This may not be the best forum to ask, but I was wondering if anyone uses an e-bike to get around when shooting landscape. The idea crossed my mind when I was in upstate NY, and again when I was on Sandy Hook (an ocean beach park). In both places I would have liked to park my car, and ride an e-bike to get around the local area.

By e-bike, I mean a battery-and-leg-powered bicycle with perhaps a 25-mile range between charges.
The idea is to jam the photo gear into a backpack and e-ride around at 10 mph -- which would be better than walking around at 2-3 mph.

I am looking for any tips, pointers, or practical advice that two-wheeling Hogs might be able to offer.

Someone asked this end-of-year question last year. I guess I get to ask for 2019. Filtering by 2019 as the shooting date, I get "20 lenses" in my LR catalog spread over 1587 images and three cameras, but that count is skewed by the use of extenders. The EF 300 f/2.8L IS II comes in as my #1 when the two extended configurations are merged along with the lens alone, totaling 408. That's 'keepers' in the catalog. The usage number is probably 3x to 4x that number in bursts at airshows.

I was surprised to see the EF 16-35 f/4L IS was the second most used in file count at 256.

I looked at the filters several times as just 1587 images for the calendar year seems surprisingly low. I know I shot less, but that's less than half the 2018 count for the same LR filters that returns 3675.

If you filter and count your images, what surprises did you find? Do you use your own usage data to plan to sell unused lenses / cameras? Or maybe, to change the lenses you'll use more in 2020?

It's time to move on from Manfrotto be free tripod, too shaky and the head has become a pain. I've decided on a RRS BH-40, please no advise on that as I've done my research and handled my friend's.

My problem is with the legs. I've kind of narrowed it down to either a Gitzo traveler for $600; a benro series 3 Mach 3 for $330 or a Indira Series 2 Stealth for $400. RRS legs are out of my price range. I shoot mainly landscape and travel along with grandchildren sports. I understand none of these combinations will fit in carry-on and I am willing to put it in my checked luggage. I shoot with a nikon 850 and my heaviest lens is a 70-200 f2.8. I'm going to B&H Monday to see in person, but wanted to see if anyone in this group has first hand experience with any of these legs and/or if you think the Gitzo is worth the extra money or is it just brand recognition?

Though I have photographed wildlife all over the world, I have not done much in South Texas and plan to change that this spring. I am already looking at getting bookings at the Laguna Seca Ranch and Santa Clara ranch. I would appreciate hearing any first-hand opinions of either ranch, plus any ranch that is productive in South Texas. Thanks for any advice you can share with me.

For those who may not know, these are two of the ranches that are set up for wildlife photography that provide permanent blinds, feeders, water features, etc. and there are others in Texas.

John Gerlach

I have cataracts & am having trouble really brinmg precise in what I'm doing both when I take photos & in post processing. Everything is soft and slightly fuzzy. For example, I think my Tamron 150-600 lens is slightly off but can't really tell for sure. Is it my eyes or the lens? I have cataract surgery scheduled in a couple of week. So here is my question for those who have gone thru this before me. Will it really help to see things better & let me tell the difference between a sharp photo & one that is close but not quite there? Will my color judgement be a bit more precise? Any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

An old steady - my Bogen 3021. Took it out this summer, twisted the adjustment lever and it bent off like it was made from butter. Thought "hmmm..." tried the next one. Same thing. Hardly any force applied. No sign of oxidation. I guess the metal just aged out. Must be a planned obsolescence thing? Replacement parts are $16 at B&H so I'd have to spend $135 on those parts alone, and hope the rest of the metal parts aren't going to similarly disintegrate. Rats. I guess I'll try thumbscrews, but even those at $5 each would be half a new tripod. I guess I won't do anything.

This was entirely YOUR fault, not his. You made some incorrect assumptions - a)you were dealing with someone that was playing with a full deck, b)he brought the deck with him, c)he had a basic level of photographic ability and common sense, d)he knew how to operate his tripod either the 3 way pan head or a ball head that he had attached the camera to, e)he understood the primary benefit of a tripod - to provide a sturdy, stable platform to minimize camera movement and blur with slow shutter speeds. You obviously missed all the warning signs.

Just yanking your chain - this guy should take up another hobby, like stamp collecting. He should not be allowed anywhere near camera gear. You were absolutely right to be speechless -