Regulator75 said:
Are you really comparing a gimmicky fisheye to a superwide lens??

Apples to oranges dude. It's all your opinion, everyone brags about their gear.

When did you get your Tokina Lens, there were some issues with that lens a while back. Actually I have thought about getting one, your pictures certainly shows that the lens works ok. Yes Fisheye and Superwide are not the same, but both have things that they are great at, but I would think that the superwide would end up getting used the most

Pete

Are you really comparing a gimmicky fisheye to a superwide lens??

Apples to oranges dude. It's all your opinion, everyone brags about their gear.

My 10.5mm 2.8 Nikon creams the tokina product and the crappy nikon 12-24mm. As to phobias I agree with TJGilbert21 on a few, such as theft and third party lenses... As for sand, rain, mud, water, being dropped (by someone else of course), and crushed I have come to the the conclusion that the D3 is indestructible seeing as my D90 is near that... I also got over my fear of high ISO's after seeing Canon's ISO 800... PURE CRAP THAT CANON ISO IS!!!

Regulator75 said:
I'll still choose my Tokina 11-16mm over any of the Nikkor super wides.

I'll second that Regulator

What a funny coincidence! I, too, have six Nikkors! We should start a Nikkor support group for us minorities, a sad proposition for Nikon fans. :D

I'll still choose my Tokina 11-16mm over any of the Nikkor super wides.

TJ, I avoid third party lenses as well so you have some company. I own 6 lenses and all are Nikkors.

I know, I know, I'm totally a lens snob. And when I get attached to a brand (like Nikon), there's no letting go. So the very idea of using cheap alternatives seems both unprofessional and risky. (I destroyed a printer once using third-party ink. I never thought the little text on the ink boxes that says to only use the matching brand were serious!)

TJGilbert21 said:
Phobias:

3. Third-party (non-Nikkor) lenses

Lens SNOB!!! LOL

Yeah, that's the only thing I really worry about...

High ISO? I push tx400 to 3200 whenever necessary, or use delta 3200, no big deal, I like the prints I get from that EI as well.
Rain? my F3 and F4 are well sealed, I've drenched them and covered them in snow and ice, no big deal. I have no need to use my Bronica or Pentax medium format stuff in inclement weather usually, but I would feel fine.
Loss of gear? I'm conscious of my stuff, and very few people steal film cameras, I usually tape over all logos. No worries there.
Kids? I'm 19, I don't think it's much of a problem.
Dropping stuff? I sling my cameras around my shoulder and neck, they don't fall. Lenses are hard to drop if you pay attention.
Sensor cleaning? Ha. Every shot for me gives a new sensor, +1 for film.

ChrisLange said:
Phobia? Pouring the fixer into the dev tank first, instead of the developer. Or chemistry suddenly expiring on me and ruining a roll.

Ouch... ! the pain !! it cuts deep!

there than that..
* High ISO .. Nope.
* Rain.. Nope..
* Loss of gear .. Nope (BTW I lost all my gear once.. didnt shoot for years!... Now I just let go.. I can shoot with a P&S if I have to.. :-) have not lost anything since though ..
* Shooting Kids .. Nope.. I just move on if asked to.. too much beauty in this world to miss out on by beings down about it.
* Dropping gear.. Nope.. (did drop a lense before, the cracks makes a nice pattern!. I took a photo of that with my other lens. lol!
* Sensor cleaning..? I do it myself once every couple of months or so ..
* .. hmm cant think of anything else ..

Phobias:

1. The loss of/theft of my camera equipment
2. Sand and salt and other beach moiré
3. Third-party (non-Nikkor) lenses
4. Breaking my comfort zone to photograph strangers (which I MUST learn to conquer)
5. Desanctifying my pristine camera equipment with grease-covered fingertips (from food)
6. Shooting at over ISO 400 with my D40 (you thought you all were chicken!)

I love photographing kids (I have a three-year-old sister and many tiny cousins) and am trying to be a little more adventurous. This past summer, I took my D40 out into the water (but not underwater)!

NikoDoby said:
Not just rain PB PM but condensation from going into a cold environment and then into a warm one. That can be worst than rain because you don't realize it's happening until your camera is all wet.

I haven't had too many issues with condensation thankfully. My camera gear gets to slowly warm up with me as I drive home from a shoot.

cleaning the sensor is mine...trying to stay away from it as far as possible :)

I was a bit nervous coming home by airplane this winter... I had my D60, 18-55mm kit lens, 35mm f/1.8, 200mm Micro and my Bigma all in 2 carry-on bags, one very obviously a camera bag. Security didn't even blink, though, so yay.

I also felt rather self-conscious about pulling my Bigma out in public today (by "public" I mean walking around the block for neighborhood bird pictures). But it's a rare sunny day today, so I pulled myself together :). No really good shots, though. There were some bald eagles circling, if they were a bit lower I might have gotten a decent shot of one of them, but they were way too far away, even with 500mm.

adamz said:
there are some:
- x-ray, once it got me into serious troubles, as I had 15 velvias in a bag and wanted the manual check at the moscow airport
- thieves -I'm always scared that someone will come over and steal my equipment, and I'm used to carry all the things with me
- TSA - that they will not let me to carry my camera with me on board
and that's all... don't have any phobias regarding weather, neither on lens or body - that's maybe because I treat my camera as a tool to do the job and don't cherish it too much

Yeah, I'm afraid of thieves too. I never bring by DSLR to school at my dorm because I don't trust leaving it there.

I purposely bought a somewhat small camera bag because I know it'll fit inside my Jansport school bag, which is all dinged up.

I like holding onto my stuff, thank you very much. :D

I know what you mean about the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) adamz. I'm now dating the TSA agent who strip searched me at the airport coming back from my vacation! We shared a very special moment on that wintery day at the airport. It was oh so romantic, lol :^)

Yeah I'd stay away from photographing kids without permission. In todays world a guy with a camera is either a terrorist or a pedophile! Did I tell you about the guy taking pictures at a lake? A mom called the cops because she thought he was photographing her kids in their swimsuits! Even though the cops said he wasn't doing anything wrong they still asked him to leave!

ChrisLange said:
I photograph kids anyway, what are their parents going to do, sue you? I've never encountered any problems, but I always carry a pack of little cards with my name, email and flickr on it in case someone wants to get in touch with me about getting a print or a scan of the negative. People are vain.

Phobia? Pouring the fixer into the dev tank first, instead of the developer. Or chemistry suddenly expiring on me and ruining a roll.

Good point on the business cards. That's what I will have to do soon.

I once was a cause of a big scene when one of he mothers made a huge fuss about me photographing the kids. It got crowded very quickly, and I felt like am gonna be killed by a mob of angry mothers and onlookers. It was VERY unpleasant.

there are some:
- x-ray, once it got me into serious troubles, as I had 15 velvias in a bag and wanted the manual check at the moscow airport
- thieves -I'm always scared that someone will come over and steal my equipment, and I'm used to carry all the things with me
- TSA - that they will not let me to carry my camera with me on board
and that's all... don't have any phobias regarding weather, neither on lens or body - that's maybe because I treat my camera as a tool to do the job and don't cherish it too much

PB PM said:
alphanikonrex: you are a brave man with your D300.

Nope, I'm just an irresponsible kid :^) Sometimes being immature will get you the shot I guess. Did I tell you about the time when my camera and I got dribbled on by a basketball? The picture was pretty cool though :^)

LOL Pete, I'll watch your back with my own set of weaponry :^)

Yes we Canadians are suckers for showing of our latest toys, but that D4 is a real beauty, I don't really blame you for wanting it

Pete

bmxdad said:
So we shake hands, talk a bit about your D70 and then as I walk back to my car you drop your D70 pull that HK 45 ACP from your boot and kapow Pete is down for the count along with the Identity of Niko

Pete

Nah, first I let you unlock the trunk of your rental car and show me the gold bullion, and the pelican case with the D800 and D4 you brought me from Canada. Then I pop a cap behind your ear :^)

NikoDoby said:
No, no Pete you misunderstood me. I said I'd only shoot you in the back! :^)

So we shake hands, talk a bit about your D70 and then as I walk back to my car you drop your D70 pull that HK 45 ACP from your boot and kapow Pete is down for the count along with the Identity of Niko

Pete

bmxdad said:
I thought your Phobia Niko would be, seeing me walking up to your front door. Maybe I shouldn't there are a few to many gun owners in Texas, but you would only shot me with your D70 right

Pete

No, no Pete you misunderstood me. I said I'd only shoot you in the back! :^)

*As Bmxdad buzzes the doorbell to Niko's lair. Niko reaches down and takes the safety off the HK 45 ACP holstered under his desk before pushing a button to release the magnetic lock on the door.*