I have and like very much the Neweer Carbon fiber tripod:
https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Including-Carrying-Camcorder-Capacity/dp/B01I1C8VGI/ref=sr_1_18?crid=1MGP3X99O0YKA&keywords=tripod+for+camera+neewer&qid=1568645499&sprefix=tripod+for+camera+neweer%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-18

It includes a nice case - and the tripod goes into the case very nicely the SECOND time.

Cheers

The YouTube reviewer reference above is Joe Cristina - the video is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od6szamW66Q

He has a series about life after Adobe and it is well worth watching.

Cheers

If you have not been there I would put Mesa Verde National Park on the "do not miss" part of the trip. Also, a very rewarding state park is in Nevada - Valley of Fire SP - about 40 miles north of Las Vegas. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is special too.

Cheers

See my article: https://petapixel.com/2019/04/08/building-a-photo-editing-computer-on-the-cheap/

Cheers

How are you downloading the files? You might want to try Sony's program "Play Memories" which downloads both still pix and videos.

Good luck with it.

Cheers

Bob Locher

OK, I think I have it. I used Faststone, opened the picture, then went to "effects". I changed the border color to black, unchecked "shadow" and raised the border value to 200. It is pretty close to what would be ideal, and really is likely good enough. But I will play with that some more.

Again, thanks for taking an interest.

Cheers

Bob

Thanks Linary! But I think that only works for viewing it in Affinity. Somehow I think what I need to do is add a black border that would become part of a .jpeg

Still thinking and working on that.

Cheers

Bob

Please take a look at the attached photo, It was cropped out of a rather larger picture. It is entitled "Winter Storm in the High Country".

When viewed on a white monitor screen it simply does not work. Against a black screen I would like to think it shows rather better.

I would be grateful for suggestions on how I can make this happen. I do not use PS or LR. I have PC based Luminar, Affinity and Faststone.

Constructive suggestions would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Bob

Take the original and run it through Topaz "Sharpen AI". You can download a 30 day free trial from Topaz. Depending on your computer it will likely take several minutes to process a picture, but the results can be astounding.

Right. Most of my shooting I set the aperture, put the camera in aperture priority mode, set the ISO whatever makes sense for the ambient lighting, compose, focus and shoot. Like you say...

Cheers

Bob

Sorry - should have mentioned that. It is entirely a manual lens. Focusing is dead smooth and iris works perfectly.

Cheers

Bob

For Sale: Zeiss Glass for your Sony Full Frame Camera!

I am offering the legendary 100 mm Carl Zeisss Sonnar f/3.5, 100 mm T* Coated, with adapter for Sony E-Mount, APS-C *or* Full Frame. Super clean. Serial #6641013. Lens includes Sony-E adapter, and offers full frame coverage. Lens can barely be told from new, except for one cosmetic flaw, see below. Glass is perfect - no scratches, sleeks or fungus. Focusing silky smooth and clear. Aperture control is flawless. Offer includes two lens hoods and a Rokunar UV Filter. The lens body is all metal and built like the proverbial brick outhouse. A real cream puff. Compared to a new lens you lose autofocus and auto aperture control - and save many hundreds of dollars for suburb glass. This lens was manufactured in Japan under license and close Zeiss supervision for the Contax SLR, camera and proudly carries the Zeiss name. It is one of the last series made with the latest coating.

The lens has a tiny area where the paint was rubbed off in a carry container. See photo. There is absolutely no deformation of the metal, and the glass is perfect. With Sony E-Mount Adapter, lens is 3 3/4" long (94mm) and weighs 13.5 ounces (383 grams).

Here is a review of the lens: https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-zeiss-sonnar-t-100mm-f3-5-cy/

US $ 275.00 post paid USA via priority mail, PayPal. Contact me for export.

20 X 30" prints from Costco are ridiculously cheap and of excellent quality. Also, if you are serious about large prints I suggest you take a serious look at Topaz Labs' Gigapixel AI program for which there is a 30 day free trial.
Cheers

Normally I don't brake for flower pictures, but this series is special. Truly beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Before you commit to the subscription, I'd strongly recommend you try "Affinity" with its 30 day free trial. Affinity does virtually everything PS does - and it costs you US $50 - ONCE! And that includes regular upgrades that are free. It is similar in structure to PS so your prior experience will not be lost.
Cheers