ImageCapture

Do you happen to have a number of camera bags that were purchased with a specific travel or utility in mind? If you have been shooting for a while, I know you have collected at least a backpack for rural treks (think tank), a travel gear pack for air travel (think tank), and bag for putzing about the city (domke), then there is an additional bag or two that you own that scales up or down when your need more(gurugear) or less(MP-2) glass/gear.

I have realized for a while that there is a small list of small but critical Image-capture-gear which is constantly moving from one bag to the next. these items include CF packs, bubble, filters, grey cards, flashlight, etc..

Then when you get to location, you pull them out of your bag d’jur and start loading these items into your shirt and pants pockets. This situation has bugged me, items now get lost, misplaced, mishandled. and over the coarse of time, you have to replace filters, lens caps, bubbles and lens coats …Like I said it has been a pain all away around.

The Best camera gear shoulder pack is really an extremely functional, highly ergonomically engineered, urban commuter shoulder bag, manufactured by arguably the best extreme weather gear manufacture on earth.

This shoulder bag can quickly be open by bending open the sides, aka the innovative ‘Roll top operating system’. You can get into the lime green interior of the raven black bag without having to unclick, unvelco, unhinge any covers, very neat. Inside, the pockets seem costumed designed with the photographer in mind, it’ll hold my Lee ND grads, anothr side pocket for Nikon battery, another pocket for CF cars, bubble, caps.

The outside of the bag is streamlined, it glides underarm, when your camera rises up to take your Images. It has small hidden outer pocket to hold an iphone, small long side pocket for flashlight, and a reciprocal pocket on the opposite side for headlamp.. then finally a larger zippered pocket to hold my 77, 72, 62mm filters stacks.

What really works for me, is that you can go into this bag without any effort, now more hunting around, and you have a place to stow that lense cap or hoodie, and you can use the larger inner section ot bring in an 85mm. All totaled, there are seven pockets.

Finally, yes a bit more, if you find your swinging the bag due to walking or a lot of up/down bending, there is a lower waist strap to cinched it to your body. And let’s not overlook the 1/2 straps which can adjust to lockdown on each side the large Roll top opening.

So here is a camera gear shoulder pack for those small items that you can efficiently store and quickly retrieve items. The pack consists of robust material, engineered for ergonomics, and after you wrap it over your head to hang off your shoulder, you can hike around the day in comfort, and the man-bag/photo-bag cliches just whimper away. This bag will improve your game, it is keeping 10-15 small critical items in control, so you can capture your eyes and focus your mind and DLSR on your (next) Image.

Pictured: Nikkor 55-300, 85mm,24-120mm,28-300,55-300mm

I have held back on a dedicated posting on Nikon gear announcements and let the RSS link on this site to Nikon Rumors spill the beans so to speak. I tend to keep this site active during the day and see the feeds as they come in.

The new batch of lens can be preordered, which can be a really good thing if there is something that you can’t wait to get. My preorder expeiences have been positive, but I only deal with Adorama and haven’t tried Amazon. Getting the first batch of lenses can be risky, because Nikon is not know for their out for the gate quality.  But it is a great experience having on of the newest and the best if they and you hit it right.

My take on the what is being announced is that it looks like proconsumer technology. I don’t see myself doing any ordering for these items. I like primes, and my telephotos cover the range of these new lense, albiet not in the one lens all ranges. Second, most of my work is done in lower light, so I don’t like loosing 2 stops, even with VR, which I don’t use when I’m on a tripod, which is 80% of the time.

The one lens that I might want to hear about is the new FX 85mm f/1.4. But I’m wishey-washy on this one. Nikon blew the new 50mm 1/4 with its super slow AF, and the 85mm if used for portraits can’t be hunting around. Also, only the nano coating was changed no VR, and I see that the number of blades has increased which may change background. The 85mm for me is primarily a hand held lense, so VR would have been a plus. The current 85mm 1/4 is know as the ‘cream machine’ and its background rendering is like butter, and the lens is always on the top of everyones, best of breed, lens list from Nikon.  Still the current 85mm is showing its age, I am starting to like the new breed of Nikon lenses that have the one click button on the lense body to shift from M/A to M, this negates hunting for the Manual mode on the left side of the D3(s).

As far at the new D3100 goes, ….. I have two FX pro bodies in my bag, and I’ll hold out for the D3x replacement.  What does happen here with the D3100 is that some of the new features on the 3100, such as AF in Live View in video mode, will migrate upwards, so this is a good thing.

New gear is good for us all and it is great that Nikon keeps putting the time and resources into developing their portfolio and market share, we all benefit if they continue to get it right and move past the competition.

UPDATE 08/07/10

I placed the order with lens filters on June 21st,  the site said the product was available, but I received an email a few days later saying the product was on backorder, with the ETA unknown but typically they were filled in thirty days.  Even though I was disappointed on availability I keep the order live because the stock was not available anywhere in the US.  So here it is August 2nd, and my order shipped from Canada, FedX next day…except next day turned into a week, due to some customs issues with Fed…but never matter, the .75 (2 1/2) ND saw use this morning at 5:30 am, and boy was I glad it was in my bag again….the price: $135+$34=$169cdn = $165US   vs  B&H $105+$0 ship  …a $65 dollar premium, no bargain  but it is in my bag now (after a six week wait) !!   If you are tired of US channels give them a call.

Posted on 6/21/10

US distribution thru B&H, Adorama and other outlets for a number of Lee Grad ND Filters types is borderline abysmal.  Product selection and availability is weak and any delivery information is out of the question.   The reason is that Lee had some major type of manufacturing meltdown in the UK over a year ago and are crippled to get the act together and supply demand.  I’ve written about this a few times as I have seen the shortage impact my ability to get the Images I want.

Exacerbated with the wait, I spent the better half of the day, researching domestics camera stores for availability. NOTHING…..In frustration, I searched worldwide. NOTHING…then I smartened up, went to the LEE site and searched on their store locator for Canada…walla!….the have one major distributor, and their web site is very well put together (unlike B&H,Adorama) explaining the various filters, functions, dimensions, availability and pricing.   I have my order in…so let’s see what happens with the delivery process…I’ll keep you Posted

I was fortunate to recently assist one of my fellow Moose Alumni in his search for a tripod upgrade from his current Manfrotto190xPROB.

The problem for anyone selecting their ‘last tripod’ is a journey thru the mired of internet information on tripod configurations and the fervor of discussions, opinions, misinformation and advertisements….research can take a long time…why..because we are looking at a major investment….and if you let compromise and 2nd guessing creep into your final decision and you’ll blow the correct choice.

The facts:

1. Height 5’11 = 71″
2. Eye level = 66′
3. Lens = prime & mid-telephotos,80-400
4. DLSR D700
5. BallHead = RRS BH55

Field Work

1. No major backpacking hike Ins
2. Ability to travel w/pod occasionally by plane
3. Landscape from desert to freezing cold
4. Stability & Flexibility to Growth

Recommendations Needed:

1. What Gitzo model ?
2. What Gitzo size ?
3. Where to purchase ?

Short answer: Gitzo: GT3541XLS

Continue Reading ➞

Even since I was tipped off by my filter folks up in NH to this Japanese manufacture, I have been switching over my C-Pol filters to Murumi DHG Super Circular PLD from the iconic German made B+W KSM C-POL MRC.  There is also a head to head comparison by Lenstip of 24 filters manufactures, and the Marumi tied for first, with guess who, yep B+W.

For me what makes Marumi that much better is a lower price, better availability, a black matt finish on the paint, less weight,,,but the best feature is it is half the width of the B+H.  This starts to really matter when you need to stack filters, such as a ND and then go ultra wide angle, then the Marumi thin width prevents annoying filter vignetting.

B+H filter on left, Marumi 67mm and 52mm (middle & right)

Continue Reading ➞

If you have tried using an Iphone to get to this site’s content using the G3 ATT network, you know that it has been a slow process…(ugh)..  I’ll often check my site for reference information on gear, library or links but trying to hunt and peck micro-fonts while waiting for the download is like watching film develop (Prez, be nice)…

The Iphone experience to link into the site, for me, was unproductive, nice to have access but no value, because of the Neanderthal process to get to it.

However, Speed has been improved and Iphone access has been greatly improved.

How ?  Backoffice software stuff  ….you don’t have do anything….

With the speed, there is now a slight format change on the Iphone, but the content remains the same, and you send emails or search much more easily.

The drop down arrow on the left allows improved navigation.

Here are some Iphone screen shots :

Continue Reading ➞

Adorama is now shipping pre-orders….. I’ll be on the lookout for mine tomorrow..

• SPECIFICATIONS AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED
  • Focal Length 24mm
  • Maximum Aperture f/1.4
  • Minimum Aperture f/16
  • Lens Construction 12 elements in 10 groups
  • Aspherical lens Elements 2
  • Picture Angle 84° (61° when used in DX Crop mode or with DX-format D-SLRs)
  • Minimum Focus Distance 0.82 ft (0.25 m)
  • Maximum Reproduction Ratio 0.179x
  • Advanced Coating Nikon Nano Crystal Coat (N)
  • ED (Extra-low Dispersion) Elements 2
  • Focusing Autofocus with Silent Wave Motor (SWM) and manual focus
  • Rear Focus (RF) Yes
  • Aperture Control Via camera Command Dial
  • Diaphragm Blades 9 (rounded)
  • Filter Attachment Size 77mm (Screw-on)
  • Dimensions (diameter x length) (Approx.) 3.3 x 3.5 in. / 83 x 88.5mm
  • Weight (Approx.) 21.9oz. / 620g
  • Supplied Accessories LF-1 Rear Lens Cap; LC-77 Snap-on Front Lens Cap;
  • HB-51 Bayonet Lens Hood; CL-1118 Semi-soft Case
  • Product Number 2184

03/18/2010 Update

I have been waiting for a comprehensive technical review of the new 16-35 mm, and was very excited to see that Lloyd Chambers has decided to take the entire current Nikon ultra wide zooms  head on.

For the uninitiated Lloyd is one of those 21st Renaissance men, who moves between photography, software, hardware, programing, MACs, Ziess lens…whew..and a young family !   Llyod has a primary daily Blog site, and to get to his really fine technical content he has some pay for content sites.  My plug here is that I’ve saved myself so much time, effort and money by enrolling on his content sites, that it has been a safer and more profitable investment for me that BOFA.

In a nutshell:

1. Diglloyd’s Advanced Photography (DAP) is a growing collection of high quality, timely, impartial research and reports on topics of interest to professional and amateur photographers.
2. A subscription enables access to all the DAP content below and any future content for the duration of the subscription (one year). Even without updates, the breadth and depth of existing content in DAP would fill several books—a tremendous value.
3. Coverage focuses on Canon EOS and Nikon, but a variety of other brands are also included; Sony, Mamiya, Hartblei, Voigtlander, Sigma, Leica and Tamron for example.

After I read his recent content on the new Nikon 16-35mm f/4, I contacted Lloyd and asked if I could share some of his technical results with you…His work is currently in progress, but he has managed to get thru some parts of the ranges that he is testing.

His posted results are excerpted below: Continue Reading ➞

My site has seen a number of recent hits about people searching for Nikon D3s. I’ve read else where that they are shipping again and that stock is supposed to be available soon. However, if you need a recommendation beyond the big three, here is a link to follow Kenmore Cameras, Washington State.

Very early on after my first Gitzo tripod purchase, I started searching the web for a tri-pod bag that would accommodate trekking with the  Gitzo and a RRS BH-55 ball-head on it.  My search floundered as I ended up with three other manufactures bags which are now gathering dust.

Then I found this simple, rugged, versatile and lightweight bag (model T620) from an off the beaten path photo outdoor gear manufacture, Kinesis.  Then many months ago I upgraded my Gitzos from a (collapsed 25.5″ length) Mountaineer model 2531 to a (collapsed 27.5″length ) Systematic model GT3541XLS and with the added length, yet there is still enough room to fit my tripod/ballhead combo.

What separates this bag is a few extremely well  thought out designs.

1. Gravity – you’ll load this tripod feet first, zip up over the ball head, but when you hold the handle it is positioned forward of center to correctly balance the load
2. Gravity – when you attach the shoulder stap, the padded strap end snaps to the leg end which allows you to carry the tripod, head down, which lets the weight rest downward.
3. Shoulder Strap – contoured and ready to stick to anything.
4. Zipped pouch – lots of need for this is bad weather to stow something quickly.
5. Compression straps – Top and Bottom – even with a snug fit, you can draw the contents and bag more securely.
6. Zippers – hidden from the elements, fantastic when the snow starts to build up on the outside.
7. Airport Friendly – Many domestic trips with no issues, and easy access if someone needs to take a look, fits very well into overheads
8. Knee Pad – Once the tri-pod is out and in use, this bag doubles as a knee pad or gear holder, it lays flat to the ground
9. Backpack Point – There are two points on the tripod feet end with D points, and an additional 4 other points to secure this to you backpack.
10. UltraLight  System – Kinesis also markets this bag when additional harness is purchased as a standalone tripod backpack…kind of neat…
11. Inexpensive – <$50

I would recommend this bag to anyone, I have traveled and field tested this in every environment, but the desert, and this bag always delivers a solid maintenance free performance for me ….

Somehow I misplace my .9 (3 stop) Lee Graduated Filters on the Cliffs of Gualala in California. The vistas were stunning and I spent quite awhile shooting in the early morning and even though I thought I picked up and packed all my gear, somehow I lost it….   Later, back in NY, I discovered that trying to order a replacement was a major problem, it took more scouring to locate a filter than finding my D3s.

All my favorite haunts were out of stock,or backordered. Why? Come to find out that Lee had a major production line problem several months ago, either with equipment, people or process, (not sure) however their bread and butter products (.3,.6.9 ND Grads) have been backordered for several months now. While new filters may start trickling in, I needed something quickly. I handhold this filter in front of my lens when shooting and the soft grad is particularly useful for wide angle lens (ie my new 16-35mm f/4 !)

I finally called into my favorite filter specialist in my home-state of NH (2filters), and they didn’t have any stock either, but I received an email an hour later, saying they had stock, a quick call revealed that they didn’t have the .3, .6, or .9 however they had one .75.  I had never seen the .75 advertised, so it’s a 2.5 stop filter which should work for me, because I often pullup the .9 on my lens because the grad is to dark, so I’m thinking the .75 might just do the trick.

The Lee product is just Great Quality, you don’t see that info coming thru on website or other articles,

• It comes in an extremely well made black thick cloth pouch with velco and fits perfectly in your camera bag outer pockets
• It easy to clean and I think it’s quite resistant to scratches
• The filter is long and wide enough to hold and handle as you move the grad into position
• Its light weight the grad is uniform thru the resin and is a few millimeters thicker than the next guys filter
• the cloth pouch has a plastic window protecting the filters spec paperwork.

My friends over at 2 filters also turned me onto a newer filter maker, Hitech, .9 ND grad 4X5 which I’m interested in trying out. From first glance, it’s missing the nice case, is shorter, not as thick and the grad looks to be centered to low in the middle so the coverage over my Nikon glass might be a problem…oh well I try it… until I can replace my Lee .9ND Grad soft……

I have been meaning to post this. This table is DISTANCE based and is useful for getting your Hyper focal settings.  I am not sure where I came across it, it was another photographers web site as reference material.

Here is how you use it:

1. Double you distance of nearest object you want in focus,
2. Next on the left hand vertical side of the chart look up your lens length.
3. Then scan across horizontally to the right to select your ‘doubled distance’
4. Next look up vertically then put that f-stop setting into your camera.

very simple. (of coarse Prez, will tell you to just to just set it up by looking at your lens markings, but the markings went the way of the dodo bird, with these new digital lenses)

.. I’m going to give this a go..and post some pics later.

Other alternatives and discussions on Hyperfocal on this site

Here is a large file without any markings:

Nikon has been busy.  This FW release has been posted for the D3S.

The fixes are:

Movie recording specifications have been modified as follows and an issue that, in some rare cases, caused movie playback to appear to have stopped has been resolved.
- When exposure preview is enabled in live view tripod mode, information + histogram display is possible, but the histogram is no longer displayed while movies are recorded.
- When the live view button is pressed with the Audio Video Cable EG-D2 connected, the image is displayed in both the television and camera monitor, but the camera monitor now turns off during movie recording.
The camera monitor turns on again when the Audio Video Cable EG-D2 is disconnected from the camera.
- Some simplified Chinese menus and help displays have been revised.
- When some memory cards were inserted in the camera, “CHA” was displayed in the top control panel and images could not be captured.  This issue has been resolved.

Nikon Download Link

The rumor waiting is over, Nikon released two new lenses to start off 2010 at the PMA Show last night

The 24mm f/1.4G ED Lens

Perhaps one of the most hotly anticipated lenses in recent memory, the new AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED lens blends a natural yet versatile 24mm perspective with an ultra-fast f/1.4 aperture to expand an existing collection of well over 60 NIKKOR interchangeable lenses. The f/1.4 maximum aperture allows photographers to shoot handheld in low light and provides dramatic separation between subject and a softened background. In a wide variety of photographic situations, both FX and DX-format shooters will enjoy the benefits of extra-bright f/1.4 viewing, superb image quality and the dramatic perspectives afforded by a picture angle of 84 degrees (61 degrees when mounted on a DX-format body)

• Price: $2199.95
• Available in late March 2010
• A fast, wide-angle lens with a fixed focal length of 24mm at the maximum aperture of f/1.4
• Fast lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.4 that allows users to capture images with beautiful blur characteristics
• ED glass and aspherical lens elements are utilized for a new optical design that achieves high resolution and good balance in terms of aberration for pleasing blur characteristics
• The adoption of Nano Crystal Coat effectively reduces ghost and flare
• Quiet focusing with built-in Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
• Two focus modes selectable – M/A and M

• Focal length		24mm
  Maximum aperture		f/1.4
  Minimum aperture		f/16
  Lens construction		12 elements in 10 groups (with two ED glass and two aspherical lens elements, and Nano Crystal Coat)
  Angle of view		84° (61° with Nikon DX format)
  Closest focusing distance		0.25 m/0.82 ft.
  Maximum reproduction ratio		0.18x
  No. of diaphragm blades		9 (rounded)
  Filter/attachment size		77mm

The 16-35mm f/4 VR Lens Brings a New Perspective to VR

The new AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR lens is an ideal lens for enthusiasts and professionals craving a constant maximum aperture and ultra-wide angle zoom versatility with the benefits of Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) II image stabilization. As the widest FX-format NIKKOR zoom lens with VR, users can realize the ability to shoot up to four shutter speeds slower than otherwise possible, expanding low light shooting opportunities and contributing to dramatically sharper handheld photography and video capture. Nikon VR II image stabilization technology is engineered specifically for and optimized to function most effectively for each lens, ensuring optimum performance. Whether joining the growing ranks of FX-format photographers or using the Nikon DX-format, photographers will appreciate the perspectives possible when shooting architecture, interiors, landscapes and more.

• Price: $1259.95
• Available in late February 2010
• Ultra wide-angle zoom lens that covers focal lengths from 16mm to 35mm
• Vibration Reduction (VR II) enables sharper pictures while shooting at shutter speeds up to four stops* slower than would otherwise be possible
  *As determined in Nikon performance tests.
• The adoption of Nano Crystal Coat effectively reduces ghost and flare
• An ultra wide-angle zoom lens that, while offering a wide angle view of 107°, is compatible with 77mm screw-on filters
• Fixed maximum aperture of f/4
• ED glass and aspherical lens elements are utilized for a new optical design that achieves high resolution
• Quiet focusing with built-in Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
• Two focus modes selectable – M/A and M

• Focal length		16-35mm
  Maximum aperture		f/4
  Minimum aperture		f/22
  Lens construction		17 elements in 12 groups (with two ED glass and three aspherical lens elements, and Nano Crystal Coat)
  Angle of view		107° – 60° (83° – 44° with Nikon DX format)
  Closest focusing distance		0.29 m (1.0 ft.) at a focal length of 16mm or 35mm, 0.28 m (0.9 ft.) at a focal length between 20mm and 28mm
  Maximum reproduction ratio		0.25x
  No. of diaphragm blades		9 (rounded)
  Filter/attachment size		77mm

Looks like I’ll need to make more room in the camera bag !!

Given that you are always shooting at various types of locations and you have a habit of keeping your tripod plate fixed on your camera, you need a system to be flexible to change strap configuration while your changing locations, ie hiking, city and general purpose….Here is what I’ve come up with after much trial and error…

The Steps

1. Op/Teck ; $4.50
   1. Utility loop
2. Think Tank Pro ;$12.50 + $25 = $37.50
   1. Camera Support Straps
   2. Camera Strap $25
3. Domke = $20/ea   (domke ad below is for qty 6, you can buy single at B&H)
   1. 1.5″ Strap with swivel
4. Black Rapid = $54
   1. Black Rapid Rs-4
5. Total = $112

Okay, so it is not as inexpensive as I said on my last blog. But you are buying the Best over the neck camera strap on the market (Domke), an Urban strap (Black Rapid) and your backpack ready straps (Think Tank) so the parts that make everything interchangeable are the Optech ($4.50) and Think tank ($25) parts. And I wouldn’t cut any corners anywhere in this system.

Here’s what you do….

1) Put the Op/tech parts on your camera strap lugs. This will now allow interchangeability and the utility loop is made of a very sturdy plastic, not metal, so no scratches, plus the length of the loop is just right to keep it out of the way.

2) Take the Domke strap and disconnect the strap as purchased and reverse ends so that you can open the small swivel hook and attach to the Op/tech utility loop. I enjoy the Domke strap, it has a sticky thread like material that keeps your camera strap from sliding around on our shoulder, it does not get clammy or slippery in the heat or rain,  is indiscrete, and the web material width from the neck piece to the camera is thin, so your not battling the strap.

3) Put the Think Thank camera support straps on your backpack’s shoulder straps. The black attachment clamps are universal and are easy to put on. Now if you want to go to Backpack mode, you have a few options, 1) take the Domke straps off and attach the backpack hooks directly into the Optech Strap utility loop lugs or keep the Domke on, and attach the backpack hooks into the top domke swivel hook loop. (if I go on long hikes it’s the first option for me).  You can ride up the Think tank straps to get the camera closer to your body if you want.

4) This may seem wasteful, but hey I bought the Think Tank camera straps and the webbing was to narrow so didn’t work out for me, so they did find the following purpose.  The Think tank camera strap has this wonderful 1/8″ thick 3/4″ diameter ring sewn into a 1/4 web. We want to make two separate cuts so that we can free up a piece of 2″ webbing with ring attached.  So cut the leather webbing from the ring and then cut  2″ from the ring bottom. Next well take this piece and attach it to your really right stuff tripod plate.

5) Take the piece of strap with ring cut from the Think tank strap above, and loop it through your RRS tripod plate bottom.  It is a perfect fit, because the small machined metal extention is recessed so the strap material will never bind against the plate. Now you have a ring attached to a very very solid platform to clip your Black Rapid Strap, you can’t attach the Rapid strap with the lug system any other way unless you take of the plate (hey where is that allen wrench when you need it)

Summary

Nothing here is complicated, everything is standard and readily available, and it all fits together with similar size webbing, swivels, and clasps. Nothing is obtrusive or in a location that will cause your camera any harm.   I have tried just about all alternatives, and the basic takeaway for you is flexibility, quality materials, robustness and comfort.

As a matter of fact, I have three backpacks fitted with the Think Tank camera support straps, and I only needed  another Optech utility loop and the other side of the Think tank strap to have a duplicate setup for both of my camera bodies.

I also clip my Nikon Micro Fiber cloth to the O-ring when not using the rapid strap, very handy to clean LCD screen.

If you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll clear things up for you….

I came across an Iphone App that you may want to check out.

PhotoCalc, combines two apps I have previously recommended into one…This apps will calculate depth of field and it will provide you with a solar and lunar calculator. I like this apps because it also gives you a few extras, like a twilight begins and end, high noon. The also have a flash exposure database as well as reference terminology.

Back a year ago, I came across this camera strap as an alternative to the over the neck that we all have. I use this strap whenever I go URBAN, it keeps the camera low, out of the way, less to and fro swaying and beside the functionality I think it’s cool looking.

There is a drawback though, you can’t use it the way it is sold, look at the connection of this strap to your camera, your Really Right Stuff Plate (on your camera base for tripod clamping) is in the way of the plug they provide….however

I have been able to, after much trial and error, put together a system that allows, me to go rural, to urban, to backpacking with a few choice pieces of hardware from a few choice suppliers, for relatively low bucks….

Today, I’ll recommend that you invest in this Strap, it has a place in your gear bag for when you go Urban…….to be continued on the other parts of my system..

I have seen this banner off and on for awhile, and I finally decided that waiting to try this product was not an option especially with a 20% sale going on.   This manufacture has been designing and selling special focusing screens for cameras for over 29 years and has been calling the product Brightscreens.  The brightscreen product replaces your 35mm cameras standard focusing screen with a screen that has a split image with a micro prism collar….eh….you remember (before digital displays on camera backs) when most cameras used to have a viewfinder with a split image, and once you aligned the splits the picture was in focus ?  This allowed very fine adjustments in any lighting, and your eye didn’t go wandering around looking for a illumination or a waiting to hear a beep to know the camera was in focus.

In addition to the 6 standard configurations on over 150 cameras, Brightscreens can also be ordered to come with screens etched with one of six Crop line configurations for an extra $50.

I ordered over the phone because I had a few questions and the people I spoke with were friendly and accommodating to some of my neophyte questions. These Brightscreens are manufactured in Tennessee, and that southern drawl evoked trust, and you can take that from someone who lived there for three years.  The advertised lead time was four/six weeks and I was prepared to wait it out, but the screen that I ordered was a popular configuration, and it came securely packaged three days later.

Installation was very straight forward, and they have a web-link with step by step photos to show you the proper orientation and preparation techniques.

How does it perform in the field ?: Superb, I am very pleased with this addition. I can now watch auto focus align the prisms or I can override and go into manual mode. In manual mode, or when the camera autfocus goes on the fritz, I now can keep my eye on my subject, set the focus on the lens and not hunt around for a green light to indicate focus and then back up to compose the shot.   Also,  all the red selectable focus points are highly visible (and in the D3 luminosity can be adj if required) and can still be moved to anyone of 9 of 51 locations. The crop lines are bolder than the Nikon type E screen, and are on a rule of third grid, this is also an improvement over the Nikon E screen. Additionally, the split image is does not obscure my focusing at all.

For me the results have been very beneficial, especially when taking some recent Images at Barberville Falls (white snow, and w/manual Focus PCE 24) and at Troy Alley and Troy Lady Blue, both contrast-less situations.

One thing that I am still keeping an eye on is that the screen seems to attract its fair share of dust, and of coarse it lands directly in the center of the split !  I’m not sure why and I plan to call in and ask why they recommend dry cleaning only, so for now the best removal technique is to use a blower and the 8mm visible dust brush.

Supplier Link: BrightScreen

Last year around this time, I researched for weeks for a ball head for my shooting adventures. My punch list was long, I wanted simplicity, quality, durability, performance, compatibility with my tripod, expandability , service.. quite frankly – excellence. After much research,I settled down on the BH-55 LR w the B2 AS II clamp, manufactured by Really Right Stuff. What swayed my decision was it was an American manufacture and it focused on Camera Support Solutions and their web site is chock full of reasonable advice and current configuration information. I always considered this purchase rock solid……

After shooting a simple Lobster Trap Christmas tree in Maine, I moved my tripod up a few feet to better frame the shot, and when I went to tighten the panning plate, there was no tightening left in the pan lock knob, everything was mechanically frozen..

Normally I would have contacted service and waited for repair, but in two days time I was off for a weeks vacation in Florida.  I called RRS, and spoke to Marcus, he called me back a short while later to tell me a loaner had been found and that he’d ship it overnight.

Well due to Christmas and UPS problems, overnight turned into the package getting to NY one day after I left NY, then RRS expedited the loaner to be sent to my Florida address, only to have UPS botch up the delivery again, and it arrived the day after I left FL.

To make the long story short, the folks at RRS were super helpful, professional and gave me a 100% effort to try and help keep me up and running…

As you can see from the map, the Ballhead repair and loaner, combined, clocked over 14,600 miles of travel time.

And the cause of the problem, the usual, my cockpit error,  ”It is easy to forget that you set the drag and then …….do not over-loosen the Main Lock Knob” Point #5 of user manual…

Now available over at the Nikon site,is the LOOOOONG awaited update to NX2 for Snow Leopard compatibility. Baaack in September when SL was released, the only critical software  that was not compatible with SL and in my work flow was NX2 and View NX. And I really lost quite a bit of hard DD work as I tried work around after work around. I finally had to reinstall SL and so I was not a happy camper with NX2.  And I’m not going to be an early adopter on this release either. I’m going to wait a bit, check it out on a partitioned drive with SL on it, then if all works out… then it will be time to totally upgrade to Snow Leopard again…sigh

This NIK plugin has a silent upgrade announced via subscriber email. Not really sure what it fixed as I didn’t notice any difference.  However, Version 2 this is a very nice plug in and does a lot of the work NX2 does inside of PS4 along with Color Efex Pro.  So you have your choice, use NX2 or use the 2 NIK plug ins….or I’m sure there are many other useful solutions…(it sb mentioned that Viveza2 plugin also is used in Lightroom)

Truth be known,

• The Nikon release is just a mess, lots of complaints out there, and a lot of Mac SL users left NX2 for Lightroom… SL came out in September ! and nothing from NIKON for ~ six months..shame on them.
• And the folks at NIK, the version 1 of  Viveza was featureless crap, which should have been free until the real stuff came out…..but nooo they charged way too much for release 1 and then more $$ for the version 2 upgrade, ….
• I keep track of and own and buy and am involved in over a couple hundred  apps and software and both of these guys get a flat-out “F” for release management and customer management and support of their customer base…..
• maybe they can get their act together now that this release is behind them….let’s hope so

As you cover the web looking for those Pro’s who give you what you need, (info, training, hard facts,) I hope you have stumbled upon this site.  I have followed him for a year or so, and have taken out a subscription to his ‘special reports’.  The disclosure I’ll give here is that I emailed him a few weeks ago, thanking him for web site advise, and he posted my comments… and we emailed back and forth a few time, he seems like a very decent guy…

Other than that, I checked his site the other day and saw a bunch of new content that you should go take a look at, especially the filters and photo tips…

#1 is for those photo purist’s who need the best glass and camera’s (Prez), the Leica w/Zeiss lens

#2 is Filter info, in detail and with Lloyd’s professional opinion on application and usage, very informative and now you have some options about your vendor selection, if you’ve kept up with my Blogs..

#3 Photo Tips, useful information with some very technical detail. Lloyd seems to have had a string of bad luck when ordering new lens and he gives some solid advice to check things out (I’m still trying to get around to it). You’ll also get a chuckle as this may be the first Bear scat shot I’ve seen on the web, with discussion points

#4 For those who have the need for speed, Lloyd is the man, for hooking up your gear upgrade requirements backed up by his own performance and testing results. I recently did a major-major-major system upgrade to get me to the next level, and I would have been lost without his web site and without the vendor that he works with OWC. They are an extremely complementary High performance team. OWC has a great mix of products, always in stock, excellence service and I enjoy working with them. Highly recommended.

Now you might wonder why I’m sending you off to look at someone else site, after all the work that it’s taken me to start building this one up.  Well, I guess I’m going to take my cue from Moose, He seems to just put it out there,  he encourages the sharing of information and promotes others which I think plays forward ….

As I was finishing up my web post late last night my Nikon message screen popped open with the announcment of cameral control pro upgrade to V 2.7.1.  As I had written in my previous Blog about the D3 Firmware upgrade , camera control could not access the new features of the firmware, so an upgrade was anticipated.

See Detail Here

I thought I would pass along a few tips over the next few weeks of small but important things that have caught my attention when talking or reading about the Pro’s in regard to their equipment tweaks.

On the outside some of these don’t seem that significant but as I have implemented them into my own Image taking, I know that they are worth consideration to benefit your work flow.

For instance, based on a Pro tip, a year ago I refitted my D3 with the Nikon Focusing Screen Type E .  I have never thought anything of how much I used it or the advantages that it has given me until when I received my D3s.  The standard D3d comes with the plain factory furnished screen, yuck, it just doesn’t cut in for my brand of photography. So it was the first D3s accessory that I ordered to get me back in a comfortable place.

The installation process is a bit touchy, and I recommend you wear a pair of latex gloves to  keep oils and dust from straying onto the screen while you hold and position the thin grid screen into place.

What this inexpensive screen ($34) does is give you a few grid lines (Horizontal & vertical) to assist in aligning the camera especial in hand holding situations, which is an excellent feature if you are shooting coastal shots and need a horizon line, or for posts when you need vertical reference, or for diagonal planes.  The grid lines do not ‘light-up’, they are there more for reference but the auto focus area still lights up your red focus point.

Keeping on the theme of proper alignment of your Image, I also use custom settings f4 to assign my function button to virtual horizon so I can reference within my viewfinder that status of my camera to parallel,

Then finally, for tripod situations I have programmed from the Setup menu the Virtual Horizon into MY Menu rank#2 or I use LiveView grids.  Why? When you have your camera mounted to the tripod, you can skip all the leveling if your  in a hurry, and when you press OK in your main menu and your rear display will give you a very cool, internal leveling graphic and it works great !

Why the fastidiousness with leveling ? Well, I really get upset with myself if I come back into the DD and see my shots off of alignment, it is a basic and simple thing to take care of in the field.  I remember reading that our hunter gather human eye have evolved with a very low tolerance for being off parallel.  Going into post and then when you start off using your alignment software it essentially crops something out to put something in, and you’d be surprised what you might loose in the process.  It’s just better to get it right the first time.

Have you ever wanted to get a clean crisp DOF shot from 2′ to Infinity ?

Did you know our DLSR have a limitation in being able to show you that in the viewfinder ?

You can test this by setting your lens to f/22, focus distance is at 2′ and looking at viewfinder and seeing a fuzzy image. (The settings are spot on for a crisp DOF from 2′ to infinity)  The limitation is that the DLSR viewfinder is optimized at a wide open apperature f/2.8, you need to fight off the need to refocus and understand DOF and hyper focal distance.

Trying to get a crisp shot of a long fence post was something that I tried to do and finally was able to understand what was going on, when I read Bryan Peterson’s book, Understanding Exposure., pg 38&39.

In the old days, camera lenses had markings and the photog’s knew about DOF and hyper-focal distance. In this age of the automated DLSR it is becoming just matrix metering, program mode, autofocus, then point and shoot, which leaves this DOF concept out in the cold. You have to think and know what you are framing and if your telling a story or isolating a subject, then use DOF as part of your formula towards making an IMAGE

A good place to start understanding this DOF concept is found at DOFMaster.

Next this information can be put in real world terms via your camera settings ……..

How can you use this info in the field while making Images ? Well you can not carry around a laptop, but to the rescue is an Iphone app which helps you do some of the heavy lifting. (until you can figure out the concept and settings from experience).

I am using the app that DOFmaster has out.  I’ll simply enter three pieces of info from my camera settings for the top Image, I checked DOF first and then pressed the HD button to get a hyperfocal distance setting

So how do I use it?  If you look at the Image above of the ski slope, when I saw the wall and the ski slope I knew to tell a story and not isolate a subject, and that I needed a DOF of 2′ to infinity, that I need to shoot with a wide angle lense at around f/22.  I didn’t know where to put my focus distance at, I knew the wall was about 5 feet away…. So I tookout my iphone, and plugged in the setting above and took the shot, focusing on the hyperfocal distance of 6′ to get the 3′ to infinity that you see in the photo.  So it finally looks like this:

I hope this give you some clarity around DOF and how to use it for those special Images you want to take..

During the pre resurrection period of my D3, I reflected that after 50,000 shots that maybe it was a sign to start looking into the new D3s.  Everything being written about this camera has been superlative, from Moose and Lloyd Chambers and the numerous other review sites.

So I decided to just go get me one. Not any easy task at all. There seems to be a domestic stock-out of the new body.  I found this camera site link which gave me just about every site known to man, and I googled them all, all ways out of stock, back order, taking preshipping orders, wow. this camera was hard to find…

What pearl of wisdom that led me to a successful search, was a posting which said to go try a camera store off the beaten path, that had a 10-15 years in the business….so I tried to google from the #9 Gooooooooo… and came upon a site with the camera.  checked the site credentials,read/researched buyer reviews and went and  I placed my order via PAY PAL.  That was my Christmas present. (Santa didn’t know I had traveled to Florida).

Today the UPS man showed up with a perfectly operating D3s.  I plan to send out my road and sea wearied D3 out for cleaning and service, and then I’ll have two pro DLSR bodies..that’s the plan anyway….If you are in the market for a D3S and would like to know where I found  my supplier, I can save you hours of leg work…I just checked at 11:00pm EST tonight 12/30/09 and they are still advertising them in stock. Please send me an email using the mail address found below in the footer and I’ll send back a quick response….

UPDATED 03/18/2010  LINK HERE