I have always used mainly Nikon. I bought the original "F" way back in the 70's and I still have two of them. I have owned many models; FM, FM2, F801, F100 and many other models I can't remember. I have several lenses from the film days which of course, are all FX. I have also had DX bodies, D70 and D80. Anyway I got off track a few years ago when I bought a Canon T2i. I didn't have any Canon lenses so I had to buy a few.
anyway, I also had several EOS film bodies when I made the bold decision to switch to Canon but then I sold them all and went back to Nikon . . . so I have gone back and forth a few times. I have generally had upscale bodies and it has been frustrating to only have one control wheel which meant having to go into the menu to change settings so I decided to get a higher model
My friend was also looking for a new(er) camera and had settled on either a T5i or 70D Canon. In the end he decided to get what I bought but it was much more than he was planning to spend so I searched Craigslist and found a nice telephone to give him for his birthday (which is next week). He has already bought a 24-85 VR FX lens and I am looking out for a 50mm 1.4 as this is what he wants next
If you can believe Ken Rockwell this lens is virtually distortion free and being metal, is very solid and built to pro standards. I bought it from a very nice lady who decided to just use her camera phone as it was more convenient
It is the last of the original Push-Pull design
Of course I had to test it out as compared to my 80-200 2.8 ED-IF, and my 70-300 ED 4-5.6
The pro lens on the left is heavy and I seldom use it. The one on the right I carried it with me on my trip across the Continent last year and I may have used it once. This lens can be used on my Canon or Sony NEX with adapters and of course I can use it AF with my new to me, Nikon
I was probably not ready to ride, but yesterday I decided to ride my bike to work. I thought that if I wore riding boots then it would help my ankle by adding support
It seems like a while since I had ridden so I took it easy and didn't take any chances. I made sure to pack
my riding sandals, just in case. I find it hard to walk in my boots. I made it to work and
parked in my space. Everyone at work was wondering if I was well enough to ride
I made it home and had to juggle things around to make it easier to get my bike out
I will most likely not insure my Beemer this year as I have no plans to ride anywhere so I moved it to the rear. I also received a recall notice from BMW Motorad but I could probably bring it in next Spring, instead of this year. It is for some fuel line hose which is subject to stress cracking
This morning I commuted to work on my bike again. It was a gorgeous day but a bit too warm on the way
home. I think it got up to nearly 80°F where I work in Coquitlam, it is much cooler here in town
and thankfully, I made it safely home again. I'm not yet back to normal but it is progressing every day.
Nice to see you back on the bike and I hope the foot stops giving you so much grief.
ReplyDeleteMan, you are a photo nerd! I wish I knew a bit more about photography as I love taking good photos but I am too lazy to dip into half the features of my camera. It's nowhere near as flash as yours but I have been pretty happy with some of my airshow and moon shots recently. Auto is a particularly good setting for me...
Andrew:
DeleteI was looking back at some of my vacation photos from the past few years and most are not good enough to print. I relied on my camera's metering system. lately I have been trying to make large prints and I am starting to bracket more and use HDR. My low level Canon is too cumbersome to change settings as I have to go into the menus. My new to me Nikon has buttons for most everything and buttons can also be customized for different functions. It also has a separate LCD screen and two control wheels. I am shooting RAW more and I have also bought software.
I remember in the 80s and 90s when I used to tote a huge camera bag full of lenses and filters and even do a few gigs in the old "darkroom". Totally manual SLR camera, but a lot of fun, yet cumbersome. Remember those days?
ReplyDeleteYour new set-up looks great and I hope it works out for you and that you enjoy many photo ops with it!
Congrats on the ride to work too!
Deb:
DeleteI still have lots of Pro film equipment which I paid premium price and they are not worth much It just kills me to know how much money I have lost since digital took over. I still have my Hasselblads, Mamiya 645Pro, Mamiya 7, Fuji GSW690 and lots of Leicas, plus LF 4x5 systems
I also develop my own B&W and still have 3 enlargers, plus I also do all my own Framing. I have a Logan Mat cutter. When I went to high school I worked at a processing lab and did hand developing.
Dang Bob, that's a lot of cameras and lenses.....as to not insuring the Beemer, it still strikes me as wrong that insurance is so costly for Canadians that you have to actually decide to either cover or not a motorcycle based on foreseen usage.
ReplyDeleteDom:
DeleteI have lots of Nikon lenses, mostly WA: Wide Angle. It feels nice to have a real camera again.
Our Insurance is high because we have Government Insurance. There are no discounts for multiple vehicles and I have to pay full rate for each. If I were to insure for a whole year (12 months); my Beemer would be $1,800., Vstrom $1,200, my commuter car $1,950. and then the Vette $1,000 for the summer only. So I am in the hole for nearly $6k just for car insurance not counting maintenance. So I have to figure out which bike to use and just insure when I need it. Last year I did not insure my Vstrom past July as I used the Beemer for my trip. There is no way I could consider buying another vehicle, I am looking to downsize
It cost me $400 to put six months insurance on my SYM Citycom 300i. That has become my daily driver as it meets most of my riding needs. Full coverage on my V-Strom 1000 without discount would be $4000. I get maximum discount and because my bike is old and not worth much I have PL and PD with theft and I just put 3 months on it when I need it. If I bought a new bike I would need full insurance during riding season and it would cost me more than my two old beaters. Not allowing multiple vehicle discounts and insurance by displacement are a rip off pure and simple. I'll never buy another big bike.
DeleteNice looking "toy" but it is nice to see lenses with aperture rings. That is one of the most annoying things is having to use the little wheel on the back of the camera to change aperture. And congratulations on being able to commute on the bike again. I hope things actually improve with your foot but at least you can get your boots on again...
ReplyDeleteRichard:
DeleteI prefer lenses with aperture rings then I can adapt them to use on my Canon and Sony NEX systems. This way I can bring one lens and it will fit all of my cameras, but in manual mode. The G lenses do not have aperture rings because of video. If you have to alter exposure it will click and cause noise in the recording. It is easier in movie mode to just move a dial.
I have adapters to mount Nikon lenses onto my Canon EF-s, and Nikon to Sony NEX adapters and you need aperture rings or you can't change your settings
I always worry that I would hurt my foot when I am riding far from home so I try to be very careful. Putting on riding boots last week would have killed me with pain, but now it seems better and doesn't hurt anymore. I find it hard to walk with boots on, that's why I change out of them when I can.
I always like your reviews on gadgets and cameras here.I still have my old Canon A-1 with lenses and remember the bulk. I am planning to donate it to the local film collage that still use them. I use my Canon all the time too, but for traveling I have now narrowed it down to my point and shoot. It takes a great sized photo and sure is less bulky. I am hoping your ankle gets better and next time you plan a ride, you must come visit again.
ReplyDeleteKathy:
DeleteI know that most of you are not photo nerds so I try to keep it simple. I used to collect cameras and I have lots of Nikon stuff so it made sense to buy a Nikon that was able to meter with the older Ai , AiS and AF-D lenses with the screwdriver drive. The lower bodies do not have the drive in the body. You need a D7100 or higher. I don't have much Canon stuff, only a few EF-S lenses so Nikon was my first choice. On trips I generally carry at least two APS-c or higher sensors, plus for a P&S I have a Sony RX100M2, and then I also have my GoPro Hero2. Last year when I saw you I only brought my Sony NEX 5n and Lumix TS3
I should be in your area next September 2014. Can't be sure but perhaps the 2nd weekend on our return from TN & KY
Well done, Bob. I hope your ankle will discontinue to give you grief, and soon. Kinda sad, that you don't have any big riding plans for this year, but I guess you gotta save up moneys and vacation time for your next epic journey, eh?
ReplyDeleteAs for all those cameras, do you throw away the old ones or sell them? I only ever own one (no make that two) cameras at a time, and my cell phone. That is all.
Sonja:
DeleteI also had this same problem just weeks before iMBC2010. It seems to keep coming back and I have no idea why. I am almost normal but I'm going to take it easy anyway.
I do have two epic journeys in the planning. One for this year (4 wheels) and also next year (2 wheels). I am only working to fund these two trips. No riding plans except perhaps a weekend or two and I don't plan to ride beyond Mid July, 2014 so all of my bikes will be parked until the Fall when I get back. I have to whittle down to only ONE bike by next year to cut insurance costs.
I like to keep current model cameras and upgrade every two years, or so and I generally give my old ones away. I upgraded my GoPro last year to the Hero2, so I gave my Hero1 away to another friend. It's my hobby so what can I say. I can't resist new technology.
I never think of my phone as a camera. To me, it's a mini computer in my pocket able to receive and send emails and text messages
"I am almost normal"
DeleteNow you're pushing it...
Richard:
DeleteI'm just as normal as you. In fact, more normal . . .
Define "normal"!
DeleteThe scooter shop contacted me yesterday and it seems the scooter should be ready by early July, not August. So I expect to be in Pennsylvania in a couple of months, though the restoration has taken this long so who knows when the real completion date might be.
ReplyDeleteMr Conchscooter.:
DeleteIf your plans change I am going to be near Scooters Originali mid August. Can't make it to your housewarming in KW this year, perhaps next year. My opinion is to ride your scooter before you trailer it home at least to break in the engine so if there are any problems you can take it back. Up here they recommend 3% oil mixture for the first 1000 kms before you throttle back to 2%
I'm not sure you want to wait on that recall. Oilburner took my R in on Friiday. It appears that mine was suffering the crack and required replacement of the entire fuel pump assembly. You can always have it trailered into the dealer.
ReplyDeleteLori:
DeleteI thought you didn't have your R anymore ? I have no choice but to wait to do my recall and my trailer needs TLC. I may need new tires, and also we sold our tow vehicle so now we need a trailer hitch and the brake module. I may insure my R in September when we get back. I don't plan to ride after mid July so I have a short riding season.
My R needs new tires and full service, plus this recall so I can do my tour next year.
I'll bet you were happy to be back in the saddle, even if only to commute. That's a lot of camera gear!
ReplyDeleteKathy:
DeleteMy bike has been insured since Mid March and I have only ridden to work a couple of times.
I have lots of lenses, mostly AiS and some AF-D. Those were only the telephotos which I don't use much. I like Wide Angles more