I got all of my camera equipment used on eBay. Nikon FE2 camera (vintage 1983). Has a quilted titanium foil shutter. The camera is solid metal, not cheap plastic. They sold new in 1983 for about $400. You can get them in excellent condition on eBay for $120 to $175. They never wear out. The band photos I used a modern designed 35mm F1.4 wide angle lens made in Korea. They sell new for about $500. I picked up a like new used one for ~$300. The nikon 35mm F1.4 wide angle lenses sell used for over $500. A new Nikon Manual Focus 35MM f1.4 (YES THEY STILL MAKE THEM) sells for about $1100. Same lens they made in 1972. The Korean lens is sharper and has less distortion due to it's more modern design. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/samyang/35mm-f14.htm The nature shots of the critters and the lake I used a 1983 vintage Nikon 180mm F2.8 ED AIS lens. About a 4X telephoto - think 4 power scope. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/180f28.htm I put an extension tube on the 180mm lens for the closeup shots of the flowers and lizzards. The extension tube adds about 2 inches between the camera and the lens. Allows you to focus very close on objects that are as small as about 2" across but you're still about 4 feet away with the camera so you don't scare shy critters away. I used fill flash (a Metz 54 MZ3) on most of the shots. The film is Kodak Portra 160 Professional. It is supposed to be a "wedding film" because of its ability to render very accurate flesh tones and not lose detail in deep blacks (like a groom's tux) and bright whites and highlight details (like a bride's gown). I like the way Portra handles high contrast light like mid day sun. But you can punch up to color saturation in Photoshop. IME Portra is the best film for people pictures of people. My friend Steve shot with the 180mm at about 8 feet from the camera. Used a twin head flash - one head bounces the flash off the ceiling and the other head fills the shadows under the chin and puts a little catch light in the eyes. Note no head shadow on the wall behind him. Steve's cat shot outdoors with fill flash - Same lens 180mm. You can really sneak up on stuff. I love Digital because now that everybody is going digital I can afford the good cameras and lenses that I could only dream about in the '80's.
Yesterday I had a day at the track with my son, the first in two years as he has been away at college and the last for a while as he leaves for Australia in a week or so. He used to race or practise every weekend, so it was just like old times... me: james:
No, CRF 250. We were sharing my bike as his has a seized crank and I still haven't got round to fixing it...
Wow he is getting some height off what looks to be a small jump for a 4 stroke, he must be some pilot, does he ride road bikes at all?
It's my tired old bog standard 05 bike too... He's been on bikes since he was 5 - raced at national level in the uk. Came 7th in the British Supercross championships in the 'Big Wheel' class when he was 14. Managed to keep him off road bikes though!
Keeping him off road is a good thing, cant have been easy but short circuit racing is brilliant, and all the good motox boys clean up.
Its done a year David, It is made up of replacable bits so hopefully will be ok for a while. It will save your back so it becomes cheap at any price.
