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Jack,

This is pretty neat tech. I'd be very curious to see how much power output they are able to get. Looks like the unit uses and array of about 112 LEDs. I seriously doubt they can even match the light output of an on-camera strobe, let alone a portable power pack, but I won't dismiss something I've never seen or used.

While…[Read more]

Kurt,
Seems the 120 look is a clear improvement over the 75 1.4 you sold when leaving the M system. Nice.

Beautiful, Jack! The S2 is certainly the right tool for the job.

Kurt

Over the years Leica has offered more choices to one of the most popular focal length, “normal” 50mm. They all have their unique contribution to the functions from optic to ergonomic; a difficult choice to pick. However if I had to pick one or two, my choice would be the Noctilux F1 for black and white film and the 0.95/50 for the digital camera.

You can use off brand flash for basic flash fill that allow A or aperture auto setting. It is like a manual setting that uses the sensor on the flash to determine the amount of light for proper exposure. This is different than the TTL offerings that measure off if the film plane forproper exposure. Advanced TTL systems even go as far as using…[Read more]

woodyspedden;106 wrote: Well, as I said my only problem has been with the 120mm and that happened only twice. I was focusing close to infinity and the S2 just kept hunting.

I think the best advice is to use Al's method. Using the AF button on the back to get close then tweak seems like a pretty quick and reliable method.

Anyway I am not…

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Lots of great information … thanks. Now I need to order a flash.

Here is an example of when the flash did not fire and when it did. Notice the ambient light is exposed the same, just the subject in shade is better exposed.

Did I say that I love to use flash? It adds a lot of life to your images and can bring drama to ordinary shots. I use it all the time with my little Canon S95 as the flash sync…[Read more]

Basic rules about flash, the output is measured in f stops and for portable flash the time is far shorter than your shutter speed. So for example, if the sun is bright and you want to make the overall ambient light area dark, using the “sunny 16 rule” 1 over ISO @ f 16 would be 1/160th at f16 with ISO 160 which would mean that to make the ambient…[Read more]

Sadly, I have had incredibly limited experience with Leica glass. The few times I've gotten to use them, they have been unbelievable. Although some shots i took with a Noctilux were rejected by iStockPhoto due to “unacceptable blue chroma”. :confused:

Mark,
Learning a new software is difficult, Photoshop more so.

I was taught PS 3.0 in 1996 or so. I was taught by a designer in 30 minute sessions. I would merely ask how to do one thing I needed at a time. David has now taught you one thing you needed.
To try and learn the whole thing at once is like saying you need to learn Japanese in…[Read more]

Kurt, just borrow my SF58 for an hour indoors and out, and you will get the hang of it.
Digital allows you to learn from feedback fast.

I am not understanding David's swivel bounce advice exactly. David, are you turning your camera in portrait mode for the shot? I prefer to always have the flash above the subject, which means for a vertical…[Read more]

Kurt Kamka;94 wrote: … on camera and off. I need to take a deep dive and understand a bit more about the SF58, basic settings and any other secrets you wish to share.

My confession: I've never really taken the time to understand flash … I've compensated by finding faster lenses and better higher ISO cameras. I've used flash a few times…

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Well, as I said my only problem has been with the 120mm and that happened only twice. I was focusing close to infinity and the S2 just kept hunting.

I think the best advice is to use Al's method. Using the AF button on the back to get close then tweak seems like a pretty quick and reliable method.

Anyway I am not knocking the AF of the…[Read more]

Mark

I am not sure the horizon is tilted although at first glance it looks that way.
I think that the fog (always there somewhere in Northern California) is creating the illusion of tilt. If you look carefully at the extreme edges it appears to me that both extreme points are at the same level. JMHO

Woody

Hey Al… David didn't say what kind of ticket. I think Greyhound goes from Ft. Lauderdale… only takes 3 days, 14 hours and 55 mins.

I can barely get the SB 900 Nikon flash to give me the look I like, i.e. gentle fill that does not make it obvious that flash was used. I think the problem for me is that the flash is smarter than I am… it wants (and knows how) to give me a properly exposed capture. What I've wound up doing on the Nikon system is to punch in a negative EV in…[Read more]