in a store (B&H, Adorama, etc.) that displays them all. In my one B&H visit, I discovered that the salespeople were somewhat opinioinated, land were somewhat vague as to why A was better than B. Price is not the only determinant. My personal tripod choice depends upon what I am doing with it: when travelling by air I use a CF travel tripod, when by car ( and no long hike) I use heavier and bigger CF or aluminum. I use upper level Arca-Swiss style ballheads and plates. Good luck.

I discovered that whenever possible, the best lens protction is a collapsible rubber lens hood, since in addtion to shielding the lens from aberrant light rays, it serves as a bumper, but can be collapsed to occupy less space in the camera bag. They are difficult to find , and must always be tested mounted on lens and camea to make sue they do not vignette. Stan

Benro and Induro ( have both) produce a lone of "Travel; Angel" tr lpods in aluminum and carbon fiber( slightly lighter). The uninique deisgn permits them to collapse smaller, but the ones I have are quite stable The aluminum models are all metal, the carbon fiber ones have CF tubes, but everything else is aluminum allow. Some come packaged with a good arca swiss compatible ball head. They are less costly than Gitzo and as stable. The RRS tripods are larger, moe stable and 2-3x the cost. I also use Markins,hotoclam, RRS, and Kirk heads. They are all better than Gitzo, but RRS is about the ame price. I prefer the RRS trigger model Arca Swiss clamp on the ballheads.