I know the VR on a lens should be switched off when using a tripod (because the camera is still), but if you are using a gimbal head, so the camera can be moved to follow the subject, presumably the VR should be switched on? Or am I missing something?

To try out my new Sigma 150-600, last week I took my D750 along to a local American airbase (RAF Lakenheath), and shot directly through the wire mesh fencing. This coincided with free version of Nik software being released, so I played with that as well.

Sikorsky Pave Hawk

(Download)

F15s

(Download)

F15

(Download)

That is a fascinating article, many thanks for sharing. Towards the end it talks about a dictation speed of 60 words per second - should this not read "per minute"? My wife has a certificated shorthand dictation speed of 160 wpm, but the thought of her doing 60 words per second????

In the early 1960s I was working for Kodak, in their London (UK) head offices. In fact I ran the darkroom for the Sales/Service Division. One Friday afternoon I was asked to develop a customer's film as a goodwill gesture. After fixing it it I popped it into the wash tank and ran the water. The excitement of the upcoming weekend meant I forgot to take it out before going home. On the Monday morning, after some 60+ hours of washing, I found all the emulsion had softened and washed off. It took some delicate explanations to the customer to placate him, plus some replacement film stock!

Thanks for all your replies (great video, Steve Perry!). As I too started on manual focus film cameras it does make sense what you are all saying, and I will carry on using BBF. Have a great Xmas everyone.

I've been reading a lot in the photo press lately about "back-button focusing", and how good it is over "shutter button half press focusing". I've set my D750 for back button use, and so far I'm finding no great advantage. Do I need to persevere with it for the shining light moment? Do others use this technique? Any thoughts?

I follow what you saying, the profile has installed onto the computer in the "colour & profiles" folder (Win 8), but doesn't show up in Elements as a profile choice. So I am wondering if I need to upgrade to Elem.14 or full Photoshop to achieve this.

Thanks for that. Yes, it is their own custom profile, for the particular ink/paper combo that they use. It is called DC-Colour-labs-Frontier-Lustre. I've installed it to my PC, but it doesn't show in Elements.

I currently use Elements 9. I want to add an additional color profile so that I can use an online printing house, who recommend I use their profiles. But Elements 9 doesn't seem to allow the addition of extra profiles. Does anyone know if Elements 14 would allow this, or would I have to go to the full Photoshop to achieve it?

An interesting post. I too am member of two camera clubs. One is vibrant, a wide membership base (young/not so young, M/F), the other is stagnating, with a hard core of traditionalists who don't like change. Needless to say, any new faces don't stay long. Both clubs are in similar size towns 10 miles apart. Your idea of an open competition for local non-members is an intriuging one. I know which of my two clubs would take up the idea. Unfortunately not the one that needs to benefit from it!

I took the shot on a Nikon D600, f14, 1/2500, ISO 6400, 190 mm focal length, auto W/B. I also spotted the the Exif data says "high saturation". I think I might try toning down the saturation a tad to see how it looks. Our club projector that is used for competitions is notorious for over lightening DPIs, so I think a little toning down is called for. But thanks for your comments - much appreciated.

Although I have been an active photographer for many years, I have very rarely taken any natural history shots. However, I did take this one of a Eurasian Eagle Owl (in a bird sanctuary), but I'm not convinced I have the saturation right, and would appreciate comments - before I enter it into a club competition!

(Download)

A couple of years ago, the UK based Consumers Association started a campaign to get camera manufacturers to bring back viewfinders to compact cameras. But from what I see on the shelves it doesn't seem to have been that successful. Viewfinders still seem as rare as hen's teeth - except on my new Fujifilm X100s, which has both an optical finder and an EVF!

Saw quite a few covered bridges when I visited NH a few years ago. Hope to photograph them when I return (I live in the UK). I think they would make a good background to Photoshop a classic car into. Added to my project list.

Does anyone know if Nikon (UK) have also done this replacement as well as Nikon (US)? My D600 has now been back twice for oil spot sensor cleaning under warranty.