john_caradimas

<p>I do not know about the latest 27" iMacs, but the 24" previous-version I have is perfect for me. Admittedly, I am only an amateur, not a pro photographer. But I've been working as a professional in IT and telecom for some 25 years, and I made the switch to Macs a couple of years ago.<br>

I ain't going back to Windows no matter what.</p>

<p>So.... if I have some Velvia 50 and 100 which has expired since January or February, but has always been refrigerated, shall I assume that it is OK to use? Also, I have a couple of rolls of these films, which I shot but haven't still developed. I also keep them in the fridge. Is it safe to assume they'll come out OK?</p>

<p>Nikon F2A and F5. Some times a Nikon FE, but that has to be a very special case, where the F5 is too large and heavy for the job. Not that I am a pro or anything, please take "job" in a very loose interpretation.</p>

<p>Advanced amateur here, and one who has been calling the iPad a "large iPod Touch" when it first came out.<br /> With that clarified, I have decided to buy one of the new iPad2 as soon as they become available here, after playing with my son's iPad for a few days. For photography purposes, I plan to use it as follows:</p>

<ul>

<li>Vacations: I shoot about 500-800 pictures during our week-long vacations. So far, I had to carry my MacBook Pro, to copy the pictures to it, every evening. I never edit them on the MacBook, I just upload them there for security reasons. The iPad should cover that need nicely, with less weight. If my calculations are correct, even a 16GB iPad should be able to store my week's collection at 12MB per picture.</li>

<li>View/show my pictures: Yes, I know, they'll be limited to the jpg version embedded in the nef file, but that's OK for me during vacations. After I get home, I can import them from the iPad to my iMac, and do all the editing I want. Then I can export 1024x768 versions to download in the iPad for showing/viewing.</li>

</ul>

<p>I believe the iPad should cover those needs just fine. I just wish Apple's camera kit had a CF card reader too, instead of just an SD card one. I hate connecting my camera to the iPad with a cable.</p>

<p>Because my Nikon F2A and F5 can't take pictures without film.</p>

<p>One thing to keep in mind is:<br>

Either everything has to be manual (studio light on PC connector, SB's on SU4 mode) or everything has to be in CLS mode (your studio light can't be in that mode).</p>

<p>Oh, one more thing: Don't forget to switch off Auto ISO setting. Otherwise, you may end up shooting at 6400 without knowing it.</p>

<p>Here is one shot with the 16mm f/3.5 Nikkor AIS on a NIKON D2X.</p>

<p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/sv1cec/posts_pictures/Kefalonia2009/JDC_0051.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="531" /></p>

<p>Sigma has a 10-20mm lens, which I had and it was perfect.</p>

<p>How easily can you replace your 24-70mm lens? If you are a pro and/or have insurance for your equipment, don't bother. I am an amateur and every lens I own has been paid for with money I saved for months and it is very difficult for me to replace. So a filter is a cheap insurance for me, so is the lens hood, that's why I always have them attached to my lenses.</p>

<p>I had the same reaction when I first switch to shooting raw, from jpgs. My pictures looked kind of soft. Then I was told that raw needs to be sharpened, so now I always apply some sharpening to my images, as I import them in Aperture 3.</p>

<p>I can't offer any advice about 20x30s though, never print at that size.</p>

<p>I am no professional, but here is what I carry:</p>

<p>-Nikon 18-35mm<br /> - Nikon 24-85mm<br /> - Nikon 70-300mm <br /> - Nikkor 16mm f/3.5 AI-S<br /> - Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D AF<br /> - Nikkor 28mm f/2.8D AF<br /> - Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AF</p>

<p>The D700 is the standard body in the first camera space of the bag, the second space is occupied either by the F2A, or the F5 or the D300 in which case a 18-200mm is mounted on it. Two SB800 and a Sekonic 358 are also in the bag most of the time.</p>

<p>Anyone asked why I no longer walk around when taking pictures? Drive around is the standard these days.</p>

<p>Would it be a sacrilege, if I suggested a Nikon FM, instead of the SRT or OM-1?</p>

<p>My thinking is that you need to purchase the equipment you will use mostly. If your wide-angle usage will be limited, then obviously you should go with the 24-70mm lens. In that case, you can cover your wide angle needs with some more cost-effective solutions, like perhaps a Nikon 18-35mm lens, which you can find used for very little.</p>

<p>If on the other hand you plan to use the wide-angle lens for more picture-taking than the standard zoom, you should go with the 14-24mm. Another prime (together with the 50mm one) like a 28mm should cover your mid-range needs.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Minimal? There is nothing minimal about this kit, I need an assistant to carry it around (not that I have an assistant, but anyway).</p>

<p>Nikon D700 Nikon F5<br>

70-300mm<br>

24-85mm<br>

18-35mm<br>

50mm/1.4<br>

SB-800 (two)<br>

Sekonic 358<br>

and of course spare CF cards, batteries, flash diffusers etc. etc.</p>

<p>Now, if we talk medium kit, it's my Nikon F2A with 16mm/3.5, 20mm/2.8, 24mm/2.8, 28mm/2.8, 35mm/2, 50mm/1.4, 105mm/2.5 (all AI) and Sigma 70-300mm</p>

<p>Minimal? Nikon D40X (hopefully to be replaced by a D90) and 18-135mm lens.</p>

<p>Sorry for the slight hi-jacking of this thread, but consider this:</p>

<p>I have lived most of my life in Greece, where I've bought most of my Nikon equipment. Say I travel for business to US and one of my cameras has an issue. Why wouldn't Nikon USA fix it? I am not saying fixing for free, but simply fix it? What kind of crap is that? Hasn't Nikon taken my hard-earned cash when I bought the camera? Aren't they obliged to fix my camera if I am willing to pay for it or for free if it is still under warranty?</p>

<p>And of course, the same is true for you Americans coming over to Europe. What happens if some of your equipment fails?</p>

<p>I believe those separations are totally stupid and the manufacturers should be urged to reconsider them.</p>

<p>Someone suggested a 24-85 f/2.8 VR II G.</p>

<p>Please Nikon, ignore that, a 24-85mm f/2.8 VRII with an aperture ring for FX, if you do not mind! There are some of us who still use Nikon F2s and we need that ring.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I would not be <strong>that sure</strong> that FedEx-ed is a safe way to send your films. I know for sure that international packages sent through any courier service here in Greece, get scanned at the departure airport. I do not know if they are scanned with the same scanners as the checked-in luggage or the hand-carry luggage, but they are scanned.</p>

<p><strong>1st bag</strong><br /> Nikon D700+battery pack, Nikon F5, 18-35mm, 24-85mm, 70-300mm, 16mm f/3.5, 50mm f/1.4 AF-D, 2xSB-800, Sekonic 358 etc.</p>

<p><strong>2nd bag</strong><br /> Mamiya 645 Pro, 45mm f/2.8, 80mm f/2.8 and 150mm f/3.5, 2x110 backs</p>

<p><strong>3rd bag</strong> (I still need a bag for this one)<br /> Nikon D40X, 18-55mm, 55-200mm</p>

<p><strong>4th bag</strong> (actually a back-pack)<br /> Nikon F2A with MD-2 motor, Nikkors AI or AI-S 16mm f/3.5 (same as in bag 1), 24mm f/2.8, 28mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4, 105mm f/2.5, Sigma 70-300mm. I still need a 20mm one for this bag.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I went through this a few months back, so I can relate my experience, which I am not sure it will apply to you.<br /> <br /> <br /> I have been in love with Leicas, ever since I saw an M5 resting inside a glass display in Frankfurt airport, back in ... God I do not remember when, around the time the M5 was introduced. I almost left my credit card at the shot there, to get it, but eventually the risk of an imminent divorce upon my return home, stopped me.<br /> <br /> <br /> In the years following that, I went from an avid amateur photographer to a "Japanese tourist" (no offense for our Japanese friends here), I sold me Nikon F3 and the Nikkors, got myself a Sony P&S and took only family pictures, nothing to write home about. Even when I got a Nikon D80 for the needs of my work, I still had no interest in taking "real" pictures.<br /> <br /> <br /> Fast forward to last summer, when some friends re-ignited the old passion in me. Soon, I've acquired my first love again (a pristine, Nikon F2A) and several Nikkor prime lenses etc. At that time, I thought I should also invest in my unfulfilled love, a Leica. A mint Leica M6 fall in my hands, together with 3 lenses. I was so happy that my dream finally became a reality, I spend hours looking at the beautiful M6 and playing with it. I wanted to love that camera, I wanted to get fine pictures with it, I wanted to use it as much as possible. I was finally able to shoot the dream of my youth. I loaded it with Tri-X and waited for the opportunity to take the first pictures. Like so many other dreams though, this wasn't meant to be.<br /> <br /> Being used to the Nikkors, I found that the position of the controls on Leica lenses to be totally non-intuitive. It took me for ever to adjust the camera to shoot a picture. I wanted to focus the lens and I was changing the aperture, I wanted to change the aperture and I was changing the focus. The rangefinder proved to be a pain to use too. The M6 shows two frame lines inside the viewfinder. I had to remember what lens I had on the camera and to remember which set of frame lines corresponded to the lens I had installed, before I could decide which frame lines to use. All these problems made my shooting less intuitive, less spontaneous, too slow. My 7 years old sons didn't had the patience to wait for me to adjust the camera to take their pictures. After fighting for a couple of months between my wish to love (and get used to) the Leica and my probelms with the adjustments, I decided that I had enough.<br /> <br /> <br /> There was no reason for me to have a couple of thousand Euros invested in something that I couldn't use effectively. There was no reason to fight the camera. I ended up selling the M6 and buying a Nikon F5, which I could use with my eyes closed.<br /> <br /> <br /> I didn't regret selling the Leica, it just was not the right camera for me. I suppose that if I was to select today between a Leica M6 and a Nikon FE or FE2, I would go with the later, and save myself a few €€€€€€. I already have the lenses for it, so why bother switching to a different system?<br /> <br /> <br /> Again, that may or may not happen with you, but I thought it would be worthwhile to narrate my experience.</p>

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I just got my new Seconic 358 and I have a few questions:</p>

<p>- Am I correct in assuming that the second cover of the light sensor, the so called Lumigrid, is used to measure reflected light? If so, is there a way to see where your meter is pointing, other than by ... eyeballing the top of the meter?</p>

<p>- At the rear of the top area of the meter, just behind the Lumishpere, there is a small rubber cover. What is that for? What is under the cover?</p>

<p>- In the"Auto-reset cordless flash measuring mode", am I correct in assuming that the meter measures only the light emitted by the flash(es) or is it still measuring the combination of flash and ambient light?</p>

<p>- Finally, where do you people store the Lumigrid, when not in use (or the Lumisphere when the Lumigrid is on the meter). Why doesn't Seconic include a little pocket in their meter case to store that little accessory?</p>

<p>Thanks for taking the time to read this (and hopefully answer).</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Congrats on your purchase, rest assured you won't regret it.</p>

<p>I returned to photography about a year ago, after a 10-year absence. I got myself a mint F2A (I had to, it was my first camera, which I stupidly exchanged for an F3 about 20 years ago, something I regretted for years), a couple of F4s, an FE, an FM2N and an F5. Eventually, I got rid of all others and kept the F2A and the F5. The F5 is a very nice camera and the additional advantages of the F6 do not justify the increased price, especially if you own several AI and AI-S lenses. </p>

<p>While my selection was not a "money is no problem" one, I do not regret getting the D700. Amazing camera, amazing low light performance and with the MB-D10 (or whatever) battery pack you get the same performance as with a D3 (more or less), still at half price.</p>

<p>Of course, its replacement is due out any time now, so your brand new camera can be an obsolete camera a few days after you bought it. But so what? If the D700 cover your needs, what if its replacement comes out in a week?</p>

<p>Gents, just one small comment.</p>

<p>I see that the discussion is mostly focused on the errors/unacceptable behavior of the Law Enforcement officers or the private guards. However, I believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg, the people we should really blame about such behavior are not the enforcers but the legislators who come up with such a ridiculous abd possibly misleading laws.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Too big? I do not know. I shoot a D700 with the battery pack, an F5, an F2A with MD2. When I use the lately acquired D40X, I feel ... sorry that I sold my D2X and got this little thing. I am sure Ken Rockwell must have a strained back or something to like the D40 baby-camera. Thank God I bought it as a gift for our eldest son (23) so I do not have to live with it.</p>