DJB 49 said:
. I have thought about replacing it with the 24-120 but would need to be convinced it really was better than the 28-105mm.

the 28 -105 get good reviews the advantage of the 16 -120 is its extra range;
I use mine a lot at both ends

but that may not be important to you

I have had a 16-35mm f4 which I have not used too much and which has given me oddly inconsistent results. So much so that I did a whole load of tests on it which look absolutely fine, so it must be me!

My normal 'walk-around' lens is a 28-105 f3.5-4.4 AF D that I bought many years ago for my F100 and which continually produces lovely sharp images, including in its macro mode. For a budget lens, I think it is a real bargain and I am happy to continue to use it on my D800. I have thought about replacing it with the 24-120 but would need to be convinced it really was better than the 28-105mm. I might hire one and see!

Rx4Photo said:
A lady I work with just shot an entire vacation to Italy on her iPhone 4. The pics looked pretty good while on the phone but when she brought them in on a laptop computer the IQ was definately lacking on many of them.

How can that be? Ken has recently been positively gushing about iPhone camera quality.

No ... Wait! He has been using the iPhone5, not 4.

The sample shots on his web site appear to be half decent, but then only half decent doesn't hold up at 16x20. I can just imagine shooting a wedding on an iPhone ... and then trying to collect on an invoice! "You just didn't look professional, did you?" Hmmm.

His parents must have been nerds too. :-)

Best just ignore them, like people have mentioned. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, right? Did you happen to show that guy your 14-24 took wider images than his 3.5mm on his point and shoot? ;-)

I was taking some images at a graduation last night (I try to get photos of my department's graduates as kind of a parting gift to them). Even iphone-wielding students were jealous of the D7000. To be fair, it was the college of physical and mathematical science, so these are people immune to feeling nerdy holding a huge camera. Unrelated to my nerd comment, one of our graduates is named Jedediah Knight, but goes by Jedi Knight. Now it's my turn to be jealous.

A lady I work with just shot an entire vacation to Italy on her iPhone 4. The pics looked pretty good while on the phone but when she brought them in on a laptop computer the IQ was definately lacking on many of them.

I've yet to come across the type of comments from people like Shawnino met on this cruise. I'd imagine that some of those people had just taken their first photography class and thought they were flexing their newfound knowledge.

What I do get is the occasional strange look because I like shooting outside photos from lower or odd perspectives - often on my knees, lying on my belly, or contorted around a small structure. Usually I get more positive comments like "that'll be a neat picture" or something similar.

I get a lot of people telling me that they get fantastic photos on their iPhones whilst they look pityingly at whatever camera I have slung around my neck. I always smile sweetly and say that must be wonderful - or something similar. For really great comments though, I can recommend shooting with a 5X4 (4X5 for those in the US) monorail camera. Especially when focussing! That can be very funny!

Thanks Elvishefer, and to the kind soul who PM'd me with similar description. I appreciate it.

WaterEngineer said:
shawnino:

I learned a long time ago that as a person who "carries a big camera," that I draws lots of people with opinions - some right, some way off base - and I draws a lot of questions.

I know you paid a lot of money for your trip. I anticipate it was fruitful and that you have many, many great images. Further, your original post comes across as a little angry.

I have managed to adopt the following ideas into my life and am much happier when I come across situations like you describe in the original post.

1. Love and tolerance is my code. (We don't all know the same things. Accepting people the way they are is freeing and I don't have to try to change them.)

2. See what I can bring to a situation, not what I can take from it. (Teaching, showing, and patience has gotten me through the trying situations.)

Peace.

I agree........just chill out and keep taking great photos. I would however like to experiment with the quality of weather proofing on an iPad, by throwing it over board! :-)

I am back online today, so I thought I would drop my Opinion...LOL here.

So, I am shooting with a D4, 400mm f/2.8 on a carbon tripod with gimbal head, and someone says "Golly, that looks expensive. I bet it cost almost a thousand dollars."

My answer was "for sure" with a smile. I have little need now to educate the ignorant folks who may have less experience than I do unless they ask for help. Virtually every comment which tends to push our buttons is based on another's fear or envy. And, this is not something I can assist them with unless they are genuinely interested in learning. Quite often I will attempt to ask them a question such as "You have a nice camera, what is it?" In most cases, taking a proactive friendly stance gets me a lot farther than attempting to compete with someone at their level of hostility or ignorance. As a professional I feel it is my responsibility to take the high road and lead with a positive attitude.

If I want to have some fun, I will take a point and shoot (Olympus E-PL2) out and ask some of the other folks how it works. Then listen to what they have to say. I usually will gain a friend this way instead of having an enemy.

And, Shawnino, I think Elvishefer has it correct as to how to post a photo. The advantage of Flickr, IMO, is I can post a full size image and reference it in a link along with the 800px size required for PAD.

shawnino said:
And now, I'd like to solicit some advice for real:

PAD: I'm a long time admirer but I've never posted. In the how-to thread, Admin leads with "You can also..." ... which implies there's a first part of the post which I can't see or was deleted etc. How do I post a file straight from my computer, not from a webpage?

Also, I'm not on Flickr: I assume being on Flickr (msmoto's subsequent post with Flickr instruction) is not required?

I want to just post files out of LR, or exported from LR to my general export folder in JPEG, but I need to make sure they're not too big, I don't mess up the thread, etc. Detailed advice for the technically non-gifted would be deeply appreciated. Thanks very much.

Hi,

The images have to be uploaded to a Web server of some kind. Technical people might have their own Web server, but for most using Flikr, Picasa or a similar service is the way to go. Simply create an account, then follow the service's instructions for uploading and sharing.

bjrichus said:
The ipad remark is a killer.

I don't think I'd have lasted more than 30 minutes with a@@-holes like that around me... You did well!!!

Lol.... I used to always smile politely but now I bluntly state what I know... I also hav had the problem of veteran photographers accusing me of being some kid with a fancy camera... Show thewm some photos and they usually shut up...

To the OP. I'm with you on this. If people are going to be so rude to people who are experts and only trying to help them, then what is the incentive to be nice to said people? People sometimes need to be told they are out of line as they just don't seem to get it by themselves (lol, it's usually my wife who does this, not me).

Most people think my birding kit is a movie camera and think I am making a documentary.

I was testing my ttl compensation on a swan a few months back and a lady standing close by thought I was taking a photo of her and her daughter, she didn't realise the limited field of view on a super-tele. She was quite upset about it and at the time I thought she thought I was some dodgy paedophile, but looking back I realise she probably just didn't know what i intended to do with the pictures (i look pretty professional, she might of thought i would put it in a magazine or something).

The ipad remark is a killer.

I don't think I'd have lasted more than 30 minutes with a@@-holes like that around me... You did well!!!

I must be very lucky, I've never had an encounter like the OP. I often get comments like, "wow, you have a big camera, it must take good photos." lol. Then again I often go places that are popular with knowledgeable photographers.

I think the strangest comment I got was from a bunch of teenage boys (while I was shooting at a bird sanctuary with my 300mm f4). It was one of those cheeky "big lens, he must be compensating for something" wise cracks.

And now, I'd like to solicit some advice for real:

PAD: I'm a long time admirer but I've never posted. In the how-to thread, Admin leads with "You can also..." ... which implies there's a first part of the post which I can't see or was deleted etc. How do I post a file straight from my computer, not from a webpage?

Also, I'm not on Flickr: I assume being on Flickr (msmoto's subsequent post with Flickr instruction) is not required?

I want to just post files out of LR, or exported from LR to my general export folder in JPEG, but I need to make sure they're not too big, I don't mess up the thread, etc. Detailed advice for the technically non-gifted would be deeply appreciated. Thanks very much.

s-n-p, Lare: I did find it funny but I also found it bizarre. If I'm out cutting the grass, I don't expect cars to pull over and tell me how much my lawnmower sucks or how I need better grass fertilizer or... There were only two times when I was uncomfortable:

1) when the hag called the pro an idiot, and I lost it

2) The guy who told me my 14-24 was the wrong shape: I smiled and and "perhaps, yeah, thanks", and went back to composing my shot. He crossly asked if I was going to change it, I said "well, no, not this time" and he started ranting about how I was making a huge mistake and needed to change my lens to get a wide field of view and why don't young people listen to older people's advi... and his rant probably lasted 15 seconds but it felt like 15 minutes before he walked away.

Suire the comments were funny. The Canon shooter laughed out loud. But I don't get it. When I'm at the grocery store, nobody stops me and instructs me how to load my cart. :)

Hey wait a minute. I have that same problem with Live View!

You have to see the funny side of it don't you! Those poor saps with their 'advice'...

Funny thing is I saw somebody trying to use his ipad to take a photo and he kept putting it to his eye then holding it at arms length, then he couldn't see what he was trying to photograph because the sun was too bright then he would go to hold it to his eye again - it was SO funny!

--I should have spent more money because my D800E didn't even have a lens built into it

--My camera was “shit” because it didn't have weather modes...

--There's no point shooting bursts...

--My camera couldn't compete with an iPad...

--My 14-24mm was “the wrong shape for this picture”.

I know it's not the spirit of your posting, but I couldn't help laughing when I read these.

I've been in that spot too. I think you showed considerable restraint and overall my take is that you should just take their comments with a grain of salt. Or, if you're like me, a sense of amusement. I'm going to believe that the comments were only because of ignorance on the part of the person, and not meant maliciously. Or, heaven help us, because they were really trying to "help" you see the error of your choice in not having a bunch of disposable cameras at the ready instead. ("Look: No settings to mess with and the pictures will be printed for me by the professionals at Walgreens.")

I like WaterEngineer's approach. And I promise to only laugh out loud at the other person's opinions later, in private.

I can see how that would be annoying. I know people have lots of varying opinions on gear and techniques...it even shows up here on NR.

Gosh I will even admit I have smirked at kit lenses and old cameras when I have been out. That being said my wife would barely know how to turn my camera on and would be just fine with a P&S.

I think your point is the unwarranted bad/rude/unnecessary comments...unfortunately there are those people out there and it only takes one to get on your nerves. I actually think from being on this forum and the more I have learned about photography the more I respect whatever anyone is choosing to shoot with be it another brand or a different type of camera. Although not always optimal in all situations people can take some good pictures with just about anything. All that though doesn't mean that someone should mouth off about X equipment for whatever reason...could be jealousy, misinformation, or I guess overall stupidity.

shawnino:

I learned a long time ago that as a person who "carries a big camera," that I draws lots of people with opinions - some right, some way off base - and I draws a lot of questions.

I know you paid a lot of money for your trip. I anticipate it was fruitful and that you have many, many great images. Further, your original post comes across as a little angry.

I have managed to adopt the following ideas into my life and am much happier when I come across situations like you describe in the original post.

1. Love and tolerance is my code. (We don't all know the same things. Accepting people the way they are is freeing and I don't have to try to change them.)

2. See what I can bring to a situation, not what I can take from it. (Teaching, showing, and patience has gotten me through the trying situations.)

Peace.

Rx4Photo said:
Shawnino, it's amazing how small the world actually is.

Reminds me of an NRF story I've always wanted to share. When I went to South America a couple of years ago, I posted a question about lens choices for the Galapagos (it was my first post http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=2710 ). Many of you were very generous with your advice (which was excellent).

On my trip, which went for two weeks, I met another enthusiastic amateur like myself. We spent a lot of time comparing notes, and most nights in the bar going over our shots on our computers. So anyway, toward the end of the trip we were talking about how we'd chosen which lenses to bring with us. I mentioned that I'd found this site and that I'd posted the question to all of you, and how you'd been influential in helping me make my decisions.

To which he replied, "I read that thread too. I followed a lot of the same advice."

Shawnino, it's amazing how small the world actually is. One of my co-workers, a petite girl from China, and her sister just returned from that same cruise. My co-worker left from here in South Florida but her sister flew all the way from China to join her on that cruise. When she returns to work I'll have to ask her if she attended some of those photo classes as she didn't mention it a few days ago upon returning to work.

There are 3 of us here who shoot Nikon and we persuaded her to buy a Nikon D3100 on sale at Costco before she left. She was literally one of those who just bought a DSLR right before the trip. Before she left for the cruise I did encourage her to spend time to learn the camera (the kit came with the 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses). I don't think she spent much time with it because she complained that she didn't know what she was doing half the time.

She told us of this "older more experienced photographer" who, at the end of every day would have his cabin filled with women who wanted copies of his photos because they, themselves, couldn't take any good pictures. Does that sound familiar?? The story is pretty funny. Also, if you recall seeing a young Chinese lady in nice skirts and evening gowns posing for video and photos, that was my co-worker's sister. We're still waiting for her to bring in some of her shots.

Hope you had fun.

I second that motion about pics... Antarctica is on my list, too!

The thought of paying ~10k for spending a couple of weeks on a ship that's possibly full of idiots like the above described can only hold you back so long ... :-D