david_smith12

Fine Camera's. Takes great pictures. Quality lenses. Currently use the 140 zoom, but I suspect they are all good.

FYI, I also have an olympus stylus epic. Can't tell the difference between pictures from either camera.

Hello,

My comment about the inverse square law was to show that the change in light hitting the film plotted against fstop/exposure/shutter speed is exponential. Hence the r squared.

Certainly you may convert exponential curves to a straight line by using a log scale. Jack is "proving" his point by describing his logic using a log scale. Problem is, it only represents a straight line. Hence the thought connecting the dots between 100% and 50% and 25% is a straight line. Yes it is--when graphed on log paper. The physics however, as pointed out by many, is really curved lines (not straight) mathematically symbolized by squares or square root's of the power of 2.

No matter how Jack plots it, Jean Christophe is still correct.

Hello,

I sure wouldn't worry about a flash giving a healthy newborn a shock. I spent 18 years as an anesthesiologist covering labor and delivery work at a very busy hospital. Consider the following.

The physician will be using very bright light for the delivery. Since most babies are delivered head first, their first experience is in a very bright environment.

The greatest shock is the the cold room.

Secondly, better off not attributing lots of adult characteristics to newborns. Lack of myelin development renders a baby unable to "see" like it eventually will. Recall that it will take the baby a while to start tracking/following. I'm not suggesting babies are blind, just that there is no evidence bright light will bother them. Hearing is also a developing sensation for newborns. Lots of this stuff continues long after birth. Think myelination again.

If the baby is a premie, or in trouble/low apgars, no flash/external stimulation is appropriate. It can stress a marginal/sick baby and distract the health care team. Hard to examine a cyanotic baby after being blinded by some goofball's flash.

That said, I've seen about a zillion proud parents snapping away with their point & shoots. Pretty much everybody does. No adverse side effects ever noticed.

Bounce flash would also be something to consider. Less intensity in the child's face can be accomplished with a diffuser or angling the flash away from the face.

Fuji Superia 800 is an excellent film if you are to remain a purist. Should give you enough exposure to shoot at f2 or smaller.

I very much enjoyed my years covering OB. The women absolutely love the anesthesiologist after they get their epidural. They propose marriage, make promises, highly laud you, and then drop you like a dead chicken soon as the baby comes.

Funny that.

Tony,

Start your search here: http://www.licha.de/AstroWeb/articles_fullsize.php3?iHowTo=2

Michael Covington has a book Astrophotography for the Amateur that discusses various methods. Here is a link to reach him www.ai.uga.edu

www.scopetronix.com is another excellent site for camera adapters.

Photons live by the inverse square law. Famous equation 1/r squared.

r is the radius of the distance from the light source. Works for X-Rays, infra-red, visible light, gamma rays, but doesn't work for Manta Rays.

As mentioned, Jean-Christophe has it correct.

Hello,

Many nice pictures. Rob Appleby's comments about the Kids/flag are right on the money.

My state used to be the home for the Aryan Nation. Rev. Richard Butler was/is their guru. Sad people try to cloak respectability by proclaiming to be a man of God/Allah etc.

Anyway, Morris Dees brought suit against the Aryan Nations. A couple members committed murder at behest of Butler. The subsequent civil suit bankrupted the Aryan Nations and now the 20 acre compound is just another N. Idaho farm like it should be.

In their prime, the Aryan Nation compound was red meat for the press. Lots of posed pictures of kids in front of Nazi Flags. Also the usual Hoods, burning crosses, tattoo's, bad teeth, obesity, scraggly hair, filth, foul language, and all the other signs of the purity, wonder, and greatness of the white race. What a joke!

I'll bet Rob is right on the money. People of the rural south can be very patriotic and proud of their military contributions. The capture of the enemy flag likely had great meaning to that family. Being proud of grandpappy or daddy is as American as apple pie. Not having to live under the "rules" of the Nazi's, they are likely oblivious to the political/societal impact the flag has to europeans.

Anyways, great pictures. I really liked them. All of them.

Chip,

My guess is they didn't wish to have a photo of them used by someone in a way that may cast the light on them.

Once someone has a photo they can do with it or use it in any way they want. Go through the checkout line at the grocery store and see the tabloid garbage. Full of pictures of "stars" and "aliens" that sure as heck didn't wish to have their picture in the Globe/Star/Enquirer etc.

Maybe they didn't want to see their picture front page of their hometown paper under the banner "Decorated Vietnam Vet and family hate president."

Not that you would do such a thing. But to them, you are just a friendly stranger. Possible of anything.

I think they are just being wary. I'd probably be the same way.

Michael Savage is full of vitriol. I'm as conservative as they come but I don't like him. All shock, not much message. Kind of a Howard Stern type of guy.

Yet I don't think he's any less hateful than the not so reverend adulterer hypocrite Jesse "Hymie Town" Jackson or the patently racist Al Sharpton and Louis Farakhan.

Jackson and Sharpton get loads of media play. Much more than their share. Much more than their message deserves.

Hello,

www.geh.org/fm/lwhprints/htmlsrc2/index.html

One of my favorite sites is Astronomy Picture of the Day. APOD.

Their photo of the day is a 1969 shot Pete Conrad took. It is a

great photo. There appears to be a Hassleblad in the photo. (Sorry

no Leica) Check out the APOD website photo of the day sometime.

The site references some other photographers work. The above link is

very good. Jeff Spirer often remarks that the tools are not as

important as the photographer. After viewing these shots you will

agree.

Mike,

Are you willing to change your mind?

"Why is Iraq the primary target when North Korea already has nuclear capability and an equally-ruthless and more-unstable ruler? How long until the US goes marching into NK?" That's a quote of your question.

Spokesmen and women for the Bush administration (Rice, Powell, Wolfowitz, etc) as well as those from the Democratic party such as Biden, Levin, etc have both responded that if N. Korea tries to export a nuclear device they will consider that unacceptalbe. Reading between the lines, I'd say that would give one answer to your question. I'm pretty sure if N. Korea militarily makes an adventure against S. Korea or Japan you would also see a response. I can see many other situations.

Why are you so concerned that the US is trying diplomacy and patience with N. Korea? For the past 10 years the US has been trying to change Iraq by adhering to and enforcing UN resolutions. Time's now up. 10 years is long enough. Rob Appleby is right. The world has changed since 9/11. The anti war crowd doesn't think so, but ten years is ten years.

Someone in an earlier thread said Iraq poses no threat the the US. Tell it to the pilots enforcing the UN sanctioned and sponsored No Fly zones. Every time Iraqi radar locks on to a plane, a US or Brit plane, I'm certain the pilots feel threatened. Pilots are people too. I take care of them.

I agree with you entirely about one point. Red China should be exerting much much more influence on their immediate bordersharing nuclear neighbor and puppet stalinist state. Funny they seem so indifferent. Hence their non chalance re. Iraq.

Chip,

Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge and respond to my query.

I now understand your perspective and view much better.

The successes of diplomacy so far, and there have been many, have come about only because of a very serious and real military threat and presence the past 10 years. Not because of a bunch of debaters from various countries in New York That threat has been pressed at UN behest by the USA and Britian almost exclusively.

Those countries have born the burden, suffered the expenses, and sacrificed the lives, for the diplomatic successes.

While your are protesting, please honor and respect the efforts of servicemen and women from those countries.

I work for them.

I'm a doctor at a VA Hospital A number of our surgery staff are now activated reservists. Some in the middle east.

Every day I care for vets that have served and sacrificed it all. Please remember and consider they consider you are protesting against them and their efforts when you are taking your pictures.

I know this. I have spoken with them.

Oliver, Robert, Chip, Anybody.

Pretty clear you are opposed to the war. I've not heard one suggestion how to deal with Saddam? Not one concrete idea. Not one plan.

All I hear is the same old stuff. "Those for the war are simplistic, oil greedy capitalists." "immoral" etc. etc. Assumption of moral highground by proclaimation.

Why doesn't anybody excercise some of that wonderful much pined about free speech and give an honest appraisal of precisely how to disarm Saddam and liberate his people from tyranny. And do it without the use of the armed forces of the USA or Britian.

Why does the US become the heavy and Saddam get a pass?????

Last question. Isn't his tyranny immoral?

Lets have some positive answers rather than the same old "everybody agrees with us" chant.

Hello,

Back to the camera prices issue.

In Japan, the stock market has been in a terrific slump (recession/depression/obsession whatever) since 1989.

What would be interesting is to know how the sales of new and used cameras has been in that market. Afterall, it's the corporate home of Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta, Konica etc.

I understand those camera maker's largest market is outside Japan. I'm curious if economic problems in Japan translate into softer prices?

Hello,

What is done with the sacrificed animals?

Mike,

www.buytelescopes.com Anacortes Telescope and Wild Bird carries a T-mount for Mamiya 645. I just ordered one. Problem is, it is made to use on Takahashi Scopes. Another problem is that it's $245. (Gasp)

And if that's not bad enough, that still leaves you with the problem of the size of hole you have on the back of your scope.

Your original post does not state the type of Celestron telescope you have. Is it a refracter or SCT? I have a Celestron 8" SCT and the visual back has approximately a 2" orofice. My Tak takes a 4" ring.

Call Herb or Ray at Anacortes. They will likely have an answer. When you find out, let me know. I doubt I will be able to use my Mamiya on my SCT but I'd sure like to try

I may have to immediately withdraw my nomination. For it has occurred to me the originator of this thread may have purpetrated a great hypocrisy upon us.

Ray Haack!?

Is that Ray Hack?

Perhaps Ray Hawk??

Hayack??? Highock????

How are we to know??? The name appears to defy convention. There's either too many a's or a letter is missing somewhere. And nary an umlat or sign to help us. In matters like this, the internet is of little use.

Someone please posit an answer???

A DREADFUL LANGUAGE? WHY,MAN ALIVE

I'D LEARNED TO TALK IT WHEN I WAS FIVE.

AND YET TO WRITE IT, THE MORE I TRIED

I HADN'T LEARNED IT AT FIFTY-FIVE.

( DR.RICHARD N.KROGH )

I did a google search and found the author. To my delight I discovered Michael had stopped two lines short. I cut and pasted the final stanza for everyone's enjoyment.

God Bless the English (actually a Germanic Language) for giving us this language. I hereby nomimate Ray Haack unofficial grammar gendarme.

O' Teacher,

I recently misspelled Japanese. (I twice added an extra e near the end)

My apologies to those native to and from that fine land.

Gary,

Ignore Kristian. I agree with Joel. He is rude and offensive to many. Very immature. Contributes little but controversy. His mother was unable to teach him manners. On the internet we must suffer fools.

I can understand multiple leica systems. Each camera/lens has a different character.

Four Medium Format systems!!!! There has to be a story in there somewhere. You've got my curiosity aroused.

David,

You are not alone. I've not burned my shutter, but seems like my cap's fall off just looking at them. I've solved my problem by buying caps and leaving them in a closet. When out I use a clear filter and hope I don't burn the shutter.

Hello Jack,

I'm moving to your point of view more and more. My Hexar RF with 50mm lens is my main film camera. I'm selling the 35mm ASPH because I just don't wish to have over $1000 on the end of my camera for shapshots. You are correct that nothing does B&W 35mm like the Leica film combo.

I use my Casio QV4000 for lots of stuff. It's 4mp also, and captures a wide varity of shots. I use it via my spotting scope for wildlife. I have taken pictures of Saturn and Jupiter through my telescope. The ability to crop/edit/enhance with photoelements is just fantastic. The digital camera is a heck of a snapshot camera, but the shutter lag irksome. This is somewhat offset by the ability to take a zillion shots and delete the losers.

I enjoy piggyback wide field astroshots. I have found that a beater medium format Mamiya body with two or three of their wonderful manual focus lenses has made 35mm SLR astrophoto's obsolete. No Leica, Nikon, or Canon lens is a match for the quality and detail available in the larger format. Astrophoto's are for wall hanging.

Leica's film days are numbered. Their market is destined to shrink as technology advances. Wealthy people will gravitate to the next technologic wonder just as soon as it's more user friendly. (How's that for a futuristic opinion!!!!!)

Imran,

"Iraq ia a complex community of shias, sunnis and kurds who will after Saddams departure go for bloodletting and partition."

1935--"Germany is a complex community of Jews, Gypsies, Catholics, Bohemians, and aryans who after Hitlers departure go for bloodletting and partition" 9 Million dead by leaving Hitler alone. (Not counting any Russians.)

1925--"USSR is a complex community of Slavs, tartars, Ukrainians, Causak's, peasants, and landowners, who after Stalins departure go for bloodletting and partition"--36million dead by leaving Stalin alone.

1935--"Manchuria is a complex corrupt society of inferior beings who after the Japaneese departure go for bloodletting and partition"--Millions raped, murdered and plundered by leaving the Japaneese alone.

1948--"China is a complex community of mongols, peasants, buddists, etc..., who after Mao's departure go for bloodletting and partition"

36 million or more dead by starvation, murder, and genocide by leaving Mao alone."

Leave people alone in the Balkans, Cambodia, Armenia, Kuwait, and see what has happened this century passed.

Please understand I do respect many of your well thought out points. I do not wish to have my comments above represent anything more than disagreement with the point of view of "leaving people alone." I'm not Muslim or Arab, and have no authority to speak for the culture, region, or religion. I will agree that the United States administration is able to appear insensitive, heavyhanded, and domineering with it's foreign policy.

Yet, the USA has a better record than any other country in the history of the 20th century in contributing to the well being of foreign countries where once there was a military presence.

I'm still smarting from the Authentic Fully Manual Leitz Cafeteria Tray I let get away recently.

God I wanted that Tray!

It's just too soon to think about any other fully manual Leitz object for now.

Nevil,

I'll try to send you some of my pictures direct. I haven't bothered to learn how to post to Photonet and should do that to share with everyone. Since none of my digiscope stuff is leica I don't think it would be appropriate.

Jordan Blessing has a gallery at his scopetronix site. Nice pictures of birds, macro, solar, planets, etc. You should check out his eyepieces and Digi-T adapters. For under $150US you will have a very good prime eyepiece and adapter that makes your camera a one piece unit.

Your zoom is a very nice lens and your best results will likely be between 15X and 30X.

Nice bird shots BTW.