crappyjones123

Couldn't find a willing model to help me figure out lighting setups for low key photos, so sat down myself and took some pictures while moving the light around after each attempt.

Who can I complain to at UPS? This is what awaited me when I got home today from school.

What was so special about these black gate caps? All I remember is mikhail salivating over them.

Just got a replacement for the Zeiss 135 (4th one) from Adorama and the box is similarly busted open. FUCK UPS AND FUCK ADORAMA for not using packaging peanuts like they said they would this time. They use those shitty air filled plastic things that get popped and then there is nothing to prevent the box from caving in and getting ripped apart. I'm going to go with pop flash or lens rentals and ask them to use fedex. They better not think of charging me for return shipping for this bullshit.

The amp is out of my visual field so don't care about the different colored led. Ari, this was my one and only attempt at light painting. Took a flashlight and swung at it the amp for a split second but the flashlight was too powerful it seems. Hmm. I posted that picture already. :face palm:

But those have wall warts inside, Ari.

Took a break from studying and set 'er up. Looks great and sounds even better.

Looks great and sounds even better.

Just got the acratech ballhead. Holy shit this thing is amazing. The finish is flawless. They really took a lot of care into designing this.

I saw both those companies the same way but thinking of past orders, B and H orders always arrived safely. Adorama was offering a $170 circular polarizer with the lens so I went with them but it's certainly not worth this headache.

I left her a voice mail a little bit ago.

Just got the tripod. Not as shiny as perhaps the Manfrotto I had in the past but certainly lighter and seems more stable. I prefer the low key look as it doesn't seem to attract as much attention. Ballhead is out for delivery but the quick release plate won't be here till next Monday :< Good thing I have exams until next tuesday. Also think that UPS has a personal vendetta against my packages. The box the tripod came in was basically held together with a few strings from the box tape. The tripod seems fine so I won't go through the ups return bullshit with it. Update on Adorama - EXTREMELY unhappy with how they are handling my order of the Zeiss lens with the box that was split open. They sent me a shipping label. I dropped it off and I received the box back from UPS a couple of days later saying the shipping label was for only 4 lbs when the box was heavier. Adorama refused to pay the difference. I paid it and sent it off. Now they are saying that they won't send me a replacement lens or give me a refund until the investigation from UPS was done. UPS called me and asked for someone to come over to take a look at the box and I told them I had already sent it back. UPS denied the claim and now Adorama has resubmitted the claim and are saying it can take 2-4 weeks before UPS mades a decision and then another 7 business days after that for Adorama to make a decision. I certainly shall not be going back to them again.

If I do go, I would be back by the 8th which gives enough time to ship it. I would continue with your plan to save up for a rental just in case something happens to the camera on my trip. PM me in late July and I should have a much clearer idea by then as to logistics.

Jacob, depending on exactly when in August you go on vacation (I am trying to get in on a medical mission trip to Vietnam around then) you are welcome to borrow my D800 for the cost of shipping and a promise that you will take care of it All this assuming I haven't sold it for the D900000000.

I feared correctly. A little beyond my means, I think, Chris.

I've always wanted to do stuff at the beach/pier early in the mornings or late at night with long exposures but the little Joby Gorillapod was not stable enough and was too low to the ground for my comfort. It's great for wrapping the camera around a tree for a quick shot or even longish exposures but not for the beach. I don't foresee having any stability issues with the Induro but the last time I was taking pictures at the beach with a friend's not so great tripod, the waves kept digging it deeper into the sand as they receded leading to blurry images. I don't expect it to have any issues on solid ground but since the beach is where I wish to be whenever I get a break and essentially the reason for purchasing a tripod, I want to make sure it is stable there. Although, I do see myself being unfair in judging the legs when I am not giving them a stable platform to rest on. Hence the, "we shall see how stable it is." I am not going to be shooting anything longer than the 135mm lens I have as anything longer costs too much and it is also my heaviest lens. The Sigma 35 is heavy but not Zeiss 135mm heavy. Might spring for the inexpensive Rokinon/Samyang 14mm to try some night time stuff. Julie's sister lives waaaaaaaay out in the middle of nowhere and there is considerably less light pollution compared to where I live - 15 miles from FLL airport. I don't think that lens is heavy enough to cause trouble either.

Chris, I fear the Gitzo might be too expensive depending on the model which is why I didn't even approach you regarding it. Which Gitzo is it? Thanks for using the phrase, out of curiosity, Haj. Now I can't use it.

The Feisol 3342 isn't available via Amazon Prime so it's out (I have a substantial gift card balance with Amazon that I would like to use). After reading some reviews, I ended up springing for the Induro CT213 and an Arcatech Ultimate Ballhead. Total carrying weight should come out to 4.5 lbs I think which is manageable. I don't see serious hikes or excursions like yours, Peter, any time in the near future so weight is not as big a concern for me but I didn't want anything so heavy that it just spent all its time in my apartment. The Gitzo gear while being reviewed better and carrying a lifetime warranty, was a bit too much to spend. I shall see if the whole thing is stable enough with the D800 and the two lenses I have. If so it stays. If not, I can easily ship it back to Amazon and spring for the Gitzo.

Any thoughts on Induro gear, particularly the ct213 tripod? I have been looking for a tripod but the gitzo and rrs stuff that people keep recommending is far too expensive.

In tech news today, a kick starter campaign for wireless headphones turned out to be a front for a company named light harmonic who needed more money to provide more options for their dac...

There was a d700 on fm for $1100. D600s with brand new sensors are a amazing deal though. Free shipping to nikon too.

Someone called? I have had a decent source for the past year or so though.

Lunch for today. Seasoned chicken breast with sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions in beef stock served alongside wild rice.

D600 owners rejoice. http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Service-And-Support/Service-Advisories/hs309y82/Technical-Service-Advisory-for-Users-of-the-Nikon-D600-Digital-SLR-Camera.html Wonder if the prices will start going up now. Apparently Nikon is even sending out pre paid shipping labels. Must have been a nasty lawsuit.