Package in the Mail

My New Toy

I’ve just received my Tokina ATX-Pro 11-16mm f2.8 wide-angle lens that I had ordered from B&H. This is a popular lens, much sought after, to the point that it is rarely in stock.  This was my final choice after much deliberation and research, and I hope I have chosen well. Removing it from the box provides almost instant gratification – it feels hefty and solid in the hand, and the lens movement when zooming is smooth and comforting. This is an internally focusing lens (IF), that can be switched from manual to aut0-focus with a quick push or pull. The 11 – 16mm range, small by necessity, is also internal, so there is no change in lens length when zooming. At f2.8, this is a fairly fast lens. It uses a 77 mm filter, the same as my Nikon 80 – 400mm VR zoom, so I will be able to use the same filters with out adapters. Over the next few days my daughter and I will be out and about, and I hope to provide some images and more comments on the lens at that time.

For those interested, user reviews on the lens can be found at the B&H with some professional reviews at the following:

Ken Rockwell

photo.net

photozone (on Canon)

 

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

This Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) was photographed from the car at a road-side pond on the Old Fort road in north-east Edmonton. Nikon  D80 with Nikon 80-400mm VR lens mounted on a Kenko Pro 1.4x teleconverter, handheld. ISO 400, 1/125 sec. @ f5.6. 6 June, 2009 at 6:00 AM.

 

Basic DSLR Macro System on a Budget

In my post on the Lowepro sling bag, Ted McRae of the blog Beetles in the Bush asked about my recommendations for a basic budget DSLR macro system. Since this might be of interest to others, Ted has agreed to let me post this as an open letter:

Hi Ted,

I had to sleep on this overnight! First, I have to say that I have always admired your tiger beetle images. I have only come across  tiger beetles once (along the Milk River in southern Alberta) and I absolutely failed to get any images at all. They are very difficult to photograph and I admire your skill!

In your price range you have to make compromises somewhere.Considering your budget and the way digital technology changes so rapidly, it is probably best to base your system on a good quality macro lens rather than on the digital camera. This way your lens will survive the body upgrade later.

The good news is that a typical macro lens that provides 1:1 magnification also focuses to infinity – so you can use it as a general lens as well.

For bugs a long macro is usually recommended because you will then obtain a better lens to subject distance. If you were just shooting dragonflies and butterflies I would recommend a 180mm or 200mm macro, but with beetles I would go for a mid-length macro lens such as 90mm or a 105mm. They are lighter and they are also great for general use, especially for portraiture. They are also fairly affordable.

 

Lowepro Sling Bag Review

We spent a morning in Elk Island National Park on Tuesday, my wife and I on foot while our daughter slid about on cross-country skis. The snow was hard packed on the trail around Tawayik Lake, so walking was easy. As is usual on a weekday winter morning we had the trail to ourselves. With temperatures hovering around freezing and patchy blue skies, it was a pleasure to get out again. We did a bit of photography, but mostly the trip was a chance to be outside again and feel the sun on our faces.

I was also trying out our new Lowepro SlingShot – 300 AW sling bag for its first trial run. I have always found a regular backpack somewhat frustrating, in that you need to take it off and set it down to access your gear–something that is not always possible or efficient. Regular shoulder bags have the habit of sliding off the shoulder just as you are releasing the shutter, and even with an added hip-belt they become clumsy when you need to kneel down for macro work or crouch for stalking. The new sling bags being offered by many manufacturers seem to offer a solution to the problem.

Lowepro Sling-shot 300 AW.

The Lowepro bag I chose is just large enough to hold my basic trail equipment: a Nikon D80 with the 80-400mm VR  lens mounted, Nikon 18-70mm, Tamron 90mm macro, Kenko Pro 1.4x tele-extender, Kenko automatic extension tube set,  Nikon SB-600 flash, Nikon SB-R200 flash, Nikon DR-6 right-angle viewfinder, flash cable, flash diffuser and spare batteries all in the main compartment. The upper compartment holds a shoe-mount level, a lens-pen and my macro-flash bracket and panorama rig, which also doubles as a focusing rail. The remaining front pouch is large enough to hold my basic filter set (77mm B&W slim circular polarizer, 77mm B&W 0 .9 neutral density filter, and a Singh-Ray graduated neutral density with a Cokin P series filter holder and two adapter rings) and a microfibre cleaning cloth.

Comfort was excellent. The bag has a substantial shoulder strap and a hip-belt for extra support. I found that when the camera and large zoom was in hand the use of the hipbelt was not required. When the bag is pulled forward the main compartment can be accessed through the side, however it is a bit awkward to reach all the compartments without first lengthening the shoulder strap. The top compartment is also a bit awkward as it is designed for top access, and it would be far more useful if the zipper opened  at least partially along the bottom. The bag also has 3 slip-lock straps (one on the shoulder strap, 2 on the main bag) that allow the attachment of Lowepro Slip-lock cases – something I am sure I will need soon. Other key features for us are the built-in rain cover that pulls up over the whole bag and the clippable retaining belt that prevents you from completely unzipping the main compartment (and thereby lessening the chance of all your equipment falling out!)  before returning the bag to your back. Although we are happy with the reverse-sewn zippers that provide extra dust protection, we are a bit concerned about the durability as they are much smaller zippers than we are used to.

All in all I am satisfied with the pack so far. Time and many more day hikes will tell if the purchase was worthwhile. If you have any further questions, please add them to the comments or view the website.

(Photo from Lowepro. This is an independent review and I have no other association with the company except as an occasional customer)