Category : The Learning Center

I spent most of the last month looking for fall color, without much success, now back home for two days before the next trip, where there will not be any fall leaves at all (Death Valley), I find a few images right close to home.  It has been a poor fall in Kentucky, for color, but even in the worst fall seasons a few interesting things appear, and as photographer you work with what you have!!!!  I wanted to start out this blog post with a few images to remind myself that this is what I love,  the photography part!!   I’m going to make today’s post a double, two subjects!  I will be traveling all day tomorrow headed to Las Vegas to meet Jack Graham for our workshop in Death Valley, so this will have to hold us until I shoot some stuff out there.  I hope to post again by Thursday, if we have internet  service at Furnace Creek Lodge??!!

 

 

This morning as a I drove around looking for images I was reminded again, just how much I love the process of photography, both visual, and technical!

 

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Last night at midnight Nikon introduced a new camera, the Df shown below;

 

 

If this had happened two years ago, I would  have one, maybe even two, on order right this minute, but I don’t, and even though I’m not buying one, yet, I applaud Nikon for doing this!!  As you guys that read my blog on a regular basis know I started using the Fuji X System some months back, and did so for a several reasons;

 

1.  I simply could no longer carry the large DSLRs and lenses comfortably from my Nikon system.  My bag had grown to over 25 pounds and one shoulder surgery was leading to a second!!  No way……  (I needed a lighter, smaller system!).  

 

2.  I was unwilling to give up image quality just because I needed a much lighter system. With the Fuji X System, (X-Pro 1, X-E1, and the X100s) I have exceptional  image quality and exceptional lenses,  and at half the weight.

 

3.  I, being a old codger, or is that an old coot, never sure which one applies??   Anyway, I really loved the throwback design of the Fuji cameras, and that brings us to the new Nikon Df!  Below is an illustration of both cameras from the top, it gives you an idea what I love so much about the Fuji cameras, and what I love about this new Nikon Df, it’s old school!  Real control knobs and rings for the most important camera functions!!!!  Even the old threaded release!

 

 

I think it is great that Nikon understand that the millions of baby boomers, that are retiring, like me, that got into photography decades ago when this was how cameras operated, are enjoying the chance to go back to the roots of our love, and enjoy the old school way of doing things!  The Nikon is smaller and lighter, I like that!  Unfortuantely, the lenses are still bigger, and heavier than what I currently use, but I do still have a bunch of Nikon glass, so who knows, one of these lovely Df bodies may make it into my collection, but I sure am enjoying the lessened burden and fine performance from the Fuji X System!  It may be a little late, but still good for you Nikon, this is a very interesting product, and looks very worthy to be considered by those that want to stay Nikon full frame.  With the D4 sensor, I imagine it will be an a fine imager as well!  I will try to get a hold of one and run a review.  It might even cost me $2,795.  (That’s what the body alone is running)  It’s fun when the major camera makers keep making products to make this more fun, thanks Nikon, I think you may have  hit a home run!

 

The most important thing is to stay out there looking for images, and having fun making them!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Photo Note:   Fuji X-Pro 1 and 55-300 Fujinon lens.   Images fo Nikon Df and Fuji X-Pro 1 courtesy of Nikon and Fuji.

 

 

FLASH, my latest Kelby Training Video went live today!

 

 

 

 

I got a really interesting email last night, and I am really glad I got it, because I want to answer it here for anyone else who may have the same question!  Here it is, word for word;

 

“Bill,

You don’t know me, but I met you at the Nikon booth a couple of years ago at Imaging USA.  I read your blog everyday and it is a great source of information and inspiration!  Thanks for that, and please don’t ever stop!  Now for my question, I know you have been a Nikon shooter for your entire life, what on earth did someone do to you at Nikon that ticked you off enough that you switched from Nikon to Fuji!!??  I saw your spectacular images at the Fuji booth at Photo Plus, and couldn’t figure it out, they were great by the way?”

 

Signed,

Puzzled

 

Wow, I’m glad you asked that question, because if you are thinking that, maybe others are, and I really want to explain this to everyone’s satisfaction!

 

Here goes; Absolutely no one at Nikon did anything to me that was anything but kind!  I left Nikon with the best wishes of everyone, and everyone there are still my friends.  So, I’m good with Nikon!

 

What happened is that 11 months ago my doctor suggested to me that my left shoulder was headed for the same rotator cuff damage that led to surgery on my right shoulder.  I was advised that if I did not want to have more surgery, (and I absolutely do not want to go through shoulder surgery again!), that I was going to have to reduce the weight of my shoulder bag from 25 + pounds to half that!  I tried every way I could to knock down the weight of my Nikon system, I carry two bodies, a 16-35, 24-120, 70-300 and a 105 micro, and all the associated accessories.  Everything I left out of the bag was later needed and I missed the shot!  I just could not get the weight of my Nikon bag down enough!

 

I started to search for a smaller camera system that would allow a full set of focal lengths and still weight half as much.  I tried several and all fell short of my goal.  One system had great sharpness, but the noise was just too high above 800, another had great noise but the lens selection was just way to limited.  I was starting to give up when a friend, Nick Coury, suggested I try his Fuji X-Pro 1. I shot it for an afternoon and it felt substantial but certainly was smaller and lighter than a DSLR! Truthfully I was uncertain how I felt about a mirror-less design and the OVF/EVF arrangement?  All those concerns fell way to the side when I downloaded the files onto my computer.  I sat at my desk dumbfounded, I simply could not believe, the lack of noise, the tack sharpness of the glass, the look of the colors, and the drop dead wonderful monochrome images straight out of the camera! Here was a camera that could easily compete with my Nikons that weighed half as much!  I bought a Fuji X-E1, (at that time the Fuji X-Pro 1 had not gotten the firmware that made it a completely great camera!)  It came with a so called “kit” lens, but this is not a “kit lens”, the 18-55 was the equal to any other mid range zoom I’v e ever used, from anyone!  I think the Nikon 24-70 f 2.8 is the greatest midrange zoom in the industry, and the only thing this little lens gave up to it is being f 4 at the long end!  Every lens I bought and I bought a bunch was simply world class!  This is great because I always stuck with Nikon because of the stellar glass!  Now I could save a lot of weight and still have killer glass.  It was an answer to prayer!

 

Now, I have not walked away from Nikon, I still own a bunch of Nikon gear, I just can’t carry it in the field, but I still shoot with it when I can work right in a studio setting or close to the vehicle.  As for the prints at the Fuji booth, they called and asked if they could buy some of the images I have shot with their gear and I said sure!  If Nikon had requested any of the tens of thousands of images I’ve made with Nikon cameras, I would have gladly taken their money too!

 

I write a blog and I offer my opinions on lots of brands of gear.  I want to make sure that my readers know that I’m not on the payroll for any manufacturer.  I have great friends at many fine photo industry companies, but I buy my gear just like you do.  I don’t work for Nikon anymore, but even when I did I was always honest in my advice to people regarding recommendations. As a tech rep my job was to help pros, and that means being honest.  I want the readers of this blog to feel confident that I’m not a paid spokesman for any company, if I praise Nikon or Fuji or Canon, it’s because I really believe I’m offering good advise.   I may not always be right, but I will be trying to be as honest as I can.

 

I love the quote Scott Kelby uses all the time, “You’re never wrong, when you do the right thing.”

 

So, I use Fuji because it easily meets my need for a high quality, well built system, with a great low noise sensor, and extremely sharp and well designed lenses….  Next question?

 

Below, one of those killer monochrome images, straight out of the X-Pro-1.

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

It’s actually really simple, there are a lot of choices, and you can’t buy it all, so with 43 years of photographic experience, I will share my thoughts!  Keep in mind that very few manufacturers give me products, when they have, I will be up front about it.  I will not review any product that I have not first purchased with my own hard earned money!  What I’m trying to say is you can rest assured that I’m being as honest and open as possible.  It is always your decision to buy and use what you believe is best for you!  I will welcome and post your comments!  As is always the goal here, to help, not harm !

 

This Review:  The Guru Gear Bataflae 18L  Back Pack

 

As you know if you read this blog, that I’m a proud member of the “Bag of the Month Club”, I never met a bag I didn’t like and very few I didn’t’ buy!!!  Having said that, I do have a few that have become my favorites and this Guru Gear 18L is certainly one of them.  It is extremely well made with sensible, but excellent materials.  Equally important it is very well designed and a pleasure to use.  It keeps my gear well protected and very accessible!

I’ve seen these bags for a while but was honestly held back by their higher price, until my good friend Jack Graham expressed his respect for the company!  Though they are often 25% to 35% higher in price than direct competitors! I think they are worth the premium, and I appreciate the solid advice from Jack!

 

A quick note on my philosophy of how to use various bags.  Everyone is different, some photographers are relatively young, athletic folks that a carry a great deal of weight if they need to!  Some of us simply cannot comfortably do so!  I see this backpack and similar products as “Transport” bags.  By that I mean these bags are what I use to get to the shooting location, at which point I use a different way to carry the gear I remove and use in-the-field!  If you were younger and more energetic, you might well be able to carry this bag everywhere,  If I am flying, I use one of the Think Tank’s excellent rolling airport cases, if working out of my own vehicle, I love this moderate size bags and this is a really good one.

 

What I Like:

 

Top quality construction. Made with the best materials, attractive, and highly functional.

 

Very well designed with a wealth of zippered compartments, and an ample, well laid out, interior layout!  Compartment sizes, are perfect for the gear I carry!  Lens and body pockets have ample too for the use of protective wraps.

 

Perfect size ( for me), holds everything I need with a couple of extra spaces that will be filled in the near future!!  ( but not too many, it’s expensive to fill those compartments!)

 

Carry on legal, though I wouldn’t personally carry it through airports on my back, those days are over!

 

Will hold an iPad or 13″ laptop or net book, which is very handy

 

Excellent backpack strap system, though once again, trips to the SUV will likely be my longest hikes with it on my back! For stronger shooters it’s an easy carry!

 

 

What I didn’t like:

 

Slightly pricey, but, for me, worth the extra money.

 

Zippers are of the water sealing variety and the pull is a little tougher, but the excellently designed zipper pulls make up for the slight extra effort.  This is one plus of Think Tank bags, super smooth zippers.

 

The stretchy water bottle pockets on both lower sides, while appreciated, seem like a cheap addition on such a wonderfully designed bag!  The tripod straps however are first class,  If you carry a small tripod that way!  I don’t.

 

 

The Bottom Line:  If your looking for a great bag for a smaller DX type DSLR, or even better, a mirror-less system, I can highly recommend this bag, it earns my TOP RATING an F 32,

 

My Rating Scale:

 

F 32.    State of the art product, exceptional value, you won’t be sorry!

 

F 16.    Excellent product,  capable of professional results, a good value, a good buy!

 

F  8.     Good product, good results, reasonable value.

 

F. 4.      Only fair product, better alternatives exist.  Think twice before this purchase!

 

F. 2.      Poor product, expect poor results, not a good value, avoid this product.

 

 

* Also check out The Think Tank Airport Essential Back Pack, it is very similar but with slightly less exterior pocket storage on the outside front, but a about a hundred dollars less!

Also extremely well made!  I have not rated it yet, but expect it to be Highly Rated, almost all Think Tank products are!

 

** A word about my carry systems once on site.   I like the diminutive Think Tank Retrospective 5.  Mine’s the Pinestone color! Love that color!! It’s perfect for a body and a few lenses and accessories.  When I need to carry more, I love Think Tanks belt system with the appropriate pouches for the gear I need to carry!

 

 

O. K.  Review number 1 is in the bag, sorry about that, hope it was helpful!

 

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Photo Note:  Images with Nikon D700 & 24-120 AF-S VR zoom

One of my time tested ground rules for doing successful work is “settle on the gear!”   Find the gear that works for you, test it thoroughly, make sure it is capable of making exemplary images, then just go out and use it!!!!!  For over two years that is exactly what I’ve been doing and I now know what stays, and what goes!  I am maintaining two gear systems, each for a very good and specific reason and use!

 

Above is my travel, walking, general all around system for 90% of my work.  I’ve found the Fuji X System to be almost faultless!  It continues to evolve and I will evolve my system as it grows, but as of today, it is my go to system for most of what I do.  Keep in mind I no longer do hardly any action or sports.  This system is perfect for the nature, outdoor, travel, Americana, and landscape work I do.  The above bag is the Think Tank Street Walker (the smallest one) filled with the bodies and lenses above it weighs 14 pounds.  It consists of;

 

Fuji X-E-1 body with 18-55 f 2.8-4 OIS lens  (27-83 f 2.8-4 equiv.)  Really Right Stuff “L” bracket and grip.

Fuji X100s camera with fixed 23 f2 lens  (35mm f 2 equiv.)   Really Right Stuff “L” bracket and grip.

14mm f 2.8 Wide Angle  (21mm f 2.8 equiv.)

35mm f 1.4 lens  (53mm f1.4 equiv.)

60mm Micro f 2.4  (90 mm f 2.4 equiv.)

55-200 f 3.5-4.8 OIS telephoto zoom  (83-300 equiv.)

8mm Rokinon Fisheye f 2.8

Electronic Cable release with built in introvelometer

Polarizers for all lenses, Nikon 4T & 5T, Canon 250D Diopter

10mm auto extension tube

Batteries and chargers

Induro CT-214 Tripod with RRS BH-40LR ball head

Kirk Mini tripod legs with RRS BH-30LR ball head

 

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System number two weighing in at 27 lbs for the back pack (The Lowepro 300 AW Trekker) and 10 lbs for the Lightware Long Lens bag holding my manual focus Nikkor 400mm f 3.5 lens and TC-14 B  Teleconverter.  This is my “trunk system” that comes out when I can shoot close to the vehicle, or when I need  extreme high resolution!  The Nikon D800 and D700 are two of the finest cameras I’ve  ever shot in the Nikon system, I also love the D4 but it is simply to heavy to carry around, in spite of it’s fantastic performance!  This system consists of:

 

Nikon D800 body with the 80-200 f 4 manual focus Nikkor   Really Right Stuff L” bracket 

Nikon D700 body  Really Right Stuff “L” bracket and grip.

24mm Nikkor f 2.8 AI-S manual focus lens

55mm Micro Nikkor f 2.8 AI-S manual focus lens

25-50 Nikkor AI-S zoom f4 wide angle zoom –  manual focus lens

105 Micro Nikon AI-S f 2.8  manual focus lens

75-150 Nikon Series E  f 3.5 zoom lens

200mm Micro Nikkor f4 AF lens

400mm Nikkor IF-ED f 3.5 telephoto lens

Electronic Wireless Cable release with built in introvelometer

Polarizers for all lenses

Kenko Auto extension tube

Batteries and chargers

Induro CT-314 Tripod with RRS BH-55LR ball head

Kirk Mini tripod legs with RRS BH-30LR bull head

 

I can anticipate some of the questions you may have,  so let me deal with some of them now!

 

1.  Why manual focus lenses?   Actually several reasons, I love the old school feel of using the throwback lenses.  Additionally they are exceptionally sharp and  I know if the focus is off it’s my fault!, since I don’t do action, auto focus is not a big advantage for me.  These lenses, not being auto focus, can be made much more rugged, with smooth racings in the focusing rings. For landscape work I really enjoy the focus markings that makes doing hyper focal distance much easier!  Finally These particular lenses are among the most legendary Nikon glass ever made and all still works wonderfully even with the super Hi Res D800!  All modern camera’s auto focus systems, from time to time, have glitches, every brand, so I find manual focusing more confidence inspiring.

 

2. Do you still own any Nikon auto focus glass?  Yes the 16-35 f4, the new 24-120 f4, the 85mm f 1.8, and the 70-300 AF-S VR f 3.5-5.6, plus my 200 Micro Nikkor is an AF lens as well.  I have these available when I have a need for modern auto focus glass.

 

3.  Do you feel you give up anything by using the Fuji X system as your principle system?  The D800 has more resolution and bigger files which can be both good, and bad, depending on the situation.  No very long glass is currently available for the Fuji X system, though a Nikon adapter lets me use some of my Nikon lenses on that system’s bodies. Fuji needs a super wide zoom, and it is coming in November or December, at least according to their lens road map, the 10-24 (15-36 equiv.) will round out the system very nicely.  I would love to see a 90mm or 105 micro with f 2 speed, so we will see what happens in the 2014!  For now I have that in the Nikon system.

 

4.  Do you feel bad about using Nikon less after all these years using nothing but Nikon?  Let me put it this way, I have spent well over $150,000. on Nikon gear over the last 43 years, I still own a lot of it, and still use it.  I worked for Nikon for almost eleven years and faithfully represented them helping thousands of photographers invest in, and use their equipment.   Many of my best friends in the industry are still working for Nikon.  I’m proud of my relationship with this fine company, but I’m 67 years old and can no longer lug around the equipment I could 20 years ago.  I love the craft, and don’t intend to stop pushing the shutter release until my dying breath!  The excellent Fuji System is allowing me to continue that joyous journey!  Who knows, maybe some day Nikon will build a lighter weight, fully pro grade system, and then I may have to rethink things!!  For now, I’m happy owning both, and using them when it is photographically appropriate!

 

Now, if you don’t mind, I’m head to Ohio with my dear buddy, and wonderful photographer friend, Jack Graham to try and get some folks excited about using their gear!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Photo Notes;  Top Image: Nikon D800 with 55 mm Micro Nikkor   F16 @ 10 seconds

Bottom Shot:  Fuji X100s f16 @ 4 seconds