Nikon D600–Review Research

October 01, 2012 in Equipment, Nikon, Research

I’ve been researching for a main camera replacement for my Nikon D90. “Go full frame” is what I hear from a lot of photographers, but I don’t want to spend the $$$ to get there. A few days ago the Nikon D600 was announced. The description I’ve heard over and over again is that it is a mixture of the D800 and D7000. Oh yeah…and the lower price point makes it more appealing for a full frame camera.

d600

Below are the reviews I have read/watched.

Nikon D600 Hands-On Review – via DigitalRev

Nikon D600 Review: Full Frame for the Masses? – via Ming Thien

Nikon D600 Review: Images This Spectacular Have Never Been So Cheap – via Gizmodo

Nikon D600 Review – via TechRadar

Nikon D600 Preview – via Steve’s DigiCams

The Nikon D600 Official Announcement – via Pixiq

Grand Tetons and the D600 – via the DP Review Forum

The D600 in the Studio – via the DP Review Forum

Getting Close With the D600 – via the DP Review Forum

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Sima SL-20LX Ultra Bright LED

September 03, 2011 in Equipment, Reviews-Recommendations

I was listening to Episode 11 of the Digital Photography Café podcast and heard a recommendation for the Sima SL-20LX Ultra Bright LED light. Since they run about $30, I thought I would pick one up and try it out.

It is fairly bright and has a built-in diffuser to disperse the light nicely. I am still experimenting with it, but below are a couple of shots I have taken with it.

20110902-DSC_0028

The light stays cool to the touch even when on for several minutes, which is nice. The only thing I see so far to be aware of is that while charging the plug itself gets pretty hot.

I am looking forward to more experimenting with this very portable light. If all goes well, I will likely pick up another.

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.” -Ernst Haas

The Lensbaby Scout

August 05, 2011 in Equipment, Reviews-Recommendations

I received the Lensbaby Scout for my birthday this year. It is the first Lensbaby that does not bend and offers an affordable option for fisheye photography.

The Scout offers creative lensflare and unique focus, which makes it a fun tool for the photographer’s bag. It is available in mounts for the following cameras: Canon EF (EOS), Nikon F, Sony Alpha A / Minolta Maxxum, Pentax K / Samsung GX / Sigma SD, Olympus 4/3.

Below are some of the photos I’ve taken so far:

It takes getting used to, like others in the Lensbaby line, but it is a creative and fun lens.

Happy shooting!

“To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

Tokina 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens

April 23, 2011 in Equipment

A couple of weeks ago I purchased the Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X Macro lens. I've been wanting to do some Macro photography and the Tokina 100mm Macro is a great lens. This lens is not only a great macro lens, but a pretty good portrait lens as well. It has taken me a little while to get used to how the lens focuses and I still have a ways to go, but I have included a sampling of my shots below.

Additional Information

Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X PRO Group on Flickr
Tokina’s AT-X 100mm f/2.8 PRO D Macro Lens; Close-Ups For Digital
Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X PRO 1:1 Macro
Tokina AT X 100 AF PRO D - Macro lens 100mm f/2.8 - On Amazon

“If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.” - Linda McCartney

The Holga

January 13, 2011 in Equipment, Holga, Photos

I purchased a Holga camera recently because I have been loving what I see coming from this camera online.

A Holga is basically a medium format toy camera. To me, the biggest learning curve besides loading film (which I have not done in a long time) is the lack of instant gratification. My husband laughs at me when I immediately look at the back of the camera after taking a shot, forgetting I have to wait to see what it looks like. I chalk it up to teaching me not to “chimp”.

I used up the first roll of film and sent it off to Dwayne’s Photo and got it back a couple of days ago. I have to say I was not expecting anything usable, but I think I got a couple of okay shots out of the 12 exposures.

003 - Copy 002 - Copy

I am hoping for a few more with the next roll. :-)

Additional Information

“Photography is a small voice, at best, but sometimes one photograph, or a group of them, can lure our sense of awareness.” -W. Eugene Smith

Camera Case, Filters and Galveston

April 18, 2010 in Day-Trips, Equipment

This weekend I went to the Houston Camera Exchange in search of a good case to carry my newly purchased Nikon D90. The guy who helped me really recommended the Lowepro bag line. I picked out the medium size sling bag and it seems to carry my stuff quite well. I am still finding pockets to put stuff in.

I have read that it is good to have a UV filter and a polarizing filter, so I picked up both filters for both lenses. The UV filter stays on all the time to help protect the lens and the polarizing filter is great for cutting down glare for high sunlight situations.

Photo Tips for Polarizing Filters - A1 Photo Tips

Filters for Digital Cameras - Bob Atkins

How To Use A Polarizing Filter - Great Landscape Photography

Today, we took a drive down to Galveston. It was a nice day up until about 1:00 when the clouds rolled in and the rain started. Before that happened I was able to get a few good shots.

Flickr Galveston Set -- Flickr Photo Stream

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My First Photography Post

April 17, 2010 in Equipment, Houston Area Groups, Pets

I have loved taking pictures for a very long time, so I have decided to dedicate time in my life to learn as much about photography as I can.

I have purchased a Nikon D90 with a couple of lenses.

Lenses include -

18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens

As soon as the package arrived on Friday I had my husband open it and start charging the battery, so it would be ready for me to play with once I arrived home from work.

My dog Jake makes an excellent subject.

The Houston Camera Exchange provides classes that will teach you how to work different models of Nikon cameras. I have registered for the class on the Nikon D90 and can't wait to go.

Houston Camera Exchange - Nikon Classes

Also, thanks to a GREAT friend, I have registered for a really cool seminar that takes place at the University of Houston coming up in May.

The Versatile Travel Photographer Seminar

If that is not enough, I need an Art credit to continue my Computer Information Systems degree, so guess what I'm taking...yep. Photography for the Non-Photography Major.

So, I should have plenty of information, experiments and findings to keep this blog going for some time.

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