Scout Images

Over the last few months I have acquired a few new lenses and have not really bothered to purchase filters for them. With the need for some more UV filters and a sudden realisation that my preferred Marumi DHG filters are no longer as easy to obtain due changes in my photographic suppliers I was forced to consider some alternatives.

In filters I look for a few things:

• high quality glass
• thin rings to reduce vignetting
• high quality multi-coating

This lead me to the B+W MRC XS-Pro UV Haze, Nikon NC, Rodenstock HR Digital and Tiffen Digital HT. All of these filters are premium grade filters with immense reputations, and most importantly, reasonably available to me. However the solid brass rings and Schott glass combined with the UNCONDITIONAL LIFETIME WARRANTY (offered by the Australian Importer/Distributor) of the B+W filter won me over. I ordered a selection of sizes, 77mm (possibly to replace the Marumi on my 24-70, but mostly as a spare), 67mm (so I could move my Hoya HMC to my new 16-85VR and have the B+W on my Tamron 17-50), 62mm (for my 60mm Micro) and a 52mm (for my 35mm f/1.8 DX).

The 77mm and 67mm filters arrived today and it is amazing how these filters simply ooze quality. Having used and handled Marumi DHG, Marumi Super DHG filters, Hoya Pro 1D, Hoya HMC and Nikon NC filters I didnt expect a German made filter to be much different. Somehow they have a very different feel, must be that brass! I cant wait until my other filters arrive.

However it is still to be seen how they wear, but then again so many other people cant be wrong, right?

Firstly I am happy to announce that my migration from 3ix to BlueHost is now complete. There are still a few issues with the integration of WordPress and Gallery2 using WPG2 (similar to those dating back from my last incident) with a lot of my photo thumbnail links not working properly. So far I have fixed everything dating back from Jan 1st 2010 and will continue to fix these links as time passes. I ask for patience, and apologise for any inconvenience cause.

On a more positive note I have joined the Phottix Affiliate program, so if your after some Phottix gear please click through on the links that will appear on this site.

I recently picked up a Samsung E1107 Crest Solar mobile phone from catchoftheday.com.au as a back up mobile phone that would have good battery life. The E1107 is a very basic phone that essentially makes and accepts calls and allows you to send and receive text messages. However, its claim to fame is the solar panel on the back…the whole reason why I purchased this phone.

It is claimed that the solar panels will allow the phone to gain 5-10min talk time for one hour in direct sunlight….or approx 5hrs of standby time. Other features include:

• FM Radio
• LED Torch
• Fake Call

I had a time working out how to activate the Fake Call feature, with nothing on the web actually helping, I eventually found a solution that works for this phone by trying suggestions for other Samsung phones.

I decided to post how to ACTIVATE FAKE CALL on the Samsung E1107 Crest Solar to help others that are wondering how to do so.

1. Unlock phone
2. Press and hold the “down” arrow on the D-pad
3. Wait until you get “Fake Call Activated”

Hope this helps someone.

I have been waiting for this addition to my kit bag for a few weeks now. Since buying my Nikon D60 (refer here) I have been looking for a good lens to match this camera. My predicament was my lack of small, lightweight AF-S lenses (my only AF-S or equivalent lenses being the 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, 180mm f/3.5 macro) leading me on a search for an inexpensive AF-S lens to match the D60, the AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G being high up on my list of lenses in consideration. A good friend of mine headed over the USA just after Christmas, and sure enough, just before new years I was awoken by a phone call from New York, asking for lens advice. In the end my friend offered to pick up a copy of this lens for me (they were at B H Photo Video and were going to buy a copy for themselves), so I became the owner of Nikon’s standard DX prime. My friend arrived back in Sydney yesterday and we caught up today.

The AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

We had lunch then had a stroll through the city centre.

Finally, after another whole day of working on this website, full functionality has been restored. However all the image links posted prior to this evening are now broken. I dont have the energy to fix all of these (they have to be done manually) but I may slowly go back and fix them in the long run.

You will also notice that I no longer run Contact Form 7, this plugin appears to conflict with WPG2 so I have opted to leave it out.

I have just rolled back my my WordPress database with the hope of clearing things up, but it has failed to do so.  Until I can get this issue fixed I ask you all to be patient.

Please use THIS LINK TO VISIT THE GALLERY.

Hopefully I will be able to get WPG2 working soon.

In the meantime there are a lot of images in earlier posts that are not showing, I will get onto fixing these eventually.

Cheers

Cameron

I just wanted to apologise to anyone who has been trying to access this website during the last two days as it has been inaccessible.

I was exploring some SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) options that were available for me when two things happened. Firstly, my web host’s servers developed a problem (I think it may have been a malicious attack) which disabled all access to my website including the back end via cPanel. After a brief live chat with the technician’s this problem was reported and fixed.

However, unknown to myself, some of my wordpress files had been corrupted causing this site to have all sorts of server problems and being completely unable to load, with the standalone gallery still being accessible. This required a reinstall of wordpress (which I have just completed).

Once again, apologies for the interruption in service, and hopefully this will not happen again.

Apologies for the late post, but my excuse is that I have already wished you all a happy new year. Anyhow, I just wanted to start off the new year with a few reminders, and a few resolutions. Firstly, I made the effort to change the copyright tags on all my camera to reflect the new year, and am about to do the same with all the tags used for my photos.

I have to remind myself that I have to get out there and take more photos, and pick my gear wisely, especially last nights somewhat poor choice, more on that later (possibly when I get those pictures up).

I resolve to accomplish a few things in the coming year:

• finish my personal project “Boxes That Capture Light”
• continue to hone my people photography
• get this business back on track
• return to using slow lenses (I get the feeling that using purely fast glass has made me lazy over the last year to 18 months)
• get the gear purchasing under control (NO MORE GEAR….maybe only a basic zoom or prime lens to match the D60)
• give that waterproof casing a workout

Does anyone have anything else that they think I should add to this list?

Firstly I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas (or commercial holiday if your inclined to call it that) and a Happy New Year. I hope that you all will have a happy, safe and relaxing break over this holiday period. I have had a very busy lead up into this period and will be looking to take a bit of break over this period, however I will be try continue to post updates.

I have done an evaluation of my current arsenal (details here, locations here) and am quite pleased to say that despite the foul luck I have had over this year, I have come into the holiday period with few casualties. My Nikon D300 comes into this period in pretty good shape having just been serviced, finally fixing the LCD issue, save for a damaged viewfinder eyecup (DK-23) for which a replacement has been ordered.  The only other stand out’s are my Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 (Model A16N) which is still awaiting the arrival of a replacement DA09 lenshood, to replace my damaged one.

Sadly, my Fujifilm FinePix F100fd is now listed as MIA (Missing In Action) as its current location is uncertain. I really hope it is found soon, otherwise I will be tracking down another to replace it (to keep my WP-FXF100 useful otherwise I will be out for another underwater casing).

Finally, I thought I would share some of my recent images taken whilst out with some friends at night.

I just thought I would share some new products that Phottix has been cooking up.

First of all is the Duo TTL cord, a flash sync cable that allows you to mount a flash on both ends of the cable…which comes in 1m, 1.5m and 2m (all coiled) these cables are all universal, being compatible with Nikon/Fuji iTTL (I have tested), Canon eTTL (I have tested), Olympus and Pentax/Samsung. However, the name of this product is slightly misleading, although TTL is retained perfectly when one flash is used, when the second flash is added (or turned on) you have to switch BOTH flashes to manual. This is CLEARLY stated on the packaging so as far as I am concerned Phottix is not being misleading. The usual caveats of using compatible camera and flashes is necessary. I have tested these cables with Nikon D3000, Fuji S5 Pro, Canon EOS 1000D, SB-400, SB-600, SB-800, Nissin Di622, 430 EX II.

Second up are the new Phottix AF Extension Tube sets – available for both Nikon and Canon (I have tested both). The good news is that they work, although they are still very basic extension tubes, the AF (AF-S, AF-D, USM) and image stabilisation (VR and IS) are retained. However I did find that you have to be pretty careful when mounting them on camera. I have not had any experience with extension tubes, but I can say that stacking all three tubes together appears to hamper the AF ability of lenses on a Canon EOS 1000D (18-55 IS, 50mm f/1.8 and 60mm f/2.8 macro). I have only briefly used them on a Nikon D90 + 18-105VR and 50mm f/1.8 but will hope to play with the Nikon ones more soon.

I have personally purchased one of the Duo TTL cords (1.5m as we only bought these) for myself and have purchased a set of the AF extension tubes (Nikon mount) for a friend. I would like to have a close look at the Kenko set of extension tubes to compare the two products as the Canon mount Phottix set appear to be very primitive with simple rods passing on the electronic signals to the lenses. The Nikon mount version appear to be more complex as they also pass through the screwdriver signal for AF-D lenses (and you cant see the guts of the extension tubes).

The Phottix Duo TTL cord

Unfortunately I have not been able to locate a link for the Phottix AF Extension Tube Sets

I do not work for Phottix, but I do use a lot of Phottix gear and do have a working relationship with Phottix. I buy all my Phottix gear (if this changes I will make sure I will clearly state this) and all my thoughts on the gear is as free from bias as possible.