I use the Manfrotto between the tripod and the head. Everything else is Arca-Swiss

Looking at another post, and it got me thinking…

When I get a new camera body, accessory list is:

Spare battery
Plastic case for battery
Appropriate cards (2 or 4, depending on number of slots)
Strap
Shoulder pad for strap
L bracket

When I get a new lens:

Case
Clear filter

When I get a new tripod:

Manfrotto 130 adapter

When I get a new tripod head:

Mating 3/8 Manfrotto plate

Thoughts?

I said the same thing to my wife;-)

Years ago, I was clean shaven (not today), and briefly carpooled to work with this guy.

He asks: do you ever think about growing a beard?

Me, after brief pause: every morning.

Next day, he asks: do you ever think about moving closer to work?

Me, after identical brief pause: twice a day.

No more questions.

So…yeah. 3 months after I retired 4 years ago, wife adopted two dogs: Sporty, some hound mix, 8 months old, and Brownie, chihuahua mix, 11 years old. Thanks. Yes, I love them both (but we lost Brownie last year), but Sporty is just too much energy for me and I really don’t want to spend the time.

Be happy your dog has a toy s/he is happy with. Sporty doesn’t seem attached to anything, although we did have a similar hedgehog toy.

But…congratulations on retiring.

Not to hijack any of this thread, but I had a situation several years ago where I needed to get a check delivered the next day. The choice was to drive across town to FedEx or do a wire transfer.

Either way, $25-30, and wire transfer was far more reliable.

I pay my solar company about $0.18 for each kW I generate on my roof. I make essentially 100% of my need, my net cost is half what it was (and lower rate increases), and end up paying them the connect charge ($13 or so) for several months of the year.

I lease, so they have all warranty risk.

Now I’m in the process of doubling my capacity so I’ll be a net producer.

I have a Z7ii, which is essentially the same camera except a sensor trade of low light for pixels. Everything about the cameras otherwise is the same, down to the manual. I use mine to supplement my D810; considered the D850, but the lower weight of the Z won the day. It is my go-to camera.

Two issues I’ve had: the eyepiece sensor got dirty, so camera wouldn’t switch between viewfinder and rear display. Easy to fix, just not well documented. And…I notice the focus and exposure point moves, largely because the joystick gets jostled by my nose, so it needs to be checked frequently.

I bought the FTZ, and it works fine with newer lenses. I gave up quickly on my 24-85D and bought the 24-70Z. I’ve since added the 14-30Z. My 200-500 works great with the FTZ, and I especially like tethering using the onboard Wi-Fi. My 70-300D works as well as the 24-85, but I hardly ever use it. If I sense a need, I‘ll use the D810.

The only downside is no on-camera flash. Again, I use the D810 to fill that gap.

Buy the T shirt!

Blasphemy!

But seriously, if you’re happy, great!

I’ve occasionally found myself wanting longer focal lengths for wildlife, but that’s less than 5% of shots and not worth lugging around. Even my 70-300 was rarely used, and the 200-500 is always within a quarter mile of the car, so the 24-85 is old reliable.

With a crop sensor, 18mm will give you a field of view equivalent of 27mm. Is that wide enough for streetscapes in Italy?

The other part of adventure is to just take the one lens and squeeze your best out of it, so the Tamron will probably be your best bet.

Just to pile on…

I saw on another forum someone was looking for a Z mount macro lens. Checking B&H, I only found one, and not a Nikkor at that.

So the choices are either FTZ with F mount lenses, or extension tubes with Z mount lenses...or this third party lens.

Yeah, well, Apple had this silly 30 pin connector terminating in a 4 pin USB connector for years. Never found a reason for that. At least Lightning and USB-C let you connect easily.

Absolutely agree. I have a Lowepro backpack style, about the largest that will fit the overhead bin. Put as much stuff in there as you can.

I use a reusable shopping bag or canvas sack as my personal item, but fill it from the backpack after security with things I want on the flight…or carry separately if your stuff is too bulky (iPad, phone, book, headphones).

I wonder if they had a cyberattack.