Sutton Warrior

See November Comp., the only two I kept.

Had occasion to visit my formative growing up district on Thursday, an experiance of fond memories, snow balls, hay-ricks, orchards(scrumping ), catapolts and fishing rods. Stoped at the old gravel pits I used to fish as a lad, memories of fish that, in those days, to a 11 year old were record breakers. Giant prehistoric dragon flies, birds in the reed beds, and wind waving the frons. All changed now, 50 years on, most of the reeds have gone, mature trees in thier place, the harshness of a disused, bomb crater style gravel pit transformed into wooded lakes, different to my memories but still aluring, despite the changes, I could still recognised my favourite swims. It was a wet, overcast day, gray and not condusive to picture taking. I had finished my lunch box . . . I was here, still with a couple of hours on my hands. Despite the rain, the draw of 50 years was strong. I took about 20 pictures, nothing very exciting, however I learned. Modern 'slow glass' needs a little thought . . . ISO 400 at least! I was set to 200, not enough, even using a mono pod! Dont try to change lenses in the rain!!! I got away with it, under a tree, just! If you have an 18-200VR lense on, leave it, and leave the 'Tele shots' for another day! The camera needed a wipe down, had tissus, too soft, they break up quickly and leave bits. Fortunatly I had some unused kitchen roll in my lunch box, perfect to gently dab the camera and lens body dry, not for the glass of course! And dont go lake walking in good shoes, fortunatly, I was wearing fairly heavy duty work type shoes, but they still needed drying and a good clean and polish the next morning . . . at 6.30!!! Which is how I saw the moon . . . another thread . . . half an hour late for work Friday morning An enjoyable, nostalgic couple of hours, despite the light rain. I learned a few simple 'does and donts', and out of the 20 shots I have a couple for posterity. SW

Entry No: 3 ----------- High pressure . . . ------------------- Camera Model: NIKON D80 Date/Time: 2008:11:14 06:37:37 Resolution: 800 x 588 Focal Length: 135.0mm (35mm equivalent: 202... Exposure Time: 0.200 s (1/5) Aperture: f/4.5 ISO Equiv.: 400 Exposure Bias: -0.67 Whitebalance: Auto Metering Mode: matrix Exposure: Manual Exposure Mode: Manual

Entry No: 2 ----------- What a Gray day --------------------- Camera Model: NIKON D80 Date/Time: 2008:11:13 14:15:33 Resolution: 700 x 665 Focal Length: 28.0mm (35mm equivalent: 42mm... Exposure Time: 0.040 s (1/25) Aperture: f/4.0 ISO Equiv.: 200 Exposure Bias: -0.67 Whitebalance: Manual Metering Mode: matrix

Had a go at the moon this morning! First time I have tried anything like this, not right by a long way but any coments? Good time to be looking at the moon, big, full and high presure, so the skies are likly to be clear???? I use the Sigma 70-300 manual focus, tripod, should have used the remote release! but grabing this befor going to work, needed a torch, no time to sort a torch. So, all in all I will have another go? over the weekend with a bit more time avaliable Nikon D80 Date/Time: 2008:11:14 06:39:52 Resolution: 800 x 628 Focal Length: 70.0mm (35mm equivalent: 105m... Exposure Time: 0.200 s (1/5) Aperture: f/4.0 ISO Equiv.: 400 Exposure Bias: -0.67 Whitebalance: Auto Metering Mode: matrix Exposure: Manual Exposure Mode: Manual

Entry No: 1 ----------- November Reflecton -------------------------- Camera Model: NIKON D80 Date/Time: 2008:11:13 14:10:53 Resolution: 657 x 750 Focal Length: 62.0mm (35mm equivalent: 93mm... Exposure Time: 0.025 s (1/40) Aperture: f/5.0 ISO Equiv.: 200 Whitebalance: Manual Metering Mode: matrix

Good idea there Peter. However, I still see themeing as a focus for all partisipants in a comp, a leveler, thats just me of course, I find anything meanigless that has no goal, get very board almost instantly, like sharads!!! whats the point. Miserable old s.o.d me. Just my humble opinion SW

Further thought on 'Themeing'. If the list for the following year was posted in December, chosen by ???? and had 4 titles garanteed; April='Spring', July='Summer', October='Autum' and December='Winter'. No one could object to those, the options are endless, but the mind of those that like 'themes' are imediatly able to go to work? The remaining 8 subjects, take them or leave them if you dont like themes? There is least 4 no one can argue with . . . but then again SW

On a personal note, although I have been in the position of being judge, I cant say I enjoyed it? although I posted how the pictures moved me on a personal level, memories and the like, those memories I enjoyed. But that was not the reson I chose the six. My technical knowledge is not good enough to give any meaningfull explination of why I picked the final six, they just 'were' the 'ones' I liked. I am happy not to be no.1, cos I dont realy want to go through that again. However I do get a buzz from getting into the six, suprised to get two this month If ever I get the top spot again?? I will again take the rout of 'no technical coment'. I try to theme myself . . . this month it was more a photo oportunity; 'Saturday morning in Colchest'. I had about 50 to choose from, all a bit snap-shotie, but thats my style, with the od one taking a bit more time. Plus I was sheperding Hazel about pointing out possible options for her to point here newly aquired DSLR at and how it was done. Themeing, for me, focuses the mind, rather than aimlessly hosing about with a camera, yes, I know, I do hose about a bit, but with method in the madness. No goal, no achivement, nothing to measure the effort by, how else can you judge any improvement? . . . thats my theory. SW

Brings it back to an original idea posted a few weeks ago, 'themed' comp, at the moment its going 'no where', in my humble opinion, that is. Doubt there are enough members that vote, to make a meningfull points count? However, themed and one pic per person, that would focus the mind. Fun and learning, yep . . . dont see to much these days? Spreading wings to pastures new? SW

Reading another forum today, seeing the above and coments? I wonder? things do seem to draging a bit on the forum these days, or is it me???? Any how, the other forum have a weekly comp, themed, one entry per person. starts Friday night, pictures posted by Monday evening judging and voting by Thursday, not sure how the judging works. Then back to Friday, seems lively, a month is a real drag, IMHO, especialy without a theme. May be 14 days is better? Yeh, I know, talking out of my rear end again, opening the big mouth, foot in place!!! SW

Think you might have made a point there Westie. Top glass is always going to be at the top of the list, IMHO, but most cant afford it??? I cant anyway, might find a used bargin one day, (keep the D80 just in case) . However, how often do I print my pics out . . . almost never and if I do, I only have an A4 printer. Can the differance be seen at A4? As you say, on computer its near imposible I suspect? . . . . Then again, we used to have a member who specilised in wild birds, cant remember his name. He had fairly basic kit if I remember, but had a prime 4 or 500 lense, always shot in RAW, his work was outstanding viewed on the computer screen. A Mallard duck sticks in my mind! Anyone remember the guy? SW

Chippy, this pharagraph of yours summs it up admarably, its basics and the eye. All else, with respect to this thread, is guilding the lilly, some worth while, some expensive pointless adittions? Which is why; . . . it requires a "fairly large hike money wise to get to 'semi pro build standards' . . . ". Thats build quality, water proof, 10 frames per second etc., not fancy gismoss, without which, the camera would still operate perfectly well. SW

Thats exactly my thoughts. Fine tuning of basic skills . . . SW

Having just purchsed a Nikon D40X body only, 12 months 'Gt' for £150. Had a problem with it initialy which I reported was sorted very satifactorly. Now had time to read and fiddle, the mind is working overtime. The options on a digital camera are numerous, mind blowing on ocasions . . . However, the few pics one has taken says, this is every bit as good as my D80, 'toung in cheek' . . . better? Perhaps not, but its certainly as good . . . It takes pictures in RAW format, which makes it as good as any other camera with a 10mp sensor, the cost of some are considerably higher! One suspects a fairly large hike money wise to get to 'semi pro standard of build', but, essentialy they still shoot RAW which is the leveler? Question, go back a few years, to the days of film, the camera body was a means of firing a shutter and controling the few settings. It wa the glass that was the glas that was the quality factor of the final image, the film and the processing in the dark room, talking proper skills here. RAW and some decent glass, I would sugest all you need is a basic body like a D40X . . . and a decent eye. Are we the victims of advertising, our own photographic vanity and a desire to have the best, what is the best? and why? . . . ? . . . 4 wheels, an engine and a stearing wheel = a car. What = a camera??? SW

Fuss about nothing? . . . 'Kettle calling the pot black'? why bother to point the finger at the title and make a 'fuss' . . . Who cares what the plant is called, the picture has a tittle! Matter closed SW

Negative coments like this . . . befor the judge has made his mind up . . . could it influence his decission? I would sugest the free for all coments should be after the judging . . . and perhaps even after the voting?

'Figs'? I'm no Alan Titchmarsh . . . at lest you noticed it Who cares any way, I thought this was for the fun of it? Perhaps the title should have been 'Figs??' I keep my mouth shut, and still I seem to put my foot in it . . . Dont know why I bother! SW

Originaly bought as a knock about body for myself, but Hazel is raring to have a go, the 18-70 old style kit lens is a cracker to, ideal match. I now have an 18-200VR, an 18-70 old kit lens and a brand new Sigma 70-300 with focus motor, so its a full mix and match set for eithere D80 or the D40X. All I need to do now is save a few penies for the Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, not as fast as I would like at F4-5.6, but its all I want to afford, suspect a lot of shots will be tripod or monopod mounted anyway. Looking at the weather this weekend . . . O'well, I will have to watch the F1 motor racing then SW

Yep, the D40x was back in a week, by my reconing thats 'pritty dam good'. They said at London Camera Exchange how much Nikon have improved their after sales service, if this is a sample . . . I have had a very quick hose around with it this morning, weather was very pleasant, I am impressed. I can see why 'Ken Rockwell' gets excited over the D40. Its light, tight, feels like a real camera, which it is and takes a good out of the box picture to! These three pics are streight out of the box!!! I had no time to fiddle = 'Auto' point and shoot!!! Test shot in shop, impressed with the pop up flash, auto white ballance seemed to be OK. Shade and bright sunlight. sky as a back drop? OK now I have had some time to fiddle, (no more pics, the weather closed down!) and I was suposed to be working, no one moned that their Taxi was late! The D40X and D40, essentialy the same camera with the 'X' denoting 10million pixels. The menu is suprisingly intuitive to any one with more than one brain cell and perhaps has used a compact with some degree of manual control. Looking throught the menue this evening, the D40X can be used as a menu driven full control sophisticated P&S, or . . . as a DSLR with all creativness that comes with such a machine. There is an issue (in some quaters) that there is no dedicated 'White Ballance' button. Its avaliable in the menu and full fuctona, same with ISO. In both cases, I was happy to punch up the 'i' button; infomation screen. click on the WB required or ISO. Its that simple, the other fuctions are convetional DSLR knobs and buttons or on the menu, which ever you prefer. Its interestig that the D40X has pointed me in the right direction to solve a control problem that I have been fighting with on my D80, because of the simlpification of operation. I'm looking forward to the weekend, if the weather holds, do some more with the D40X, and prove the point on the problem withthe D80. So, initial reaction for the D40X A great service from Nikon and London Camera Exchange. SW

I have mentioned the Sigma 70-300APO in another thread. My old one was pre Digital, so lacked some auto function and internal lens coatings were not optimised. All the while I had a motorised body (Nikon D80) I was happy enough, but since buying a second body D40x at a bargin price . . . well you know how it is. A troll through the web came up with, new item, £135 + £7pp fully digitised and in lens focus motor. Put my money where my mouth is! Had a quick hose around my marina this morning. As much as anything to check that it is working corectly. These are a few of the test shots, sorry if they offend, with the, not so perfect composition and artisic touch, does the lens work was my criteria. I have done nothing to them, accept the zoom/croped macro shot. All are un sharpend with no re touching of any kind. Container Ship 70mm Container Ship 300mm Yacht masts 70mm Yacht Masts 300mm' had to be hand focused, there's a suprise, focus point window frame corner of observation office. Fishing boat, 122mm At 300mm macro setting, the daisy head is about the size of a 10p. Daisy zoomed and croped in 'PS Elements', but not sharpened. The other point that may be worth mentioning. I bought a Manfrotto monopod the other day, with single axsis head. All these pics, including the macro daisy, were taken using the monopod. First time I'v used one, once I worked out how best to hold camera and M/pod. From there on I'm impressed how well 'mechanical VR' works. So, for £135, the Sigma 70-135APO, digitised, medium telephoto lens with focus motor gets my SW

This is the one I intended to go in the October comp. Dont know why, I thought I copied the right one The brain does funny things recently. Any how, I have don almost nothing to it, the sky is strong, I used a 'sky filter' to get the effect. I am prefering it to the more usual UV filter, a tad warmer? Takes me back 50+ years, my Dad used to use a sky filter, I think in those days, there was no such thing as a UV filter? Colchester Town Hall . . . interesting Exif: Camera D80 Lense Nikon 18-200 VR Focal length 35mm (equivelent; 52mm) Shutter 1/400 Appature F10 ISO 200 Bias -0.3 'P' program Date & Time of day 18/10/2008 10.43am, the light was good all morning, a low autum sun, could be positioned for a shot. SW

Entry No: 4 ----------- Autum Colour ----------------- Camera Make: NIKON D80 Date/Time: 2008:10:18 11:29:48 Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250) ISO Equiv.: 200

The story continues; I decided that a macro lens was not an essential part of my kit. I have not done half a dozen macros in the past 24 months. However, I have always made good use of moderatly a long lense. I have a Sigma 70-300APO (450 on a digital body) that has been a good servant over the years, but it is pre 'Digital' and definatly pre 'D40' so wont auto focus on the 40 body. Sigma have recently re vamped the vernerable but highly regarded 'value for money' 70-300APO design with digital coatings, I believe it focuses closer? and there is a HSM type motor to acomodate the new Nikon motor less bodies. Plus it has a 1.2 'macro' capabuility. I dug out a test shot I did with my curent 70-300 using a D100 body: Nothing more than a test shot a couple of years ago. Looking at 'Sigma's lens web page', they have reproduced 'cherry picked selected coments' from the media. Allowing for bias, its still quite obvious, you get a lot of lens for your money, the 70-300APO punches well above its weight! So, with my good experiance of the old 70-300APO, the high praise meeted out by the media, an adequate macro facility for my needs and motorise focus that is said to be very fast! I trolled through the net, found 'Miroglobe' doing a deal on said lens for £135 . . . there is one on its way! All set up for some ineresting pictures next year. Which leaves me with just a wide angle jobie to complet my kit of modestlye priced lenses. Glass on the slow side by profesional and anorack standards, but I can live with that, the Sigma 10-20 HMS is around £320 . . . Thats going to have to wait, try to pick somthing up in the used adds? SW

Entry No. 3 ----------- Figs ----- Camera Make: NIKON D80 Date/Time: 2008:10:18 11:14:32 Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250) ISO Equiv.: 200