Sutton Warrior

OK, I obviously have a serious problem, some sort of complex? I can see how the post can be read both ways, that I took it the wrong way, I appologise, rocking the boat again? I also appreciate all positive coments, thank you all. Its bed time, I need to rest, I am obviously all screwed up at the moment. Seems I cant put a foot right at the moment a Wiggly? SW

As Judge of the January comp., I'm not sure whether to take offence at . . . " thanks must go to all voters . . . I'm not so sure about the judging part !! " My view of the pictures was my view, Mr Wiggly opinion has no bearing on how I saw the January comp., pictures, it also intimates the requirement of a technical explanation from future judges, watch out you technophobes! You wont get a look in, technical understanding only. I seem to recall a couple of incidents in the past where the 'competition judges integrity' has been question?? Then and now, I ask, why?? Nothing in the rules says 'technical only'. Not that it matters, I still see pictures as 'pictures', technically I have no wish to go down the 'anorak' rout, and I certainly dont pretend to know all the answers. I wont be judging again, cos I wont be entering the competition again, as my efforts do not seem to be appreciated. I put quite a few hours into judging that comp., my way, voting on 6 pictures??? Afraid offence has been taken. SW

All sounds a bit hit and miss to me? I have had further thoughts on my Fathers slides. I believe High Street film/photo shops and specialist studios transfer old slides to digital. If I were selective, choose say, 30/40 slides to represent his work, a few are memorable in my mind even now, 50 years on, he had an amazing eye. I feel that would be enough for me as a memory, the old slide projector, and a hand held battery viewer are still there as well, along with his old Kodak 35mm camera? I have been very reflective recently There is a 20 minute super 8 film in the loft of me and my late wife's '2nd Honeymoon' or perhaps more fundamentally the start of her convalescing. Arranged by my parents at the end of June 1969, Kathy spent 6 months in Hospital with TB (very serious in those days), we only got married in November 1968! Mum and Dad took us both to Brixham for two weeks, took over a large flat overlooking the harbour, waited hand and foot on us both . . . happy memories. I think they can transfer 'S8' film to DVD as well? Had any experience of these 'film to digital' transfers? SW

Glenk, I typed into my Google; 'Photography Forums', it came up with plenty, how active? we shall see. The first one on page one is 'Photo Answers', reviews (as a video presentation), suggestions as well as a forum SW

Looking good to a simple guy like me Ollie. SW

Ollie, grab yourself, if you haven't done so already a 'Sky Filter 1B' acts as a lens glass protector and kills the blue hue generated in sunlight. You can also use a 'UV' filter, similar affect. Drove me mad when I got the D80, I automatically screwed on the UV, however I find I prefer the 'Sky filter'. They are not expensive, worth experimenting? Then comes the 'circular Polarizer', thats a bit more pricey, but worth the money, can be used as a 'poor mans Neutral density' filter. INMHO, any further up the filter ladder is for the 'anorak enthusiast', great when you have mastered the basics and wish to progress. However a tripod fits in there some where, tripod, then extra filters I would suggest? I'm sure this will be disagreed with? By the way, I noticed 'Ken Rokwell' has something to say about filters, have a fish about on his web site. Each to his own, SW

Well, life has changed a little, frustration and the constant nibbling at finances ready for retirement. I've committed to a Virgin cable package; 'Broadband, TV and Telephone'. Been a bit of upheaval, but the out come is; better TV pictures, more channels (set top box) telephone has load of extras features for free, the broad band is instant and on the face of it faster? Frankly all was OK as it was, but I have saves £10 per month on contract, not a special offer promotion! Come December, I will save an extra £10 when I can switch to Virgin mobile. All this upheaval has unearthed a couple of issues that you may be able to help with. First, I have found a 'Nikon Multi function Battery Pack MB-D100 hand grip' I had it with my D100, which was traded, so if anyone can make use of it, it will cost you only postage, PM me. The other issue is my old Nikon CoolScan LS-30. Originally purchased around transition; film to digital. LS-30, no need for it these days? However, I have hundreds of my Father slides in my loft, I would love to pick some out and digitise them? The problem is, I have lost the instruction books and CD for the LS-30, The cable may or may not fit my computer and the XP operating system will certainly throw a wobbly? Any one got any ideas if its practical to pursue the LS-30, if so any ideas on sites? or cut my losses and look to a new modern film scanner when I finally decide to dig around in the loft and dust the cobwebs of Dads old Kodachrome's? Got a whole load of my own 35mm colour negatives from my magazine days as well, nice to put a few of them onto digital format. Any suggestions gratefully received Items as described above: SW

Hi Ollie. You will enjoy, dont forget to give 'Ken Rockwells' rantings? a good read, he really does rate the D40, nothing better until the D200 is his opinion it appears? Kens advise is good but he does not have it all right IMHO, confidence, be your own man http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommendations.htm A little concerned? focusing by hand, the D40 has 'auto focus' . . . or are you going all 'hair shirt, manual' SW

Brave, me??? nah, Kathy was the brave one . . . me, I still feel sorry for myself, foud a 'pricles gem' and lost it 'Gripes and grones', yep, they do pale into insignificance, there are families who have suffered equally, sadly, my experience is not unique. I am aware of one such family at this moment who are going through a very similar situation, he is a public figure locally, how he is coping, I just dont know, very 'Pagliacci', thats how I felt, a clown with out a smile, still do, often. We stayed in that cottage many times, it was so comfortable, built upside down, living accommodation upstairs, gave the view an extra dimension. I would rise very early, walk down the field, the mist rising off the stream, have a fly fish for an hour or two, wild trout are not generally large but fun to fish for. Kathy would get the girls up, start on breakfast and call from the window "15 minutes", just enough time to get back for break'y. Simple holidays, devised to suit all the family, after breakfast it was the family day out. Come home in the evening often to a truly home cooked farm meal with the Buese's, the farm owners. We became very friendly with them over the years. Life does go on, but, with mothers day just around the corner, such a strong memory is aroused, my Kathy, a brilliant mum, and wife . . . . Kathy's 'Clown' rises like a friendly ghost out of my old memories. Memories are running riot . . . ho-humm??? SW

Clovelly, the last place I took my dear late wife Kathy. I remember it well, use the 'Landrover' up and down, Kathy was so unwell, she had not told me how bad she felt, so that we could take the girls on an exciting day out, Vitoria was 9 and Rebbecca 14 . . . we came straight back up! Cut the Holiday short the next day, Doctors the day after and cancer was diagnosed soon after that on 1st May 1995, all over, October 29th 1995, 26 years married all but 4 days . . . they said it would not last, 1965, a holiday romance, just across the way in Exmouth. She was with two friends . . . I picked the jewel of the bunch not sure she got such a good deal Perhaps I will revisit it one day, when I go and visit the farm we stayed at on that holiday, went down there in December 1995 and scattered Kathy's ashes on the grass field, over which our holiday cottage looked. The Cottage was built on a hill a'top the field which sloped into a small valley, trout stream, hedges and trees at the bottom, she just loved that view, especially in the morning and evening light. Hay-Ho, Mothers day Sunday, my daughters dont visit me or call me at all now perhaps its me, I can be a miserable, cantankerous old git??? Clovelly, great place to visit, highly photogenic, I bet the early evening light is wonderful. Thanks for that, bitter, sweet memory Wiggly . . . life goes on, life goes on. SW

Playing around with a cheapo (£35) Optio Pentax 4mmp, the other day. Testing it out just how good could a 4mmp £35 camera be, before I binned it!!! I just had to tweak the 'levels' a tad on this one. Bin it? . . . Not on your life, its going on my boat as the 'knock-about, dirty hands' who cares 'trophy picture camera'. SW

Interesting that Den, I have just rechecked mine with your link, its spot on. The calibration menu on my screen has number reference (1-100). Resetting it to the old numbers, I was able to determine that it was the back light setting which was way out originally, giving a grey/brow, 'school boys neck' tinge instead of white. Great setting when word processing, but not for photos. SW

I used to have 'dull colour' problem with my D70s, cured to a degree by +0.3 exposure compensation, and re calibrating my computer screen! Discovered the screen problem when I up graded to a D80, every thing is bright and dandy, now I need sun glasses SW

Its been 'orible weather for picture taking in Eastanglia over the past few days. Sitting in the car, A640 in the glove pocket, chewing on a sarni. My thoughts . . . the haze realy was not inviting and nothing close by? Could one generate a picture, not in the 'stuning' class, but viable never the less. A plain field, really does not inspire, not even newly ploughed, but those trees and the hazy horizon, could I make something of them? Not competition quality perhaps and I have PS'ed the colour a little. This is a crop of the original: This is a crop with a sepia colour: Viable? SW

Ollie, I suppose it depends on the affect you want, however, I take lots of Sunrises (sunset? . . . same differance) catch them in the morning as I go on fishing trips. It generally means I use my A640 P&S. It seems to me, a good number of modern cameras, do a remarkably good job left to their own Auto program . . . O'dear, heresy!!! we should be setting the camera on manual? . . . . . . . . Why . . . 'seeing' the picture is the fundamental, the camera is a tool of capture, if it does it on auto thats fine by me. Mmm, very British to do things the hair shirt way That said camera effects with aperture/shutter juggling, fish eyes lenses, etc accepted, however I am thinking basics. Having said that and upset half the site members Why not try Auto + exposure compensation at + 0.3, 0.7 and + 1. Despite my auto philosophy, if I have time, I will try 'compensation bracketing' manually, then select the one I want at home on the computer. A fairly easy exercise if your camera has an 'exposure compensation button', a pain if its hidden in a menu! Sorry if I offend any members, with the 'auto' philosophy. For every day use, I select the 'P' program, giving me semi auto operation, with control over aperture and/or shutter? 'P' allows adjustment to exposure compensation as well. Ollie, the above is offered as a simple solution by a simple guy, that produces shots that give me and other pleasure; Canon PowerShot A640 File Size: 94 kb - 800x504 Taken On: 2007:12:23 09:38:38 Resolution: 800 x 504 Focal Length: 14.9mm (35mm equivalent: 336m... CCD Width: 1.60mm Exposure Time: 0.0020 s (1/500) Aperture: f/7.1 Whitebalance: Auto Metering Mode: matrix If you see what I mean SW PS, a second shot Ollie with my old Nikon D100, demonstrates the use of +0.7 exposure compensation (described in the Exif as 'exposure bias') and 'P' semi auto, allowing control over depth of field. File Size: 174 kb - 532x800 Taken On: 2006:04:16 17:53:31 Camera Model: NIKON D100 Date/Time: 2006:04:16 17:53:31 Resolution: 532 x 800 No Focal Length: 120.0mm (35mm equivalent: 180... Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60) Aperture: f/5.6 Exposure Bias: 0.67 Whitebalance: Auto Metering Mode: matrix Exposure: program (auto

Senior moment Den . . . sure you know what I mean . . . ? SW

B&W? like to see it but not my bag. Have a 72mm polarising filter, makes a good emergency ND filter, slow things down a bit? Got UV's and an 81A warm up. Its, how much difference is there in a Sky 1A and 1B thats bugging me? SW

Well what do you know, sitting feeling bored, searching the net looking for a camera for Hazel . . . just had a call from the garage, £200 to fit a new fuel pump to my car!!!**** It spurred my mind to a new level, cameras cost money! so do cars! my car earns me a living. So a rethink, I did not throw away my old 'PowerShot 50', despite the fact that I believed it had blown its CPU chip again. Dig in the draw, find it, in another draw for the charger and yet another draw for a CF card. Sure enough, take a pic, computer cant find it! Search though the menus, nothing wrong? Then an inspiration, look at the camera settings . . . it was set on RAW, I have no active RAW program on my computer at present. Change the setting on the camera to JAPG, bingo Hazel has an excellent camera with 'view finder'. I took some great pics with that little 'lovely'. No idea how the menu got changed? These things dont do themselves, so I must have done it and forgotten All ends happy ever after?? . . . well, thats until I go to the garage to morrow, pay for a service . . . and . . . a new fuel pump ***** SW

Ok, getting some where with the D80 bit by bit. Cars in for service and repair to day, so I've been analysing the latest pictures taken at the weekend. I feel like a bit of a new kid on the block, the D80 is very much the 'thorough-bed' needing care and understanding? The weather, with its bright harsh sun has not helped, the two together really set the cat among the pigeons! But we are getting there. It was a matter of trial and error, but reading Ken Rockwells interesting views on filters and how he used just the basics on a visit to 'Maui' :http://www.kenrockwell.com/2005maui/maui-photo-tips.htm dropped a few more pieces of the jigsaw into place. This lead me to a few other sites that want to sell filters. Now I'm a bit confused, it seems that a 'sky filter' is the answer to the blue haze experienced this weekend, but . . . Now, the question; I have been using a 1B sky (cos thats what I had in 72mm), but note there is a 1A version as well? cant find any explanation of the difference or advantage/disadvantage? UV filters, highly recommended by most, but I found the 1B sky better, to my eye, reading the whys and wherefores, one gets the impresion of a split camp? I remember 50 years back, my Father got most excited when he obtained a 'sky filter' for his camera. So are we in to the 'sky 1A or 1B' as a better standard option than the UV? SW

Yeh, I had considered the option. But remember the lack of hand-eye coordination? . . . no telling where she would be trying to screw a lens . . . It is on the list, but have you tried to put a D40 in a hand bag . . . with a 50-500 Sigma telephoto SW

Hi Snatcher, I'm biased to Nikon, however their kit lenses are top notch, always do well in reviews. You will have a job to beat this: http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product1.asp?Pr...;ProductID=1225 Only IMHO of course. SW

What a great weekend it has been, loads of sun, Hazel and I have spent the whole time together, walking the dog, me taking pics and frustrating myself, nothing was looking right!!! Then Sunday morning I discovered the computer screen was not set right! Stop blaming the camera!!! Midday, sun is the worst with harsh shadow, haze loads of UV. Sunday midday, with the D80 reset we ventured to the marina again, cant do anything about the harsh sun and high UV. But it was warm, almost balmy, Hazel wanted to have a go with her new P&S. . . Well as a camera it worked fine, however we had failed to appreciate the high level of hand-eye coordination required to operate the new (modern) viewfinder less P&S's. Something which, bless her, Hazel is lacking in! Mmm, so not to be defeated, I gave her my Canon A640 P&S with a view finder, tiny it might be but Hazel sorted it, pictures, er . . . snapshots were soon craming onto the memory card ! She then wanted to see how my D80 felt . . . OK, said I, hold it a bit like a hand gun and support the lens (barrel). Remember . . . 'low on hand-eye coordination'!!! She's not that bad, but arms on front of you, bright sun, so the screen is hard to see . . . seen some of the efforts I make with my 640 Whoever set this vewfinderless ball rolling needs shooting! "That was easy" says Hazel, "I want a camera with a view finder" says she! D80/Hazel A640/Hazel D80/Hazel I have done nothing to the above apart from a small amount of crop. The light is awful, but I think she has an eye, nothing to worry Sir David, but give it time . . . ? She dont want a D80 . . . thank god, a little heavy, I think the A640 is fiddly with such a small view finder and only 80% coverage, I have to make allowances all the time when I use it, its a great tool for the glove box though. My thoughts are going towards, a Panasonic FZ50, I think Nurse Judy uses one? Some darn good shots there. Everything in a single package, to satisfy the amateur who does not want to bother with the more anorakish side of our hobby New member in the wings me thinks? SW PS appreciate any comments on a suitable viewfinder equipped, light, no fuss camera for Hazel.

As part of my 'getting to grips with the new D80. Took this shot of a lad up the mast of his Dads yacht, Dad below on the winch, "thats high enough thanks Dad" says the boy. Printed it out this morning, another visit to the marina, walk the dog, fiddle with boat, coffee, and give the boy a copy of his adventure. The pointy of the post is, if like me you dont do much 'printing out', I was amazed at the quality of the 10x15cm that my new printer produced. It could have been a normal 35mm print, 250gsm gloss paper. ???? . . . . This will encourage me to print out and frame some of my favourites on A4 (10x8?) + border, should make a nice wall in my home that can change with time, the seasons and my mood? Always been an Epson man, however I do find problems with lining if the printer is not used every couple of days. So I decided that a new 'all in one' was a need anyway; photocopy, scanning, memory cards, plus all sorts of gizmos. I purchased an 'HP Photosmart C5180'. It knocks the Epson off its perch 'big time', user friendly, super easy ink change, small foot print on desk, and the biggest factor; print quality and no need to cycle the printer every other day! forget to do this on the Epson and it can be half a dozen, ink wasting 'clean head' cycles. Any one have any thoughts on hanging your own prints, preferences on printers???? SW

Hay, John S, I found that on Auto ISO, the camera program not only increased the ISO, it appeared to rack up 'vivid' and anything else it could find!!!! . . . what a mess! . . . what a f***ing mess!!! Sorry just been watching Billy Connolly . . . **** However, I did discover the quality of the 400 and 800 ISO, very usable, with an aperture of f5.3 at 200mm they needs to be good. Vivid, I'm your retiring British rose type . . . . . . understated??? ??As you say it a learning curve. Hay mate, ASA your showing your age, my Dad used to use 25ASA . . . then he got 50ASA . . . wow hold on to your seat!!! . . . OK I remember it to, seem to remember 'ASA' finally fading out in the early nineties? Noted the spec., on a Panosonic FZ50 bridge jobie had 80ISO, one hell of a camera that, let down slightly by its wide end at only 35mm, some of the pics Nurse Judie gets, wow! Still got the trusty A640 for the rough and tumble of 'the glove compartment'. I'm a cabie, so its gets thrown about, and the Nikon could be to much temptation to the wrong eyes! I take both on the boat, but salty and fish slime hands? usually means the A640 is first gab! The wash and wipe before I will go for the DSLR??? . . . its a pain, the potential picture has got to be something special. SW

As I say getting to grips with the D80 now. What with the product faults and all, its been a bit frustrating . . . 'onward and upward'. Reading Ken Rockwells recommendations, he has so much experience, I started with his recommendations, but have ended up using some of my own preferences on settings and compensations. For instance he advocates 'Auto ISO', great idea, but the state I got into was unbelievable, 'auto ISO' in my humble opinion, for me, is a 'no no'. He advocates a vivid colour approach, not for me, the pictures in this test are only just OK. I still think I need to try? the colour temp down another notch for my taste, personal preferences, which Ken advocates. It was a starting point, and 'KR's' explanation of each menu function is so understandable compared with the 'destruction book'. I say that Kens explanations are priceless, if a numpty like me can understand, its got to be good. I have a '?' over the D80, I think the D40X, note the 'X' model!!!, would do as good a job for the armature enthusiast at a considerable cost saving. I know its limited on lenses, but how many lenses does one need? Smaller, lighter, slightly detuned spec., however, the way I see it, I'd put the saving onto some extra glass, and throw my 'anorak' in the bin SW