New Camera ( the latest in my not really a review set )

First I want to apologize, this is a gear post.  I try not to do much of that here, I don't think most of you are interested.  Pictures are more fun.  But, a few maybe interested, so here goes...  There are also some links to some other posts and pictures in here, so it might be worth scanning through for them. 

I haven't bought a new camera or lens in almost 2 years.  This is fine by me, buying stuff upsets my stomach.  A lot.  There is only one thing on my want list ( 35mm/1.4 ), but it is only a want, it can wait.  But, that changed this week.

For a long while I have found it important to have a set of backup gear with me for every photo outing.  If someone is paying me, it should clear why that is important.  If it is a personal project that I have invited someone to participate in it may be less clear.  But, I feel if someone is giving up their time for my photo project I should do everything within my control to actually bring home some useful and good images, even if I manage to drop a camera off a cliff, or in a river, or its shutter blows up, or.... .

For this reason I have been using a D200/D700 pair, before that it was my F100/D200 as a pair, and before that it was an N80/F100 pair.  This goes back about 15 years.

Those of you familiar with Nikon's cameras probably know a D200 isn't quite the same as a D700.  The biggest difference, for me at least, is sensors are different physical sizes. Also because of its (lack of?) light sensitivity it needs to be used more like film than a current digital camera.  That is okay if its role is purely backup.  I know how to use it for the images I want.  But about a year ago, I started trying to use both cameras in concert with one another.  This introduced complexity and problems, and I began thinking about using two cameras that were more similar in how they were used.

I had decided that I would probably add a second D700 to the mix.  Then the tsunami hit.  The camera became impossible to find, and if you could find one the cost was astronomical, especially for such an old design.  By the time things really calmed down the D4 had been announced, and I wanted to see what the "small" professional FX sensor-sized camera would like.  Nikon announced the D800 shortly after.

The D800 wasn't exactly what I wanted, I don't need so many pixels.  But, I'm guessing that in the near future (or maybe ever), Nikon won't build exactly what I want.  After some thought I decided it was better to buy a camera of new design over a second D700 [which have gotten very easy to find again].

So I bought one as soon as I found it in stock. [ Nikon always has supply issues with new, relatively popular gear-- always, always, always... buy Canon stuff if you don't like the game of finding gear.  I don't buy enough stuff to worry about it, so I tolerate this. ].

So far, I think it will satisfy my purpose. The two cameras behave similarly enough I can use them side by side.  I'm pretty excited about that.

My first shots were of the dog-- I have a theory that most expensive cameras and lenses are sold to people who use them to only take pictures of dogs and cats.

I like to carry on traditions.

I haven't done much shooting with it yet.  But here is my "not a review" anyway.  I don't have to use it much more to know it feels almost exactly the same as my D700, and most of this review is a comparison to the D700.  I also doubt my first impressions will change very much.  I haven't installed  LR4 yet to use it's files in my "normal" workflow, but that will be in the near future, I want to make sure I can go back to LR3 and backups in case the switch makes some of my current projects go egg-shaped.


D800 (not a review)

Image Quality
Its good.  There isn't really much more to say.  It controls noise well at high enough ISO, the resolution is beyond ridiculous, and the colors and such are what I have learned to expect.  I also think its quite silly to worry about any of this with the modern crop of dSLRs.  They are all good from the very bottom of the ranges to the very top.  If you are looking at buying a camera and worry about this, stop, it's silly at this point.


The Physical (the important part to me)

The build is good.  I'd feel comfortable making this rainy-day picture with it, just like before (my camera, lens, and I got soaked).  Overall it feels a little lighter than my D700.  This is fine by me.

The buttons, for the most part, are layed out in exactly the same order as the D700.  This is good, my fingers know where to go, and I don't have to think to use this camera.  If I'm thinking about the camera, I am generally not thinking about the picture.  That would be a problem.

The default directions of the meter indicator, and exposure compensation controls are "backwards" from old school Nikon cameras-- but you can customize them back to "normal" if you prefer that way ( I do, remember I don't want to think about the camera and I learned the old way ... though its backwards from every other camera manufacturer! ).

Some things are improved from my D700.  The selector pad on the camera's back is much more solid.  It has a satisfying clunk to it.  From the day I unboxed my D700 I thought its selector was loose and squishy.  The frame rate selector dial is much nicer than the D700.  I also like the card door, and battery door better.  Small improvements to be sure, but noticeable.

The only thing I don't like about the layout is the position of the exposure compensation button and the mode button.  They are in the same general place as on earlier models, but a third button (for video) is near them.  With the new arrangement it is an awkward reach to hit the mode button with my index finger.

The autofocus feels a little faster than any camera I have used before.  For me to really know I will need to use it a bit more.

Finally the shutter feels a LOT quieter than the D700.  It sounds a little more like the D200.  I think this is a good thing.  Although, it might be a consequence of the the frame rate on the D800 is slower than the D700.

I haven't used the video mode yet, but I am looking forward to it.

Overall I am excited about the new toy.

But, now, please excuse me my stomach is still in turmoil from buying this, and I should attend to it.

Fuji XP 10 a Review (Sort of)

I primarily use two kinds of cameras, SLRs and camera phones.  I don't use small compact cameras very often.  It is because if I am going somewhere to make pictures I take a real camera, and if I come across something unexpected my cell phone is the camera I have with me.

However, sometimes I find point and shoot cameras handy.  This summer after our little Canon broke I started looking for a replacement.  I had a few criteria.  I wanted a camera that didn't have an externally protruding lens, I hate them on compacts*.  I also wanted it to be fairly tough, so Kathryn could run about with it.  I thought it would be nice if it had manual control.  There is a criteria you may feel is missing.  What about image quality?  I didn't care that much.  Most of these cameras do a reasonable job, and I would never make a P&S my primary camera.


So, based on my criteria how does the Fuji XP 10 stack up?  Pretty well I think.  It is a sealed, water proof camera.  That helps in the toughness department.  It also means the lens is non protruding.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to try it underwater sometime.  The idea of that makes me slightly nervous.  Unfortunately, it does not have manual control.  The control available with it is adequate, but I would prefer more.  Even though it wasn't a primary consideration image quality is reasonable.  It can make pretty noisy images, but Lightroom seems to handle it to the point where I don't notice it.  Detail is still good.

It is the kind of thing I would carry to football game, or hand to Kat at a party.  I wouldn't make anything too serious with it, just because serious stuff requires planning.  If I am planning, I'd grab my SLR.  I have posted a few pictures here that were made with it.

Do I recommend it?  Yes, with some caveats.  From what I can see on the net most other P&S cameras will outperform this one in the image quality department.  If this is to be your only camera, perhaps another choice is better.  If you require more manual control, you will also have to look elsewhere.  Otherwise, I think it is worth consideration, and I felt it worked with the best for us.


*A friend of mine has an interesting way to describe this type of lens design...

Vision Mongers: A (book) review (sort of)

A while ago I came across a few discussions about David duChemin's book Visionmongers: Making a life and living in Photography.  I found the discussions intriguing, and headed over to Amazon to order it.  At the time I saw Amazon wasn't offering any discount so I just put the title in my head so I could look for it locally.

I eventually did see it locally and picked it up (I should have been checking Amazon too, they offer a substantial discount now).  My intention was to read it on the trip to North Carolina.  That didn't work out, I started to read it the night I brought it home-- and didn't stop until it was finished.

If you have any desire to make a creative endeavor a business, I think it is an extremely useful book.  If you have never thought about things like budgets, pricing, marketing, service, and beyond -- it is probably eye-opening.  It contains a handful of discussions with photographers that have "made it" in the field, and a little of the story of how they got there.  One of the most interesting, and scary, things is how many of their paths went through bankruptcy or worse before they got where they are now.

I like the warnings he laid out for avoiding the field.  I also enjoyed the way he tries to stoke the fires of your imagination, and works you towards ways of applying creativity your business process.  Photography isn't the only place you can be creative in your life.

I could go on and attempt to list everything I like about the book.  But that would be difficult.  I like it a lot, after-all I did read it in one sitting. 

Instead I will list a few of my niggles.  I think I would prefer to see more of the author's primary work photos, with some captioning and context as the book's illustrations.  He can't do that for reasons explained in the book, but I think it would be more interesting.  In fact I feel the photos are the weakest part of the book.  I am not saying the photographs themselves are weak.  They are strong (the one of a red seat on page 35 keeps me looking at it over and over again for some reason).  However, they really have no context.  They are merely very pretty eye-candy.

Who do I think this book is for?  Anyone contemplating the idea of paying their rent with a camera.  Who isn't this for?  Anyone thinking this is a photography book-- they will probably be disappointed.

I like it enough I will probably pick up additional books written by the author.

Feisol CT-3442 tripod and Photoclam PC-44NS ballhead: A Review (kind of) -- Or, how I bought a tripod

I decided to write a few "reviews" of some of my stuff a while back.  The first bit of "stuff" I wrote about were my lights.  I know these really aren't reviews.  These are my general feelings about the items that help me get my pictures made.

This time I should come clean up front, though.  For the vast majority of my shots I don't use a tripod.  I find them a general pain to carry and use.  Most of the time I'm throwing light about with a flash anyway, the tripod is almost superfluous in those situations.  However, not in all of them.

When you need a tripod, you really need one.  I bought my first tripod within a few months of deciding to pursue photography seriously.  I picked up a Slik 300DX.  It is solid.  The head is a pan-tilt style which is nice for very precise control, but lacks the speed of use of a ballhead.  This tripod is also very short without extending the center column, and it is heavy.  However, it is fairly inexpensive, and works very well for my light camera and lenses.

So, why did I pick up a nicer tripod when I already admitted I don't use one that often?  First, like I mentioned, when you need a tripod you REALLY NEED a tripod.  I wanted something I wouldn't mind carrying around "just in case" I needed it.  I also wanted a ballhead.  I am also trying to do more landscape/nature style photos.  Tripods are helpful there, if only for the "study the frame a while" aspect.  Finally, even though my Slik is in good shape it is starting to show its age.  I expect one of these days something bad will happen to it.

I actually started looking at better camera support a month or so after buying my Slik.  I am not sure if its unique to me, but it seems that when I start a hobby there used to be a continuous pressure to keep upgrading my stuff.   At the time I discovered that Gitzo tripods were the gold-standard.  I couldn't afford them. I still find them extremely expensive. Since it is an item I don't rely on  I needed to find a less expensive alternative, or simply continue to use my old tripod.

I accidentally tripped across the name Feisol on an online forum.  Mostly out of broken-foot-induced boredom I began to research it.  For my needs they seemed a good fit.  They are stable, well liked, and while the price stings it is a good bit cheaper than the alternative.

I chose a 4 section tournament class tripod.  It is light.  It is about as tall as my Slik if I extended the Slik's center column.  This is my favorite feature of the new tripod.  Height.  It is also light.  And it is stable.

After I chose the legs, I needed to find a head.  Forum reading let me know the Feisol's ballheads had an arca-swiss "like" quick release system.  But its plates and clamps were not compatible with other industry-standard plates and clamps.  This, of course, is unacceptable.   More reading led me to Photoclam heads.

I found a dealer that sold both named Really Big Cameras.  I asked some questions via email, and based on the answers decided what I needed.  Then I waited many, many months before placing an order.  Ordering was pretty painless, and it was shipped out extremely fast.  I was nervous about purchasing through such a small outfit, but I shouldn't have been.  It went perfectly.

I have had the tripod a month or so now, and I really really like it.  I have used it quite a bit already.  I used it for my tub picture.  I also used it for almost every exposure on the roll of Kodachrome I shot.  The film had been in the camera for ages, but I didn't make many shots until recently.  If you want to shoot film, I think a tripod is almost mandatory.  ISO 100 film still seems pretty fast to me!

It is easy to extend and collapse the legs.

I like that it is so light.  I also like that it came with a carrying bag.  I have brought it with me on a few outings, that in the past I would have carried no tripod.  I didn't use it, but I didn't mind carrying it.

The ballhead is simply amazing.  It is crazy how much quicker it is to use than a pan-tilt head.  When its locked down it doesn't budge.  I feel confident I could stand on it.  Of course, I would probably end up with another broken foot pulling such a stunt, so I won't try that.  All the dials are extremely smooth.  It may be that I have no prior experience with this kind of support, so my infatuation might be a "class effect".  But, if you are looking for a ballhead, I recommend at least looking into this one.

What makes it really makes the setup worth the money to me, though, is how much Tobias loves it.  He has named it "Robo-tripod". Robo-tripod has already helped us avoid fits at bed time, wake time, bath time, and TV-off time.  Robo-tripod has also provided a few hours of entertainment.

I highly recommend the whole rig from the child-control aspect alone.  It is also a pretty decent bit of photo kit.

Alien Bees : A Review (kind of)

I decided I will do a few (very few, I'd rather be making a picture right now than editing this!) review-style posts.  These will be done for equipment I use quite a bit.  They will be written from my perspective as a user.  If you are looking for specs, comparisons, and things of that nature these are probably not for you.  If you are interested in how a hobbyist feels about gear that he uses often, then these reviews will probably be a good fit.

The first bit of kit I will be discussing is my Alien Bee lighting setup.  Currently it consists of 2 Alien Bee 800 (AB800) strobes, and 1 Alien Bee 1600 (AB1600) strobe.  The modifiers I have are some Westcott umbrellas, the Buff medium octabox, large softbox, grids, and high output beauty dish.  Chances are high that I will add a Vagabond to the mix.  It may even arrive before I finish writing this.

I built this kit slowly over time.  I started with just the AB800s a medium octabox, and some umbrellas.  The octabox I picked up for my own use.  However, the purpose of strobes was to photograph a school banquet that I have been doing for a very long while now.  It greatly simplified what I was doing for them.

My initial experience was good, and so the collection of stuff grew.

The lights are easy to use.  They plug into the wall with standard cables.  Power is controlled by a continuous slider marked off by the fraction of power used.  It is accurate, I've never had any trouble moving up or down any number of stops from my initial reading.   Installing modifiers is pretty straightforward.  The only real trick to that is making sure all the "grabby-bits" are seated inside the ring you are using.

The strobe can be sync'd in two ways.  It has a mono audio-style jack input.  A cable with a PC connector and audio jack is supplied with the unit.  To connect my Skyports to it I use a short audio/audio cable.  The units also have an optical slave built in.  The optical trigger is sensitive.  My  lights have fired, even when I am working in another room with the main light.

Here are things I like about the Alien Bee setup.

• Price.  Lets be clear, there are few other "real" studio type light setups that are this inexpensive.  Fewer still that are this inexpensive and this usable.  It is cheaper for me to add another Bee to my setup, than it is to buy Nikon's flagship shoe-mount flash.  If I were to ever get the "upgrade" bug, moving to Elinchrom or Profoto or another big-name light would cost me more than a nice used car.  Its unlikely I will ever find a reason to do that!
• Weight and Size.  Since I bought these to lug about, its nice that they are not monster big.
• Power.  Even the AB800s put out at least a stop, and probably more, than my shoe flashes.  This is useful.
• Rugged.  Mine have taken some hard knocks, and are still acting perfectly.
• Modifiers. The Bees can use almost any softbox, provided I use a speedring from Paul C. Buff.  I like the Beauty Dish.
• Color.  I admit, being able to buy these in BRIGHT FREAKING YELLOW was cool.  Maybe a professional would stick with boring black or white.  But, I don't have to worry about that.

Here are the things I don't like about the setup.

• Sync. When used with my Skyport system my sync speed on my full frame camera is only 1/200 of a second.  If I am firing my shoe flashes via Skyports I can sync at the camera's specc'd sync speed of of 1/250.
• Color Temp. Color of the light seems to change depending on power.  This has never been an overriding concern for me, but I can notice it.  It also sticks in the back of my mind.  Practically, its probably a non-issue for what I do, but it is there.
• Flash Duration. Flash duration also seems a bit longish.  Its the reason the pictures here have some motion blur I think, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

Overall, I think they are a good compromise for us hobbyists.  They will not completely kill the credit card, and they are good tools that are fun to work with.  The advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages to me.

Examples of what I've done with them can be found throughout the blog.  I tagged the posts that have pics I made with them as "alien bees".   I feel pretty odd posts pictures by gear used.