bjrichus said:
As I was reading your post, there is an item on TV news about exactly this matter. Last night I listened to a radio report of the radiation levels inside the exclusion zone there and how variable it all still is - some towns are so bad you don't even want drive through them while others are at normal levels.

The thing is, after a nuclear accident like that there's a layer of radioactive material impregnated into the soil and anything it had contact with.

Making the place liveable again would mean you'd have to cart away every last bit that is radioactive, since the half life isn't short enough to wait it out.

The repercussions of the disaster will be felt for many years to come unfortunately.

I've also heard instances where there is tension between the older generation and the younger generation. The older generation, who vastly outnumber the younger generation, wish for their old homes to be completely rebuilt.

It becomes an issue when the towns are so small it becomes impractical to spend large amounts of money building multiple small hamlets. Thus, the younger generation favor consolidating multiple small villages.

I can see how both sides can argue for either method of reconstruction.

In any case, I wish them a speedy recovery.

A year is nothing, that stuff can remain dangerous and will cause cancers for 1000s of years if not 10,000s, and it is not just limited to Japan. It was evaluated that every person on the planet was slightly more radioactive today due to the re-entrance of the US Skylab which is nothing compared with these centrals. Some organs of animals (including us) concentrates the stuff to 1000s of time what exist in the environment when at the top of the food chain.
The officials will not tell you the real consequences as radioactivity contamination is now our way of life and nothing can be done about it. We can only prevent new accidents if we are smart and lucky.
It is good for us that the romans or any power of the past did not have access to our technology and maybe our descendants may come to wish we did not.

spraynpray said:
Here in the UK we are seeing reports saying that there are still large areas that have really dangerous areas of radioactive contamination - it seems worse now than what was reported before. They are not going to be over this anytime soon I fear.

As I was reading your post, there is an item on TV news about exactly this matter. Last night I listened to a radio report of the radiation levels inside the exclusion zone there and how variable it all still is - some towns are so bad you don't even want drive through them while others are at normal levels.

Here in the UK we are seeing reports saying that there are still large areas that have really dangerous areas of radioactive contamination - it seems worse now than what was reported before. They are not going to be over this anytime soon I fear.

I'm watching a program about the tsunami on the Nat Geo channel, with lots of footage I've never seen. It's deeply disturbing to see this black wall sweeping through Sendai. I wondered then how the country would bounce back, and one year on I must say that I'm impressed with how well the people have coped even if life will never be the same. May all the victims R.I.P.

NSXType-R said:
I know Nikon's supply to the rest of the world is piecemeal compared to the challenges Japan is facing, but does anyone see all the MF lenses and the F6 in danger of being discontinued because of the shortages in supplies and shipment issues?

The F6 is up for replacement anyway as it's almost 10 years old. Even if Nikon had no plans to replace it (I doubt that) then the F6 would have been discontinued soon regardless of the tragedy in Japan.

After a month of bad news there are now some good things to report out of Sendai. The US military has cleared a runway at Sendai airport. The airport is still surrounded by rubble but at least they now have an operational runway.

Here's a shocking video showing the power of the tsunami. You can see the water start coming closer at around the 2:50 mark. At about 4 minutes you will see people running for their lives trying to make it up that hill. I pray that they all made it in time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at7KgXEkRrs&feature=player_embedded

I know Nikon's supply to the rest of the world is piecemeal compared to the challenges Japan is facing, but does anyone see all the MF lenses and the F6 in danger of being discontinued because of the shortages in supplies and shipment issues?

another one has hit again

7.1

at a depth of only 6 miles

if ever these folks need our support and prayers, it is now.

We haven't heard from our Japanese members for several weeks now. Has anyone heard from them via email or PM? I hope you guys are all well!

Yes, many have raised this point and I kind of agree with you.

Why should I be buying expensive cameras in the first place when kids all over the world have no food and are dying? How many lives could I be saving with what I have spent on futile cameras so far? Am I superficial or selfish? You tell me because I really don't know.

Perhaps the same person can be both very sorry and sadden by what has happened to the people of Japan (and so many other places) and in the same time be concerned about finding a solution to his need of equipment, do what he can to relief others pain and try to get a happy and full life for himself.

Does it bother anyone else that there are so many people bitchin' about not being able to buy a new Nikon lenses? Look at what the people of Japan have to deal with.

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2011/04/world/hires.gallery.japan.forward/index.html?hpt=C2

sad,

the good news is there was no Tsunami, thank God that their building codes allow them to withstand the quakes.

Anybody follow up on any of the other Camera blogs?

Are they affected also?

And a 7.4...

When is this going to end? Cripes...

@Pierre: Agree with you.

spraynpray said:
What's to Flame Pierre? You eloquently reflected what a lot of us are feeling.

+1

spraynpray said:
What's to Flame Pierre? You eloquently reflected what a lot of us are feeling.

Agreed.

Pierre - Go for it.

Make the best images you can and know that the next purchase from Nikon will help them recover from the terrible situation they find themselves in now...

What's to Flame Pierre? You eloquently reflected what a lot of us are feeling.

I find myself still struggling to get back to a superficial life where I would be posting about my usage of old Nikon boxes and casual photo shoots while so many are haunted by the fear of what might still happen with these nukes way too close to their homes and child.

Perhaps it is the syndromes of the survivor where one feels guilt for being alive while others are not. I do not know why I feel so strongly about what has happened and is still happening to our friends in Japan. Perhaps being an obsessive engineer myself has something to do with it.

I have to admit being upset about seeing this thread being shut down despite understanding it was for good reasons. It is good that the ones having their heart in the right place still had the possibility to voice their compassion here.

Perhaps going back to photographic possibilities opened by the passionate work of amazing being is the best way to honor their achievement and help them back to normality.

But I am still upset… Flame me if you wish but these are my sentiments.

Condolences to the family of the one Nikon employee who did die in this tragedy and prayers for the family of the three employees who are still missing.

After a few days for everyone to calm down I'm reopening this thread. I started this thread in a photography rumors forum for two reasons. One, we have several members in Japan and I wanted to give them a way to communicate with all of us directly and to make sure they were OK. And two, Nikon's main production facility is located in Sendai, Japan which might have a long term impact on the Nikon products we wish to buy.

I have deleted about a page and a half worth of comments in this thread because the discussion strayed into a long debate about the nuclear crisis not being as bad as Chernobyl and many forum members PM'd me that such a discussion was insensitive and tempers started to get out of hand.

If someone wants to add to what I just wrote, PM me or your remark will be deleted from this thread.

Now back on-topic and let's keep the discussion FRIENDLY. Hopefully we can continue to get updates from our members in Japan.

the news here is unbearable to watch. they had a primary (elementary) school graduation in an afeected area yesterday.

the parents thanked the staff for saving their childrens lives, but there was no big celebration as many of the children had lost parents.

this video illustrates it the best I have seen from outside of japan footage. this is just one town.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Video-Japan-Quake-Tsunami-Desperate-Survivors-Carry-Out-Their-Own-Searches-For-Missing-Family/Article/201103215951739

Gareth,
Thank you for giving us actual information from the immediate area. Seems the media here (US) is providing us with lower numbers just to play it safe I suppose. The images are absolutely devastating - same as the images after the WWII A-bombs. Be safe, smart, and take care of your family.

Rob

@Gareth: Good luck, and stay safe.

@Jonny: As to the issues with the shut-down reactors, I saw something last night that makes sense. With the disclaimer that I majored in English and not Physics, my understanding goes something like this:

The shutdown should, at least in theory, take the normally active fuel rods out of the equation. There's also storage onsite for the spent fuel rods, which are kept under water, but it's not standing water; it's circulated in order to keep the spent rods cool. Once the water stops circulating, it basically comes to a boil. Same as if you leave a pot on the stove too long, the water starts to boil off, 'til at some point the fuel rods are exposed. Once that happens, the alloy that encases the rods starts to break down, and... well, things get ugly.

Let us know what you find out in the lecture... I'm sure it'll be a somewhat different take on things than what we've seen on the news.

trust me. the tsunami has done some damage.

the news tonight said there are 4000+ confirmed dead and 7000+ confirmed missing.

there are 10's of thousands of unconfirmed missing in towns and prefectures in the area. one town has 8000 missing residents, of the 15000 who live in the town.

the death toll will be 10000+ confirmed before too long, with 10's of thousands missing, forever.

however, it will depend of japans ability to deal with the radiation as to what will cause the most trouble. some very old evacuees will die soon, as they don't have proper food, enough water, and the temperatures are below freezing without power in the nuclear zone.

Nikon provides aid to the victims of earthquake in Northern Japan

March 14, 2011

Nikon Corporation would like to express its profound sympathy and condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Northern Japan, on March 11, 2011.

In response to this tragedy and to extend the immediate support to its victims and affected area, Nikon Corporation has decided to donate the following assistance:
Cash donation 100 million yen
Donee Japanese Red Cross Society