So far, a snowstorm and then overcast, with some sun and a lot of fantastic scenery being revealed… it really feels like a vacation and I’m enjoying every day more up here. Heading back Saturday and may get to Sequoia before returning to work.
I’ll do some editing before then and may post something in the next few days. Go X-Men!
I plan to put my D5100 and microphones, Zoom H4N and other video gear to work and do some backpacking, exploring the possibilities with my GoPro wearable camera and not spending one minute thinking about medicine or radiology!
Continuing preparations to travel to China in mid-July, spending time in several cities including Nanjing and Shanghai and documenting the experience of a foreigner seeing the country for the first time. Probably I’ll stick to noodles for the whole trip…..
The preliminary experience with the upgrade to Adobe Premiere Elements 9 has been generally very good, I think this is a practical video editing software option for many people at an intermediate to moderately advanced level. And the price -less than $100 with rebate- is definitely right.
Take a few minutes sometime and watch some clips from the second episode of season 4, STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE entitled THE VISITOR. It is easily found on YouTube, for example.
I’ve enjoyed TREK since 1966, when the premiere of the first episode of the original series aired. Of all of the series, DS9 became my personal favorite. And of all of the episodes, this one stands out in my mind and my heart- and that’s saying a lot when you consider TNG ‘s classic ALL GOOD THINGS, and so many others. One of its priceless elements: the music of Dennis Mc Carthy.
If you’re able to see THE VISITOR, let me know what you think?
So far I have these observations:
– The Selective Color and Color Sketch Effects modes seem most appealing to me, partly because I enjoy their looks and partly because, like the others, they can be applied either in capture (with Live View) or retouching JPEG’s already shot.
-Having native ISO to 6400 available is expected to be very useful for my style of shooting- both stills and video.
-Ergonomics seem very good, although distinctly different in some ways from my pro bodies. I find that the button placements are generally very intuitive given the presense of the articulated screen and have been easy to use. I like the operation of the LV lever, it would be nice if there were a concentric video button as with the D7K – a minor issue.
– I intend to work with this camera mounted to a Matthews or Manfrotto SuperClamp, since it allows remote triggering.
-The layout of the left panel output access ports is appealing. Having a GPS-ready camera this size is exciting and like the new Nikon ME-1 microphone, the GP-1 doesn’t have an internal battery (to fail or corrode). I’m going to look for that microphone and evaluate its features as soon as available.
– Shutter lag is definitely much greater that with my pro bodies and AF is slower to much slower, very much depending on lens choice. I ‘ll experiment more with my upper-end FX lenses in coming weeks to evaluate how much of a factor that may be, should I try shooting limited sports with this camera.
– The AC adapter has eliminated battery life as a factor in the studio , or where a generator is available.
-I’m definitely going to scarf that 12-24mm f/4 DX from Grant to use in the backcountry…..
This body will give me the ability to capture full HD 1080p video, 16MP files, and perform HDR and selective color rendition of images in-camera with very light weight and a compact form for backpacking, climbing, travel and other active pursuits. The articulated 3″ screen is excellent and makes extreme-angle shooting such as video and macro much easier.
Don’t yet know how its battery will hold up to cold nor how the body will withstand heat and other weather.. we’ll see.
Shot my first portraits in a while with the 200-400mm f/4 VR at the Alley… we used ambient and flash for the session.
200-400 mm f/4 VR (at 400mm), Nikon D3s
Taxes are what we pay for civilization
-Oliver Wendell Holmes
William Hooks
maximpactphotography 