Nice to have company in the roots of technology. I recall running to the local drugstore (not a pharmacy lol) and using the tube tester every time the TV would take a long time to "warm up" or the picture would start to shrink on our 17" B/W Zenith console set.

I was in the last class in Tech Ed High School that taught both tubes and slide rules. In the 3rd year we learned APL programming on a IBM 360 that the school shared time on and making our own "computers" with J/K flip flops and an ALU. I learned how to write assembler language for Z80 processors. I think those experiences have given me an appreciation into electronics that towers above the "coding" classes of today. As much as I love and respect her, my daughter (a web coder for a major retailer) wouldn't even know what the processor in her computer looks like.

Making is smaller is great in terms of space, but it appears we lose touch with the back story. I believe the majority that snap pictures for Instagram and Facebook have never had the pleasure of taking a roll of film into the darkroom to appreciate the making of a photograph.

I bet you're selling the scope and VTVM must've made you pause. At the same time recall the fun and pain in the axx making and maintaining those Heathkit projects...

The camera of today has all that you already want. You might consider that "M" position on the dial and then (if you can afford to do so and really only want that mode), super glue it into that position. Then you'll have exactly what you desire, a manual camera with all the bells and whistles without other shooting modes... :)

As many have said as long as exposure is right, its fine in any form. When it's printed,mounted, framed or displayed on a screen and enjoyed, no on can look at it and say "OMG I'M AGHAST, IT'S A JPG AND NOT A RAW....

So enjoy your efforts.

While I reviewed prior discussions as to whether or not it's better to use PS or a ND Grad filter to deal with bright skies in landscapes, I believe like everything else in life, there is a balance and can see applications for both. As such, this isn't meant to be a debate on post processing v use of filters.

I am looking at adding a NG grad to add to my kit and am torn between a B&W threaded filter for the front of the lens and a square on i.e. Lee or Singh-Ray. Was hoping to get some guidance on pros and cons of each type. As a secondary question, are any of the square filters glass anymore? I noted even the Lee filters I looked at on B&H were resin. Thoughts?

I understand that if you're careful with mirror removal you can put the mirror in your kit bag and use it on location save the cost of buying a reflector along with making sure your hair is combed.

Another Ditto on the background being added. When I zoom in there is a black outline on the dresses where the mask edge is. I also agree with the thought that chopping off the feet and distracting background really takes away from the overall image.

Is anyone using the new pro 300 or have any experience with it?

It's simply amazing how few read the manual for anything they buy to fully understand the features and options. Cars, electronics, photo gear etc. I just shake my head when i hear the oft said comment- "oh I never knew it could do that..."

Consider Corel's Paintshop Pro. It also has a 30 day trial, it does Raw and DNG files and runs PS plugins. I use it with a lot of Topaz plugins, Nik, and others. It's very similar and mimics PS in many ways. They just announced the 2021 version and they have great price sales around Thanksgiving (I can't believe its already around the corner).

Understood. But remember the days of DOS, Windows 3, Photoshop ver 1 and more? How about the old bag cell phones, the first digital DSLRs... Consumers always wind up footing the bill for improvements ...

Well said. The whole C***d thing is a perfect example of our political strife. Seems Government knows better about everything but they can't even take care of their own business ...

Interesting. Know I'm not one to complain, I'm satisfied with the USPS. But the constant sound of their financial woes grows on deaf ears.

Looking at this "Informed Delivery", they're giving away information for free. They could rightfully set a subscription fee for this service. You know any other retailer would figure out a fair cost and rake it in. They'd package the daily email with a discount on shipping, ability to print stamps at home, make it an annual commitment with an automatic renewal. My guess would be $3-5 a month, less than the cost of one coffee at Starbucks. And people would sign up still... After all, information is king. I have to wonder how many millions are signed up for the service. I bet a large number of UHH readers just signed up after reading this thread... It just illustrates that those running the USPS are not in the mindset for running a business, but more being a governmental agency.

I bet he already knows. But like trying to boil water for coffee with a Bic lighter isn't the best way, there is only so much a cell phone can do.

For discussion, I disagree with the statement the "OP is already using manual mode".. To me, manual is when all three points of the exposure triangle are manual. Here one of them was still in "auto". So in reality the OP was using a mode of A and T 'priority' and asking the camera to automatically adjust the remaining point on the triangle to make the exposure correct. Hence the ISO 2500 and accompanying sensor noise. When using A or TV priority, with ISO statically set, we don't refer to that as "manual" as the camera is still adjusting something. Just a thought of the technical side of this.

Hopefully not representative of what all schools will look like in the 10 year aftermath of this pandemic.