I seldom use manual mode. I use aperture priority when I wish to control DOF, and shutter priority when I want to control motion blur. ISO gets raised manually when lighting conditions force me to increase lighting sensitivity. I do use Auto ISO when I shoot High School football under artificial lighting (Friday night lights). Lighting at most school venues is so uneven that it is a time saver. I do limit the auto ISO high range to 5000.

Maybe it is me and my old eyes, but the focus looks a touch soft and the DOF a little narrow. Great composition and lighting! Show us more!

Didn't your mother teach you that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all? If you don't want to waste time with questions like his, don't waste your time by answering them.

Quite frankly, after reading through all the juvenile rhetoric, I have forgotten the original question.

I have "The Slide" from Peak Design. It uses a small plastic button that tethers to your camera mounts. The strap can be clipped and unclipped to the button with one hand. I have 3 buttons mounted on my 1DX where I can switch from neck strap mode to slide strap mode by just changing one strap end to one of the other buttons. I like it because there are no metal parts to scratch the camera. The addition buttons can be purchased separately so you can use the same strap on multiple cameras.

Because everyone can afford a $6000 camera body. No wonder you are a starving artist!

The GoPro camera idea is a great one if you plan on doing any swimming or snorkeling and want underwater photos and/or movies. For $400 you get a nice little action cam and it comes with the underwater enclosure. It's not like shooting with a DSLR but way better than the little disposables and cheap point and shoot cameras.

[quote=dmeyer]

Pretty sure I would avoid any kind of vacuum device!

The family and I went to Hawaii in 2000. If you have never been there, you at least have to visit Pearl Harbor. We spent 3 days on Oahu and 7 days on Kawaii. I purchased the book "Hawaii For Dummies" (not sure if it has been updated) which had a lot of information for visitors that was outside the typical tourist areas.

As far as what photo gear to haul, that is depentant on you. You could spend the entire trip with the camera in your face, as Hawaii is probably one of the most scenic locations on Earth, but don't! Shoot enough to practice your skills in this beautiful venue, and to capture your trip experience, but be sure to take in the feel of the islands. You will not be disappointed with your trip!

Jim,

I make no assumptions... Just merely state my experience. He will have to determine the true cause... I just gave him another rock to look under.

Why would you even consider making a personal attack on the model? Grow up man!

For what it's worth... I have been teaching adult education photography courses at the local Junior college for several years. I have seen images from all brands and models of cameras made in the last 5 years. None of the students shots are "made" by the brand of camera, but by the artistry of the photographer. Your choice in camera should be determined by which model is comfortable to use and the options you deem necessary. I shoot Canon, for two reasons... At the time I purchased Canon had a larger choice of lenses, and I was more comfortable with the menu layout. Quality of Nikon vs Canon never was a consideration.

About your photos... You should be proud of the images of your model. Both images are tastefully classic images and show the beauty of the female form. Excellent eye!

The fact that you are getting contaminants on you sensor just one outing after it being cleaned leads me to believe you are not suffering from a dust issue, but possibly different source of contamination. I have read about some cameras having over lubricated shutter mechanisms that would tend to splatter the lubricant onto the sensor during the shooting process. I don't know how true this is... But it seems unlikely you would accumulate that much dust in one shooting. I generally go 6 to 12 months before having to clean my sensor, and I change lenses in the field all the time.

What your friend is saying (I believe...) is that if you don't posses a certain level of photographic skill (understanding light, shadow, exposure, depth of field, etc.) the the best camera in the world will not help. That being said... the better the set of tools a "good" artist has at his disposal... gives that artist more potential to turn out a work that is of the highest quality. The more expensive DSLR cameras have more tools for the photographer to use to get "the shot" more consitently.

Actually, that one was a twilight shot using pattern metering. It was taken with a Canon 50D and a 70-200 ƒ/2.8 L II, at 200mm with a 2X extender, at 1/400, ƒ/13, ISO 1000. I don't think I've really used spot metering as I prefer to shoot manual for shots like these. Here's one more... Same camera and lens but no extender. ƒ/2.8 @ 1/60, ISO 100. This one was at night. I really should try some moon shots with the 1DX.