With high speed sports or nature photography, when the subject is moving towards or away from you a mirrorless camera will focus continuously until the image is recorded. A DSLR stops focusing as soon as the mirror begins its trip, and before the image is recorded. Not a big deal in a static setting, but if you're behind the goal that fraction of a second between the time when the focusing stops and the image is captured is the difference between a sharp image and a slightly soft one. The keeper rate in these cases goes WAY up with mirrorless cameras.

Like the rest of you, I hate it when they flip the payment screen and it is prompting me for a set of large tips for someone who just rang up my bill and at most handed me a bagel from behind the counter (or any other product for that matter).

On the other hand, a few years ago I attended a college night school's graduation appreciation dinner where each student got to get up to the mike and say a few words. I started getting tears in my eyes about the fourth or fifth time someone got up and said they wanted to thank their single mom for working all those long, exhausting and often late hours as a waitress so that their child could go this far in school. It was a larger percentage of the students than you might think who told similar stories. It chokes me up to think of it. Next time you're in a restaurant, look at the shoes of the person waiting on you - they aren't stylish or big name, they're made for standing and working long hours. Everyone is entitled to a bad day once in a while and now I always presume that poor service is somehow related to circumstances I'm glad I don't have to trade for. It has become my true pleasure to tip well in restaurants and in certain other situations, but if you flip me the screen I will probably not be flipping you a tip....

Since Photo AI is indeed probably all that Topaz is keeping current, I went through the YouTube tutorial of 9/12/23 titled Topaz Photo Ai 2 Complete Guide by Parker Photographic. Well done and worth watching if you want every feature explained. Good Luck!

I've been wondering too. Is there a filter that will limit the postings that come to me to those dealing with technical and software issues?

Although I have several Lume Cube products I second (and third) the dissatisfaction expressed above. I do use them for macro work (but nothing else) because they are small enough to fit into small spaces when crafting a lighting setup. The Stella lights look intriguing and sound like a far better investment.

Thanks John, as a post script: I let the Z9 do the tracking and focusing on the eye. Having concentrated on landscapes for years, Nature photography has become my current passion due to all the enhancements available with the mirrorless system - it is so much faster and more accurate than I ever dreamed of being (but always wanted to be).

Like you, I have resisted doublers for decades - but time and quality have marched on. Since Nikon's Z TC-1.4x converter is almost impossible to find, I took a deep breath and tried out the Z TC-2.0x as follows: Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC with internal 1.4 inserted (bringing it up to 840mm) and added the TC-2.0x for a 1680mm, mounted on a Z9 set to 1/2000 sec at f/11, ISO 2200 and the entire rig steadied on a unipod. The detail in the feathers stunned me (I think the baby egret was two counties away at the time). The quality is not unique to the series of images shot that day.

ALL MY OLD NIKON LENSES ARE BETTER when mounted to the Z9 because the Z9's IBIS works on lenses that never had image stabilization to begin with.

When I checked for the current version on my 850, it was already updated to 1.30 on January 11. Why is it only now being announced and how did I get it then?

I have the 24-200 and also switched to the 24-120. Liked the first, love the second. Private message me with a reasonable offer for the 24-200 (which is in fine condition, along with the original box and packaging) and its yours.

Thank you for the post and the link - they are representative of the best that UHH has to give. Merry Christmas to you and peace to all mankind.

Thank you for the post and the link - they are representative of the best that UHH has to give. Merry Christmas to you and peace to all mankind.

Schaferj1 and Rick0747 are both spot on. Definitely take the Brazil excursion if you can - its the best view of the falls and a totally different perspective, revealing how massive they really are.

If you call the number, please let us know what you find out. Thanks

A book that my students have had success with (because it is basic and well divided by topic) is "Understanding Exposure", 4th ed., Bryan Peterson, Amphoto Books. Although it was last published in 2010, it is still my go to text for beginners. Currently $17.00 on Amazon.