Doing my part to oil the gears of capitalism!

[john dough]

This weekend was a spending spree! I purchased a D700 (AGAIN!) as I think that the rattle in my last camera was an anomaly. That camera is too good to not give another chance. I also purchased a Tamron 28-300 VC lens for travel shooting when I don't want to lug out the 105 F/2 lens. The reviews are mixed for this lens, but for $580, I am not expecting the world. Many have said that it works better full frame than cropped sensor, so that is promising. It may not be as sharp as my 50 MM 1.8 or the 105, but until Nikon makes a good-range zoom that covers that range (they may never do this) I will do testing this week to see if I will keep it or swap out for a 70-300MM VR and a 20MM prime.

A colleague who is getting into photography just bought a tripod but did not realize that he needed a head as well (he purchased only the legs) and called me because he could not figure out how the camera would stay on. I have been want to get a different ballhead for a while, so I sold him my Gitzo ballhead. After much back and forth between RRS, Kirk, Arca Swiss and Acratech, I went with this head:


http://acratech.net/product.php?productid=69

as well as a nodal rail, as I am going to be do panoramic landscape shots this summer in the Southwest. I pocked this head for its open form, so dirt/dust will not sit in the bottom of the ball socket as it would with other designs.

Also on order is an L bracket from Really Right Stuff for the D700.

This was all done by Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon, my wife went shopping and insisted that I get some new shirts. 2 hours at Nordstrom later, I am $300 lighter for 4 shirts (they are VERY nice).

Last night we went out for sushi and although it was not cheap ($70 with sake) it was fantastic!

Suffering from financial hangover now! (tu)

[mikebw]

So what did you wind up doing with the other D700?

[guod]

I've been looking at either the Tamron 18-270 VC or the 28-300 VC . I'm leaning towards the 18-270, but I'm not sure.

Mind if I ask if you debated between the two and what made your final decision for you ?

Thanks,

Doug

[john dough]

I sent it to Nikon and after several back and forths, they refunded what I paid for it ($2400 for the body). I picked up a brand new one from BH Photo for $2350 and another (after 2 months) $50 cashback from Microsoft. The frustration was NOT worth $100 but it is over with and if it does NOT work out this time (if this one comes with a rattle) I will be looking at a Canon 5D mark II with a 24-105.

I picked the 28-300 as I have read that at 18MM, it is too soft and that the 28-300 was better suited for full frame. I also wanted a little extra range at the end of lens rather than at the beginning.

[cbelt3]

Well, the Chinese and Japanese thank you. Pity there ain't no UhMerican camera company to speak of. (I'm sure there are some speciality boutique guys that make golliwog view cameras out of virgin burled wood or something)

[mrbigstuff]

they don't call you John Dough for nuthin'~!

[john dough]

I know that there are no American camera companies, but the tripod head and the nodal rail ARE made in the US (in CA).

I would buy stuff from the US if that was the last difference, but unfortunately, most stuff is not made in the US anymore.

[Racer X]

numerous small cottage camera makers in the US. usually wooden field large format cameras. I can't, for the life of me, remember the name of his company, but a friend of the family makes assemble and finish yourself wooden field camera kits, based in Leavenworth, Washington. You supply the sheet film holder, the lens, and the elbow grease.

[mikebw]

Racer X wrote:
numerous small cottage camera makers in the US. usually wooden field large format cameras. I can't, for the life of me, remember the name of his company, but a friend of the family makes assemble and finish yourself wooden field camera kits, based in Leavenworth, Washington. You supply the sheet film holder, the lens, and the elbow grease.

If you can ever remember the name I would be interested in checking that out.

[Don Kiyoti]

Spending-Shock Leader!

I wonder what Kodak and Argus were thinking in the late 50s and early 60s as Pentax and Nikon and Canon began selling SLR cameras in the US. Kodak especially would have been in a position to get in on that market as they were certainly capable of making excellent cameras and optics. Argus was still selling the C3 "Brick" in 1966 and it was an ancient design even then.

Maybe it was the same line of thought that had GM, Ford and Chrysler laughing at VW, Toyota and Datsun.