Oh, I am with you .... I thought it was funny....and what a lot of folks do not see is what we see sometimes in the early hours when we are cleaning up stuff....like the adds for Louis Vuitton bags, and other garbage which get spammed into NRF. Now they are the ones we should send a PM to about a "forum search" except they never return...

We all just have a good time....even if some of us are constantly closing topics which already have a thread......:-)

And Iris chrome...I have to say...with a first name like Iris ..... mmmmm

OK, on with something serious.... I learn every day that I make the same errors that are being made by the others... but the best one was the video of the guy with his lens cap on at the Olympics....gosh sakes, I thought everyone took those off and left them at home....like I do....ha, ha, ha....

I'm actually wondering if we can get a "Please do a forum search" link added next to the QUOTE link on every post. That way, two clicks and you're there—old-timer nirvana!

To make it more helpful, maybe the link would only show up for "preferred members" to keep out the rabble (a la Basil Fawlty). I'm looking at you, Iris! ... Oh, you're what? Nevermind, then.

Okay, seriously, what I think we really need are a few more asterisks to surround the shouted (but polite) suggestion to search before posting new threads.

msmoto said:
Funny people are on NRF.....that is what I have learned........:-)

Nothing was directed at you msmoto. Just having a little fun at our forum rules is all ;-)

msmoto said:
Funny people are on NRF.....that is what I have learned........:-)

Actually, I have learned the answer to the question of "How many lenses does one need?"

And the answer is "One more than one has."

Lol, I don't know if that first remark was aimed at me, and my post above, but for the record, in spite of understanding completely the need to stop threads being endlessly repeated (as would happen if you and the other mods didn't do the great job you do), I do share some iris chrome's views ;-) You have to admit his last observation was hilarious. It nearly made me spit my drink out!

With regards to your second comment, I would say that's the answer to "how many does one want?". The answer to "how many does one NEED?" is invariably "one LESS than one has".

Funny people are on NRF.....that is what I have learned........:-)

Actually, I have learned the answer to the question of "How many lenses does one need?"

And the answer is "One more than one has."

Lenses i have right now for my D800 AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED,AF-S DX NIKKOR
18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II,AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D and AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED.
So i have learned sell the DX lenses (then i don't have to stay in the lines of the box like a coloring book thru the view finder)and save to get a AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED and AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II.

iris chrome said:
"What Have You Learned at NRF?"

Ok since you asked...

• Each camera has an "issues" thread where all problems and issues of that camera go in that thread except D4 and D800... their "issues" go together.
• Any new D800/D4 thread pertaining to a specific issue runs the risk of being closed at random.
• In case of an issue with a camera, the already existing "issues" thread and its hundreds of pages must be read first before making a new posting, else poster runs the risk of being utterly rebuked.
• No new topic is allowed if it has been covered at anytime during the last 2 years.
• A comparison between two cameras has to go in one of the already existing threads of one of the cameras and can't have it's own thread.
• If you're a new member and want to start a new discussion, don't.
• The sentence "please do a forum search" now ranks as number one in search results.

B-)

This subject has already been discussed iris! Please do a forum search first next time......................:-)

@parke1953

Welcome.....and one of the moderators is old as dirt I am told....ha, ha, ha.....

I am wondering what lens you are using on the D800.... and when you said "big jump" I was thinking "quantum leap" from D80 to D800. Just as a suggestion, if I had a new D800 and wanted a single zoom... 24-120mm f/4VR Nikkor. Or for two primes...28mm f/1.8G and 85mm f/1.8G (Possibly the 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR). These will most likely perform well on the D800, however the 28mm has not been fully tested yet.

Now, back to why I am on this thread.....

Shooting with an older 50mm f/1.4D Nikkor, from about 10 years ago, made in China, I found it had what I thought was more flare and slightly less contrast than some of the newer lenses I have. So, what I have learned is that I obviously need a couple new lenses, and will sell the D90, 50mm f/1.4, 20mm f/2.8, and 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 from the 1990's. So, a 28mm f/1.8 or D400, or Fuji...
....yeah, the rationalizations we use for new equipment is very well developed......becomes more acute after retirement....

park 1953 said:
..................Just retired 6 weeks ago........ I just made a big jump from a D80 to a D800...........

Welcome to U3A (University of the Third Age)

To hell with gold watches . The D800 is the best retirement prezzie you can get

I'm new to the forum and have been reading all the posts. Ton's of good stuff and I'll try to remember what i read (I'm getting old Just retired 6 weeks ago). You all have giving so much information that it is almost overwhelming and I want to thank you all. THANKS. I just made a big jump from a D80 to a D800 and love it. It is very hard to afford this high priced equipment. (TIP: When I go off for the weekend with the wife. She sends me to the bank for cash. She is at work hee hee. Anything I buy on the trip I use the ATM card and when I get home stash the cash. Before you no it, new body, lens or memory card). Good luck. Still learning. I hope soon I'll have something good to contribute.

Thanks again.

msmoto said:
I do not know if any folks are crazy enough to grab shots like I do, it requires practice so as to avoid looking at the camera or subject, but sometimes a shot is obtained. If anyone else has a comment.....

Well... now I have learned on this forum that I'm not the only one who randomly shoots while driving. Haven't done it in a long time though. Shutter priority for sure.

One thing I like to do is at a stop light I wait until the light is about to turn green, and pull the camera up over left shoulder and snap a few shots out the driver side window. (cell phone or DSLR)

Here's a cell phone one I took last year. It's a guy holding a sign, in front of the same sign for the same business. It took me a few moments at the light before I realized it was even a person holding it. He's like a statue.

I guess he's supposed to spin it, but he remains perfectly still, all day long. (I drove by a few times)

I shot a ton of this kinda thing a couple years ago, I'll need to look for more of them.

@iris chrome

tousahy!

And I am simply following the directions of those higher on the food chain... lots of difficult decisions regarding threads and if they should stand alone.... very difficult job for a co-dependent, :-)

"What Have You Learned at NRF?"

Ok since you asked...

• Each camera has an "issues" thread where all problems and issues of that camera go in that thread except D4 and D800... their "issues" go together.
• Any new D800/D4 thread pertaining to a specific issue runs the risk of being closed at random.
• In case of an issue with a camera, the already existing "issues" thread and its hundreds of pages must be read first before making a new posting, else poster runs the risk of being utterly rebuked.
• No new topic is allowed if it has been covered at anytime during the last 2 years.
• A comparison between two cameras has to go in one of the already existing threads of one of the cameras and can't have it's own thread.
• If you're a new member and want to start a new discussion, don't.
• The sentence "please do a forum search" now ranks as number one in search results.

B-)

Other than a ton of information... I have been learning about the settings for a "walk around" camera. My camera which I carry in my car or with me is always on. Sometimes for a day or tow at a time. And I will grab it and shoot blindly at subjects while driving, paying attention to the driving and just pointing the camera in an attempt to get a shot.

So, what settings? I have concluded for the "grab a shot blindly" method, either shutter priority at a speed which will prevent motion blur, or program mode is good. Manual may not allow for the wide light variations, and aperture may allow slow speeds or too much light, even if the minimum shutter is set in the ISO menu. Auto ISO, yes, always on. Usually at 10,000 max. Focus mode...probably continuous servo is best as it will capture the moving subject while single servo may not. Maybe 3D mode for focus would be an advantage, but from inside the car it may grab something close. So, single point with the 9 surrounding points might be best.

I do not know if any folks are crazy enough to grab shots like I do, it requires practice so as to avoid looking at the camera or subject, but sometimes a shot is obtained. If anyone else has a comment.....

shutterdancer said:
Two things for sure...(1)I don't know half as much as I thought that I did and(2) I'm getting too old to learn it all!

Oh, this is so true.... and I am learning I keep making the same errors over and over. But the nice part is the Nikon stuff is very forgiving.

About being able to afford cameras/lenses, this may come when one is so old, it is to late to be "waiting" Actually, I am grateful to be able to purchase the equipment I have, but the fact is, the photos on PAD are produced with cameras from P & S to the Nikon pro bodies. And some of the great tele shots are from lenses a lot less expensive than the big Nikon ones. The talent on NRF is very high, and it seems to be that the final product is the result of the talent and not necessarily the equipment. And this is one of the most important things I have learned on NRF.

The exception is in my case the equipment keeps pulling me out of the fire, ha, ha, ha.

I have discovered that a lot of stuff camera related that I wasn't sure on, I either don't have to worry about or I was already on the right path of thinking. Also the more I hang around here the more I learn of different techniques.

I have also learned there aren't as many people here as I thought there would be that like to tear into lenses and enjoy it like I seem to.

I do totally dig the community here and the many different aspects of photography that are shown.

sevencrossing said:
Sorry to keep going on about the Flipside back pack but I don't think I would have discovered this brillant this bag Skint and NRF

I tried it out this weekend while shooting and it worked nifty! I liked being able to flip it around and change my lenses...although my wife pretended to not know me ;)

Godless said:
I have learned that for most people, dirt cheap is good enough (regardless of quality). The other extreme is people who can afford a D800 AND a D4 AND a selection of the biggest teles Nikon can offer. Sadly, I belong to neither group although I envy the latter.

Ditto :D Ive outgrown my D7000 but a D4 isn't affordable enough (nor should it be)

msmoto said:
After the critical comments thread died, I thought it might be interesting to see what folks have learned as a result of being a participant on NRF.

I have learned that for most people, dirt cheap is good enough (regardless of quality). The other extreme is people who can afford a D800 AND a D4 AND a selection of the biggest teles Nikon can offer. Sadly, I belong to neither group although I envy the latter.

That people will recommend cameras that they have never used but , in the case of the D600, don't even exist

Two things for sure...(1)I don't know half as much as I thought that I did and(2) I'm getting too old to learn it all!

sevencrossing said:
Sorry to keep going on about the Flipside back pack but I don't think I would have discovered this brillant this bag Skint and NRF

Pardon! You talking about me? :-)

Sorry to keep going on about the Flipside back pack but I don't think I would have discovered this brillant this bag Skint and NRF

Having little to do today except wait for someone, I was looking at the "Function" button on the D4. Gosh, it can be set up as as to display the "Virtual Horizon" in the viewfinder. Not the same as on the camera back, but in the form of an indicator in the center RE" right-left tilt, and on the side where one sees exposure compensation, as the fore and aft tilt.

OK, what does this mean? Handholding the PC Nikkor is what it means to me. In this way, the camera can be held level, adjustments to the shift made and viola, the photo taken with a properly corrected vertical shift. Love this! And, this goes to show, be careful about reading the manual..... may cause more photos to be taken.

Doesn't the toothpaste go into one of those little slots behind the door which opens only after pushing the button under the cover.... just to the right of the lever which locks the focus area adjustments?