rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

While working my way through an exercise of my own design, I decided to use as my subject my faithful and indestructible companion for more than 40 years, my Nikon F. I am attempting to learn my new dslr (Nikon D5100) and to get some sense of how sharp or unsharp the 18-55mm kit lens is. My goal was to begin to understand the use of some of the many incredible in-camera controls. In this case the use of white balance and flash options. I set up some incandescent lighting and started making exposures. I worked methodically and slowly manually changing exposure and lighting variables and taking careful notes. One immediate revelation, with some lighting, was how dirty the poor old box was. It will get a good cleaning before being put on the shelf. The rocks (actually mineral specimens from my collections) were introduced for thier color to help me get some sense of color shift with varying light sources and exposure settings. My fascination with the juxtaposition of rocks and a beautiful percision instrument may have taken over at this point. I got a little carried away. But at my age no opportunity for being carried away should not be ignored.
I welcome your comments. I have been reading this forum for a couple of months and I have great restict for the expertise and thoughtful wisdom many of you pass along on a daily basis. I am here to learn. Thank you, Phil

tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware

Awww... I feel for you... but it'll work out :)

I think you've done a good job of it here, but Howie is the resident Rock (Photography) expert. I think he'll be a lot more help to you than I can be.

For what it's worth though... I like the composition(s) and mineral specimens in their natural state, gets my attention faster than sparkly things. (OK, I like sparkly, too... *blush* )

I think they all appear a bit underexposed from my end, but other than that, they are sharp, clear, colorful and not too bad! :)

Welcome to the forum. Keep working at it! :thumbup:

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

thank you tilde

tkhphotography Loc: Gresham, Or, not Seattle

You and me pal; I have 2 of the Ftn's sitting on my shelf as we speak, one the light meter doesn't work. I'll keep them till the day I die. Shot a lot of good pix with those 2.

Funny though, after using a D80 now, D300 for a year, a D70 for two years, an F4 for 3 years, F3 for several years, then back to the Ftn's...when I pick them up, I'm still amazed at how light they seem. For being such a work horse all those years for commercial work and newspapers guys out in the boonies, I still think they would weigh a lot more. (I did have a motor drive for one of them, and that did add some weight)

I think we should make our own 'cult collecting club'. lol!

English_Wolf Loc: Near Pensacola, FL

Phil What I'll like to know is: what are your conclusions after your experiments?

ebaribeault Loc: Baltimore

It is hard to say good bye to a faithfull companion. Based on your photos you are making a rapid transiton to digital

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

my kind of cult, I'm in

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Hi wolf, too soon for conclusions, starting to get a handle on white balance, learned that I have much to learn about these amazingly complex devices, which is good....learning is where the fun is

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Thank you, I still have three good Nikor prime lenses which I will not say goodbye to, they work great with the new dslr.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

i have a Nikon F just like yours. What a camera. Built like a tank, no auto anything, mercury battery for the "meter", solid tough dependeanle. Its on my bookcase, when things get better and can afford film development, she, my nikor 50mm f 1.4 a gossen light meter and a roll of black and white film are going to take a trip down memory lane. The Nikon f was the camerra I learned photography on, i learned to snap photos on a kodak box instamatic, when i got good enough dad passed on to me one of his F's. Ive been a raving victim of Nikon Acqusition fever ever since. The old nikons especially the lenses were designed not just for function but also form. best looking lenses in the world are those old nikor's made of metal with the color coded depth of field scale engraved on em.

tkhphotography Loc: Gresham, Or, not Seattle

yep, got one of those too, Gossen Luna Pro...haha, too funny, us "oldtimers"

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I thought you wife had left you. Glad I was wrong.

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

not yet, but she dosn't know much about my new digital addiction...time will tell

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

so much for all kit lenses being inferior,how much sharper do we need a lens to be?.3 and 5 i like the most.

RockinRobinG Loc: The Middle of Nowhere, Nebraska

Ahhhh yes...my ol' baby was a Nikon FE. It was my first 35mm and I loved her for many, many years. (Oooops...am I dating myself here?) I took a 'baby step' into digital a few years ago with a Nikon P90. It was good for the learning curve but didn't get enough satisfaction. I recently took one 'giant leap' with a Nikon D3100. Can I join the Nikon 'club' with y'all? (Sorry, I'm not a 'cult' person.) <giggles>