rick_helmke1

Okay, deep breath here, step away from the camera. Shooting a wedding is not all that difficult. Nadine hit it about right. The 17-50/2.8 and an 85 should get nearly everything done. I would upgrade the flash if you have the cash. These items will all serve you well long after the wedding. Basic flash is simple enough. I would also beg borrow or steal a backup body. Give your friend solid basic wedding coverage, don't get too fancy and enjoy yourself. Extra batteries and memory cards, you are set.

Rick H.

I never found a useful or practical difference in the two on AF speed shooting sports. I think the 80-200 delivers much nicer images so that's what I use.

Rick H.

I usually carry a pair of F4's or an F4 and an F2, by far my favorite cameras in the Nikon line. The F3 finally grew on me and is a sweet camera. All are available for a song. if it were me I would get an F2A or AS.

Rick H.

I'd head for the KEH website and look around. If you go for a D300 you can find tons of manual focus AI lens compatible with that body for little money. I have mf Nikkors in 28, 35, 50, 85, 135, 80-200 and 300mm for a total of under $600. All in good but not new condition and all will meter on my digital bodies. I have a couple of modern zooms as well but am not a big fan of AF. Unless you just insist on the newest gear, and you don't seem to, you can put together a bagful of useful equipment and have money left over. Don't forget to pick up some memory cards and a good bag. It's a great time to be getting back into photography.

Rick H.

My digital bodies have the factory straps on them because they are decent straps. I want to replace them with the Tamrac straps like I have on my film bodies, I just haven't gotten around to it. Truthfully though, my first F2 back in the 70's had a 2-inch wide black leather strap with chrome buckles. A bit garish but very comfortable, a good strap. If I could find a half dozen of those now I'd grab them in a heartbeat.

Rick H.

For me it is easily the F2. I prefer black, with an MD-2.

Rick H.

Going Photographic. That's pretty good. As for me...every damn day.

Rick H.

My favorite type of photography is news photography. I finally decided there are two reasons for that. First, there is no telling what I will be doing on any given day. I call it murder, mischief, mayhem...and sports. Second, I get a huge amount of satisfaction from seeing my work in print. It's an ego boost, probably the most celf-centered thing I do. I rarely put stuff on the web but if I did that would be why.

Rick H.

Nikon usually makes several versions of a given body before moving to a completely new designation ie. D3 with X and S versions, D2X and H and s variants. How many versions of the D200 were there?

Rick H.

I'll never forget the first time I put a 28mm on my F2. It completely changed how I worked and still does. I had an editor threaten to fire me once if I didn't quit using a 20mm. I didn't. He did. Never looked back.

Rick H.

A GOOD camera bag or backpack. I have had good ones and cheap ones and it makes a difference in your day to day shooting.

Rick H.

Looks like 27 Instamatics, Polaroids, Brownies and others on display but they all work. Eight Nikon film and digital bodies, a 4x5 that get used regularly. Lenses, flashes, bags and meters, who knows? Still more film than food in the freezer.

Rick H.

I've discovered that finding cars, bikes, planes or whatever in their natural environments doesn't always yield the best photographs but once you find them and meet the people you can set them up in those environments and get some great stuff. Good luck with this project.

Rick H.

I have had a thing for cameras and photography as long as I can remember. First photo magazine I ever bought wa Modern Photography around 1975 and it's been downhill ever since.

Rick H.

How about a Rapid Omega? Fairly light rangefinder, superb lenses, 6x7 format. You lose macro but otherwise a very capable camera.

Rick H.

I had a new shutter put in an F4s a few years ago, it was about $250. My D200 is running just fine, never had to replace a shutter in anything else. Seems like a D2H I used to use at work had a new one put in before I got it. About $300.

Rick H.

The 17-55 and 80-200 cover 90 percent of everything I do. The 17-55 is probably my favorite and by far most used dx lens. If you have the cash I'd say go ahead and get it. Renting a lens you are using often isn't cost effective. I know it's pricey but will be a good long term purchase and will last over several generations of camera bodies.

Rick H.

Because I run in some dodgy areas at times there is often a .45 in the computer pocket. Yeah, I have a permit for it.

Rick H.

This past week I have received a half dozen friend requests from people I knew back in high school. Some I remember and some I just recognize the name. By and large I haven't seen them in decades. All this makes me think that Facebook is trying something. Could be what has happened in your case. I doubt a person I haven't seen in 30 years and didn't know well all of a sudden wants to friend me on Facebook. Could be you are dealing with something similar.

Rick H.

I think the Nikon 80-200/2.8 is a much better lens than the current 70-200. You can pick up a good used one for much less money and it will last nearly forever. As for the short zooms any of the third part units should be good. I've always done well with Sigma, Tamron and Tokina.

Rick H.

Writers have been using pen names for years. Often they want to say something publicly without identifying themselves. I know a number of photographers who don't shoot certain things because of pressure from family or community. Maybe the wife dissaproves or they are concerned about how a job or business will be affected. I don't think displaying or doing a website under a pseudonym is at all wrong. Just be prepared to own it if someone figures it out.

Rick H.

Most important for what they offered? My list is quite different and likely reflects the time in which I was learning so much of the basics. I think the Nikon F2 was a huge improvement over the F both as a camera and a system. The F4s was another giant leap. The Canon F1 was equally influential. The OM series gave a different approach to the same job and did it well. The AE1 and Nikkormats put quality gear in the hands of a lot of people and taught them a lot. EOS and Nikon F cameras still have a lot of influence on film photography today. I know Topcon, Konica and others brought out a lot of interesting features but over time who is still standing?

Rick H.

I don't know Lex, that depends on what kind of hash you are talking about.

Rick H.

I shoot pictures of the things going on in front of me. I usually refer to this as murder, mischief, mayhem and sports. I enjoy the whole process from the time I pull the camera out of the bag until I see it printed on a page or displayed on a wall. I will say that I shoot pictures, I don't take, make or capture them.

Rick H.

It amazes me what people will toss out. I have a thing for old radios and a battery operated TransOceanic keeps me company most nights. My mom has a 4mp Coolpix she wouldn't dream of getting rid of. Does everything she needs it to do on a 64 mb card yet. I still have more film in the freezer than food and find I am using digital only when I have to and burning film the rest of the time. Now if I could just find film for my Polaroid Captiva.....

Rick H.