New version of Reikan Focal is out (2.9.6)

After lots of beta testing, Reikan Focal version 2.9.6 is out with new looks and increased performance. Focal is a Camera Calibrator and Analysis Software for Nikon and Canon cameras.

Tamron Tap-In Console, my experience

Tamron announced their Tap-In Console about two years ago, and the two main functions is to be able to update firmware without sending the lens into service, and the second is to finetune focus at three different focus distances and several focal lengths (for primes just one focal length). There are also some other features you may do in the Tap-In utility, such as behavior of the Vibration Control, adjust the focus limiter, sensitivity of the focus ring and so on.

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Nikon predictions for 2018

Historically it has been relatively easy to predict what will come out of Nikons production plants, but this has changed to be increasingly more and more difficult in the later years. A couple of reasons for that are the economy crises and the flooding of a Thailand plant in 2011. So I guess this could be the reason that it wasn’t an immediate replacement for the D300s and the D700 and by this messing up the time line a bit. Lately they’ve also struggled with reorganization and saving money because of shrinking market for compacts and DSLR’s.

Tripod, heads and accessories

If you are new to photography or even a bit experienced, I admit that there is a jungle out there that can confuse the most determent ones. If you look a little bit closer you will notice that there is actually some kind of system in the mess, and there is a form of standardization of screws and threads, and quick release plates.

Storage workflow, from preparing via on the road to backup when coming home

As we do most travel photos, we need to start with what photo gear to bring. That includes more than cameras and lenses, we also need to think about storage. We need to bring more memory cards than we need and external hard drives with more than enough space (make sure that they are all working!). For the camera with only one card slot, we never delete photos from the full memory card used with that camera, but for the camera with dual card slots (which the second card slot is set up to backup), I delete one of them after all photos are copied over to the external hard drive.

Computer for photo editing

This one has been churning in my head for quite some time now, how can I putt this into words so it will last more than a year and not become outdated?

Well, first off I will strongly recommend a stationery computer and not a laptop. Nothing wrong with a laptop, but to be good enough (read, powerful enough), they need to be expensive, so I would rather recommend getting an “okay” priced and light weight laptop that you can bring with you on the travels and then get a powerful stationary workstation at home. Assembling a stationary computer is a lot easier than it might look like.

Why and how you should use AF fine tune in your Nikon DSLR

What is AF fine tune and why should you use it?

AF fine tune is an option in the menu of your camera (if it’s supported by your camera, it was introduced with the D3 and D300, but it’s not supported by the D3000 and D5000 series). What it does is that it compensate that your camera and lens combination may be off by a little bit making the auto focus to miss to lesser or greater degree. Every camera body and lens is produced within a certain tolerances and if the body and lens are off to the same side, it will make the focus to miss. You might also be so lucky that they are off to opposite sides and by this cancel out the differences, but that’s not any guaranty. If you happen to own several lenses, I’m convinced that most of them need some minor fine tune and maybe a couple need considerable fine tune. Adding the correct fine tune will then compensate for any misalignment between the body and lens, making the auto focus focus correctly.

Why is it important to calibrate your monitor or laptop?

So why is it important to calibrate your monitor while working with photos (and video) before publishing them online, selling them, giving them away or making prints?

The first argument against you will hear is that; no one else has a calibrated screen, so why should I care?

Chargers

Apart from your passport and credit card, the chargers are probably the most important thing you bring on your travels. In this modern time with everything is running on battery, being able to charge is essential. We basically has two options, either in the car or the bus/train (if you are lucky), or in the place you are staying for the night. Most people will rely on the latter I guess, and that may bring a challenge in itself.  For us, we bring a laptop, a tablet, two telephones, rechargeable speaker and two to three cameras that sometimes all need to be charged for the next day.

Nikon/Nikkor wish list

Everybody likes to look into the crystal ball from time to time. Sometimes we like to predict what is coming, other times what WE like to be coming. Here is what I would like to be released from Nikon regards camera, and Nikkor regards lenses

To filter or not to filter, that’s the question (many ask)

I’m not talking about ND, polarizer or color filters, but about clear or UV filters. Do we need them or not. Of course do we need them, but do we need them on all of the time and are they for everybody? Often do we come across arguments one way or the other online or in person about the pros and cons of using those filters. So to jump right into it, what are actually the pros and cons?

What’s in our photo bags?

What to bring on a trip is always a question on how are you traveling and what you expect doing there, and of course your priorities. In most cases you can’t bring all your photo gear, so already there, your priority starts. After we acquired the phenomenal Think Tank Airport International v3 rolling bag, most of our problems did go away.