James Markus wrote:
Harry, I was curious about the 600mm ais - any owl photos yet?
James i took all gear, lens, TC-16A, D850. SB800 / beamer and went to their location, saw no birds, Maybe the community college students during the week kept the birds in their pipe homes. Ill try again when its cooler and i feel better. I just finished five days of RX for covid. Iam 91, with CPOD, lifetime OX and use a walker when outside the house. I purchased a all terrain type and modified it a bit to hold, OX generator, tripod and some camera gear.
I'm curious about when each of you arrived at this thread and what about it tickled your fancy enough that you kept coming back. The thread has been here 14 years and there definitely have been people who dropped in and then moved on. A few stayed until their lives came to an end. That will perhaps be something a few of us old timers will do...
There also have been times when this thread was faster than a speeding bullet. Those were the days Nikki was being sent around the world. We had on average for a few months of 120 posts per day. Imagine trying to keep up with that. Now it is a much more leisurely place. As I've said often, the thread really belongs to those who show up, so obviously it will be whatever those folks want it to be. I'm glad I started it but I'm also relieved that I haven't needed to be responsible for things.
So what brought you and what is working for you now? I'm curious.
I just noticed that the last pics I posted here were resized and noticeably less sharp. After I link to my images on Flickr using the "Original Size" link is Flickr or Fred Miranda doing something of which I'm not aware to make the shots look fuzzier? If so what should I be doing? Some — even most —of the shots here are outstandingly sharp. When I look at what I posted, it's rather embarrassing.
Hey Ken, your pictures of the Columbia River Gorge brought back memories of driving from Portland (was there for a conference) along the river to Multnomah Falls. What a scenic drive!
CGrindahl wrote:
I'm curious about when each of you arrived at this thread and what about it tickled your fancy enough that you kept coming back. The thread has been here 14 years and there definitely have been people who dropped in and then moved on. A few stayed until their lives came to an end. That will perhaps be something a few of us old timers will do...
There also have been times when this thread was faster than a speeding bullet. Those were the days Nikki was being sent around the world. We had on average for a few months of 120 posts per day. Imagine trying to keep up with that. Now it is a much more leisurely place. As I've said often, the thread really belongs to those who show up, so obviously it will be whatever those folks want it to be. I'm glad I started it but I'm also relieved that I haven't needed to be responsible for things.
So what brought you and what is working for you now? I'm curious....Show more →
Curtis, I got into the thread trap when I bought the D800 in 2012 (?) and was looking for a portrait lens. The camera was a step up from my earlier DX D50/D300, and the lenses I had at that time just didn't provide the matching quality. Happened upon the 135 f2.8 E lens, and immediately loved its quality.
Its been a long spiral into this whirlpool of a thread since then And really not quite sure what is working for me now. I am still trying to find that elusive MF Nikkor travel zoom, so I got hold of the 24-50 AI-S just very recently, haven't stepped out with it yet.
CGrindahl wrote:
I'm curious about when each of you arrived at this thread and what about it tickled your fancy enough that you kept coming back. The thread has been here 14 years and there definitely have been people who dropped in and then moved on. A few stayed until their lives came to an end. That will perhaps be something a few of us old timers will do...
There also have been times when this thread was faster than a speeding bullet. Those were the days Nikki was being sent around the world. We had on average for a few months of 120 posts per day. Imagine trying to keep up with that. Now it is a much more leisurely place. As I've said often, the thread really belongs to those who show up, so obviously it will be whatever those folks want it to be. I'm glad I started it but I'm also relieved that I haven't needed to be responsible for things.
So what brought you and what is working for you now? I'm curious....Show more →
Curtis, I bought a couple of manual lenses seven years ago. While searching online for more lenses, I found the thread and followed it for months before posting my first picture. Since I started posting here, I have bought ten more manual lenses. People here are very friendly and welcome.
Even though I sold all of my Nikon gear a few years ago, this is an enjoyable and informative thread. I bought my first Nikon when the Ftn meter was new and the all new 24 2.8 with the floating element to reduce distortion. There were a lot of 28’s, 50 2.0’ s and 105 2.5’. I had lenses that were barely out of the tick mark batch and a bunch of chipped Ai-S glass to use with a couple of digital bodies. It’s great to see these lenses are being used and enjoyed. Keep posting.
saph wrote:
Curtis, I got into the thread trap when I bought the D800 in 2012 (?) and was looking for a portrait lens. The camera was a step up from my earlier DX D50/D300, and the lenses I had at that time just didn't provide the matching quality. Happened upon the 135 f2.8 E lens, and immediately loved its quality.
Its been a long spiral into this whirlpool of a thread since then And really not quite sure what is working for me now. I am still trying to find that elusive MF Nikkor travel zoom, so I got hold of the 24-50 AI-S just very recently, haven't stepped out with it yet. ...Show more →
You're one of the folks who took a deep dive... joining George in exploring the nether regions of this hobby. I know Harry and James have a very long history with these lenses and cameras but you've been a fervent explorer. I much appreciate that dimension of the thread... our curiosity can take us where it will...
The 25-50 f/4 AI-s was first mentioned by the fellow from Austria who seemed to own every lens and every camera produced by Nikon. He may have been the first to show up with the NOCT but in one of our conversations on the thread he mentioned the 25-50 f/4. I didn't for a moment believe I'd spring for an NOCT, especially after finding the 55 f/1.2, but I did buy the zoom. It is an outstanding lens for walking about. It is a very useful companion for the 50-135 f/3.5. I'll be very interested in your experience with the lens. Unfortunately, one price of thinning the herd at Flickr is my old photos are no longer easily available. I'd posted quite a few taken with the 25-50 f/4. It has wonderful color and contrast. Have fun. I trust you'll find the right relationship with this thread... even as I'm doing the same thing.
milt wrote:
Curtis, I bought a couple of manual lenses seven years ago. While searching online for more lenses, I found the thread and followed it for months before posting my first picture. Since I started posting here, I have bought ten more manual lenses. People here are very friendly and welcome.
In other words this thread did what it has always done well... encouraging people to buy more lenses. Hence the graphic I've often posted which says "Kit Building is FOREVER." . You're doing well Regina.
The other part is also true... people here are kind and generous. In the early years we worked hard to eliminate as much as possible, the kinds of conversations that could lead to disagreements. Of course in the beginning we requested that these Nikon lenses only be mounted on Nikon cameras. There was a thread in the general section about shooting with manual focus lenses and it attracted mostly Canon shooters. Their manual focus lenses won't mount on their EF camera mounts but Nikon lenses do. They wanted to join this conversation but I felt we deserved our own thread and protected it as best I could. There were a few testy moments. THEN Leighton started having grandchildren and he wanted to buy a Fuji camera and AF lenses. The topic was revisited and after some discussion we decided to allow photos from any camera so long as it was with a Nikon manual focus lens.
I'm glad this has proved to be a good place to share work and conversation about these amazing lenses.
AND, despite the fact the temperature has been above 100 degrees the last five days... I'd really like to believe it is autumn... since leaves are falling from trees.
saph wrote:
[...]
I am still trying to find that elusive MF Nikkor travel zoom, so I got hold of the 24-50 AI-S just very recently, haven't stepped out with it yet.
Hey Samy, after acquiring the 25-50/4 AI-s it became my primary travel lens along with the 75-15-/3.5 E. Maybe throw in TC-14A for a little more reach with the 75-150 and16/3.5 fisheye or ultra-wide 18/3.5 for dramatic wide shots. But if carrying only one lens, then it would definitely be the 25-50. Take it out and have some fun!
CGrindahl wrote:
I'm curious about when each of you arrived at this thread and what about it tickled your fancy enough that you kept coming back. The thread has been here 14 years and there definitely have been people who dropped in and then moved on. A few stayed until their lives came to an end. That will perhaps be something a few of us old timers will do...
[...]
So what brought you and what is working for you now? I'm curious.
Curtis already knows how I came to this thread, but for the others I’ll explain a bit.
I came to photography “through the back door.” I was working as a photographic chemist before I ever owned a camera, which is surprising since both my parents enjoyed photography. First camera was a Nikkormat with a 50/2 H. I still have that lens. Sadly, my cousin dropped the camera. The lens survived unscathed, a testament to their rugged construction; the camera top plate was badly dented and it stopped working shortly afterward. Over the years I acquired a few lenses.
Much later I worked in a high-end photo lab which did processing and printing for some well known professional photographers. I first worked in color printing and later set up a quality control program for the company. One side benefit was that I was around lots of professionals and had the opportunity to buy some of their lenses when they would get newer gear.
Over the years I went through several career changes and packed away all my photo equipment. I had photography burn out really bad. Fortunately I didn’t sell the lenses. I didn’t get interested in digital photography until my life partner was diagnosed with a cancer that we knew would be fatal. I knew that I had to find interests that would keep me engaged with life after his death, so I bought a D700. Looking around on the internet for any info about this new digital world, I stumbled onto this thread. Through the folks here I’ve been introduced to several lenses that I would never have considered before, such as the 16/3.5. I had always thought fisheyes were only for scientific photography and otherwise just made gimmicky looking images. So thanks for broadening my horizons.
I’m not getting out to enjoy this hobby as much recently, but whenever I do it really recharges me.
These are a couple of years old, taken with a Nikkormat FS and using the massive Nikkor 55 1.2 non-Ai. Kodak Tmax 400, HC-110. The the conversion was done using RAW Power by Gentlemen Coders.
Kingfishphoto wrote:
James i took all gear, lens, TC-16A, D850. SB800 / beamer and went to their location, saw no birds, Maybe the community college students during the week kept the birds in their pipe homes. Ill try again when its cooler and i feel better. I just finished five days of RX for covid. Iam 91, with CPOD, lifetime OX and use a walker when outside the house. I purchased a all terrain type and modified it a bit to hold, OX generator, tripod and some camera gear.
This is a village called Atrani. It is situated half a mile from Amalfi and connected (mostly) via a tunnel that is tricky to find. It is very quiet in comparison to Amalfi or Positano. Because of this the place has a nice laid back vibe.
Atrani was used as a backdrop in the Netflix series "Ripley" as well as Denzel Washington's "The Equalizer 3" film.
Mid-way between Atrani and Amalfi. Like many other tourists we carefully walked on the road for the return journey.
No pavements but the traffic was mostly at a standstill due to the sheer volume of cars.
when I bought the D800 in 2012 (?) and was looking for a portrait lens. The camera was a step up from my earlier DX D50/D300, and the lenses I had at that time just didn't provide the matching quality. Happened upon the 135 f2.8 E lens, and immediately loved its quality. 
And really not quite sure what is working for me now. I am still trying to find that elusive MF Nikkor travel zoom, so I got hold of the 24-50 AI-S just very recently, haven't stepped out with it yet.
. You're doing well Regina.
