Whoops...missed that. It was the D810 I dropped.

As for the strap, I wanted something secure but easy to remove. I chose poorly. This was in addition to the factory method of installing the strap.

Simple answer: there are 2 peaks in the failure curve: early from workmanship and material issues, which is why there is a warranty, and late, from wear. Everything in between is random and unlikely, and everything after is luck and bonus.

The extended warranty is usually a sucker bet, and they wouldn't offer it unless it is stacked in their favor.

What is your experience purchasing goods? Do they fail often?

That said, last year I bought the extended warranty on a vacuum sealer. Reviews indicated a possibility of failure, but for $10 it will cover postage and annoyance.

D810 uses both CF and SD

I save RAW to CF

This was a camera-format

I have several sets of cards; will continue to monitor

Thank you for all the advice

Card is 2 years old, only 2 files in the set had a problem, and like I said, everything was fine on the card...only problem was when it got to the computer, and I tried twice to download.

I always back up to 2 external drives as part of my download protocol. The only thing I would change is greater physical separation between them between uses.

I made the decision to format the card when I realized they weren't keepers anyway.

Nikon D810, shooting both RAW and jpg (because you just never know). Downloaded either with a card reader or straight from the camera, and noticed that 2 of the RAW images were not readable on the computer. They were fine in the folder on the card, but not good after download. Tried again, but no joy. I tend to format the card in camera following a successful download session.

Fortunately, the jpgs came through fine, although neither shot was a keeper anyway.

Subsequently no issues with the card.

Thoughts?

Actually a combination of great service from both BH and the importer.

Two year old Nikon D200, carrying the 70-300D Nikkor zoom (I don't use this much, but lately have been using it for the birds on the lake around the corner). Anyway, the strap comes loose and the camera hits the ground.

Yes...scratches and possible crack in the case near the battery compartment. Compartment is a little difficult to open, and the battery is a bit harder to remove, but no other real damage and it seems to work just fine. Also, the SD card came loose in its slot, but the CF card picked up the slack.

Root cause: I had purchased a waterproof bag, and since it is so difficult to get the camera into it, I decided I needed a quick way to remove the straps, so bought some spring loaded S clips at the store...but they are prone to spontaneously open. Since replaced them with a more reliable scheme.

I thought I would buy a ring light to enhance my macro photography (24-85 D Nikkor zoom, and old 105 f4 Micro Nikkor) on both D200 and D810. Key issues were modest cost and adaptable to my lenses. I found a unit that fit the bill back in December, but by early March it was still on back order from B&H. I find a suitable replacement for just $20 more, and call late on a Monday afternoon to cancel the previous order and place a new one.

The woman was most accommodating...usually she just cancels orders, but since I knew exactly what I wanted, she could help. Unfortunately too late for Monday shipping, but we made the Tuesday drop and by Wednesday evening it was in my hands.

I open the box and play around with the adapters, and the 72mm one is just too loose on the zoom. The 52mm fit fine on the 105. I send a quick e-mail, and get a response Thursday morning...send us something that shows it is bad. Well, it was looking to storm so I decided to leave work early that day, but on my way out I asked a coworker if he had a pair of dial calipers. He did...with digital readout.

Got home and took two quick pictures with my phone, one showing the OD of the adapter, the other the ID of the filter threads on the lens...trivial overlap, insufficient to retain the flash...and sent them off to the importer.

Yup, he said...defective part, will get you a new one in the mail no later than Monday. He got it in the mail that night, and in my hands Friday evening...all in less than a week.

Oh...and the ring light is kinda fun.

I'm using an iPad Pro, so I have a rather large screen. I keep a set of my favorite shots on it, and my full library on the laptop and 2 x 2Tb Western Digital external drives as backup. But here's the trick:

I run a copy of my favorites through a vintage copy of LView Pro to reduce them to a manageable jpg size for the tablet or the picture frame. Figure a 20 Mb jpg off the D810 will get reduced to at most 3 Mb. For viewing and display purposes, this suits me just fine. I forget what version of LView I'm using, but it is over 20 years old and cost me $5 or so to register...and I don't like the fancier later versions.

I've started using the Lightning to USB female connector, running straight from the camera through its supplied 'to USB' cable. No issues, especially with power needs, but you won't get the RAW files.

I did this trip in 2007, and it was amazing. 2 bodies is the way to go, and I found myself using the Nikkor 24 to 85 macro the most, particularly when ashore, so I kept that on the D200 most of the time. I kept the Nikkor 70 to 300 on the D100, and that got most use on the boat...but occasional birds in flight when ashore. Sometimes I wished for a little more reach, but not enough to invest in. So my choices are the 24-105 and the 100-400, with the shorter lens having priority on the better camera.

Yes...you can get close enough to the wildlife ashore that a short lens shouldn't be a problem. You might want to get some form of underwater rig for when snorkeling, if that is part of your trip. Serious recommendations are a knapsack with rubberized bottom (Swiss Army computer bag will work nicely), and knee pads. You might want to take a monopod, and think about a portable hard drive for backup storage. Our guide had a laptop, but I didn't take advantage of his offer. I'm still blown away by the photos I took.

I started out with a couple of cosmetics bags, small, rugged, inexpensive, good for storage but not for significant transport.

I bought a Swiss Army computer backpack at Staples, and find it comfortable and convenient for carrying the gear for a day of shooting. The bonus is the rubberized bottom.

Not compartmented like a photo bag, but you can add foam as necessary to preclude damage.

I remember when shooting film how cool it would be to change ISO in the middle of a roll. Cool how digital lets you do that.

I think you are correct... set aperture and shutter speed to suit the conditions of your shot. Sports? Fast shutter. Macro? Suitable depth of field. Long lens? Fast shutter again.

When you have exhausted all rational possibilities, change ISO, use flash or other external lighting, or use neutral density filter.

Start playing from there.

I shared some of my photos with my fellow travelers when I returned home, and one of them commented 'now I know why you take so long to compose your shots'.

Remember, it's your vacation too.

I took the trip in 2007 with a Nikon D100 and relatively new D200. I ended up using the 24-85 almost all the time when on land, and the 70-300 when on the boat. I carried both bodies when ashore.

It would have been nice to have something wider and something a little longer (birds in flight, one really cool pelican on a rock and unable to get closer), but given the choice, getting up to 400mm would have been nice.

With the exception of the underwater gear, I was really satisfied with my gear.

Oh...I highly recommend a Swiss Army or similar computer knapsack with a rubberized bottom, and a pair of knee pads (seriously).

I was really happy with 50% of my shots, and 10% are totally ooh-ah.

Enjoy.