Sep 21, 2012 | Field Reports
Well, I’ve been shooting with the D800 for over a month which includes the new Epson Finish Strong ad campaign and the photo above of the P-51D Mustang “Precious Metal.” Many have been asking me what I think of the camera so thought I should give you my two cents worth. The files are gorgeous, there is simply no way around it! They are also freakin huge! Since I process much of my aviation and landscape photography while on the road working, I am incredibly thankful I’ve switched to the MacBook Pro Retina. I don’t know how folks are working a 5 image HDR taken with the D800 without such speed! It could be just me, but when you have a dust speck on your sensor, with the D800 is looks like a bomb crater! I suspect it’s the resolution of the sensor but a dust spot when you shoot closed down is simply massive! But when it comes to creating 24×30 prints, the D800 is simply spectacular producing better files than my beloved D3x. The increase speed in FPS and buffer dump is a joy, lemme tell you. I really like that.
When it comes to shooting the D800, I still need that additional bulk of the grip. I keep taking it off as I shoot more and more with the D800 to see if I can take advantage of its smaller size. But it simply is a no go, my hands need that greater mass to hold onto. Now comparing the MB-D12 to that knock off a “fan” sent me, well I don’t have any kind words. Been shooting with the knock off for a month and it is already “fading.” It has become so loose that I can’t shoot with it attached to the D800 on a tripod at slow shutter speeds. I’ve tightened screws a couple of times with one now stripped out. While the knock off might be less money, I simply can’t afford it crapping out on me during a shoot. I have to admit I am shocked that within a month it is already showing the effects of constant use. I’m going to keep using it until it does fall apart because I want that photograph. I do carry the MB-D12 though with me waiting for that day. And if it’s a shoot for a client, I switch to the MD-d12.
When it comes to recommendations for you, well I don’t think you can go wrong with the D800 but in all honesty, it might just be more camera than you need. You must consider the file size because when you do an HDR with it, you instantly have possibly 1GB of files open and possibly that much to file for just ONE image! My D600 should be delivered today and I’m very excited to run it through its paces, I have the feeling that might just be the camera. As for me, the D4 with its Custom Setting e4 is my workhorse, go to camera for nearly all my own photography.
Sep 20, 2012 | Field Reports
I got the word the D600 was coming just slightly before the world heard about it. The smile on the face of the person telling me about the camera was enough for me to know, it was a camera I would want. So with a quick email, B&H had one on its way to me (do any moment). The first thing you’ve gotta be asking, I know I was, is simply, why? One is the price point, next the lower megapixels, approx 100% viewfinder, then you have the physically size, FX format, 1080p video, wireless abilities and you simply can’t discount that great video that makes you just wanna get out and shoot (especially a cold lover like myself!). You might get an idea just watching the Key Features video (can be a pain to load). In my own mind, this is the D700 repl, and in a big way! I’ve not received the J2 yet but expect the D600 any moment so once I have it and shoot with it, I’ll have more. I have the feeling though that Nikon has something here! Shoot big, travel light!
Sep 18, 2012 | Field Reports
Yeap, I’ve had the MacBook Pro for nearly a month now. It just went through two entice weeks of use with Photoshop World and the Reno Air Races. Bottom line and the most important think, it delivers the speed I was looking for! Is the Mac perfect? No, I have locked it up 3 times now. Does it deliver the speed the money promises? It does, and a lot more! At Photoshop World, it did all the presentations, took care of all my mobile business perfectly. Much of this was done with the battery which has a killer life.
At the Reno Air Races, it had to deal with 80-100GB of images everyday. My old work flow was to plug in all the cards, click to upload them all and go to dinner. With the MacBook Pro Retina, that was all blown out of the water! I would plug in the cards into the hub, click Ingest and within minutes the cards were uploaded! I’m serious, I would turn to do another task and I would hear the “dunk” sound from the MacBook telling me it was done. Then when it came to reviewing and filing images, the task again was done in a heartbeat and thank goodness since I was slammed with more shooting than I have ever had before! I was still only getting 4-5hrs of sleep a day but if I didn’t have the MacBook, I would have had much sleep at all or not had the work done.
The MacBook is still a computer and like any computer has its own, special ways and can be locked up but like any computer, you can fix and move forward. But I have no regrets moving over to the Mac for my notebook. Just the speed in Photoshop finishing an image made the price a deal! Keep in mind, I have NOT switched the office which still runs Dels with Win7, I’ve only changed my notebook. As to what I’m using, here’s a list.
MacBook Pro Retina
Magic Mouse
Buffalo 1TB Thunderbird
ioSafe 1TB USB3
Lexar USB 3 Reader
Master Suite – Photoshop / Bridge CS6 Extended
Photo Mechanic 5
PhotoMatix Pro
Photo Rescue
Keynote (App Store)
Word
ScreenFlowFolder (App Store)
Folder Sync Pro (App Store)
CyberDuck (App Store)
Thunderbird
Chrome
SuperDuper (App Store)
Disk Doctor (App Store)
Sep 18, 2012 | Field Reports
This is something that you just might want to be a part of. Click here to learn more. I know I’m in!
Sep 11, 2012 | Field Reports
“OH NO…NOT YOU!” That’s the greeting Marshall Joe gave me as I stepped off the bus for our NAPP Safari. I guess you could say I made an impression on him our last visit. I like Marshall Joe, he loves to laugh. And, he loves to play the straight man with a gun. We had great clouds but to get them behind Marshall Joe, had to shoot up on him. Well, he’s not real tall so we got him up on a four foot rock and than shot up on him with the clouds in the background. D4, 24-70AFS with light is a simple Trigrip Gold reflector. A real simple click of a really nice guy!
Sep 10, 2012 | Field Reports
Photoshop World is just such a kick ass experience on every level! Sharon meet up with one very generous gentleman who has made available a number of scholarships to our workshops folks in the past. He was moved by his experience at Photoshop World and is offering another scholarship for our New Hampshire K&M Adventure. While I have two folks in mind, I wanted to open up this generous offer to a little wider audience. You would be responsible for your getting to and from NH, lodging and meals, but the rest is covered. If you are interested, you need to give Sharon a call 661.204.1506 (9-5 PST) and have a conversation. This is a marvelous opportunity for a photographer and want to thank our anonymous sponsor for once again reaching out to help another shooter! That is what Photoshop World is all about!
