Next Best Deal Worth Considering for $450

Duh, of all that time spent trying to knock some senses back into me, I can say, short of getting a Nikon D700 or a ultra-fast Nikkor lens, I am left with two options to put in some additional depth into my amateurish hobby - move into flash photography with a Nikon SB-900 or move into macro photography with a Nikkor 60mm AFS lens. Both cost about the same (Since I found a 6-month old 60mm AFS lens at $450 today)

Both the above options gives strong vertical depth in helping me understand more of photography and will easily extend the life of this interesting "sport".

I think I will just go for the flash, if there's no more complications...

Back To Square One

In the absence of the Nikon D90, I have accelerated my effort to look for a smaller companion camera but to no avail. I simply could not come to the agreement that it will be a compromise in terms of image quality and customized shooting freedom. Several prosumer compacts were scrutinized, including the Canon G10, Sigma DP2, Ricoh GR2 etc. but somewhat all could not come close to what I am already quite used to from my Nikon D90.

I have even decided to take the remaining half day off today just to make sure I did not miss out any other review options. This is insane! I think so too...but again, this is quite fun! BTW, our clients pay us by the result we deliver and not the hours we squat at their office. So, theoretically, we can be anywhere at anytime so long I can manage my team performance and morale!

After all that exercise today, I am back to the Nikon D90 and has concluded that I should expedite on the return of my camera instead of hunting around for sub-standard prosumer compacts to complement my camera!

The Wait is...Excruciating

Its a type of mental torture, to wait forever for your camera to complete her servicing. Today, my call into Nikon Service Center confirmed my ticket has moved, and that an Engineer has perform an inspection (not done anything yet) on it. I was also told inspection usually take 3 working days while calibration can take up to 10!

In my last family dinner appointment, I have to make do with my aged Canon G2 as a last-minute decision. All my other cameras were not properly charged. Well, the feeling of reshooting with my compacts sure is weird. The artificial shutter release sound and miniaturized viewfinder all add to my unease. It was set on an Aperture priority F/2 mode but I could not verify any of my work on-the-spot. Anyway, since it's on a CF card format, I have yet to find my USB CF card reader to check on it.

It was indeed a terrible feeling.

Nikon D90 Awarded Best Digital SLR Advanced Award

Drum roll please...and the best digital SLR advanced award goes to...the Nikon D90!

It's indeed an honor to obtain this greatly coveted TIPA award 2009.

Check out the full award winners [here]

Companion Camera with Nikon D90 - Panasonic LX III

As all of us know, Panasonic has been the OEM of Leica Camera for many years, and with that relationship, almost always introduce a similar cheaper equivalent to the Leica principle.

One such machine worth my mention is the Panasonic LX III compact camera system. Performance wise, it's F/2 aperture brings in more light than her step-sibling D-Lux 4. Video recording has also been bumped up to HD. And the list goes on and on, all on a $400 bundle price.

Just look at the system approach of this camera and drool over the classy vintage fusion of new and old technologies. To my recollection, this was the first choice to upgrade from my Contax T3 some 6 months back...before I entered the DSLR arena.

Simply [captivating]...

Mixed Feeling About Nikon D40 As Backup

With the recent local camera fair in my neighborhood, the Nikon D40 is up for grab as it reaches her EOL status. I was also able to play with the Nikon D60 and Nikon P6000 today, while checking out the new Nikon P90 that boast a 640mm focal reach!

But on one used camera counter, my eyes found it fixed on a couple of mint-condition Leica D-Lux III compacts priced at only $380! Hey Leica sharpness are legendary especially those that are affixed to Leica bodies. Man, that's a bargain, after confirming that its a genuine article.

Let me think about this one...

Side Track #5 - Camera From the Fourth Universe

I call this a paradigm shift in the consulting field but you could well be looking at the future of photography. Do pardon me as I am still baffled by what this product actually is; a video camera or a camera or both.

Critics bowed down to their product range, ingenuity and sense of humility from this more advanced form of image capturing. It kinda remind me of the NERF gun I bought for the boys - fully modular modules configurable in a lego format to adapt to your shooting needs.

I leave it to your imagination.

Check it out [here]

Withdrawal Syndrome from Nikon D90

Having spend so much time with the Nikon D90 in my car, trips and all, having not to shoot anything for the next 2 weeks (as its being serviced in the Nikon Service Center) is causing a small unease of inability to take those pictures with my family and friends.

It's kinda tough but I have, in the absence of the Nikon D90, been doing some "soul searching" for a companion DSLR that can fill in the gap. The price of the Nikon D200 has been dropping steadily, with official announcement made in discontinuing the Nikon D40.

Hmm...there is just that many parameters to consider before moving forward with your hard-earned cash.

Watch & Learn - Nikon Pros Share

Get the full action [here]

Tilt-shift Photography Anyone?

I am sure in your review of Nikkor lenses, you would have come across some lens models that allows shooter to tilt their angle of approach while adding a fabric of flair and special effect to their images.

Its just fascinating how photography has evolved. Meanwhile, [here's] more of that sort of images for your pleasure viewing.

Official - Nikon Overtaken Canon in Market Share in 2008!

Nikon has announced that it is now the UK's leading manufacturer of DSLRs.

Speaking at the UK launch of the company's flagship D3X camera, the company boasted of a prosperous year, which has seen Nikon's DSLR sales growth expand by 333 per cent, compared 2004/05 figures.

The official announcement is that Nikon is "number one for share by volume in the UK, Europe, USA and Japan on 1st December 2008."

The impressive figure of 333 per cent is mainly due to Nikon in recent years getting aggressive in the DSLR market, making sure that everyone from first-time DSLR buyers to high-end professionals have the option to buy a Nikon-branded camera. This includes the recently launched Nikon D3X.

In my opinion, Nikon must have done something right for a change...

Read full story [here]

Nikon and Microsoft To Promote Nikon D90...Sort Of

The Statue of Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial, and Midnight Lightning at Yosemite. Three amazing subjects seen best in rich three-dimensional spaces, stitched together to create a 360 degree view! National Geographic is partnering with Nikon to present American Wonder...three iconic locations at your fingertips with Microsoft's Photosynth application.

See how these three National Geographic photographers shot their subjects and see the new Nikon D90™ in 360. Check it out [here].

New EDG Nikon Fieldscope for Nikon D90

Nikon Vision Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Nikon Corporation, is pleased to introduce the EDG Fieldscope series, a new Nikon Sport Optics brand.

EDG is pronounced “edge” because the series provides edge-to-edge brilliance and overall leading-edge performance. The optical and mechanical results of the current fieldscope series, which has won plaudits from users around the world, have been enhanced for the new EDG series. The outstanding performance of EDG Fieldscopes, including natural color reproduction and crisp clarity, has been achieved through the use of Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass. The straight-type models also feature dielectric high-reflective multilayer prism coating.

Both the main bodies and eyepieces of the EDG Fieldscopes are waterproofed with O-ring seals and nitrogen gas, allowing EDG Fieldscopes to be used in adverse weather conditions. Seven kinds of eyepiece are available, providing unparalleled performance in differing environments. The newly developed zoom eyepiece in particular offers superb optical performance with minimized distortion and long eye relief (18.4-16.5mm).

Macro Photography - A Whole New World in a Tight Small World

So you are running out of sites to shoot? Or decides to skip your next vacation destinations due to budget constrain? Then, I would suggest to go macro (or micro as Nikon would call it), into the world of details.

I have been considering the notion of going micro for a while now and is currently evaluating the pros and cons of the Nikkor 60mm F/2.8D and Nikkor 60mm F/2.8 AF-S lenses. Both are brilliant lenses but are priced quite differently.

Some say the older lens is built with less distortion, while others claimed that the new nano coat can turn the tide of the macro war. I have not reached a conclusive summary yet but it sure ain't far away.

The AF-D model is sold for about $350 while the AF-S at $550.

Evaluating the New Wide-Angle Lens for Nikon D90

Nikon UK is pleased to announce the introduction of the AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24MM F/3.5-4.5G ED lens, a NIKKOR DX-format ultra-wide-angle zoom lens that boasts a focal range starting at 15mm equivalent in FX/35mm format.

At a very affordable price, this new lens offers a superior build quality making it a great addition to anyone’s Nikon system. It is perfect for users wanting to shoot scenes that require a wide angle perspective effect such as in a small room, or for shooting architecture and landscapes.

Ludovic Drean, Product Manager for Lenses at Nikon Europe B.V says: “This great new lens is perfectly suited for Nikon D300 and D90 users and works very well with our other mid-class DSLRs too, including models without a built-in motor such as the D40 and the D60, for example. Its affordable price is no reflection on its superior quality, though, as its high-reproduction performance, minimum distortion and build quality are almost equivalent to those of the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED.”

Now that I have all the range I need from 18mm to 300mm, a wide-angle lens will complete my shooting range?

What Nikon Professional Uses for Their Work

Once in a while, its good to know if you want to shoot with the result of the pros, you jolly well use what they use....for a start. Composition skills, experience and ability to improvise and assess scene aside, at least you know you are getting there with the right lens.

I personally believe the Nikon D90 has identical capability as the Nikon D300 and with the right lens, we may well be seeing the summit of decent picture quality. Here's what the pros swear by each day

Microorganism - Meet the Nikon D90 with NAS-L1 Attachment

The story seems to go on forever. Nikon has practically integrated every optical equipment with their DSLR I came across so far, namely fieldscope, lenses and now microscope!

Capturing bacteria growth and images has never been easier now...pending the availability of $1600 in your bank account that is.

Six-Month Pitstop for Nikon D90

So I went and so I deposited all my three lenses and body to the Nikon Service Center yesterday. As I believe there be minor adjustments required on the body for front/back focusing calibration errors (as seen on my Nikon ViewNX), I have decided to leave my whole camera kit with Nikon.

I was also told this routine servicing can take as long as 2 weeks! Along the way, I have also requested for a thorough sensor cleaning via liquid solution and I think you should too every six months.

As for the lenses, they are only covered by a one year international warranty no matter where you bought them, as opposed to some 4 to 5 years you get in the States. To expedite the servicing interval, I was also told to present shots that exemplify those front/back focus errors I claimed, to the Nikon Engineers. No problem there too.

Do visit them if not done so.

All Nikon D90 Lab Articles Undergoing Catergorization

Yes, I know its overdue and I just manage to find some lunch minutes to do so.

So, do bear with me as I improve on the friendliness of this blog!

Cheers.

UPDATED - All articles categorized! Hope this will give everyone easier access to the blog articles. Enjoy!

Photo of the Day - Hell Needs No Tripod!

Its good biceps training to shoot with a 35-pounder lens!