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I live in Neutral Bay and just went down the road when we had a major hostage seige going on at the St George Bank. Got some shots but realised that more reach is needed than my 70-210 with teleconverter. Looking forward to Saturday to see some lenses with longer reach (mind you what are the odds of me being near a seige again?).

About 20 photogs there, all with 300 to 600 lenses and about 4 being Nikon users.

That why I am waiting for the 200-400VR. I have the 70-200VR with TC 14 & 20II but some time I want the longer reach perhaps with TC 14II will provide 300-600/ TC20II = 400-800.
Mine is top of the waiting list from Maxwell, and 10th with B&H. I only need one but whoever got first then I grab it and been advise the 200-400 VR won't be in my hand until October. B&H has got few grey lens before but they came and gone very quickly!!!! Same as the status of 17-55DX.
Interesting to see what Nikon will annouce the new set of lenses in the next few days (Sept 15 Photokina 2004).

Glen,
You shoud need one of this in # 9 & 10), come on guy!!!!!!!
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=10105019

A lightning strike would go down well there ha???

Cheers
Ray

Birddog, like the lenses in those photos! When the police kept moving people back my lens was running out of puff. Hopefully the pro photogs could read the 70-210 on my lens so they could tell I was a serious amateur (and be impressed with my expensive hardware ), compared to everyone else who was using their mobile phones! Funny thing I almost purchased a s/h 300 f4 but didn't due to looking forward to seeing your hardware on Saturday. What I would have given to have your upcoming 200-400VR, Birddog!

Quite concerning actually being on the spot because I bank at that bank and know some of the girls there. Have been thinking what to give them as a gesture as a card may seem a little lame after being held hostage. Any suggestions gratefully received.

I was wondering what all those helicopters were doing flying around Nuetral Bay for.

Dang, that is a serious situation. How was it resolved? Any casualties? Got any shots off Glen?

You know, there is the cheat's way of zooming. Some P&S manufacturers even proudly advertise it on their lower-end models. Since you have 6MP to play with, you could always crop-zoom instead of optically zoom.

Hi Onyx,

The situation got resolved ok, the girls got taken out ok by the tactical response group and the robbers got away through a hole in the wall! Blocked off Military Road for 3 hours, 70 cops and 3 choppers.
The cheating way could sort of do it but I am one of those who think 6mp is just adequate. When I shot film, every so often I would get a shot I liked and blow it up to A3. Haven't yet done that from the D70, and Leigh told me there is a program which helps with upscaling, but not sure 6mp is up to the job. Bring on the D200

Here is a shot I got with my 70-210 plus 1.6 teleconverter, I would have liked 400mm, I am also happy to zoom with my feet but there was people with guns there so not an option. Onyx, you're in NY, I am sure you will be posting a seige/holdup/mugging in the next 8 weeks!

Glen,
I've been told you got the "flak jacket", where's it buddy?
I heard over the radio and air channel scanner yesterday at the time it occured and was in the Rockwood Crematorium, a friend of mine died young last week and I covered the event for his family, of course it's alway FOC. A sad day!!!!!!!

Glen,

That is certainly an image guaranteed to bring one down to earth.

Birddog, it is always sad when one goes before their time. My condolances.

It brought me down to earth especially knowing as acquaintances some of those inside.

There are strong rumours (perhaps you've heard them too) of a 300/2.8VR coming out soon. Perhaps it'll be as good as the 200/2VR that's currently highly praised in review. If it's the same design philosophy of the 200 f/2 (ie. super ED glass so it's short and stout), it may well more more a portable solution to fast glass that doesn't weigh a ton.

RE: muggings in NYC. The worse thing I saw so far was a heated arguement turned physical in "Hell's Kitchen" (2 big guys at each other). I got caught up in one of them protests too but nothing happened... then I saw on the news other protests where there were arrests and stuff.