Posts for: Mr PC
Jan 11, 2014 08:31:56 #
Wall-E wrote:
That's because the distortion control data update isn't in the normal firmware update.
Go here:
http://www.nikonimglib.com/dcdata/index.html#os-windows
Go here:
http://www.nikonimglib.com/dcdata/index.html#os-windows
I tried this on my D5200, which is supported by this software. The Firmware version window didn't offer an Update option. I'm on verson 1.006 and the update is 1.009. Any ideas? I do have the downloaded file in the root directory of a SDHC card freshly formatted in the camera.
Jan 10, 2014 21:46:19 #
betterinblackandwhite wrote:
Thanks to all who responded. Good tips. I'm trending towards the used/refurbished category based on these first- hand comments, the positive experiences, and the more rational pricing.
Please let me know of other options as they come to mind.
Please let me know of other options as they come to mind.
One option I didn't see was getting one from another photog on Craigslist or similar. I did just that and got a $400 Nikon 55-300 VR II lens that was less than a month old last summer for $265 with the full 5 year US warranty because the guy hadn't registered it yet. I got to try it out on my body before buying and have been very satisfied. Yes, the big guys have great policies and let you return stuff, but I got to try it out with my camera before money even exchanged hands. Just my 2 cents. And welcome to the Hog! I look forward to more good questions from you...
Jan 10, 2014 16:47:54 #
billyw42 wrote:
hmm ok, i never looked at the price, i just took it for granted if it was adobe it was $$ that is well within my price range, i got the 30 day trial . ill have to get serious and run it through its paces before i purchase
One more thing. You can get a free trial of Photomatix Pro. I also tried a free trial of HDR Express and it was neck and neck with Photomatix. You can get a plugin for PSE for about $30 from Photomatix that only does the stacking for you. I purchased the full blast version. I export multiple shots from Lightroom to Photomatix, join them, maybe tweak them a little in Photomatix and then it automatically reimports the result back into Lightroom, where you should do most of your tone mapping, fixing of chromatic aberration, exposure etc. for the best results. One article I read recently suggested removing chromatic aberration from each of your exposures first before sending them to your HDR software. I need to try this, especially for wide angle shots. Here's an example of a hand held shot I did from the back of my boat on Lake Austin...
Lake Austin, Austin, TX, hand held HDR
Jan 9, 2014 08:15:55 #
billyw42 wrote:
ok let me find a good one..i only have the trial for lightroom, i dont know how expensive it is to buy i was afraid to look, i do have elements 11, and gimp (just figuring out how to use them only had them a couple days but eager to learn)
I have PSE 12 and Lightroom 5 and find I spend most of my time in Lightroom. It's $100-$125 depending on the day of the week... I concur that starting with bracket RAW images is the best way to fly
Jan 8, 2014 19:10:43 #
Welcome. I concur with you on the great vibe here, with people offering good encouragement and mostly constructive criticism. My thought on using a zoom for portraits is if the focal length is near the sweet spot of the lens, it should work out just fine. Most everything I've read has said around 70mm is good.
Jan 8, 2014 16:48:14 #
You give me something to shoot for, Gary! Always good to be inspired by the incredibly talented folks here at the Hog. Kudos!
Jan 8, 2014 16:20:28 #
Just got the Dolica ZX600B103 Proline 60-inch Carbon Fiber Tripod with Ball Head today from Costco. Wanted to move up from an aluminum cheapo to reduce vibration. This one has the twist legs that Jerry doesn't like, but it is very solid. Retail is $199, Amazon has it for $119. I was reading reviews at Amazon and some guy said they had it at Costco for $80 after $10 rebate. Surprised Amazon didn't edit that review out! The deal is good until 1/10/14. Seems very sturdy with my D5200 with 55-300 Nikkor. I'm sure I'll get techno-lust again down the road, but it should be quite a while before I outgrow this gear. Cool thing is, I can keep my cheapo tripod to mount a flash or maybe a P&S if I want to film myself filming something. Hope this helps. Also, FYI Costco has another Dolica for around $250.
Jan 7, 2014 08:41:07 #
I have a Nikon D5200 which came as a kit with both 18-55 and 55-200 VR lenses. It just fits inside of your budget and these kit lenses are pretty good. I've already sold the 55-200 and moved up to a 55-300 VR II lens for wildlife work. It will be a while before I outgrow this gear and I do like the fact it is lighter than some bigger DSLRs and has a unique LCD viewfinder that can be bent around into many positions to get above, below or off to the side of crowds and other obstructions and saves me some crawling around in the dirt. If I had a little more money, I concur that the D7100 is a fine choice. The main advice I'd give though, is go to a big box or camera store and check out the features and how each piece of gear feels to YOU before committing. Good hunting and welcome to UHH!
Jan 7, 2014 08:28:32 #
There are tools for straightening out weird angles on buildings, etc. in wide angle shots in Lightroom. From what I know, Aperture is a pretty complete package, I'd be surprised if it didn't have something similar. I learned how to do it in Lightroom by Googling it and finding some Youtube video tutorials and also the Adobe web site has videos. Does Aperture's web site provide anything similar? Also, there might be a tutorial out at B&H or Adorama, they have lots of topics. Hope this helps get you headed in the right direction.
Jan 5, 2014 20:05:44 #
pennyp wrote:
I decided to try BBF today after seeing this topic... (show quote)
Amazing what a simple question can spawn around here. I did a little practice over the weekend and concur with your observations. What a great New Year's lesson! Thank you Hogs!
Jan 4, 2014 10:12:28 #
I've been playing with it a little this morning. It's a little awkward at first, but I can see it becoming second nature in no time. On my D5200, the back button setting seems to stick and be the default in all modes (even Auto), but I've had to turn on servo in both Aperture and Shutter priority modes, so I assume I'll need to do it in manual as well, if I want it to be my default. And set back to single shot when I want that.
Jan 4, 2014 09:10:16 #
I just read an article at Digital Photography School's web site by James Brandon and he recommended programming one of your back buttons on your DSLR to focus and using the shutter button just as a shutter. He also recommends setting the focus to use continuous (servo) mode most of the time, because tapping it once is good for a single shot and holding the button down will engage the continuous focusing mode for moving objects. Seems to make more sense to me with the only downside being when you hand your camera to someone else and they're used to "hold the shutter halfway", in which case you can just set the camera to auto and it will work "normally" for them. Your thoughts?
Jan 4, 2014 08:44:34 #
Thanks for sharing. Many of my wildlife shots are captured during travels and are one shot wonders. It's really cool that you get to see ongoing relationships and can spot them. I'm going to be more aware of these symbiotic pairings now that I've seen what you've done and will be looking for them to appear at my regular fishing haunts and elsewhere. Kudos!
Jan 3, 2014 11:16:20 #
Enjoy your new toy! I'm still working on stretching the limits of my D5200, but one day, a bad case of techno-lust will arrive and I'll succumb like you did... At that point, I too will be asking for guidance from fellow Hogs. They did you right.
Jan 3, 2014 11:06:07 #
I bought the Nikkor 55-300 almost new from a guy on Craigslist. It has the VR II and I've been able to do handheld HDR shots as well as tripod mounted ones with the VR turned off that all came out great. My understanding is that every zoom lens has a sweet spot and the bigger the range of focal lengths, the lower the quality and maybe only the sweet spot is very good. For this reason, I also have shorter 18-55 zoom or would recommend shorter primes. I've used this lens on safaris with the high speed Sports mode doing 5fps and gotten some outstanding pix of birds in flight. This lens lists for $400, I got it for $265 and am very happy. Heavier than the 55-200 kit lens, but much better quality. I use it quite a bit as my walking around lens.