Rick Helmke

Nikon F2, 28/2.8 and Tri-X. And I wouldn't take a supermodel, too much maintenance.

Rick H.

Very nice work. Makes me wish once again that I could find a working Hi Matic 5.

Rick H.

When I come to a web site that requires personal information before showing me anything I just move on, always. Many people, most of them younger I've noticed, have no problems doing that though. For me, I want to see at least some of what you have first.

Rick H.

Frank I'd forgotten about the C cells in the 611. I wish the 510v batteries were still available. $25 in about 1978, wonder what they would be now? Environmentally unfriendly I'm sure.

Rick H.

The 24-70 or in my case a 28-75 always stays on a body and I couldn't replace it with a 35 for most of my shooting. A 70-200 or 80-200 and a 300 also stay in my bag almost all the time.

Rick H.

We used Sunpack 511 and 611 potatoe mashers back in the late ,70's and if I could find a couple that worked I'd snap them up. They would run on AA's or with a separate pack that carried a 510v battery. Great flash units.

Rick H.

Just my opinion but most wildlife and all the R/C I shoot work better with a 300. 200 is just too short. I shot an airshow last weekend and even my DX body needed the longer lens and I had a good vantage point. The 80-200 is a useful lens but it's limited.

Rick H.

<p>Wow Steve, that's a lot prettier than the FT2 I found last week.<br>

<br />Rick H.</p>

<p>It's always good to have a spare camera body. I'd say sell the 17-55 but it's such a good lens. You can also use it on the D800 in crop mode if I'm not mistaken. Keep what you have and add the 24-70, let it all digest for a while and see if anything stands out as just no longer needed. The D200 is a good body and you're right, you won't get much for it.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>The FE2 would be close to what you have but the F4 or F4s is a camera I like a lot better and prices are way down at KEH. It's bigger and heavier but a nicer camera IMO.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>I've bought from KEH a number of times like many on this forum and they are excellent to deal with. They grade conservatively and stand behind what they sell. From your choices I'd go with the KEH D90.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>I'll second most of what Wouter says with one exception. I like the D100 assuming one can be found that's low mileage and yes, they are out there. I found one about a year ago that had fewer than 2000 actuations and pounced on it for $100. I think D200's are easy to find for about $500 and it's a very good camera. The D50 is good also and all three of these will autofocus with your older AF lenses. It sounds like you enjoy photography for all of the right reasons so adding digital will keep the adventure going.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>There's always Ilford. Actually it seems as though all of the film prices, like everything else, have risen the last few years. I would expect film to rise in price as it becomes less mainstream. I'm going to keep using it though but these days I do my high volume shooting digitally. The days when I burned through thousnds of feet a year are gone. More's the pity.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>A 28mm on a full frame.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>Rob I have put together the following collection of AI Nikkors; 28/3.5, 35/2, 50/1.4, 85/2 and 80-200/4.5 for a total of under $250. I got an AI 300/4.5 for another $200 so the deals are out there. I can use these on any of my digital or film bodies.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>It's Johnson's Camera Repair in Mission Square on University. Phone is (706) 569-1480. Mr. Johnson has been there forever and does very good work. He's in the shop 6 days a week and turns around pretty quickly. He does CLA's and anything else I've ever asked him to do, good prices.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

I rode over to Columbus, GA this morning to take my F2 in for repairs (the motor drive is giving me trouble) and the

first thing I saw when I went in was this old Nikkormat Ft2 with a Vivitar 80-200/4.5 on it. Both are in well used

condition but both have been checked out by the repair shop and are in good shape. For $80 I just couldn't leave it

there, and anyway, I NEEDED another film Nikon. The lens is actually quite sharp, better than some I've paid more

money for. And the best part is, my F2 will be ready Friday!

Rick H.

One day at my first newspaper job out of college, my editor comes to me with a copy of a newspaper located about 100 miles away. In it is a feature photograph nearly identical to one I had just run in our paper. The photos ran within 2 days of each other and my editor, knowing the other photographer was a friend of mine, wanted to know what might be going on. While they were shot at different times, we must have stood in each others footsteps, used the same lens and the same film, printed on the same paper. They were that similar. Forward 30 years later, same photographer is sitting next to me at a basketball tournament. This time, though we are nearly shoulder to shoulder covering the same game, he's using 2 long lenses and I'm using wideangle and getting very close. While we both got what we wanted and at least this time they looked nothing alike. So yes. And no.

Rick H.

<p>I'd buy the manual focus lens but that's me. Most of mine are MF. I don't think the D lens will AF on a D40 but you may retain metering and so on. If you are upgrading to the D90 I think it will AF with that lens. I don't think it will meter with the MF lens but I may be wrong about that.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>Mark I think a book could go over very well. You might consider displaying in a gallery also. The one with the mom carrying her baby on her back while working has stuck with me all day.<br>

You said you shot these through the viewfinder of a Brownie? I'm having trouble visualizing that. Was this done on film? This is some of the best b&w work I've seen in a while and I have yet to make my digital based b&w look anything like my film based work.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>You should look into making a book from this work. That was superb, it's made my day. Reminds me of why b&w is my favorite medium. Thank you Mark.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>My experience is that the mid-range zoom is a must. I too can recommend the Tamron 28-75/2.8 as a very good lens at a good price. I don't go to a wedding without it. The 16-28 won't get used much I suspect, an 80-200/2.8 is an excellent and less expensive alternative to the 70-200/2.8. Just my opinion here but I think all of the VR features are overrated in general and you did mention a budget. Two flashes is plenty, maybe the 900 and a smaller used 800 or 600, or the Sigma unit? You'll wish you hadn't bothered with all the light stands. You absolutely need two bodies. If you are going full frame, and why not, get a pair of D700's. What you don't spend on really high priced glass will cover the cost. An alternative could be a pair of D300's and replace the 28-70 with the superb Nikon 17-55/2.8 Don't forget plenty of memory, backup storage and software. Maybe an external battery for one or both flashes. I'm betting you can buy a good sized bag and fill it up for under $6k and have yourself a first rate rig for anything you choose to shoot.</p>

<p>Rick H</p>