stanley_sizeler

I have some. Let me know exactly what you want in each, and I'll look. Shiing may be costly. Stan

The small oval plastic polysyrene beads are cheap, light, inert and work well. I get them at "Jo Ann Fabrics."

I have used Optech rear Nikon lens caps for about five years, and none have ever come occ spontaneously. they use a neoprene seal which makes a tight 'grab' on the metal tabs.

So far, my Lowepro magnum bag has fit under every seat ( AA, United, KLM, Pioneer, Southwest,Horizon, American Eagle, Lufthansa, Air France) with many different fuselage types. No Bombardier yet.

A

I found that the Nikon 24-120 AFD VR on my D810 worked perfectly, Raising the ISO to 800 or (rarely ) 1200 permitted any exterior or interior images. The circualr polarizer occasionally was used outside . I travel with several batteries, charge them at night, I carry a collapsible carbon fiober monopod,, utilize a quick release mounting system, and use it when I can. No problems anywhere.

Film is costly , unreliable ( outdated, not kept cool, perhaps previously x-rayed), and processing is infrequent, and of greatly varying quality in the third world. IN the UK and europe, less risky.

shoot digital and set the camera to process it as film, or set computer in postprocessing to process a film. Works for me.

<p>Airports and the local equivalents of TSA agents vary. I assume the agents are all uneducated unsophisticated and not very motivated, but going through the motions unless they are thieves ( Johannesburg, Cairo, Luxor, Athens), and put anything *(tripod, monopod, small repair tools, knife)likely to attract X-ray attention in my checked bag. so far thieves have not been interested. All photo equipment ( lenses, cameras, filters, memory, etc) in carry on or personal equipment bag. either personal or carryon bags have been occsionally handsearched in my presence, but nothng was ever disallowed. I am usually dressed in jeans for long air flights, say nothing, smile and in the USA have yet to be actually questioned. In Africa and Egypt they often say something, but when it is clear that I do not understand, they give up. I know two TSA agents currently: both had decent jobs but were downsized and took the TSA position as a stopgap to make expenses. These two are intelligent, educated ( both were aircraft engine mechanics)who could not move elsewhere. they say there are a few like them at LAX, but most are low level workers they have nothing in common with. The pay is quite low.</p>

<p>Many of the higher altitude roads and passes in Glacier and Yellowstone NP, as well as Tioga Pass in Yosemite, are blocked by snow during the winter and open at varying times in Spring/Summer. The auto associations (AAA) and the individual Park offices will know what is open.<br /><br /></p>

<p>I formerly used Leica RF, moved to Leica Reflex (R5) when I preferred the image framing, finally went to Nikon (F5)and recognized no deterioration in image quality, although the Nikon lens image colors and contrast ARE different from Leica glass, but although real may not make any eventual difference. I am now Nikon Digital and wonder why I waited so long.<br>

Nevertheless, there is a REAL difference between the Leica RF ( and other RF cameras) and all other reflex cameras: the physical focussing difference. Rangefinder cameras focus the image on the film plane, film or digital. Reflex cameras are retrofucussed: the image is focussed by the lens on an imaginary point and then expanded (retrofucussed) to the plane. Computer lens design as well as improvements in glass including rare earths have addressed this problem, particularly Chromatic aberration, but as any optical physicist will demonstrate that the problem is inherent. Hence, on a theoretic basis, reflex imaging can approach but not equal a correctly focussed direct image from a RF camera lens. There is a visible difference, but does it matter?<br>

We all know that practice does not always follow theory, so a "good enough" Nikon or Canon or similar AF SLR image is extremely good, and I also would not trade my Nikon SLR for a 'better' RF (Leica or other). How many angels can stand on the head of pin?<br>

Stan</p>

<p>The Gitzo twist locks, like all twist locks, jam up with grit or sand or solid debris. They are cleanable but disassembly during the day is a big nuisance. In clean setups, or studios, no problem. I have two older Gitzos, went with Manfrotto flip locks and no more problems. I carry the Manfrotto most of the time just from the car to wherever I am working and no problems with the locks catching on anything. On the infrequent times I am packing (LowePro backpack), the tripod is attched to the rear of the pack and no problems. In the stores (where I tried to test them)I thought the Manfrotto and Gitzo CF pods, similar height and leg thickness,were equally rigid.</p>

There is a current TSA bulletin on transporting film that says if your film has had five passes through a carryon X-ray scanner you can request (and receive)"hand inspection" (no xray) of your film. Transparent cannisters are always easier for the TSA screener to inspect, and it is faster to have the cannisters out of the boxes. I carry the regulation in my camera bag and occasionally must display it for the screeners. Just go to TSA , Transporting Film. Yes there was an exhaustive article in Pop Photography years ago saying up to five passes were OK for ISO 100.After that, fog. Another article on Xray machine calibration (yes, I am in that business)pointed out that US machines and those in the UK are frequently checked for radiation levels, those elsewhere are???. Any machine can overradiate, so if you cannot get hand inspection use the lead bag as I do in Europe.Sometimes they inspect contents, most time they do not(I have seen the sceen image, and it is just the dense bag outline, and who cares).

A few years ago I wrote Nikon about heat making some black AF lenses nonoperational(lens later operated normally when it cooled ). Nikon(Japan) replied to "wrap the lens with a white towel when it is in the hot sun".

Stan

Why no meter? Many need it. Include it, if only for the required volume of sales to keep a factory assembly line viable.

Some years ago Leica cameras were part of the large E. Leitz optical company, but top management split Leica Camera away from the parent conglomerate and sold it. At that time Japanese investors wanted to buy the newly created Leica Camera organization ,but at the very last minute European buyers (from Switzerland, as I recall)acquired it. If Leica is indeed again in the trouble alluded to in the Leica Press release, perhaps it will NOW be acquired by Japanese investors, who may be able to combine Leica quality with Japanese manufacturing without too much final quality loss - and make Leica glass that will mate with a major body (Canon, Nikon, etc.).

NikonUSA Factory service (all parts, technicians, etc.) is in Torrance. Camera is returned in like new operating condition(guaranteed).

If NikonJP is informed that the combo works with F80 and not F5 it should be easy to remedy,new board or software. But what happens to the thousands of us with the old (current)F5's(out of warranty, but otherwise working well) which won't work as is with 70-200 AFS VR?

Stan

The waterproof (to about 15', so far)old Nikon Action Touch point and shoot 35 mm camera is AF (not submerged however)has a fine WA lens, and worked well on several of my raft trips.I saw one on EBAy last week for $60. The SLR stayed in a a padded metal ammo can, tied to the raft in case of flips, but was super ashore and for other safe areas.

Stan