Post your latest purchases.

Danno_RIP

Danno_RIP

Senior Member
Skwaz said:
View attachment 372010Don’t know why upside down
last year was a nightmare , Sue , the love of my life found out in February 2021 that she had Pancreatic cancer , also
got in her lung and liver , I cared for her at home until , almost seven months later I held her hand as she took her last breaths , totally heartbreaking . So last year and up to now not taken a picture , photography is the only real interest I have , so traded all my gear to get this with the new ftz to use with tamron 70-200 ,
Hoping this will drag me out of my slump and give me some inspiration
i don’t contribute much here but check every day and always vote on the weekly comps
let’s see how things go
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That is a difficult place to be. I lost my wife suddenly to a brain bleed last July. I pray this will help you out. I bought a bunch of glass. I still miss my wife, but my faith helps more than the glass. We were best friends for 31 years.
 
bluzman

bluzman

Senior Member
Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC

I shoot a lot of different things but wildlife is a frequent subject. In early 2019, I got my first DSLR, a D5600 with an AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens. Before leaving on a three month road trip to the left coast, I added an AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR lens to my gear. During the trip, I realized I wanted a better wildlife set up so I added a D7500 and a full frame Sigma 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens. It turned out to be a great combination. More recently, I acquired a barely used D500 with the intention of it being the primary body for the Sigma. However, the reality is that a combination of the weight of the rig, my age (soon to be 80) and possibly just plain sloth, has me less inclined to use this set up.

This got me looking for a lighter weight alternative that would still give the reach but not break the bank. After reading a lot reviews and watching more than a few YouTube analyses of the pros and cons, I decided to give the Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC a try. It arrived yesterday and I haven't had an opportunity to give it a workout yet. It will, no doubt be interesting to see what it can (or can't) do.
 
bluzman

bluzman

Senior Member
Re: Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC

bluzman said:
I shoot a lot of different things but wildlife is a frequent subject. In early 2019, I got my first DSLR, a D5600 with an AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens. Before leaving on a three month road trip to the left coast, I added an AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR lens to my gear. During the trip, I realized I wanted a better wildlife set up so I added a D7500 and a full frame Sigma 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens. It turned out to be a great combination. More recently, I acquired a barely used D500 with the intention of it being the primary body for the Sigma. However, the reality is that a combination of the weight of the rig, my age (soon to be 80) and possibly just plain sloth, has me less inclined to use this set up.

This got me looking for a lighter weight alternative that would still give the reach but not break the bank. After reading a lot reviews and watching more than a few YouTube analyses of the pros and cons, I decided to give the Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC a try. It arrived yesterday and I haven't had an opportunity to give it a workout yet. It will, no doubt be interesting to see what it can (or can't) do.
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Got a chance to get out with the new lens today. I've posted several images in threads on Birds and Ducks. Long story short, I'm very happy with the results so far. Here's a sample.

750_0049_LSh_cr_sm.jpg
 
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desmobob

Senior Member
I had recently purchased a Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack. I was pretty impressed with it, so I then ordered one of PD's Capture Clip set-ups for it. I loved that so much I bought a second Capture Clip to put on another hiking daypack I have.

Last year, I had purchased a Benro carbon fiber tripod to use in place of my old aluminum Bogen legs. It is a very nice tripod that I love, but still weighs something like eight pounds with my Arca Swiss B1 on top. Seeing how impressed I've been with the Peak Design stuff, I watched about a hundred on-line review videos and then splurged on their carbon fiber travel tripod. It's ingenious (and less than three pounds, complete)!

Some reading at the Center Column tripod testing web pages helped convince me it was worth the price, and I now believe it is.

Peak Design's whole "ecosystem" of clever gadgets is appealing to me, and so far, everything really does work together beautifully. The quality is impressive, as well. I added their Sling and Leash straps to complete my system (and empty my bank account!). I am a gadget nut, but this PD stuff is expensive enough that I didn't just go crazy buying it without a LOT of research and thought.

So far, I'm very pleased.
 
Dangerspouse

Dangerspouse

Senior Member
desmobob said:
I had recently purchased a Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack. I was pretty impressed with it, so I then ordered one of PD's Capture Clip set-ups for it. I loved that so much I bought a second Capture Clip to put on another hiking daypack I have....So far, I'm very pleased.
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My wife gave me the Capture Lens set for Christmas, and like you I'm very pleased with it. I attach it to my belt, and it's been a godsend. Rather than a shoulder bag or backpack, I can just reach down and do a 1-hand lens swap. Much more freeing. I do have to make sure to line the white dots up when attaching a lens, as noted in a number of reviews, because the lens will slide on and *seem* to attach if you don't...and then fall off. But as long as I take that precaution, the system has so far been very secure. If I ever get the money, I'll probably get a few more of their offerings - like that 3 pound tripod!
 
Danno_RIP

Danno_RIP

Senior Member
Well a dear friend needed a tripod so we made a good trade of stuff and he was happy with it as was I, but it left me in need of a tripod. I had been looking at this Leofoto Summit LM-324CL after seeing a review by Hudson Henry the [FONT=&quot]Weight of the tripod is 4lbs The Max height: 79.5". The Max Load: 55lb.

I also purchased an Archatech GXP ball head. The ball head weight is 1 pound and it can handle 50 lbs. It is an extra tall tripod that all together only weights 5 lbs.

[/FONT]
8026C4D1-0E0E-4042-9161-52A1FC1461C2.jpg
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Danno said:
Well a dear friend needed a tripod so we made a good trade of stuff and he was happy with it as was I, but it left me in need of a tripod. I had been looking at this Leofoto Summit LM-324CL after seeing a review by Hudson Henry the Weight of the tripod is 4lbs The Max height: 79.5". The Max Load: 55lb.

I also purchased an Archatech GXP ball head. The ball head weight is 1 pound and it can handle 50 lbs. It is an extra tall tripod that all together only weights 5 lbs.

View attachment 373504
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Looks like a nice tripod, Dan. Does it have a center column? I know I prefer tall tripods myself although all mine have that center column. But it's better not to extend that unless really necessary anyway. Hope to hear your thoughts on the tripod after you've had a chance to use it.
 
Danno_RIP

Danno_RIP

Senior Member
hark said:
Looks like a nice tripod, Dan. Does it have a center column? I know I prefer tall tripods myself although all mine have that center column. But it's better not to extend that unless really necessary anyway. Hope to hear your thoughts on the tripod after you've had a chance to use it.
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Thanks Cindy…it does not have a center column. I was specifically trying to find one that didn’t have a center column. The tripod it replaces is a great tripod but it had a center column. The center column didn’t hurt, but I was surprised at how much easier it is to level my camera on this new one and I was just looking to eliminate the center column because it I supposed to be more stable.

I doubt that I will set it full height often, but it will sure help on moon shots with the 200-500 f5.6 Nikon lens when the moon is high in the sky. I should not have to bend in the way my body dislikes to view the moon thru the view finder. I am anxious to get a chance to try it at the next substantial moon.
 
M

Mark F

Senior Member
NZ6_1255.jpg

After what seemed to be a century of waiting, ordered last November, I finally received the Nikkor 24-120 f4 S lens for my Z6.
It's so sharp that I realized I need new glasses. The photos are sharper than the viewfinder, has to be my right eye. :)
My signature will be my kit for a very long time.
 
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Danno_RIP

Danno_RIP

Senior Member
Mark F said:
View attachment 373567

After what seemed to be a century of waiting, ordered last November, I finally received the Nikkor 24-120 f4 S lens for my Z6.
It's so sharp that I realized I need new glasses. The photos are sharper than the viewfinder, has to be my right eye. :)
My signature will be my kit for a very long time.
Click to expand...

That appears to be an amazing lens. I I have the 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 so I can’t justify it, but it is tempting. It is a great all around lens like all the Z S glass.
 
M

Mark F

Senior Member
I had bought the z6 kit with the 24-70 f4 lens. After that, the 14-30 f4. Those lenses are amazing. I had hopes that Nikon would throw in a 70-300 f4 or even a 70-200 f4 lens into their line up. I didn't keep any F mount lenses since I didn't get the adaptor...
But when I heard about the 24-120 coming, I decided to sell off the 24-70 to help pay for it. I didn't know it would take 5 months to get to me. :) But now that I have it, it was worth the wait.
The only other lens I might be interested in is the 100-400 f4.5-5.6 although that one is just a tad bit much $$ for me to handle at the moment and the Z MC 105 2.8 macro. Most of my shots are well within the 16-120 range and I really don't need f2.8 since most of my stuff are landscapes from f8 to f13.
 
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hark

hark

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B

Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
I recently purchase a Giottos Professional Carbon MT 8180 tripod at a garage sale (great price). It apparently has everything except a manual. Does any one have access to a manual for this beast, or can you point me the right direction to get a manual?
 
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Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
Thank you Chuck. I was afraid Giottos is gone with the wind. I still got a good deal, I just have to learn to use it. Here is the response I got from Giottos:

Sorry giottos stopped tripod production and we no longer have any of the manuals or parts for them. The manual consisted of a one page pamphlet identifying the parts of the tripod.

Besides the manual, I also found out that 3 of the knobs on the tripod have damaged or missing rubber bands, so I am out of luck with those as well unless someone has a idea for a work around. Still, for what I paid for it, I think I got a great deal.
 
hark

hark

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All I can suggest is to search for videos. Maybe they made similar models which would show how the parts work. Congrats - it sounds like a really nice tripod.
 
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