Jump to content

aether

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    175

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by aether

    Opinions on eBay

    in Casual Photo Conversations

    Posted

    With over 200 transactions on eBay, buying & selling photographic equipment, overall I'm very pleased with how it's all gone. When buying, you must check the description & photos very carefully. If the photos are badly taken, be suspicious. If something appears too cheap, be suspicious. Ask questions, if the item & seller are genuine, you'll get honest responses. Selling can be more difficult, you have to cover yourself and communicate well. There are a lot of savvy people using eBay, after a while you can easily spot the scammers -- e.g. the seller who keeps listing camera items saying they're for a friend and he doesn't know anything about cameras!

    Gimbal head with shorter lenses?

    in Nature

    Posted

    Nick, I use that Manfrotto/Bogen long lens support regularly with a 300/4 + x2 TC (TC-301, a large TC) and it's rock steady and certainly not over-kill. I also use that lens support with a 200/2 + TC, also works well. Excellent value for money. Use it until and unless you find the equipment you use is too muc for it and then maybe consider more expensive supports.

    D200 and dark pictures

    in Nikon

    Posted

    I have been using a D200 for some time (about 7000 actuations), use centre-weighted almost all of the time and don't see underexposed images. As Walter said, try to post an image with EXIF data kept so we can see what's going on.

    Nikon Manual Camera / Lens Recomendation

    in Nikon

    Posted

    You will have too many choices! Start with the classic gear, something like a chrome FG with 50mm 1.8 AiS, looks great and works very well, has a semi-automatic mode too. Almost pocket size, too! You'll have cash left to buy another lens (maybe the 75-150 E-series).

    Nikon F3 vs. D200

    in Nikon

    Posted

    John

     

    My D80 and D200 both came with little plastic doohickeys that clip over the viewfinder eyepiece to stop light getting in although when I tested this on DSLRs I found it only mattered when using Aperture Priority mode. So if you were using manual mode there should be no need. Or just use what many do - a small piece of black cloth. I would say my F3 has more features than those you mention which are completely absent from DSLRs -- such as interchangeable prism heads & focussing screens! D200 owners would love to have the ability to very quickly change focussing screens! I, for, one, am never bothered by not having 100% view in the finder on any camera -- that's what my left eye is for ;-)

    Interpolation: which one?

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    That's the problem with clients ~ they think bigger is best. In the old days (when digital anything was barely a twinkle in anyone's eye), you couldn't just hand over a high-res neg, they would have to be shown a full-blown chromalin proof, the quality of which would never be matched by commercial print presses ~ but clients usually get what they ask for, no point in trying to educate them ...

     

    ... I prefer the first one (or the original), but as I'm only looking at a screen image, the effect will be very different to the desired printed effect ...

    Light metering

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Vincent, that's a very good summary of camera metering.

    As you don't shoot with digital, you may not be aware that many DSLRs now give you the option to choose the size of the "centre" and even spot. depending on what exactly is in the centre of your image, this can be particularly useful.

    D60 and old Quantaray Prime

    in Nikon

    Posted

    "42x1mm (Pentax screw mount)" is an M42 mount and can be used on Nikon F mount with adapter ~ of course you have to use the adapter with glass element as other posters have mentioned and this will have some degrading effect on the image but D60, Quantaray, I don't think you're looking for prize-winning images? just looking to have fun with an old favoured lens, right? I use loads of M42 lenses on my D200 and enjoy using them, I don't care if they won't win prizes ;-) Mamiya 645 lenses can be used with a glassless adapter on Nikons and produce excellent images ...

    Which beginner D model for my son

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Stephen, I'll echo Carl's recommendations. Forget about D40/60 and also so far as I know, there is no 180/2.8 AFS lens (?). I would say go for D70s or D80 -- the D80 in many ways is as good as the D200 and is better at high ISO than the D200. I only know the market here in UK but I presume it's similar in the US -- D80 cameras seem to hold their value and D200 cameras while good value will see their values drop more, comparatively. D200 may be a little overkill and the D3, D300, D700 would definitely be overkill. Finally, don't rule out film SLRs which are terrific value, used.

    D40 Lenses

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Unless you use pre-Ai lenses (some of which will work on the D40, mf and no meter of course) your lenses should be fine on other Nikon DSLRs.

    Electronic Rangefinding vs Split-Image

    in Nikon

    Posted

    I'm happy with with manual focus on D200, reckon I get as many sharply-focussed shots with MF as with AF, possibly more with AF given the same circumstances (long lens, shallow dof).

     

    Not tried a Katz-eye replacement screen but I do use old film cameras with split screen focussing which is good and bad, I find: good if you have a distinct line to focus on, bad if you really need to have a clear view of the centre of the viewfinder!

     

    When focussing manually on the D200, I watch out for the green dot in my peripheral vision, I trust what I see in the centre of the viewfinder and if the green dot also appears, it's an extra confirmation but I tend to trust my eye more than the dot.

    85/1.4, 105DC, 135DC, which one should I buy?

    in Nikon

    Posted

    I wouldn't worry too much about filter cost -- front filter should only be for protection so buy a cheap one and only attach it if it's dusty conditions etc?

     

    I think you could consider AF85/1.8, Ai105/2.5, AiS135/2 and AF180/2.8. Good range and quality without breaking the bank ...

    How too's of Nikon D200

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Well, the D200 doesn't have those kind of "modes". You use which ever works, manual or aperture mode etc. For indoors in dark conditions you either need a tripod or flash or very fast lens.

    Infrared on a d300 with the r72 filter?

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Ronald -- the D200 can take IR shots but older models certainly have much better (or worse!) IR receptivity. Newer cameras tend to block more and more IR and UV and that's intentional. With the simpler/older models IR photos are much easier but it is NOT impossible to take IR shots using a D200 (I realise the OP asked about D300 but I don't want D200 owners to be misinformed), you need longer exposure time and/or higher ISO. The D70 is usually quoted as being particularly good for IR photography.

    UK - Lowepro Lens Case 5 for large Telephoto Primes

    in Accessories

    Posted

    Just for information -- if anyone in the UK is looking for the Lowepro 5 lens case (they used to call them Street

    & Field cases) I just got one at half the (apparent) usual cost from Dixons online shop. They are described as

    suited for 300/2.8 or 400/3.5, I got it for a Nikkor 200/2. Great lens cases, I've used the smaller sizes before,

    well protected & padded, lots of carrying straps etc. Had to share this!

×
×
  • Create New...