Great Product

Vortex Media Jacket Camera Medium

My timelapse setups usually run for 3-4 hours, and most of the time I'm not immediately near it. It's best to set it up and leave it alone. That way stray light from a flashlight, doesn't ruin the shot. I have been looking for a replacement for the cheap rain covers that I have used in the past. The Storm Jacket is compact when folded up and has a bungee closure at each end.

The Storm Jacket Pro Model, which I have, also has a large velcro opening on the bottom. That way you can use it with a tripod, or on a dolly. I've used it on the Dynamic Perception Stage Zero dolly and it worked great. The Storm Jacket is well made and will keep dew, rain, snow and dust off of the camera. The large openings make it easy to get at the camera, but close down tight to keep the weather out. I will be using this a lot, and highly recommend it.

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Works as should

Fotodiox Dedicated Bayonet 75 300mm 55 250mm

On my D90, I started with the kit's 18-105mm as my walk-around lens. As I felt the need for longer range, I graduated to 18-200, and then recently to 70-300 -- but I missed the wider end, forcing me to revert more often than I liked to the 18-200. This 28-300 nearly restores that end, so I expect to be keeping this lens on my camera almost all the time. It's only slightly heavier than the 70-300, so that doesn't bother me. And lens creep is minimal, unlike on the 18-200, which drove me crazy with the need for constant reframing.

Looking at photos taken at F8.0 on a test shoot around town, I found nothing at all to bother me in image quality except some chromatic aberration at 28mm -- which I corrected easily in software. (My 18-200 too had that at its widest.) The overall image quality seems in the ballpark of the 70-300, which already seemed better than the 18-200.

Until Nikon comes out with an 18-400, this is my lens! (And until then, I've ordered the sharp but inexpensive 18-55 DX to handle occasional wider shots.)

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USEFUL LENS

Nikon 28 300mm 3 5 5 6G Nikkor Digital

On my D90, I started with the kit's 18-105mm as my walk-around lens. As I felt the need for longer range, I graduated to 18-200, and then recently to 70-300 -- but I missed the wider end, forcing me to revert more often than I liked to the 18-200. This 28-300 nearly restores that end, so I expect to be keeping this lens on my camera almost all the time. It's only slightly heavier than the 70-300, so that doesn't bother me. And lens creep is minimal, unlike on the 18-200, which drove me crazy with the need for constant reframing.

Looking at photos taken at F8.0 on a test shoot around town, I found nothing at all to bother me in image quality except some chromatic aberration at 28mm -- which I corrected easily in software. (My 18-200 too had that at its widest.) The overall image quality seems in the ballpark of the 70-300, which already seemed better than the 18-200.

Until Nikon comes out with an 18-400, this is my lens! (And until then, I've ordered the sharp but inexpensive 18-55 DX to handle occasional wider shots.)

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The best small camera I have owned

Nikon COOLPIX Digital Optical Vari Angle

This little jewel is marketed for pros to use when they are not armed with bigger and better things, but it is also a great choice for a serious amateur's main camera. I've been shooting with this for three days, and I am just plain thrilled with it.

Check DPreview for all the technical stuff, but here is why this amateur likes it:

1. Bright, sharp lens
2. Sensor larger than normal for a compact
(These first two mean better image quality all around than your average compact or superzoom.
Low light perfomance is amazing for me, and high contrast scenes are handled better. Fewer
blown highlights and less washed out color, and much less noise. Excellent sharpness.)

3. 7X zoom without noticeable loss of picture quality
4. Articulating LCD with beautiful screen
5. Loaded with controls at your fingertips and within quick-to-access menus. More options than you
would expect to see on a compact camera.

I am actually using these controls since they are not buried in confusing menus, and I can tell that having this is going to make me a better photographer. It also takes great pictures on full automatic, but it is not completely idiot-proof, so I wouldn't recommend it to someone who doesn't intend to learn how to use it.

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Did not want a plain black camera back

Laurel Professional Compartment Guaranteed Batteries

Listen. At ten bucks, this is a steal. What amazon sells for in INSANE, though. If you are looking around, you are either an old die-hard like me, or a newbie. Die-hards are just checking around, so let me speak to the newbies. just for Zircher's art, this is worth it. It isn't only flash, though. It's a subtle masterpiece. I even sent him a message regarding one panel reflection of Jack that stunned. He responded appreciatively. The story looks through the lens of occult, translates forward to depth of character, and all behind the veil of some terrifyingly subtle raucous humor, or perhaps it's more like brash subtle comedy. It puts it in a blender of tearing flesh, mysterious past, and violence. You've got Shadowman. Trust me. It's your new favorite.

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Get this book

Shadowman Volume Birth Rites TP

Listen. At ten bucks, this is a steal. What amazon sells for in INSANE, though. If you are looking around, you are either an old die-hard like me, or a newbie. Die-hards are just checking around, so let me speak to the newbies. just for Zircher's art, this is worth it. It isn't only flash, though. It's a subtle masterpiece. I even sent him a message regarding one panel reflection of Jack that stunned. He responded appreciatively. The story looks through the lens of occult, translates forward to depth of character, and all behind the veil of some terrifyingly subtle raucous humor, or perhaps it's more like brash subtle comedy. It puts it in a blender of tearing flesh, mysterious past, and violence. You've got Shadowman. Trust me. It's your new favorite.

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The Best Sony/Zeiss Lens Thus Far

Sony 70mm Sonnar Digital Cameras

One of the best things buying a Sony DSLRs is the option of buying a Carl Zeiss lens. I bought a Sony A77 recently (luckily I found one) and without any hesitation bought a 24-70mm f/2.8 ZA lens. I use this to shoot models. This is a true classic Zeiss lens in that it's very well-made (in today's standards) and it is heavy at 1kg or about 2.2 lbs. (the way it's supposed to be for a fast f/2.8 lens). This feels like a Zeiss 120mm Makro-Planar lens for Hasselblad which I like a lot. This lens takes breathtaking pictures; no, "photographs." Personally, I think the price is a bargain at $1,650. The zoom ring is nice and tight, the SSM is incredible with almost no detectable sound when it focuses, you have to use it to appreciate it. On my A77, this lens focuses automatically without you having to depress the shutter half way down. Just point the camera at various objects and distances and you'll put this lens to work and will see how amazingly sweet this lens is. If you don't have the budget, wait until you have the budget. This lens is worth the extra money. Take care of it and you can use it for life. It's almost sacred to me. I love it.

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