MAMA's Techno-Geek Thread

[GadgetGav]

I think we all noticed... 'fess up. What were you driving??

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by blalor (original)

ZipLens.com or RentGlass.com. I used RentGlass a few months ago to try out Canon's 100mm macro lens and was pretty happy with both the lens and the service. RentGlass won't let you reserve something that's not in stock, so there's something of a mad dash when you get the email stating that it's back in stock. If you don't make it in time, you're SOL.

Thanks for the tip..! I hadn't heard of them. I know Calumet does lens rental and I rented a 14mm L prime from them once, but their daily rate is higher than the zip lens weekly rates!

Of course, friend rates are still free AFAIK, so I might still try that first!

[NoNo]

Quote: Originally Posted by m2smith (original)

NoNo
Pam has the same D70 and Sigma 18-200 and the polarizer is her stock filter for all her outdoor stuff, but it does vignette at the max zoom bigtime. And stacking filtersw really kills the long end of the zoom...

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

Quote: Originally Posted by blalor (original)

My polarizer's my most-frequently used filter. I love what it does to skies. I'm not convinced the UV does much, aside from protecting the glass from an impact, though.

I figured that was the case, anyway, and if I had to choose between the two, I'd go with the polarizer.

Quote: Originally Posted by MGB Boy (original)

I don't really buy that "it cuts haze" crap either, but like you say, it's a must-have just for the "protecting the front element of your lens" aspect. I'd rather replace a cracked/scratched filter than a cracked/scratched lens. Especially if you tend to be a "I'll use whatever I have handy to clean my glass" sort of person. I'd rather scratch the UV filter while using the edge of my shirt to wipe rain/mud/whatever off the lens than to scratch the lens itself!

I tend to be a bit hard on my camera, tossing it about, occasionally dropping it or having it fly off the seat when I slam on the brakes or jerk the wheel. I don't always have my camera bag on me, either, so I have been known to use my shirt to wipe the lens in a pinch. Any little bit of protection is probably a good idea.

[NoNo]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

Of course, friend rates are still free AFAIK, so I might still try that first!

Sounds like a plan! How about letting me borrow that nifty camcorder of yours so I can tape the demolition of the New Haven Coloseum this weekend?

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo (original)

I tend to be a bit hard on my camera, tossing it about, occasionally dropping it or having it fly off the seat when I slam on the brakes or jerk the wheel. I don't always have my camera bag on me, either, so I have been known to use my shirt to wipe the lens in a pinch.

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo (original)

Sounds like a plan! How about letting me borrow that nifty camcorder of yours so I can tape the demolition of the New Haven Coloseum this weekend?

Er, read that back to yourself and think about your question again..!

[NoNo]

I'll take real good care of your stuff! Come on, I'd have a great shot from the cafeteria at my office!

[blalor]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

I think we all noticed... 'fess up. What were you driving??

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo (original)

I tend to be a bit hard on my camera, tossing it about, occasionally dropping it or having it fly off the seat when I slam on the brakes or jerk the wheel.

Remind me never to ride with you without bringing my helmet. Perhaps it's a good thing you didn't go karting with us...

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

Er, read that back to yourself and think about your question again..!

Bwahahahaha!

[NoNo]

Well I take pictures during our rallies, so it gets tossed on the seat in between shots. But you know how those go, and occassionally it goes for a ride. I've only dropped it maybe 2 or 3 times, once in Italy when I tripped avoiding the gypsy. I prefer to know the extremes that my equipment can handle. For instance, the D70 can work for an hour in -40 temps before starting to malfunction

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo (original)

I'll take real good care of your stuff! Come on, I'd have a great shot from the cafeteria at my office!

Oh, it'll be indoors... Well, OK. If you can get up here to borrow it and if you can make enough calzones or fresh pasta in time..!

[jwardell]

Absolutely get "UV" filters for each of your lenses, simply to protect the glass from dust, cleaning and smashing.

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo (original)

Sounds like a plan! How about letting me borrow that nifty camcorder of yours so I can tape the demolition of the New Haven Coloseum this weekend?

I get mad every time I see a new step in its demise.
What a great resource to just be tossed away.
CT really SUCKS at making any effort in keeping (Let alone adding) its sports resources.
Does wringling bros. even bother with new haven any more?

[NoNo]

Hmmmm........I'd have to drive up tomorrow night, and I have bowling tonight. I do have a little bit of whole-wheat spaghetti I made on Saturday. Want that?

[NoNo]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

Absolutely get "UV" filters for each of your lenses, simply to protect the glass from dust, cleaning and smashing.




I get mad every time I see a new step in its demise.
What a great resource to just be tossed away.
CT really SUCKS at making any effort in keeping (Let alone adding) its sports resources.
Does wringling bros. even bother with new haven any more?

You're clearly insane. That place is a dump, always has been, always will be. Don't get me wrong, I had some good times there, but it's completely outdated. I'm not sure what their plans are with that space, but it's on the edge of an area that's being revitalized (and across the street from a great sushi place), so maybe they can do something nice with that spot.

[jwardell]

In childhood memories, nothing is a dump.

Fios TV Update: After the 4th time catching my cable box dead and saying hunt, I called them again and they said "that's strange" they will give me a replacement.
About to give up with my HD-switching issue, I turned to good ol' avsforums and found plenty of useful info:
- the hunt issue is common in a bout 10% of receivers, they are lemons and must all be replaced.
- to view diagnostics, hit selected immediately after turning the unit OFF. You can view all sorts of good info, including signal strength and noise ratios on each of the tuners, and what frequency the currently tuned channel is transmitted on. Nothing to change though.
- And finally what I really needed: At any time while the box is off, hit menu and a user settings display will come up, where you can set the output format of the component outputs (480i, 720p, 1080i) as well as what to do with a SD channel (it was set to 480i, OFF is what I needed to set it to to make it stay in 1080i mode and upconvert and windowbox the SD signal).
You can also set 4:3 letterbox mode and close captioning settings there.
Of course there is no documentation of this screen, and tech support, though I am impressed how nice they are, also have no clue of it. These things should be in the regular GUI settings like they are on all the sat receivers.
Apparently these screens are on all motorola HD stb's.

So when my replacement box is delivered today hopefully, I will be much happier.

Also, in an attempt to back up unwatched DVR recordings last night before they took the box, I tried to use irecord to save the signal via firewire (I was able to do this with my 6200 from RCN). I got unplayable but large data files almost every time, except one local channel, so I assume all the other signals are encrypted or something.

[NoNo]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

In childhood memories, nothing is a dump.

Very true. I still think fondly of Lake George.

[Aqualung]

Ian, congrats, didn't realize you had already made the purchase....that VR is really nice and you're right that lens is highly sought after.

As others have said, I'd just get a UV for the lens protection, more than anything. See here for a good example of why it's a good investment.

Today's lenses, especially a telephoto zoom, already have extensive UV coatings on the various elements so some just get a plain glass filter. B+W are good, I tend to get my things at B+H Photo or Adorama; they're both highly regarded NYC mail order stores...many of them that advertise great prices, will then charge you extra for things that come standard in the box. Avoid the 'made for digital' ones, that's bunk, IMHO.

I would definitely suggest a polarizer, I used one at the last MoT and it really helps to cut the glare on shiny surfaces like clean MINIs on a sunny day.

I'd highly recommend purchasing Thom Hogan's ebook on the D200; I just received his D80 book and have found it's a great complement to the manual (712pp).

Also, another great resource is Nikonians, it's a site very much like the MINI community, 70k+ Nikon users around the world that are very helpful.

I'd also suggest the SB800 flash (there's a SB600 that's a little cheaper) as it will really extend your reach for interior shots of MINI gatherings. Not to start a different Canon vs. Nikon war, but Nikon really does an awesome job w/ flash.

You may already know/do this, but going to a DSLR has increased my post-processing workload, to fine-tune the pics as they come out...but that's entirely up to you, you can tinker w/ some of the in-camera settings to sharpen the pic inside, etc....I tend to leave them 'plain' and adjust in post-processing with PhotoShop and NeatImage (noise reduction).

Chris