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April 25, 2017

Will Sony's a9 draw Nikon fans?

Here are some of the topics and news items we're tracking for our community this week:

Members weigh Sony's a9, Fall ANPAT location announced, getting started in wedding photography - PLUS more...

1- Will Sony's a9 draw Nikon fans?
It's a fair question. Sony has unveiled a camera that features a mirrorless system designed to rival results from high end DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) models out of Canon and Nikon, and the price is competitive.

According to Sony, the a9:
...realizes a totally blackout-free viewfinder while conventional systems can only try to reduce blackout time. A high-speed, vibration-free, silent Anti-Distortion shutter vastly extends the range of shooting situations while a mechanical system can only aim for lower vibration and quieter shutter release sound. α9 provides continuous tracking of moving subjects for foolproof AF/AE while traditional SLRs can only challenge such AF/AE performance improvements. Moreover, α9 allows its viewfinder to show not only images of the subject -- available on conventional systems -- but also the final image of a shot.

Our members have been weighing the specs, and some are not about to jump ship.

Here are some comments:
• I'm thinking this is a game changer. Won't the D5 replacement need to be mirrorless to compete?
• Sony writes a good marketing blurb but the a6500 did not fulfil their promises and my a7rii is woefully deficient to the D750 in so many ways. If Sony is shooting for the Tokyo 2020 then we will probably see some refining in an a9ii. They may also have some Sports lenses by then.
• The specs are impressive. But specs don't make a camera. Sony's interface and ergonomics are pretty awful compared to Nikon.

Are you getting ready to purchase a Sony A9? Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

2- Fall ANPAT 17 now booking
Nikonians founder J. Ramón Palacios (jrp) has announced the location for our next Fall season Annual Nikonians Photo Adventure Trip (ANPAT).

The Fall ANPAT-17 will be taking our members to Acadia and Coastal Maine and for a very limited time, we have an early bird discount. This location is a photography paradise, with rugged coastlines, iconic lighthouses, and warm tones of the northern light.

The dates are: October 7, 2017 (arrival) to October 14, 2017 (departure).

JRP tells us:
October is the best time to be there; exquisite colors abound, not just on the trees, but also on the ground, thanks to the berry plants characteristic of the northern areas. Nikonians Academy Director Eric Bowles (ericbowles) will be our ANPAT Leader.

Check out the 17th ANPAT in the Fall FAQs and the official Nikonians Academy reservations page for more details. Make sure you take note of the early bird discount on that page (deadline approaching in just one week).

3- Ever lose any equipment? Gear lost forever? - Maybe not!
Label ALL your gear... BEFORE you go out to shoot!
Each IDmyStuff® label set includes 29 labels, in 3 sizes. Big enough for a 400mm lens -- small enough for a filter ring.

Three lines of text per label, plus a gift or coding message for each set. Up to 30 characters per line. Super weatherproof outdoor vinyl with sign grade adhesive, UV resistant colorfast thermal resin printing, laminated with tough polyester. 7 different colors -- code gear by types, storage locations, or application purposes.

Just $9.95, including shipping in USA. (International: $4.95 flat rate shipping per order.) 20% off orders of 3. 30% off orders of 10 sets or more. Typical turnaround (order to delivery) is one week or less.

4- Wedding photography - Getting started
Silver member Robert Metheney (bobpilot) has a friend wanting to get into the wedding photography business. His original question concentrated on the gear, but responses from our wedding pro members are quickly adding important precautions.

Here's Bob's question:
A friend asked me what camera I would suggest for him to enable him to photograph weddings. He can't afford a camera with an FX sensor. What DX camera would you suggest?

Replies quickly cautioned against venturing into this line of photography with only one body. We also have great advice on gaining experience.
Here are some examples:

• Having photographed weddings for 37 years I must suggest two (2) D7200 bodies. NEVER take on a paying photo assignment with a single camera body.
• I personally think, the best thing for him to do first, would find a wedding photographer, that would let him go to some weddings with him or her, as their assistant, as there are far more things to being a wedding photographer than people think.
• There is a lot more homework that needs to be done. Choosing the camera body is probably pretty low on the list of decisions for a new wedding photographer.

In all fairness, Bob never mentioned if his friend had already been pulling apprentice duties under an accomplished wedding photographer. But as the replies start piling up, we invite anyone with hopes of shooting weddings to read the responses. For our wedding photography-experienced members - Do you have additional advice to share? Join the discussion.

5- Profiled--Bird Photography Enthusiast Jack Backs
Moderating Team member Marsha Edmunds (meadowlark2) has posted her latest chapter in the Nikonians member profile "I am Nikonians" series of articles.
Her subject in this installment is Gold member Jack Backs (jfbacks) from Missouri, USA.

Jacks' photography background goes well back into the days of film, and it was the arrival of the Nikon D100 that enhanced his creative skills in capturing two elusive subjects: children playing sports and birds.

Jack tells us:
It always amazes me how one can blaze away with a DSLR and the sound rarely spooks a bird, but make one sudden movement and they are off in a flash. My last bit of advice on getting close to birds is to find a conservation area or seldom traveled country road and take images from your car window... A lot of birds are accustomed to traffic and will be much more tolerant than if you were on foot.

Check out the full article for a look at Jack's accomplishments in capturing stunning bird images.

6- Where eagles dare
Moderating Team member John David Hutchison (Kipmm) from British Columbia, Canada shares an awesome series of eagle "fly-by" images captured while searching for an entirely different bird.

John describes the circumstances:
Sitting on a beach waiting for the tide to roll out and hopefully the arrival of an Osprey this Bald Eagle came from nowhere. Actually, there were two of them and this one was chasing the other out.
I never did see the other but I did see the shadow.
This series ended quickly as the Eagle flew right over me...
-- kip

The images were captured with his Nikon D500 and AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8 G ED VR II combined with a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II.

If you are a "BIF" fan (Birds In Flight) make sure you jump in on the discussion and check out the other three images in this set.

7- The siren call of better glass
Silver member Dale Williams (Tropidale) from Florida, USA wants to add a new lens to her gear bag and she's seeking advice from our members.

Here's a short excerpt from her question:
I currently shoot with a D7000, primarily animals, birds, flowers, scenic, or whatever strikes me wherever we happen to be. I am a raw and manual shooter primarily, and being a bit of a zoom freak, I currently use a Nikon 18-140 and Tamron 70-300 which have been the best coverage I felt I could get for my budget. I have gotten some pretty good shots out of both, but I keep hearing the message of better glass, over and over, and have the urge to improve my results. But I am just not sure if there is an appreciable improvement to support the investment, especially if it turns out, that I am the limiting factor, not my lenses. I clearly have plenty to learn, and I know I should use my tripod a lot more. I certainly know that nobody can guarantee I will get better results with better glass, not really knowing my knowledge and skill level, but I am just trying to get an idea if an upgrade would be a very noticeable improvement or a more subtle one for image quality.

Along with reaching out to the forum, I am also planning to rent a 24-70 or 70-200 2.8 for a little comparison work. I am sure that will answer my questions as well.

Thanks for any words of wisdom. -- Dale

As you can see, Dale is not just looking for advice on specific lenses. She's also wondering if a new lens purchase is necessary in the first place. Read the full post and check out her sample images. Does she really need new glass?

8- Scooter shooter tips anyone?
Gold member Dale Lundy (stlsailor) from Missouri, USA enjoys hopping on small motorcycles (sometimes scooters) and exploring great photo sites. What he doesn't enjoy is trying to lug his gear safely, stopping at a site, setting it up, and then breaking it down. How would you handle this situation?

Dale asks:
A few days ago, I did a short reconnaissance moto shoot at Kep National Park. By moto shoot I mean I rode the moto until I came to a place I wanted to shoot. Then I'd park the moto, take off my backpack, get my camera out of it, set up and take any shots I wanted, put the camera back in the backpack, put the backpack back on, get on the moto and take off for the next shot.

It was OK the first time. After a few stops it began to be a pain. Does anyone have any tips on making this easier? When I do a walking shoot I have my camera ready, of course, and if I bring an extra lens or two, I carry them in ThinkTank pouches for easy access. But I don't want to have my camera out and risk damaging it while riding the moto, and the pouches I don't think would work well when I'm sitting on the moto. Thoughts? -- Dale

Are you a moto-shooter? How do you pack your gear for easy access? Share your tips.

------------------------------
That's it for this week. Make sure you grab your favorite camera and capture some images to share with family and friends (especially us at Nikonians). -- Tom Boné (flashdeadline)

Posted by flashdeadline at 9:37 PM

April 18, 2017

Six reasons to stick with your DSLR

Here are some of the topics and news items we're tracking for our community this week:

DSLR photography is not a dinosaur, a tour of the Nikon Museum in Tokyo, ghostbusting - PLUS more....

1- Six reasons to stick with your DSLR
Gold member Wayne Lorimer (wjlorimer) from New Zealand ventured into the world of mirrorless system photography for two years. It had many benefits. So, why has he returned to the DSLR realm?

The introduction to his recent article explains:
Mirrorless camera systems are all the rage, while sales of traditional DSLR's are in decline.

Many refer to DSLR technology as a "dinosaur". If you want to keep up with photography, then you should ditch all your DSLR gear and make the switch to mirrorless - right?

Hang-on. Not so fast.

Are these new mirrorless cameras all that they're cracked up to be? Or can the DSLR still give them a run for their money? Should you seriously consider a mirrorless camera as your next upgrade?

Or is it just overblown marketing hype designed to sell more cameras?

Follow Wayne as he explores his own journey from DSLR, to Micro Four Thirds, and back again

2- Do you plan to buy the Nikon D7500?
Last week we covered the unveiling of the new Nikon D7500. This week, with the help of post by Silver member Mark Virgil Stephan (Mark37814) from Tennessee, USA we're following our member's reactions and their intentions.

Some sample (and randomly selected) comments:
• I for one plan to buy the D7500, my D7100 will become a backup body. It's at a price point that I can afford and judging by the specs it has a lot of D500 DNA which makes it more attractive. The tiltable rear LCD screen was the feature I've been looking for in a prosumer Nikon dSLR. Is a 20.9 MP camera a deal breaker? No, it isn't. In addition to my Nikon's I shoot with 20.1mp Canon 6D and 70D.
• I was excited, thinking I would upgrade from my D7000, until I saw no vertical grip support. I shoot a lot of high school basketball and a vertical grip is essential. D500 or D750 for me at this time.
• I would consider it as I have the D7000, and it would be an upgrade. I have never bought a vertical grip for my D7000, 2nd card slot is nice but not sure it is a deal breaker. My only concern is I think they priced it a bit high.
• No, I would miss the second SD card slot and definitely miss the vertical grip. Unfortunately, Nikon choose not to include these important features. I was due to upgrade with this model, maybe next model.

Do you plan on buying this new camera in the D7000 series? Join the discussion.

3- Need new gear? Limited budget? Think "trade-in"
Do you want that new Nikon D7500? Berger Bros Camera is offering great trade-ins or outright purchase for your used Nikon or any brand photo gear.

They see many people trading in older heavy DSLR gear toward new Fuji, Sony or Olympus Mirrorless cameras.
They now have in stock new fabulous Olympus EM1 MKII Sony A6500, Sony A7R II cameras as well as Fuji XT2 and coming soon Fuji GFX50S medium format 50mp.

They also have spectacular deals on Nikon D810 and you can put your order in now for the new Nikon D7500.
Great Personal service: Brad Berger 516-816-4921 or Brad@Berger-Bros.com. or BradBerger@mac.com.

4- 100 years- and counting
Our thanks to new member Richard Haw (ricoBaby) from Japan, who happens to be in a very enviable geographical location for those of us celebrating Nikon's 100th Anniversary this year. Richard went to the Nikon Museum in Tokyo and he shares a great series of images and background information.

Richard links us to his blog:
On the first installment on this series, I will be presenting you a report of the current exhibit currently being held at the Nikon Museum. I take it that there will be more that's coming after this so please follow this blog to get updates on those.

The current exhibit showcases the prototype cameras of Nikon from the post-war years up till the late '80s. The exhibit is presented like an engineer's diary/memoir with words accompanying each surviving prototype. I take it that this exhibit was made possible by people with great passion for Nikon because collecting all of these prototypes is not easy because these were usually destroyed according to Nikon's company protocol. It is with much appreciation that I am writing this blog post in honor of the people who worked with these prototypes and to the people who archived them.

Check out his link and make sure you encourage him to give us more... a lot more.

5- What's your ghostbuster?
Are you plagued by the challenges of shooting through a fence at sporting events?

Moderating Team member Diane L. Simmons (coolmom42) from Tennessee, USA has been looking for a solution to the inevitable "ghost lines" resulting from these "Out of Focus" (OOF) obstructions.

Diane asks:
Is there any way to get rid of the almost transparent streaks from the OOF fence, in this image? (and others from a ball park.)

It's most conspicuous at the bottom of the image, but shows up as hazy streaks across the backs of the uniforms, as well.
I have LR6 for PP software.
No seats up above the fence at this level of play, unfortunately.

Suggestions lean towards Photoshop cloning, but perhaps a bit of "healing" may be the answer.

If you have conquered this pesky problem, make sure you share your solution with us.

6- How silent can you get?
Silver member Harry Cowan (DougieCowan) from Texas, USA is trying to get a clear understanding of the motors inside certain Nikkor lenses. Which is best for video and what's the actual difference?

Harry asks:
I've been happy with the SWM (Silent Wave Motor) motors on AF-S lenses but Nikon has brought out the pulse motor on the AF-P lenses now.
Nikon, of course, states that each is great so I'm wondering what gives?

Nikon's official explanation says:
AF-S NIKKOR lenses feature Nikon's Silent Wave Motor (SWM). This technology converts "traveling waves" into rotational energy to focus the optics. This enables high-speed autofocusing that's extremely accurate and super quiet.

AF-P lenses use a "Pulse" motor or "Stepping" autofocus motor and are even quieter and smoother to autofocus than an AF-S lens, making these lenses ideal when shooting video with a DSLR.

Check our responses to Harry's question and let us know if you have been using an AF-S lens for video with good results.

7-Foreground subject lost in the dark?
Silver member Ralph Magin (Fezant) from Arizona, USA is dealing with poor results when faced with subjects surrounded by bright backlighting. How do you resolve this problem?

Here is the original question:
I am new to photography and would like to take photographs of subjects in the shade with a bright background without a fill-in flash. What can you do so that the subject is not silhouetted? Thanks, Fezant

Of course, a number of responses are suggesting Ralph should reconsider his thoughts on fill-in flash. But,
When that flash is totally not an option, we have some responses point towards metering choices:
• You can use Spot Metering on your subject to determine the correct exposure.
• I select Center Weighted Metering Mode and move in closer to have the subject occupy a larger portion in the frame. When it is very bright and the subject is not too large in the frame I go for Spot metering.:
• If it were me in the field, I'd use the spot meter if assuming no flash.

What's your advice? Join the discussion.

8- Sky / area is light to dark?
Gold member Karl Lalemand (slalemand) from Maine, USA wants to get a better grip on the various lighting situations that crop up while doing panoramas. What do you do when the sky changes while capturing the image?

Karl asks:
Not sure if the title helps much, but what is or are the secrets to doing pano's when the sky / area goes from light to dark?
This seems to cause me the most problems, that and the fact I don't know what I'm doing.

Karl posted examples and he's already getting some solid advice. If you have been struggling with similar lighting challenges, this discussion is a must read.

Posted by flashdeadline at 7:35 PM

April 15, 2017

Nikonians Photography Awards Winners 2017

The Nikonians Photography Awards is a competition open to any photographer, member of Nikonians or not, and with any camera brand.

Lots of excellent photographs made this a tough one for the jury in the 2017 Nikonians Photography Awards.

But, the 2017 winners have been announced.

1st Place Winner "Phan Rang Fishing Net Making"
by Yen Sin Wong - Seremban, Malaysia

2nd Place Winner "Face to face"
by Bence Mate - Pusztaszer, Hungary

3rd Place Winner "A Jonah Moment"
by Michael AW - Sydney, Australia

Here you can find all the photography award winners, higher resolution images and more information.

Posted by bgs at 5:19 PM

Add months to your Silver, Gold or Platinum membership

This is something that many members miss, so let me wrap it up here:

If you invite another person to join Nikonians, they will get 10% off on their new membership and you will get an additional month on your current membership (Silver, Gold or Platinum) added as a small "thank you" for helping spreading the word.

How does it work?
It is simple, really.

Go to "My Profile" and click on the tab "Invitations".
Type in the person's email to be invited
Hit the "Generate voucher" button
Now you can either hit the link "Send" to send out the voucher as an email to the person, or you can print it out to personally hand it over.

There is no limit on the number of invitations you can make and you can keep track on them easily in the list shown on the "Invitations" page.

Thanks for spreading the word about the community!

Posted by bgs at 4:22 PM

April 11, 2017

Nikon announces D7500

Here are some of the topics and news items we're tracking for our community this week. ---

Nikon unveils the new D7500, removing water spots from lens, testing your camera and lens - PLUS more....

1- New D7500 unveiled

We've been tracking rumors of the newest D7000 series camera for over a month. We invite our members to post here with their reactions to the new Nikon D7500.

Our thanks to Yale Fogarty (Bluedogs) from Oregon, USA for getting the discussion started.

The new DX-format camera uses the same sensor as the Nikon D500 (20 Megapixels), 8 frames per second capability and a tilt screen. Its predecessor, the D7200, has a 24.2 Megapixel sensor, 6 frames per second and no tilt screen.

The D7500 supports the same 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)/30p movie recording possible with the D500. The maximum recording time for movies of this resolution is approximately 29 minutes 59 seconds.

The camera is slimmer and lighter than the D7200 and demonstrates even greater agility with a deep grip that provides a superior hold and portability. It is also compatible with SnapBridge, which enables constant connection of the camera to a smart device.

2- Out damn spots!
Gold member Marc L Rosenblum (alty02) from Idaho, USA is looking for a safe method to remove water spots from a lens:
I just returned from our local waterfalls and it was flowing at a record rate, with lots of fine mist covering just about everything, including the picnic grounds, overlooks & automobiles.

The car windows were covered with fine water spots that will now need something stronger than Windex due to the fact that they dried rather quickly. Soap & water does not remove them.

A dry method of cleaning the lens will not do the job and lens cleaning fluid is not removing the water spots. I used some vinegar on a small section of my car window and it seems to work well.

Will vinegar damage the front element of a lens if used full strength? I would use a cotton swab (Q-tip) with a small amount of vinegar and follow up with a bit of distilled water, also applied with a Q-tip.
Any other recommendations to remove stubborn water spots? Thanks!

Have you solved a water spot problem? How did you do it? Share your solution.

3- Blog Views now easier
Nikonians founder Bo Stahlbrandt advises the News Blog is now much easier to read on mobile devices, and you now have a choice to view it in both white and black background modes.

Forgot how to switch?
It's easy.
Go to My Profile, look for the Preferences Tab.
On the Preferences Tab go to Preferred Skin and choose Nikonians V2.0
On the upper right corner of the screen, push the Save button.
--voilà-- it's done.

4-Comfort plus Theft-Resistance?
Can your strap keep your camera safe when traveling?

This strap, available from PhotoBert, is great for travel as it helps thwart camera thieves and is great for everyday use.
It fits any camera that has a removeable camera strap.

Don't let this strap fool you - it looks (and is) lightweight, but is incredibly strong!

It is 30% lighter than nylon/polyester, 45% lighter than aramid and 15 times stronger than steel.
(Sorry -- PhotoBert can only ship this product to US customers only.)
Nikonians Price: $37.95
Price is after discount reflected in your cart.

5- Higher and higher
Silver member Paul Naish (DS256) from Ontario Canada wants to go much higher with his camera, yet maintain a stable platform:
There are times when I'd like to raise the camera above the scene for a better perspective. Examples are farm fields with colour and I want to get more of the field from a higher angle.

I've been looking online and the only products I've found are surveyors' tripods modified to accept a camera head. These can be 12 feet in height.

I realize that I'd need a wireless remote and setup could be a pain.

Looking for ideas of what others may have done. - Thanks

So--how do you elevate your camera while keeping it stable enough to avoid jittery shots? From some of our responses we've already seen suggestions regarding camera settings to go along with the higher reach. Check it out.

6- 30-thousand and counting
Moderating Team member Eric Bowles (ericbowles) alerts us to an impressive milestone:
Congratulations to Nikonians moderator Brian Wong (blw) for reaching 30,000 posts. That's an incredible milestone - especially with the information filled posts that Brian typically shares.
Thanks for all of your support of Nikonians and our community.

Here are just a few comments on Brian's contributions to the community.

• I've learned a lot from your posts, Brian. 30,000 posts is quite an achievement and even better a great contribution. Thank you!
• I always look for Brian's posts because I know that I will learn something from them. Thanks, Brian.
• And that's not counting the number of posts he may have lost at The Big Crash in the fall of 2005.
30,000 looks great. Thank you, Brian.

Brian's response was modest and pointed to a fellow member:
Glad to be a productive and valued member of the community. And I'll point out that Marty McDonough (MEMcD) is 10% past me at 33,000+ - and in several years less time!

Want to join the many members congratulating Brian? Join the discussion.

7- Camera and lens test tips
Silver member Robert Metheney (bobpilot) from Utah, USA is trying to figure out whether he may have spotted a focusing problem with a Nikon D500. He used a test method that drew a lot of responses.

Robert asked:
I want to be sure the camera and lens are in sync with focus so I set up the slant ruler test in my backyard. The camera is 60 from the target. The focus point is on the checkerboard adjacent to the number 26 on the ruler. The 600mm in on a tripod with a RRS Gimbal head and a RRS long lens support system.

The responses (and eventual answer to his problem) are a must read for those of us who want to set up a homemade test. Here are just a few examples:

• Did you use a remote release. If you do not have one for the rented body you should use "Mirror UP" and enable the 3 second delay.
• It never hurts to test/confirm at a similar distance to what you expect to use the lens at.
• Your target isn't really very good. It needs a bigger "checkerboard" plus there is low contrast lighting.
• I recommend that you slow the shutter speed to 1/500 or so and shoot at ISO-100 with the same f-stop.

Have you been using a favorite testing method? Share your results. Tell us why that method served your needs.

8- Older lens a best bet?
Bernhard Hein (localheroo) from Germany asked about a specific lens for a specific camera, and the resulting discussion covered the famous "1.5 crop factor" issue in great detail.

Bernhard asked:
As we plan a trip to Canada this year (landscape photography) I'm looking for a tele zoom lense for my D80 (Standard lense 18-70).
Is the AF-S 70-300mm (FX Format) a good choice? I saw the lense is already about ten years on the market. Is it still up to date? Thanks for any advice.

We assume the lens he's considering is the AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED (product Number 2161) which is a 450mm equivalent on DX-format cameras like Bernhard's Nikon D80.

It debuted over ten years ago and is still available through online sellers, with average prices hovering in the $500 USD (470 Euros) range.

You may not be considering this lens for yourself. But, has the "crop factor" issue confused you? If so, you need to read the responses in this discussion.

9- Neutral Density Blender?
Silver member David Powell (DaveP142) from England, The United Kingdom is wondering if any of our members have used a neutral density filter that goes to extremes:
I stumbled across a passing reference to these recently which caught my attention because I had previously noticed that Formatt Hitech currently offer them and I had wondered just what they were intended for.

If you haven't come across them, what they are is a graduated filter with the listed strength at one end fading to clear at the other end rather than the mid-point.
I've been wondering if one might be useful for handheld use on those days when the sky is very bright but uninteresting. (I seem to see a lot of bright overcast when I'm not at work). Obviously, there would be no horizon line to worry about
Has anyone tried one?

Do you have "before and after" shots to share to give David an idea on how these filters can be used. Share them here.

That's it for this week. Make sure you grab your favorite camera and capture some images to share with family and friends (especially us at Nikonians). -- Tom Boné (flashdeadline)

Posted by flashdeadline at 7:06 PM

Newsletter not scam

Our thanks to alert Silver member Tom Canning (tcann) from Florida, USA for spotting a potential email scam. The good news he spotted it. The better news-- it isn't a scam.

Tom posted a question about emails he's been getting from our Chief Editor, Tom Boné (flashdeadline). They looked a bit suspicious and he asked:

At the top of the email is the logo without the circled R, .org or the statement under 'nikonians'. This makes me suspicious. I just delete the emails. Is anybody else getting these? Are they legitimate?

Well, yes, they are legit. We answered his question:

We've migrated to a "quick and simple" style in the emails because the founders have found the large number of images and links in each email (and to a very large subscription base) was often being filtered out from the subscribers as potential junk mail. The new style leans towards shorter emails with no images and very few links. Instead of coming from an organization, it was decided to take the editor out from the shadows.

The very first link leads to more details plus images.....

You can read the full response here.

Thanks again Tom!

Posted by flashdeadline at 1:44 PM

April 4, 2017

Two new Nikon DSLR's

Here are some of the topics and news items we're tracking for our community this week.---

Those "new" cameras PLUS contest updates, big filters advice and much more.......

1- Two new Nikon DSLR's
Nikon's 100th Anniversary Celebration (coming in July) is already spawning new cameras. They are not new exactly "new" models, but they are unique.
The company has announced Anniversary editions of their flagship FX-Format Nikon D5 and the DX line Nikon D500. Each feature exclusive centennial designs and come with a special set of commemorative accessories.

Both cameras offer:
• Metallic gray finish that expresses the camera's innovation and reliability with massive splendor
• 100th anniversary logo on a side of the camera's pentaprism portion
• Commemorative leather strap embossed with 100th anniversary logo*
• Body cap imprinted with 100th anniversary logo
• Metal case with a plate engraved with 100th anniversary logo and serial number

The Nikon D5 version also adds:
• Bottom of the camera is engraved with "NIKON - CONTRIBUTING TO MANNED SPACE FLIGHT SINCE 1971"
• Anniversary booklet to convey Nikon's contribution to the space projects

The Nikon Anniversary Product Page has details and information on other specials, including some real sweet glass.

Will you be buying one of these cameras or any of the Anniversary goodies? Join the discussion.

2 - February Contest Congrats

Nikonians Contest Coordinator David Summers (dm1dave) has posted the results of the February contests. Congratulations to our winners! Check our winning images legend below and scroll down for the names of the winners. Each photo title serves as a link, which will lead you to explanations behind some of the photographs and an overall look at the competition.

1. -- Wildlife - "Wildlife youngsters" theme winner Francine Dollinger (Francine) from Colorado, USA with her image titled Love You.
2. -- Landscape - "Winter's Wonders" theme winner William McEwen (Wolfgang55) from Connecticut, USA with his image titled Diane's Pool.
3. -- Macro - "Spirals and Circles in the Natural World" theme winner Gerald Botkin (bayouboy66) from Louisiana, USA with his image titled Button Bush flower abstract.
4. -- Travel - "The Waterfront" theme winner Darryl Hodson (skibreeze7) from Oregon, USA with his image titled Raiatea, French Polynesia.
https://www.nikonians.org/forums/user_files/350814.jpg
5. -- Digital Artistry - "Soft" theme winner Godofredo Baylon (GBaylon) from Ontario, Canada with his image titled Our little Ball of Fur.
6. -- Assignment - "You Decide" theme winner Geoff Baylis (GBaylis) from England, The United Kingdom with his image titled Braving the Storm.

Interested in submitting your photos?
If you want to participate, please be sure to enter one of the monthly competitions listed in David Summers' contest guide.

The Online Photo Assignments category is coordinated by Rob Migliaccio (rmigliaccio) from Rhode Island, USA. You can check his recap of past assignments here.

The current (April) assignment is "Young."
Here is Rob's description:
Last month you all shot images of something "old". Well, it would follow then that this month, the assignment is to shoot something "young". Same types of issues, different subject.
There are no other restrictions except that your image(s) must be taken during the month of April 2017.

Speaking of contests:
The Best of Nikonians 2017 Segment 1 competition has already started and the theme is "Black and White." Here are the details posted by Contest Coordinator David Summers (dm1dave).

3- Sneak Preview from JRP
The Best of Nikonians 2017 contest is not to be confused with the recent Nikonians Photography Awards 2017 we partnered with LensCulture. That one is done and we have advance scoop.

Nikonians founder J. Ramón Palacios (jrp) advises:
We will publish an article about this special contest, including the images of another 25 photographers from around the world, selected by the jury as finalists.
In the mean time you can have a complete preview here.

The LensCulture contest page tells us:
Our jury of experts had a difficult time settling on the winners and finalists given the outstanding level of submitted work.

4- Need new gear? Limited budget? Think "trade-in"
Berger Bros Camera is offering great trade-ins or outright purchase for your used Nikon or any brand photo gear.

They also have spectacular deals on Nikon D810 and put your order in now for the new Nikon Full Frame Body to be announced shortly.
Great Personal service: Brad Berger 516-816-4921 or Brad@Berger-Bros.com. or BradBerger@mac.com.

5- Big lens = big filter headache
Gold member John A. Meiers (Dakotaboy) from North Dakota, USA is facing a serious sticker-shock solution for capturing broad dynamic range with wide angle lenses. There must be a cheaper way---right?

John asks:
Eventually would like to get a good quality wide angle full frame lens to fit my full frame Nikon DSLR. Some of the really good lenses come without filter rings. How does one take advantage of using graduated neutral density (GND) filters when there is no filter ring?

His first answer sounds great, except for the wallet busting aspects. Here's a small portion:
By the time you get the filter holder ($200), an adapter ring for other lenses (say, 77mm, although these days it might take both 77mm and 82mm), a set of grads, something like a Big Stopper and a CP, you'll be looking at approaching $1000 for the filter system.

Other members suggested the problem can be solved by using multiple exposures along the high dynamic range (HDR) principal married to solid post-production. Do you have less expensive solution? Let us know.

6-Will he dump her?
New member Heinz Augustin (heinzy) from British Columbia, Canada has had it. He's frustrated because she gave him 11 good months and now she's acting up. Does he dump her or seek a remedy for their relationship?
You guessed it, "she" is a camera.

This is a brief excerpt describing his Nikon D750 dilemma:
I was more than happy with her.

Then --bang-- out of the blue, she had a heart attack! Her shutter froze open for ~3-4 seconds at every release at any and all of many setting combinations. No 'ERR' messages.

"Did you try this and that; did you do the settings reset per menu; change lenses; batteries ; did you talk nicely to her and-- and -- and" ....yes I did it all...for hours. Yet...she stubbornly kept her shutter open. Checked the net: yes, a known NIKON D750 problem.

Nikon sent him some advice, and for a brief time he thought his problems were over. But, now he's wondering what "she" will do next.

Does he dump her? Does he keep her? Read the full story (including Nikon's advice) and feel free to counsel Heinz.

7- Illiterate reader stumps moderator
Moderating team member Gary Worrall (glxman) from South Australia not only excels in dispensing advice, he's also professional enough to seek it. See if you can help him with the "mystery of the nonreading reader."

Here's his story:
Got new XQD card and a new reader, will not read the old card shown,
My old Sony card reader reads the old card
I believe the new Sony card reader is "backwards compatible" but I'm not sure about that?
If it is, may be a better option for the future
.........Gary

Have you had a similar experience with "backwards compatible" readers? Share your solution.

8- Internet videos - How are you watching?
Gold member Don Burton (Bug) from Michigan, USA is trying to view streaming video, and his TV is "dumb."
He's been using a laptop to feed a nice large screen, but that option is not always available. What should he do?

Don tells us:
I'm using my laptop to view Lynda.com videos and my wife needs our laptop when she travels.

So, Is there another method for me to watch Internet videos on my dumb TV?

At Best Buy they suggested Apple TV or an Xbox. I would hope the suggestion is something that can use my wireless internet. Thanks, Don

Suggestions so far include Roku and Chromecast, but one particular (and relatively inexpensive) alternative is gaining Don's interest. Check it out, and if you have a suggestion make sure to let us know.

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