[cpopham]

D7100 will be here soon!
I still don't like the Nikon menu system much, but there a few bonuses like the "My Menu" thing on which you can put the items you use most.

It's actually here now! But I got a tidy deal on a clearanced D7000, and don't really need the enhanced autofocus, so the D7100 doesn't bring much to the table to justify the extra ~$500 it would have cost me. And I think maybe I'd have needed to upgrade lightroom too?

[zkarj]

My wife just got a D5100. Like peering thru a crack. Horrible viewfinder.

Can you describe the issue with the viewfinder? I have a couple of friends (overseas) who both have D5100s.

[pixelsaurus]

Can you describe the issue with the viewfinder? I have a couple of friends (overseas) who both have D5100s.

When I looked through my wife's D5100, I felt like I was looking into a narrow dark box with light at the end. That is probably because it has a very small eye lens; it is just under the width of a USB plug. The eyelens of my *ist DS and K10D are about half as wide again. There is nothing inherently wrong with the D5100 viewfinder but it is a lot smaller than I'm accustomed to.

[MarkJerling]

You could maybe try this Mark, a little adaptation and it's free and can be done at anytime, these instructions are for Nikon but there is also a Canon version so no doubt a little tinkering will produce a Pentax version ( I use Focal so haven't tried this yet). The feedback has been 99%+ on this method :-

Edit 2/18/13: I've published a DotTune tutorial on YouTube. DotTune Youtube Video

Hi

Thanks. Can you post the link to the youtube video?
I take it this woeks on the camera focussing differently when using live view?

Thanks,
Regards,
Mark

[MarkJerling]

You may find my "Autofocus Adjustment Hints" useful.

Depending on how much of a perfectionist you are, you may want to avoid methods based on live view (such as the "DotTune" approach). LiveView AF is limited in terms of the precision achieved in practice (there is a trade off between optimal sharpness and AF speed).

The best method is "adjustment bracketing", i.e., taking a series of shots of an unambiguous target and select the best adjustment based on that. But make sure you don't just take one shot at each adjustment setting as phase detect AF has tolerances as well.

Thanks Class A!
Very good article, thank you.

Kind regards,
Mark

[GUB]

Today I did some tripod work trying to stitch a tall tree. M 28mm pentax lens on m mode. Set the timer on 2 sec to fire the camera shakefree. And also did a 12 sec delay version to get myself in the photo. The two times I did this the 12sec delay image came out at least one stop lighter than the 2 second one. Sticky aperture blades?

[MarkJerling]

So Craig very kindly sold me his F35-70/3.5-4.5 on TM, which arrived all safe and sound and nicely wrapped on Tuesday.

I haven't had much of chance to get out taking pictures, as this week is very busy. Some nice light at home this evening, so got the image below.

A very nice lens, and showing lots of promise - so thanks Craig

The 35-70 still takes a nice picture!
And, having checked AF using the method described by ClassA, AF with the K-5 and the 35-70 is spot-on!

---

Last edited by MarkJerling; 06-03-2013 at 04:23 PM.

[NZ_Ross]

The 35-70 still takes a nice picture!
And, having checked AF using the method described by ClassA, AF with the K-5 and the 35-70 is spot-on!

It all looked pretty technical - mind you I have been working all weekend, so haven't really had a chance to read properly and adsorb.

Nice image with the 35-70. Thanks for sharing

[Class A]

Thanks Class A!
Very good article, thank you.

You are welcome.

I'm glad the tips worked for you; Certainly looks like very good focus!

[Arpe]

Hi

Thanks. Can you post the link to the youtube video?
I take it this woeks on the camera focussing differently when using live view?

Thanks,
Regards,
Mark

You Tube

You Tube

[MarkJerling]

It all looked pretty technical - mind you I have been working all weekend, so haven't really had a chance to read properly and adsorb.

Nice image with the 35-70. Thanks for sharing

Thanks Ross

[MarkJerling]

You are welcome.

I'm glad the tips worked for you; Certainly looks like very good focus!

Thanks again - very impressed with the focus!

[MarkJerling]

DotTune: Autofocus fine tuning in under 5 minutes - YouTube

Thanks Arpe

[cpopham]

So my great sell-out is nearly complete, but I've still got the 21 and 70 limited left. I haven't been very successful in selling them to date, the interest just doesn't seem to be there.

[zkarj]

After mentions here, I finally got around to testing my 55-300 and 18-135 lenses on my K-5 on the weekend, using Yvon Bourqe's charts (which I had studied and used previously with my K10D). I'm happy to say both lenses were as close to perfect as I could judge.

In other news I went into Photo Warehouse (in Welly) today and said straight up that I wasn't there to buy anything today and the guy gave me a brilliant rundown on the current crop of camcorders. Whether I buy a camcorder from them or not (depending on the model I finally select), I will certainly use them for other purchases. (I didn't feel too guilty seeing as I have already bought from them a K-5 with 18-135, camera bag, shoulder strap and multiple memory cards.)

BTW, who knew you could spend $20k on a camcorder!? (I'm looking more in the $1k range!)