jay_drew

February 20, 2016

Test, testing. Will this print? Jay Drew

December 29, 2015

There may be easier methods to calibrate your camera & film & processing, but the best way I know is the "Beyond the Zone System" by Phil Davis. I believe that I've heard that Davis has said that it won't work for color film, nor digital, but I don't see why not. However I have not tried it for color film, just B&W film.

I think Sekonic sells a folding & I assume very accurate gray card & have a way to calibrate your camera & meter. Photographers (including myself) should calibrate their camera's exposure system &/or external meter to avoid chimping.

Best wishes, Jay Drew

December 28, 2015

Thanks to all responses.

I'm getting an external SD reader. I use all SanDisk cards so it seem logical to get one of their readers.

Happy Holidays, & thanks again for the replies, Jay Drew

December 24, 2015

I have a Microsoft OS computer that has a SD/MMC slot. I use SD HC cards. I'm wondering if I should get a dedicated San Disk reader. It's not that the computer's slow, (I don't shoot enough to be concerned about down load speed) I just do not like the way the cards fit into the slot, they don't always go in straight, & have to be reinserted. Some times they don't connect w/ the program I want to load them into, & require reinsertion. I feel like I'm damaging the cards, but apparently I'm not, or at least so far.

Happy Holidays, and thank you for any suggestions, Jay Drew

October 14, 2015

Well, I have the answer to my question. Standby mode is not normal after turning off the SB-900. I returned the 1st SB900 & received another. The 2nd used one turns off immediately when switched off. & other functions functions are working. I'm not just fruitlessly pushing buttons.

Thank you, in case anyone is interested, Jay

October 7, 2015

Hello RJ

Thank you for your suggestion. I went to that page & read it over. Then pressed

function 1 & 3 simultaneously for > 2 sec. The screen blinked & changed. What

I found was that if I turn it off, then fire it the screen goes blank immediately, but

if I turn it off w/o firing it the screen stays on, then goes into standby. Is this normal?

Thanks again, Jay

October 5, 2015

Hi Nick

Thank you for your input. I have downloaded the manual. Haven't had any

time to read it due to moving.

Thanks again, Jay

October 4, 2015

I can not turn my used SB-900, that I just bought, off. It will stay on until the batteries run down. A clue to this problem might be that I do not understand how to operate it. The only manual I have on operating it is:

"NIKON CREATIVE LIGHTING SYSTEM" by Mike Hagen. I've read both the SB-900 & the SB-800 sections. I have studied, high lighting & annotating parts of the entire SB-900 section. I'm still ignorant about operating it. (I have both strobes.) I have two ideas of what the problem is:

1.) I'm not pushing the correct buttons in the right combinations or order.

2.) The SB-900 is defective internally also. It arrived w/ the bottom battery door catch broken off. It still holds the batteries tight enough now, but for how long will it hold. I'm going to send it back due to that.

So I guess my curiosity is; is this SB-900 also defective internally, or is it just my ignorance?

Thank you, Jay

By the way, does anyone know a sure fire way to glue the catch back on w/ the plastic Nikon uses for a SB-900, so if the problem is my ignorance I won't have to return it.

September 11, 2015

Thanks to all who contributed. I learned a great deal. Sorry to be so late to reply. I was waiting for further comments, got bissey w/ other things,in particular how to Ittl & CLS w/ a Nikon D7000 & SB-800. I have questions about that which I will ask in an appropriate forum.

Thanks again for all the info about histograms & post processing, I learned far more than I bargained for: Jay

September 2, 2015

Matthew, Tim, & Mendel

Thank you for your answers. This is the 1st, for what ever reasons, I have heard any explanations of the vertical lines. I obviously have a lot to learn about digital photography.

Mendel, could U refer me to a photo or two that have an example of what your are referring to.

Tim,I shoot raw only. I don't see the advantage of space savings as worth loosing most post-processing power. It takes me months to fill a 16gig card w/ 16mb images. From my film background, what it sounds like what U are doing is changing the gamma locally @ different places to better match what the eye sees. Now to learn how to do that in Elements or Lightroom.

Jay

September 2, 2015

I understand what the distribution of vertical lines along the horizontal axis on a histogram means. I do not understand what the meaning is when those vertical lines reach the top of the graph. The various definitions say something like they represent the # of pixels @ that exposure level. Well, OK, does that mean that those are over exposed pixels? Obviously not. From what I can tell it makes no difference whenever the # of pixels reach or 'flat-top' the top line.

So what if anything does it mean? If it means nothing, why not?

Thank you, Jay

December 17, 2014

I once read about a technique of taking hold of just 1 side of the filter w/ the thumb & forefinger opposite of one another(almost touching) & twisting it counter clockwise. It worked surprisingly well. This will put fingerprints on the outside surface, but if the priority is to get the filter off, then so be it. I tend to doubt this would have helped in your case, though. I always carry 4 filter wrenches, 2 ~ 55mm & 2 ~ 80mm (probably stretchable to ~ 95mm). I use almost exclusively B+W MrC or Nano filters. I have only once had a problem removing a B+W filter. (Brass rings) It was a Nano Kesselman (sp?). The inner ring is very narrow, barely allowing the wench to get a purchase on it. I only turn a polarizer clockwise (facing the camera) to make sure I don't inadvertently loosen it while tuning it for the desired effect.

Hope this might be of some value to someone, Jay Drew

November 26, 2014

Hi Steven

Thank you for your post. It's an interesting coincidence the things U posted. Starting w/ the idea of a wind blind. It's a project I'm working on now, to be held down w/ H2O bags. And the only FX digital sized Nikon (if U can call it that) I have is a Kodak DCS 1n, which is 1 of the cameras in addition to a, DX, D7000 that I intend to do close up with.

I'm glad to hear that the GT 2531 EX is sturdy enough for some close up duty. I think I will get some extension tubes for less weight than bellows.

And Edward , thank you for the tip on the $150 rebate.

Now, does anyone know of the model # for a lateral post adapter for a series 3 tripod. I called B&H & the fella that I talked to had no idea. I Emailed Gitzo US & got a nonsensical answer. Even if they are no longer made, if I knew a model #, I could look for a used one.

jdmcgraw@sonic.net

November 13, 2014

I suspect that your 'UnZippped' bag could be repaired. Lowepro maybe could do it. Otherwise I'd try mountaineering stores like REI, etc. They often have some there who does that type of sewing, either offically through the store or on their own time & charge U directly.

I've done this before years ago. Best wishes, Jay Drew

November 12, 2014

Hi all

I'm seriously considering buying the Gitzo GT2531EX w/ the articulating post. The main reason I contemplating this purchase is for close up photography.

I have a GT3545XLS w/o a center post. With this Series 3 tripod, I often find close up subjects are beyond where I can place the camera due to the flattened & forward pointing leg(s) necessary to get low enough to shoot the subject.

I would prefer to get the center post for my GT3545XLS (Gitzo model # GS3512S) W/ a Lateral arm adapter for series 3 tripods. But for the life of me I can not find a Lateral post adapter for a Series 3 tripod. I can find them for Series 5;4;2, but no Series 3. I have found a Series 3 geared aluminum lateral arm. I don't want that.

So after all that bather, here are my questions:

1.) Does anyone have any idea of how this tripod would work or/ experience w/ a GT2531EX? Particularly w/ an Fx sized Nikon w/ bellows & a 105mm close up lens. (That' a lot of weight to reach out from the center line of the tripod)

2.) Would the GT2531EX, w/the center post extended out, be stable enough to allow exposures below, say, a 1/60th of a second? (I doubt it)

3.) If not, does anyone know how to buy a Lateral Side Arm Series 3 lateral arm adapter. If you don't know exactly where to buy one, do you know the Gitzo model number? I can find no mention of it on the 'Gitzo US' nor Gitzo UK site

Any suggestion gretly appreiciated.

jdmcgraw@sonic.net

September 22, 2014

Hi all

I have a very simple question that I can't find an answer.

Where do I find the status of my membership dues?

Thank you very much, Jay Drew

April 21, 2014

Thanks Lex,

but what is spam tag? 1 of the reasons than I have resisted digital so much is that I really don't uderstand computers & all this B.S lingo

Thanks JD

April 21, 2014

Problem with Your Input

I just tried to post a want to buy for Thom Hogans' Complete guide to the D7000 & this is what I got. I don't have any of these terms in my post.

<hr>

<blockquote>We had a problem processing your entry:

<ul>

<li>Because of abuse by spammmers, we can't accept submission of any HTML containing any of the following tags: <code>applet area base body button div embed fieldset font form frame frameset head html iframe ilayer input layer link marquee meta object option pre script select span style textarea /applet /area /base /body /button /div /embed /fieldset /font /form /frame /frameset /head /html /iframe /ilayer /input /layer /link /marquee /meta /object /pre /script /span /style</code></li>

</ul>

Please back up using your browser, correct it, and resubmit your entry.</blockquote>

April 16, 2014

John King wrote:

“...I use the camera on on fixed setting A F8..auto iso 100-6400 and min speed 1/30 and never touch it ...a cheap vertical grip at about $30 ( Neewer etc may help your grip) If I ever want to change the settings I use the dials on the grip which are inoperative when the grip switch is OFF” Had you noticed that with the above configuration the iso jumps to 400 the instant you turn on the flash ...that is very helpfull. ( 4x the lowest iso you set ..not in handbook)..."

John

I have yet to be able to set, & get to work, the function you mention where one sets the max ISO & the min. shutter speed. Nor have I been able to get the camera & the SB-800 to work in TTL mode. They come out horribly over exposed. But I'm not worried about it. I can shoot totally manually until I figure it out. Or use the flash in Auto (non TTL). In any case it doesn't matter for the moment, as I have loaned the D7000 to my 'film maker' grandson, who has lost or ruined every camera or I-Phone he has ever gotten. Such as the Gitzo 320 I loaned him, w/ which he clamped lights onto 2 legs, denting them so badly that the other legs won't retract. I need ma heed examined for loaning it to him. I wish I could afford to send him to one of the several art colleges in San Francisco.

The things we do for love, Jay Drew

BTW where can I find out how to put posters quoted posts in the gray box in P.N. I've looked & looked.

April 14, 2014

Thanks to every one for your thoughts on my question.

After reading the replies, I realized that I hold a camera differently than most folks, due to an injured & useless rt. middle finger. With 2 previous cameras (An F5 & a DCS Pro 1n) that have main command dials, I did not have the same problem w/ that dial, due to the cameras considerably different configuration plus the fact that the D7000 is smaller. This is particularly exacerbated w/ an SB 800 flash mounted on the hot shoe

John King,

This is a great idea. I think it will work very well. I'm not able to implement it due to having loaned the D7000, this past weekend, to my grandson to make a film. Although I can try it on the F5 & DCS. Have you used this idea yourself or did U think it up on the spot? In any case, thank you so much, Jay Drew

Thank you all again, Jay Drew

April 11, 2014

I wrote this before running a careful search on Photo.Net. Where I believe I read that there is no way to lock the Main Command dial. I would like to confirm that the only solutions is Velcro or gaffer tape. At least I'm glad that I found this out before I shot anything important.

In using a Nikon D7000, I'm having a problem w/ accidentally bumping the shutter speed dial. This is particularly a problem when using flash @ 1/250.

I need a way to lock the shutter speed, but not other settings.

I've looked in the Nikon supplied manual, & “Mastering... D7000” by D Young, Googled & have not found the answer. I've been studing “Mastering... “ & working w/ the camera intently for the last 5 days. I think I saw the answer, but do not remember where I saw it.

If there is not internal way to lock it, I'm going to have to improvise a solution w/ a Velcro strip & tabs. I really don't want to have to resort to this.

This is a serious problem.

Please help, Jay Drew

BTW, this has not been a problem w/ the 2 previous cameras I've used w/ Main Command Dials, a F5, & a Kodak DCS Pro 1n.

February 7, 2014

Paul

B+W Cir Pol MrC Nano Kaesemann filters w/ a standard sized threaded front ring are available from B&H in the 77mm size for ~$150. I know because I bought 1 w/ in the last year. I lean toward using a standard larger filter w/ a step up ring, than paying a huge premium for the low profile filters if it is at all possible to get away w/o vignetting.

Best, Jay Drew

February 7, 2014

Hi Bob

What type of bike are U planning to use? I've done loaded touring on a road type touring bike w/ front & rear panniers, & I've often wondered if a mountain bike w/ long bar-ends, wouldn't work better. I've also seriously considered a “Bob” trailer, particularly for transporting large format & tripod. (<a href="http://www.biketrailershop.com/">www.biketrailershop.com</a>)

8 lenses!? For the sake of transportation convenience, could U consider pairing that down a little. Perhaps using shorter focal length lenses & very fine grained film, a tripod, cable release, very careful darkroom technique & crop some in lieu of the longer length lenses. I doubt Ansel Adams carried 8 lenses in his car. I prefer prime lenses over zooms, but I don't think I'd carry more than 5 lenses on my back or on a bike, & 2 of those would be W.A.

I wish you well, Jay Drew

February 4, 2014

Sean

That's exactly the type of info I'm hoping someone here could provide me

Jay Drew

February 3, 2014

Where does one post Macro / Micro questions that are not of nature subjects. If there is a Macro forum, I haven't been able to find it.

All of my past Macro / Micro photos were of nature subjects, but I intend to do some man made subjects. Would I be admonished for posting a Macro / Micro question regarding a man made subject here.

Does Photo.net need a Macro / Micro forum?

Thank You, Jay Drew

Sign In

Profiles

Forums

Blogs

Events

Downloads

Gallery

Store

Posts posted by jay_drew