I have a confession to make, although it's likely to be unsurprising. I'm a Nikon gal, through and through.
Now mind you, I've nothing against Canon. I've more Canon friends than Nikon (sadly). Friends who want to get into dslrs are told by me to handle each line of cameras and decide which ones they like best.
For point & shoot, I prefer Canon myself so I'm obviously open to what works best -- for me.
But I admit one huge and horrible bias. I can never ever recommend any of the 'other' alternative lines of dslr cameras. Olympus, Sony, Minolta, etc. WHY choose an inferior line? One without as much support, as many choices, without relibility that they'll be around in 20 years (Sony? please).
And I can only look down on people who recommend these lines. ANYone who recommends a specific line over another gets disgraced in my eyes. I know it's a horrible bias combined with a quirky streak of fairness, but there it is.
Showing posts with label nikon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nikon. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
your first love
I got my baby back!
D50 all nice and cleaned and inspected and such. Thank you Nikon!
General check and clean (hahaha, after all those horse shows AND Moab? they must have been cursing me...)
Replaced rubber grip (oh neat!)
Cleaned CCD (eh?)
Repaired SC 201117 (eh eh?)
Checked exposure, shutter release, TTL Flash and aperture lever.
And can I say it's SO SMALLLLL????!?!? danged. still, love this baby and no reason to ever give it up.
D50 all nice and cleaned and inspected and such. Thank you Nikon!
General check and clean (hahaha, after all those horse shows AND Moab? they must have been cursing me...)
Replaced rubber grip (oh neat!)
Cleaned CCD (eh?)
Repaired SC 201117 (eh eh?)
Checked exposure, shutter release, TTL Flash and aperture lever.
And can I say it's SO SMALLLLL????!?!? danged. still, love this baby and no reason to ever give it up.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Learning to let go ...
I've done a lot of photographic study in the last week, as well as evaluating aspects of my business model. Who knew Customer Service would be one point I skipped over? Alas, I'm starting implementation now, but will write out some SOPs later on as I get a better idea on the level of customer interactions I have.
I've also looked into professional design of my website. I adore SmugMug, however their defaults are quite cluttered and hacks and such aside (I've used many of them so far), have left me with a workable website, but nothing outstanding.
And you know? I'd LIKE to have outstanding. While also an investment into the company, any investment requires due process and serious thought. My current perspective is that I need to see an increase in sales before jumping through such a step -- except I DO know what events I have booked for the year and an improved website will only make sales that much easier and come in faster. Chicken. Egg.
The use of the camera in the last week has meant that some lenses have been thoroughly explored and every aspect utilized … while others have languished untouched. Those untouched ones (including my once beloved 10-20mm Sigma) are due next for a review. There is redundancy in the FX and DX lenses, but it will be very rare to have the same focal length on the same bodies at the same time. I'm more likely to have a telephoto on one and a fixed prime on another, or at least two different fixed primes (20mm & 85mm).
* The 80-400mm is a nice lens but the speed is a factor, although the slowness is focusing is the biggest problem. This is not a speed event (horse show) lens, nor is it a wildlife lens. In fact, I'm not sure what good it is for at all, but that one I will be selling no doubt. I got nearly nothing decent out of it this last week and I suspect that wasn't just my ineptitude. The 70-200mm with a 1.4 TC on a bright sunny day will give me *almost* 300mm (280mm) and I'm more than find enough cropping horse jumping photos for the shots that I need.
* The extra 77mm Circular Polarizer can go as well. I can hand off the extra step-up ring as well if I'm feeling nice.
* I need to play with the 10-20mm again. When I used this, I used it at either 10 or 20. Rarely in between. I've the 20mm fixed now, which is awesome. And the 8mm fisheye. A non-distorted 10-14mm range is needed for architectural photos, but I'm NOT currently into those. And the 10-20mm is DX, which is really the death bell on it. I dislike selling knowing I only have to turn around and place that $$ elsewhere, but I'll see how that goes. *checks* and nothing seems to actually exist that isn't DX. I think my 20mm is going to be strong enough, especially on a FX body.
* So having said that, I have the older Sigma macro telephoto that should go. I haven't touched it in over year.
* I can't see using more than 2 bodies at any event, so the need for the 18-200 DX Nikkor is rather useless even as useful as it was as a lens. Fine. GONE.
* then there's the two DX lenses I picked up in error. I'll review details on both and see if either serves a purpose that my current bunch does not.
**** I *would* love the 14-24mm FX Nikkor but I still think the 20mm takes the market on that one. I did well with that choice. I can *want* it, but I don't *need* it. With the 24-70mm, I don't need anything else in there.
I've also looked into professional design of my website. I adore SmugMug, however their defaults are quite cluttered and hacks and such aside (I've used many of them so far), have left me with a workable website, but nothing outstanding.
And you know? I'd LIKE to have outstanding. While also an investment into the company, any investment requires due process and serious thought. My current perspective is that I need to see an increase in sales before jumping through such a step -- except I DO know what events I have booked for the year and an improved website will only make sales that much easier and come in faster. Chicken. Egg.
The use of the camera in the last week has meant that some lenses have been thoroughly explored and every aspect utilized … while others have languished untouched. Those untouched ones (including my once beloved 10-20mm Sigma) are due next for a review. There is redundancy in the FX and DX lenses, but it will be very rare to have the same focal length on the same bodies at the same time. I'm more likely to have a telephoto on one and a fixed prime on another, or at least two different fixed primes (20mm & 85mm).
* The 80-400mm is a nice lens but the speed is a factor, although the slowness is focusing is the biggest problem. This is not a speed event (horse show) lens, nor is it a wildlife lens. In fact, I'm not sure what good it is for at all, but that one I will be selling no doubt. I got nearly nothing decent out of it this last week and I suspect that wasn't just my ineptitude. The 70-200mm with a 1.4 TC on a bright sunny day will give me *almost* 300mm (280mm) and I'm more than find enough cropping horse jumping photos for the shots that I need.
* The extra 77mm Circular Polarizer can go as well. I can hand off the extra step-up ring as well if I'm feeling nice.
* I need to play with the 10-20mm again. When I used this, I used it at either 10 or 20. Rarely in between. I've the 20mm fixed now, which is awesome. And the 8mm fisheye. A non-distorted 10-14mm range is needed for architectural photos, but I'm NOT currently into those. And the 10-20mm is DX, which is really the death bell on it. I dislike selling knowing I only have to turn around and place that $$ elsewhere, but I'll see how that goes. *checks* and nothing seems to actually exist that isn't DX. I think my 20mm is going to be strong enough, especially on a FX body.
* So having said that, I have the older Sigma macro telephoto that should go. I haven't touched it in over year.
* I can't see using more than 2 bodies at any event, so the need for the 18-200 DX Nikkor is rather useless even as useful as it was as a lens. Fine. GONE.
* then there's the two DX lenses I picked up in error. I'll review details on both and see if either serves a purpose that my current bunch does not.
**** I *would* love the 14-24mm FX Nikkor but I still think the 20mm takes the market on that one. I did well with that choice. I can *want* it, but I don't *need* it. With the 24-70mm, I don't need anything else in there.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
a solid start
It's been almost a year since I first launched http://www.catspawphotos.com
While I've taken the business side of things seriously, I'm taking more and more of the photography and networking even more seriously. To say the least, this is not the way I ever expected to use my business degree, but it's one I rather like. I can be a business and photography geek all at once. Perfect!
Digital Grin (aka DGrin) is where I primarily hang out online, although I have also recently been directed to a network of equine photographers. Alas, they don't consider you a pro unless you've been in business for two years. Give me time then, I'll definitely be there.
Am I going anywhere? not any time soon! While this might have been a weekend hobby to start, it has grown into much much more. I am a horseback rider as well as photographer, so juggling both aspects of my equine life is always a challenge.
Depending on bookings and shows, every weekend in June, July, August and September is booked. That business is growing is an understatement! My next challenge will be tackling my own organization.... and doing taxes.
With the new D3 and the used D300 I picked up, plus getting into lighting (SB-900, monopod for light on a stick, etc), I find myself almost literally juggling lenses and accessories. Setting this up in a way that lets me grab the items I need for a shoot (and not forget anything behind) will definitely be the next priority.
Next week: San Diego with friends
Weekend after: USDF instructors lunging clinic at Promontory Equestrian Center, Park City UT
While I've taken the business side of things seriously, I'm taking more and more of the photography and networking even more seriously. To say the least, this is not the way I ever expected to use my business degree, but it's one I rather like. I can be a business and photography geek all at once. Perfect!
Digital Grin (aka DGrin) is where I primarily hang out online, although I have also recently been directed to a network of equine photographers. Alas, they don't consider you a pro unless you've been in business for two years. Give me time then, I'll definitely be there.
Am I going anywhere? not any time soon! While this might have been a weekend hobby to start, it has grown into much much more. I am a horseback rider as well as photographer, so juggling both aspects of my equine life is always a challenge.
Depending on bookings and shows, every weekend in June, July, August and September is booked. That business is growing is an understatement! My next challenge will be tackling my own organization.... and doing taxes.
With the new D3 and the used D300 I picked up, plus getting into lighting (SB-900, monopod for light on a stick, etc), I find myself almost literally juggling lenses and accessories. Setting this up in a way that lets me grab the items I need for a shoot (and not forget anything behind) will definitely be the next priority.
Next week: San Diego with friends
Weekend after: USDF instructors lunging clinic at Promontory Equestrian Center, Park City UT
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