If I'm understanding your question properly, you are concerned about setting up your tripod quickly and are wanting some easy way to set it up to the proper height each time. I used a silver Sharpie to mark the legs of one of my tripods so I could do this while shooting a project similar to yours. If you need to change or remove the Sharpie ink later, 91% alcohol and a cotton ball does the trick.
I live in Albuquerque and most often go to Bosque del Apache during early to late January because that is what my schedule allows. Unless there is a drastic warming of the western US by then, there will still be plenty of birds and other wildlife to be seen, enjoyed and even photographed. I usually go into the refuge about 2PM and drive the loop to see where the birds are most populous that day, as they do move around to different locations. Plan to stay through sunset as the light will change a lot during that time period. Be aware that at this time of year when the sun starts to set the light fades quickly. Even on a cloudy day in NM the sun usually breaks through off and on. A stop for a green chile cheeseburger at the Owl Cafe in San Antonio on the way out is a great way to end your day. Enjoy!
I just got my 28mm SE version yesterday from B&H. I dug around in my closet and found a Nikon HN-2 screw in lens hood that is going to work just fine. Took some pictures in my office but will take it outdoors sometime today. I like the ribbed focus ring and the metal ribbed ring to help mounting and unmounting the lens.
I have purchased a number of items from mapcamera who sells out of Japan. I have never been disappointed in what I received from them. Excellent customer service and faster shipping than some US based vendors. Highly recommended as an honest seller.
Just curious, what is the life of a photo printed using LD inks. Is there much fading over time compared to using Canon inks?
I have the Tamron 100-400mm lens and recently used it on my Nikon D500 at the Bosque del Apache refuge in New Mexico. I bought a collar for it from a Chinese company and it cost much less than the Tamron one and works and fits perfectly. I also bought the Tap-In to keep the lens updated. I have a very sturdy tripod but find I tend to use the lens handheld most of the time. I am very pleased with sharpness and find it focusses fast enough for the cranes that are standing in the field and most of the time for birds in flight. Sharpness at the far end is much better than I expected and the vibration compensation helps me a lot. For me, at least, this has become a lens that stays on my D500 when I'm photographing birds and wildlife.
Thanks. I assumed there would be an adapter but hadn't found one. This is what I need.
I have searched here and other forums and haven't found this information. Thanks in advance for help given. I am wondering if older manual Fujinon lenses can be mounted directly on a newer X-mount body without using an adapter. I have an X-T2 and X-Pro 2 and would like to use older Fuji lenses if possible. If it is possible, what is the mount called that I would be looking for?
The following is a quote from author, Robert Heinlein:
"It's amazing how much 'mature wisdom' resembles being too tired."
Assuming you will be starting from Santa Fe, NM, you can look for Rt 66 signs on I-25 at Algodones, north of Albuquerque as you head south to I-40. They will direct you to a stretch of old Rt 66 when it actually ran through the Santa Fe area before it was moved south to approximately the I-40 current route. If you follow Highway 47 from Algodones south, you will eventually get to 4th Street in Albuquerque. There are several old Rt 66 motels still standing, but in disrepair, on 4th Street. Some still have the old signs standing. You can still drive sections of Rt 66 through downtown Albuquerque if you follow Central Ave. east then get on I-40 at the east edge of town.
One major Rt 66 stopping place is Tucumcari, NM. There are several restored original motels there with wonderful neon signs. The Blue Swallow is a great place to stay, and you will experience what it was like to stay in a motel in the 50's. Santa Rosa also still has some original Rt 66 stops and is right on the way to Chicago. This is a great drive, and you can have a lot of nostalgic Rt 66 fun on the way.
I strongly suggest you do what Bill__de said to do. I have had a D7000 and now have a D7100 and both have needed to be reset. If you go into the menu and go to User Settings and do a reset, then go to Photo Shooting settings and do a reset, then do the two button reset, it should go back to factory settings.
My D7000 stopped autofocusing and when I took it to a shop, the kind clerk there did the reset this way, it worked and he didn't charge me a dime.
Been there. These photographs make me want to go back! Very nice.
Having used Nikons since 1976, I also have been looking for a camera that functions and feels more like my Nikon F3s and FM2s and FE2. I still have Nikons that I use mainly for photo jobs, a D750 and D7100.
However, I have found two cameras that I really enjoy because they "feel" to me like my beloved older Nikons. One is the Df and the other is a Fujifilm XT-2. They are so much fun to use that one or both of those travel with me on every photo outing these days.
Part of the reason the XT-2 is so nice is that it is metal, the lenses have aperture stops and there are dials that let me do everything I normally need to do without going into digital menus.
Like I said, FUN!
There are so many places worth your time in New Mexico. First, while in Taos, don't miss the Rio Grande Gorge bridge.
Between Santa Fe and Albuquerque is the Tent Rocks area. Google it and you will find lots of information. West of Albuquerque about sixty miles is the Malpais lave flow areas including the sandstone bluffs view area and lava tubes you can descend into.
A bit further west is the El Morro (Inscription Rock) Monument. Also, as someone else mentioned, the Acoma (Sky City) pueblo is in that area.
A bit further north from Acoma is Chaco Canyon, a World Heritage site and renowned around the world.
And as has been mentioned, in the immediate Albuquerque area there is the Petroglyph Park, the Museum of Nuclear Science (worth the visit and is way more than about the atomic bomb, includes a plane exhibit) and the trip up the tram to Sandia Peak.
While the Bosque del Apache WR is beautiful any time of the year, for birds August is not a great time.
And White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns can be done in a two day driving trip.
Haven't even scratched the surface. NM is a wonderful place for a photographer.
I am a native New Mexican and have photographed all over the state. Dust is really not a problem. However, I do advise you to take a small brush of some type to simply dust off the outside of your camera and lens after any trip out. This is a good precaution anywhere you are, but NM does tend to be drier than what you are used to, and a quick dust off is a good idea.
One of the more spectacular areas of the state is the monument called KASHA-KATUWE TENT ROCKS. I can assure you it will be time well spent to visit this site. As it is on the Cochiti Pueblo land, you should check the website below to make sure it is open. The pueblo closes it on feast days and other pueblo celebration days. But it is open and easily accessible most days of the year.
It is about a half hour drive south of Santa Fe and well worth it.
Please visit the site using the link below. I do believe you will find it to be one of the most special places anywhere, not just in NM.
https://www.blm.gov/visit/kktrHave a wonderful time. I know you will.