What Photography Related Item Have You Bought or Sold This Week?

[iamdlewis]

Just placed the order for the 100mm macro, should have it Wednesday

 

[THXGEEK]

I was surprised that I missed my A7CR (sold it last May) as much as I did after acquiring my A1II....

So, I bought a new one. What a fun little camera! Should pair well with the Tamron 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 that is also on the way.


Gotta love 'Black Friday'!

 

[DaveC Oz]

Just bought a Tactix tough case XL to hold my star tracker, panorama/leveling head and mefoto tripod. It's a cheaper version of a pelican padded case that was available at my local hardware store. Until recently I've used a largish 2 wheeled rolling tool box to carry all of my extra camera gear. Unfortunately the wheels have started to crumble, so it's been replaced with a small garden cart with pneumatic tyres. The new case is well padded and water/dust proof.

 

[THXGEEK]

I added the 'NIK Collection' to my DxO Photolab.

 

[Peter K]

Have used the good old free version of Nik for a long time within Photoshop. So I tried the newest paid version a couple of weeks ago, couldn't get used to it... Just reinstalled trhe old version...

 

[Wally]

This weekend I ordered the Sony 28mm f2 with wide angle converter. This is added to my lightweight bag for my A7iv and the Sony 50mm f1.8 for when I don’t want to carry heavier zoom lenses. Just need to pickup something around the 90-100mm mark that’s small and light and my prime kit will be complete.

 

[Richard A]

I added the 'NIK Collection' to my DxO Photolab.

Just for your info, Dave Kelly is doing a video most weeks on different filters in Nik Color Efex which is worth taking a look at.

The Joy of Editing with Dave Kelly

Have used the good old free version of Nik for a long time within Photoshop. So I tried the newest paid version a couple of weeks ago, couldn't get used to it... Just reinstalled trhe old version...

The latest version of Nik Collection is a great update I reckon. Silver Efex is much easier to use with the new layout and being able to use Photoshop Masks is a game changer. I like to support DxO for having the balls to acquire this software from "Doogle" rather than just letting it languish in a dark corner of the internet until it didn't work anymore.

 

[THXGEEK]

Just for your info, Dave Kelly is doing a video most weeks on different filters in Nik Color Efex which is worth taking a look at.

The Joy of Editing with Dave Kelly


The latest version of Nik Collection is a great update I reckon. Silver Efex is much easier to use with the new layout and being able to use Photoshop Masks is a game changer. I like to support DxO for having the balls to acquire this software from "Doogle" rather than just letting it languish in a dark corner of the internet until it didn't work anymore.

Thank you! I'll check it out!

 

[Richard A]

This might be another helpful video:

DXO Nik Collection 8 - In-Depth Review

 

[Richard A]

I just bought a "slightly used" 90mm F2.8 Macro on eBay for A$700. I have been looking at these on eBay for a while and this is the best condition and cheapest one I have seen.

 

[Unframed Dave]

I just bought a "slightly used" 90mm F2.8 Macro on eBay for A$700. I have been looking at these on eBay for a while and this is the best condition and cheapest one I have seen.

Bargain, enjoy.

 

[Richard A]

Thanks. I have a couple of things planned to test it out. It should arrive by the end of next week but the post is already starting to go a bit mental.

 

[RogerSmith]

I forget if I mentioned this already somewhere in the forums, but I recently got a Mr. Jan Gear lens carrier and I love it. I use my binos a lot while carrying a camera. This makes that so much easier and more secure than a should strap. Distributes the weight very well. Highly recommend, but if you order directly to the US prepare for a tariff charge via the shipper

 

[RogerSmith]

Also, I just sold a 12-24 f4 G. I just never use it. A nice lens though.

 

[iamdlewis]

I got an Alphagvrd skin for my 100mm Macro GM, going with Shadow Blossom

 

[Chris 3754]

I wasn’t going to to do this, but today I went to my local camera shop near our Pennsylvania home, Dan’s Camera City, for their winter fair and purchased the 100mm Macro. The regional Sony rep was there and I tried out the new lens. I loved it, even though the 90 is a great lens. For some of my shooting though the 100mm length and being able to use teleconverters made more sense. I had a Sony rebate gift card, had recently sold some redundant scuba gear, and got a fair price for my 90, which being a trade-in saved me some sales tax. Oh well, what the heck. When I got home I checked the Sony website and also found there is a $50 rebate so it’s a gift that keeps giving…..

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Just bought a Godox IT32 TTL flash.
Do I have a flash already? yes.
Did I need this one? No.
Am I kidding myself into thinking I will use it because its a clever bit of kit? Absolutely.

 

[THXGEEK]

I picked up a couple of Tiffen Black Pro -Mist filters and then talked myself into pair a Lexar CFexpress A 2TB cards. Unless one dies, I should be set for CFexpress cards for awhile.

 

[AlphaWorld]

After Tim’s point about rising prices I ordered a couple more Novachips CFeA 800GB cards. A 1.6TB would have been slightly cheaper, but felt like too many eggs, one basket

 

[DaveC Oz]

Didn't buy them, but further to my Tactix tough case for my star tracking gear, my daughters and my wife gave me several more of the cases in various sizes for the rest of my lighting, and camera gear to go in.
Yesterday I ordered a Viltrox 35mm f1.2 Lab lens, I was actually looking at the Sony 35mm f1.4 G Master initially but after multiple reviews and many image comparisons I decided on the Viltrox, as it seems to fit my envisioned uses better. As a bonus it is also a few hundred AU dollars cheaper.

 

[Wildebeest]

I ordered Ilford HP5 5x135-36 for my Nikon F3 to try the VL 90mmApo-Skopar portrait lens.
For the old times.
I also ordered a Hama Lenspen. I had one in the eighties.
One should not have Amazon pages open when watching videos.

 

[iamdlewis]

I got an Alphagvrd skin for my 100mm Macro GM, going with Shadow Blossom

After a little snafu on Alphagvrd's part in sending me the wrong design and me dealing with other stuff I installed the skin and I think it looks nice. I didn't install two strips along rising sections because I just wasn't able to get them to set in a way that I liked, I think it still looks fine.

• Galaxy S23 Ultra
• 2.2 mm
• ƒ/2.2
• 14439269/500000000 sec
• ISO 500

The pattern doesn't look as bright as this when using natural lens.

 

[Chris 3754]

After a little snafu on Alphagvrd's part in sending me the wrong design and me dealing with other stuff I installed the skin and I think it looks nice. I didn't install two strips along rising sections because I just wasn't able to get them to set in a way that I liked, I think it still looks fine.
View attachment 81489
The pattern doesn't look as bright as this when using natural lens.

That looks really cool. I have never used a skin before, does it look like it will hold up to use?

 

[Chris 3754]

I ordered Ilford HP5 5x135-36 for my Nikon F3 to try the VL 90mmApo-Skopar portrait lens.
For the old times.

Nice to see someone using the old stuff. I still shoot my Nikon F2, but mostly I collect vintage Canon cameras and related lenses. The VL lenses are superb. My personal favorite vintage lens is a Kiron 105mm Macro. They were rebranded as Lester Dine lenses for dental photography but are exactly the same. They have a bit of a cult following. Mine is a Canon FD mount but they were also made in Nikon F-Mount, and can be found on eBay for a reasonable price. However I always search the discount lens bins whenever I visit a shop. Often they can be had for a few dollars because they get lumped in with cheap lenses that are not true Canon, Nikon etc.

 

[Wildebeest]

Once upon a time I had a Canon F-1 with FD 2/35mm and 85mm F/1.8 (if my memory serves me well).
It was solid stuff but did not take military exercises well. It fell apart. I still have a G3 QL but it is fully manual, only.
I am eyeing a Nikon SP but my rational self tells me I do not need it.
I checked on eBay –they have a Nikon F-mount Lester Dine Kiron macro going for 80 dollars. Reasonable, you could say.

 

[Wildebeest]

I had a camo skin on my Tamron Zoom and Canon 5D2.
Lions were not supposed to see the gear as it was camo.
Probably I was not the first one with the same joke.
A tired smile was the best reaction I got.

 

[iamdlewis]

That looks really cool. I have never used a skin before, does it look like it will hold up to use?

Here is what my 200-600 looks like after 3yrs 10m of heavy use.

• Galaxy S23 Ultra
• 6.3 mm
• ƒ/1.7
• 166/10000 sec
• ISO 640

There are a couple spots that look like the pattern has been scratched away some (base of the hood and near where your right hand would be) but overall I would say it has survived well. I've been very happy with how all the skins I've gotten have held up and how they look. I don't really expect that the 100mm GM needs the skin for any type of protection, just really like that it looks different.

I had tried the neoprene covers originally with my 100-400 but those are such a pain. The cover for the hood would always slide down, the part that covered the buttons would shift blocking them and it seemed like I was always getting one of the straps caught on the separators in the bag.

I had a camo skin on my Tamron Zoom and Canon 5D2.
Lions were not supposed to see the gear as it was camo.

They probably didn't see the camera and lens and just noticed that meat suit you were wearing.

 

[Chris 3754]

Once upon a time I had a Canon F-1 with FD 2/35mm and 85mm F/1.8 (if my memory serves me well).
It was solid stuff but did not take military exercises well. It fell apart. I still have a G3 QL but it is fully manual, only.
I am eyeing a Nikon SP but my rational self tells me I do not need it.
I checked on eBay –they have a Nikon F-mount Lester Dine Kiron macro going for 80 dollars. Reasonable, you could say.

Yes that’s a good price, just need to see if there is any mold in the lens. But for $80 it’s something to play with and if you like it go for something nicer. I found mine still in the original box. Paid a bit more but essentially it was a brand new 45 year old lens.

 

[Chris 3754]

Once upon a time I had a Canon F-1 with FD 2/35mm and 85mm F/1.8 (if my memory serves me well).
It was solid stuff but did not take military exercises well. It fell apart. I still have a G3 QL but it is fully manual, only.
I am eyeing a Nikon SP but my rational self tells me I do not need it.
I checked on eBay –they have a Nikon F-mount Lester Dine Kiron macro going for 80 dollars. Reasonable, you could say.

My primary film camera is a Canon New F1. I do get a CLA every few years. You are right about not needing it, but the line between need and want can get blurry….

 

[Chris 3754]

Here is what my 200-600 looks like after 3yrs 10m of heavy use.
View attachment 81493
There are a couple spots that look like the pattern has been scratched away some (base of the hood and near where your right hand would be) but overall I would say it has survived well. I've been very happy with how all the skins I've gotten have held up and how they look. I don't really expect that the 100mm GM needs the skin for any type of protection, just really like that it looks different.

I had tried the neoprene covers originally with my 100-400 but those are such a pain. The cover for the hood would always slide down, the part that covered the buttons would shift blocking them and it seemed like I was always getting one of the straps caught on the separators in the bag.


They probably didn't see the camera and lens and just noticed that meat suit you were wearing.

I’m am going to order this for my 200-600 for sure, thanks.