Nikkor 24mm f1.4 G

I saw this yesterday for sale in the second hand section at Fixation and I thought I would check it out to see how good it was in the flesh. It was worth spending the money on it rather than hoping a good one would turn up cheap on the internet.

Not had a chance to play with it properly. I’m sure I will soon.

Ice Light

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I have just un-boxed a second hand Ice Light by F.J. Westcott that I purchased from Wex Photographic.

First impression is a little bit tainted by the fact that version 2 of the product is now out and looks like a better model. Version 1 does not have a removable battery so I have no idea what I will do with it once the battery is no longer functioning.

I can’t help myself from thinking that this is just a souped up torch and not cheap either (even though it was second hand). Having said that, I’m sure that it will get me out of trouble in the dark winter days we have in the UK.

So there will be plenty of time to wave it around like a “Star Wars” light sabre before I will really need it.

3 Legged Thing AirHed 1

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When I first started out on my photographic career I purchased a Gitzo monopod. It has served me well. It was only in the past couple of years that I decided to get a head for it.

It was a big mistake getting the “correct” head from Gitzo for my monopod. The head I chose is pretty big for a piece of kit that is supposed to be easy to lug around. There are also just too many different knobs and fiddly things on it for me to be comfortable with it.

As 3 Legged Thing have a sale on and the AirHed is going for a bit cheaper than normal I decided to replace it with their far superior bit of kit. Boy I don’t regret it. The Gitzo is going back into the box.

Net pioneer warns of data Dark Age

When I read this I remembered that I have some documents created using Claris Works which I can no longer open. I’m sure there is a way of opening them but will I still be able to in 5 or 10 years time?

Which makes me worried about shooting images in the RAW format. They are difficult to open now with software makers having to code for new cameras as they come out. Will the current support still exist in 5 or 10 years time?

There are many arguments for shooting in RAW. Personally I like the discipline of shooting in JPEG and getting it right in the camera rather than in post production on the computer. 

And now my thinking is that there with JPEG being such a common format the chances are there will be a way to open them in the future. For me JPEG is best. 

Net pioneer warns of data Dark Age

Photography today

When I read this BBC News article on the Box Brownie it got me thinking about the days before digital.

It amazes me still how fast the move from film to digital was. Overnight I stopped wondering where there nearest 1 hour processing shop was. I no longer need to attach the film scanner to the computer. Having a can of compressed air on your desk was mandatory.

Future generations I am sure will look back on this transition with wonder. I am so glad that I had a front row seat for the ride.