Not an answer to your question but I looked at your work --
BEAUTIFUL!

keep up the great work

Hey SharpShooter – Freudian slip on the cannon; I guess I am thinking about my REAL man image. And with the Nikon lens trunk, I will feel like a REAL man in a 1940’s Bogart movie. :D

In any case, I agree Canon makes great lenses -- both companies make good stuff. Its just that, after 7 years, Nikon is due for an upgrade on the 600 mm and GAS forces me to need a longer lens. That is why I wanted to check the UHH rumor mill. However, it matters no longer since I decided to risk it and ordered one -- Big Brown delivered it Friday. Happy to report, it is quite sharp and the colors are great.

Thanks to all.

Exactly. :thumbup:

Good point about keeping the tripod steady.

I do not disagree and I am not criticizing the lens. I was just wondering if anyone heard something about a new release of the 600mm like the 400mm and 800mm lenses that use the fluorite.

*****************************
ONE reason for Nikon would be to meet/ beat the competition: Cannon's 600 mm lens is about 8.6 Lbs while the Nikon version is about 11.2 Lbs. That is a big difference -- Some people would rather work smarter than harder. (Nikon's current design is about 7 years old. Not that that alone makes it bad, its just that there have been improvements since.)

ONE reason why someone buying their first such lens would want to see a new version would be -- SEE ABOVE. Also, the new fluorite lens material is supposed to be optically superior and they now have better coatings. So yes, I will "hurry" and wait to buy if a new release is just down the road.

Thanks for your input gentlemen.

Seems to me that Nikon's current 600mm lens is a bit long in the tooth. Any info on when they will release a new one with the lighter lens material?

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Agree completely.

Yes, thanks. I have something similar to this for the LCD. Do you also use an eye hood on the camera's eyepiece at the same time? That is my ill stated question.

Which do you love, the eye hood or the lcd hood? Have you ever used them together?

thanks

Does anyone have experience with using both a large eye hood like the EyeHood from Hoodman for people with glasses and an LCD hood at the same time? I am wondering if there would be an interference when both are used. Can the eyehood be pealed away or can the LCD hood be slipped under the eye hood?

Wow, you've done some work here -- good stuff. I was considering this and will use your ideas for my setup. I am also considering Fo-cal but I will try printing the larger target and set it up as you describe and see how that works.

This is what Nikon says about AF fine tuning:
http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d4s_tips/af_fine-tuning/

Just got a response from LensAlign and they agree with you. They recommend that I purchase their new, "large focus target". This makes sense since (should have mentioned this earlier) I am trying to tune a 600mm lens and it requires some distance to the target.

Thanks for your input.

Thanks Jerry.

I tried this approach before I got the LensAlign. After a check, the LensAlign proved more accurate by a considerable margin based on my perception that more of my photos were sharp. I may have done something wrong during the Dot Tune, I will try it again.

ps: that exercise also demonstrated that I really cannot tell for certain if my system is properly tuned. Without using hard technology, its a judgement thing.

Thanks David.
I agree with joer, this approach sounds good. Also, I would be interested in the answers to questions raised by joer.

Good question. Answer: No.

I am actually pretty satisfied with the how the camera shoots now. I just wanted to check the AF -- I constantly strive for improvement and try to get the most out of my equipment.