Sony A77V Power Extra 1 1/2yr. No diff. China
SonyA55 DSTE 4yr No name 4yr No diff China
Minolta 5D (3) No name 7yr no diff. China
I have had one no name fail, none of the above.
Black Velvet is the best, I made a flag with mine. I have been thinking of a dark maroon also. A 20-24 inch dowel. I stapled the narrow side of a 18 X22 inch piece of Black Velvet to it. I hand hold the camera in my one hand and hold the flag behind the flower with the other. Check in the yardage shops, JoAnn's or Michaels for a scrap piece. Generally, they are happy to be able to sell the scrap and may give you a deal.
Many years ago I used wallpaper samples as a backdrop. I choose a natural looking design and held it far enough behind the flower so it looked like a natural setting.
I love mine. Well built, smooth and fast.
Sorry. I didn't notice that you are coming from the south. Think about coming up Hwy 395 to Ridgecrest and then Trona Pinnacles, Panamint Valley and Stovepipe Wells.
A lot of good recommendations out there. Don't forget Wildrose Cyn. and the 10-12 beehive charcoal kilns. The site of Ballarat in Panamint Valley. Continue south through Panamint Valley to the south side of Trona. The "Trona Pinnacles" can be very interesting. On the east side of Death Valley is a little island of land that is still part of the park, called Devils Hole. I believe it is in the Ash Meadows area. Devils Hole is an opening to a vast underground lake. You will see one of the rarest fish in the world, the pupfish. About 1 1/2" long and protected by law. If you are coming from Las Vegas, go out Hwy 160 to Pahrump and left on Nevada Hwy 372 to Shoshone. You may see wild burros and wild horses. (they are not people friendly) The Opera House in Shoshone has quite a history. A jog right then the next left will take you into the Park, past the turnoff to Dantes View, later down the road the turnoff to Zabriskie Point. On down the road is the Furnace Creek Inn. (very pricey) A left turn will take you to Badwater and the Devils Golf course. Motels & Food are at the Furnace Creek Ranch, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs. Sorry to be so long-winded. Do stop at the Headquarters office and get information and a map. This is the nations largest park so distances are far.
Although there are a few gas stations in the park, you will find prices quite high.
I find it amusing that you took offense to the term "fooling around" with a camera. It certainly wasn't aimed at you as I don't know you. No one else has been offended. I no longer "have" to shoot under anyone's direction, so, I shoot when I want, where I want. and how I want. I do experiment with all the whistles and bells on my camera. I FOOL around with my camera as do thousands of other people. Call it what you want. I wasn't talking about you, I don't know you and frankly with your sensitive nature I don't want to.
Chaman, at 83 I don't have to show you anything. Check with PPGLA or ASMP or Los Angeles Zoo. You are a bit sensitive aren't you. What makes you fee! better, adjusting your camera, compensating. Grow up.
I am not familiar with Canon's way of doing things but they do make some great cameras, but with my Sony A77V, I shoot in the program mode. It allows me to use anything on the camera that I may need. The little wheel in the front allows me to adjust aperture, the little wheel in the back allows me to adjust shutter speed while still in the program mode. Without taking the camera from my eye. Also when I make my adjustments I can see what's happening in the viewfinder or the screen on the back without having to shoot first. If I go too far with either speed or aperture, good old auto ISO adjusts the ISO to compensate for my over adjustment. The five-stop Image stabilization makes using a tripod a rare event. Plus with no moving mirror, It is easy to capture the action with its 16 frames per second burst speed. Your right, I don't shoot manual a whole lot and I don't miss any shots. And while you guys are fooling around with shutter, aperture, and focus, I'm moving on to the next spot.
Obviously nothing in those first years are hanging in a gallery. How about you.
Food for thought: Why buy a modern camera when you only use 1950 technology (ie MANUAL). I certainly don't feel smarter than the tens of thousands of engineering hours and millions of dollars spent by the camera companies developing marvellous updates to cameras. My first camera had a threaded lens mount and no built-in light meter. I wouldn't in any way, shape, or form wish to go back to "the good old days". To get an action shot, you had to anticipate something that hadn't or might not happen. 1/1000 of a second was lighting speed back then, if you had film that could handle it. If you are shooting static subjects and feel smarter than the camera, live it up. I for one will take advantage of every technical update available. Composition, the subject matter is an entirely different matter. In almost 70 years of shooting photographs, I have yet had anyone look at a picture and ask, " was that shot on Manual or Automatic." and frankly when I look at a shot I can't tell either. So I believe it really doesn't matter how you shoot, automatic/ manual or standing on your head, it is the final picture that counts. Amen.
I once knew a pro photographer whose income was in the six figure range. He only used Yashica 124G twin lens cameras. He had 8-10 of them. They sold for $125.00 brand new. Yet he competed with all the pros in in the Los Angeles area with their Hassies,Pentax. & Rollies. Its the photographer not the camera.
Go for the Sigma 18-250, it is light and small and you will seldom wish for a longer lens.
Ebay, Amazon, B&H photo, an Adorama all carry gimbel heads. They may or may not carry the brand that you are looking for.