Need longer lens!

[Glen]

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.

[birddog114]

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).

[birddog114]

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

[Raydar]

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

Cheers
Ray

[Glen]

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.

[Killakoala]

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

[Onyx]

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.

[Glen]

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!

[birddog114]

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!!!!!!!

[gstark]

Glen,

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

[Glen]

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.

[Onyx]

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.