DSLRUsers.com

I would like to be the first to say thanks to all the guys who are happy to spend their time showing, teaching and helping us super newbies!

In particular, birddog and his lovely wife for their amazing preparation and assistance at these days and for the great food that they unselfishly brought with them.

Thanks everybody.

Now all I have to do is go through the 150 or so pics I took to weed out the rubbish!

Glenn

yeah....go to hell *bitter*

I've had a great day stuck in the office!

Yes, it was a great meet. The new D70users banners made a nice touch, thanks to Birddog. The new people were a welcome addition (hope to see you guys at future meets)!

The product specials were unreal. Skippy wrote a big cheque for an equally big lens, and many others snapped up great bargains too - once again, courtesy of Birddog.

The lowlight for me was the discovery that my kit lens bounces from a 5 feet drop to asphalt. I can now add this experience to the misadventures of my camera gear in the short 12 months since acquisition.

Lots of pics to come, I'm sure. I'm especially interested to see MattK's flash pics - he was experimenting with the SB800 in straight TTL-BL mode, no flash value compensation but ambient -1EV I think he mentioned.

I just want to see your duck photos

So sorry to have missed this meet but my wedding shoot went on a bit longer than expected and they even catered for me which was lovely, a very small family affair with only 20 or so guests in a lovely green backyard...excellent light today (overcast - no huge bright light issues or shadow issues)...now the review/post processing begins. Cheers all,

Geoff.

My pics coming up here:

http://www.pixspot.com/thumbnails.php?album=114

Things taking a while to upload, I'm currently shaped to dialup speeds.

Edit: midnight Sunday 23rd Jan - all uploads completed.

Great day today at the picnic!
Thanking all attendees and their family to participate this D70Users's event.

From now on, at any outdoor meets in Sydney region, members just look for the D70Users banner in white logo on blue background or black logo on yellow background and they're a marking as meeting spot.

Do members from other states want a banners (1.10m x 0.7m) for spot marking, I can contribute each banner for each state, if your state wish to have one, please PM me with one of above two colour choices.

And the generosity just keeps on coming from you, doesnt it birddog?

amazing!

There is one thing that I would like to say. I am a complete beginner in the grand scheme of things. It has been 15 years since I did any real photography (not that it was great then either ).

Nobody at any of the meets that I have been to has been anything other than super helpful. I have not been made feel inadequate nor have I been made feel out of place. I have certainly not been made feel like a beginner and everybody has only been more than willing to help me learn something that I really like to do.

I get a great deal of satisfaction from getting good shots and everytime I get a good one, I know that it is mainly because of the help and advice from the people I am getting to know.

Just a big thanks to you all.

Glenn

Killakoala wrote:I just want to see your duck photos

You mean like these ducks?!

Glenn, we certainly welcome you, and I hope your words will encourage those apprehensive about joining in on our meets to reconsider in future. It really is a friendly environment, and for everyone of all skill levels and budgets. Unless you're a 300D user and/or a Volvo driver (although this meet Gary took a swipe at Volkwagens) you'll be in good company.

As I said when we were out there...

That is the weirdest looking duck ever.

Mind you, he looked better than the emus.

Another outstanding D70 meet and just the nicest bunch of folk you could meet anywhere, anytime. I have spent the last four hours processing my prints and am just too damn tired to upload them now. Will do it tomorrow. Thanks for your trouble to get the fabulous banners made Birddog....we looked like an international conference! The light was beautiful...good food...good wine...friends...and cameras with lots of film. It doesn't get any better than this. And Gary........it's a saloon.

http://killakoala.smugmug.com/gallery/366553

My pics of the day. All Flora and Fauna.


Forgot to add that all pics were with D70 and 70-300mm G. Including the closeups of insects.

Killakoala,

Killakoala wrote:http://killakoala.smugmug.com/gallery/366553

My pics of the day. All Flora and Fauna.


Forgot to add that all pics were with D70 and 70-300mm G. Including the closeups of insects.

Excellent shots all round.

My favourites are [4/6] and [5/6] .

Cheerio,

I love the dragonfly.

Sounds like you guys had a great time!!!

Great pictures and nice touch Birddog with the banner.

Look at the weather today in Sydney!
We have all our lucky yesterday with the fine weather and excellent for photography. We never had any bad weather days yet in the past of many meets.
Just all the luck comes with the D70Users.com.

Skippy wrote a big cheque for an equally big lens

i thought skippy had the bigma already ?? is there a bigger one ?

cheers rob

robw25 wrote:Skippy wrote a big cheque for an equally big lens

i thought skippy had the bigma already ?? is there a bigger one ?

cheers rob

rob,
Oh yeah! a double whopper

Ok All, seems if you all had a very good time and enjoyed it very much.
Great to see the banner Birdy thanks makes the group really stand out and yeh onyx sorry about the lens mate and well pics are great tho.
Make us all proud to be D70 owners seeing all the pics and so on, hell if my D70 shirt fitted me i wouldn,t take it off.
Maybe when they get some done again i might be able to get a bigger one done to fit my big body.LOL

Anyhow look forward to seeing more pics.

Birddog,

Now this is probably at stupid question, but somebody has to ask it, did all the bargins go yesterday .

Cheerio,

fozzie wrote:Birddog,

Now this is probably at stupid question, but somebody has to ask it, did all the bargins go yesterday .

Cheerio,

40%, someone did not have enough their monies with them on the lenses and someone has the wife with the key, so be just a window shopper.

This will happen all at the special meet outdoors: as picnic, workshop etc...

some example:
16x DVD burner Lite-On with spindle of 50 CDR blank disc for $90.00
Astone 1Gb CF card $100.00
Nikon 50/1.8 $160.00
Sigma 70-300APO $285.00
Sigma 12-24 $835.00
and more etc...

BBJ wrote:...onyx sorry about the lens mate and well pics are great tho.

Mate, I was just relieved it wasn't Birrdog's 24-120 I asked to borrow shortly before (attached to camera at the time). Perhaps Bruno has pics of the incident - I was being silly avoiding the pointy end of the 200-400, lens slipped out front shirt pocket, made a sickening crack, which thankfully was only the lens cap falling off. I'm ever so grateful to Nikon - superior lenses, drop tested quality assurance.

Onyx wrote:

BBJ wrote:...onyx sorry about the lens mate and well pics are great tho.

Mate, I was just relieved it wasn't Birrdog's 24-120 I asked to borrow shortly before (attached to camera at the time). Perhaps Bruno has pics of the incident - I was being silly avoiding the pointy end of the 200-400, lens slipped out front shirt pocket, made a sickening crack, which thankfully was only the lens cap falling off. I'm ever so grateful to Nikon - superior lenses, drop tested quality assurance.

We should have short video of that incident and sell to Nikon for their marketting purposes, everyones at the distance of 10 m can hear the drop of his lens on the hard surface.
Luckily no other traffic at that time, otherwise another hard test under the wheel of the car.
BT, that's an experience and reason what all the PJs have their photography vest.

Ok - after a pretty hard night last night (self inflicted), I've finally got some pics up....

http://sheepie.smugmug.com/gallery/365834

Was a great day, and yes we were extremely lucky with the weather.

Thanks all for making it worthwhile

sheepie,

sheepie wrote:Ok - after a pretty hard night last night (self inflicted), I've finally got some pics up....

http://sheepie.smugmug.com/gallery/365834

Was a great day, and yes we were extremely lucky with the weather.

Thanks all for making it worthwhile

Thank you for the shots. I would love to see and test in person the 200-200VR on my D70. It would make me .

Birddog114 wrote:someone has the wife with the key, so be just a window shopper.

Yep... last time we try to foster some interest methinks...

Some great shots!
Love the Cocatoos!
and of course the toys

So will we see some sample pics from the beast?

MHD wrote:So will we see some sample pics from the beast?

My avatar was shot with the beast.

Oh yeah! a double whopper

stop teasing .... what did skippy get ?? the 200-400 vr ????????????

cheers rob

robw25 wrote:Oh yeah! a double whopper

stop teasing .... what did skippy get ?? the 200-400 vr ????????????

cheers rob

Rob,
He got the 80-400VR (we called it a double whopper) after he play around with it and comparison with his Bigma, it seems to me he like the two Red VR letters now.

was the double whopper on discount ? last time i enquired i think was $8,500 ( $12,700 at maxw...s )

cheers rob

robw25 wrote:was the double whopper on discount ? last time i enquired i think was $8,500 ( $12,700 at maxw...s )

cheers rob

Rob,
if you're interesting in it, price is still the same.
read this reply from Ron Zenick on DPR:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=11863097

Matt,

Matt. K wrote:And Gary........it's a saloon.

As in where you can get a drink?

I'll drink to that!

Birddog114 wrote:

robw25 wrote:was the double whopper on discount ? last time i enquired i think was $8,500 ( $12,700 at maxw...s )

cheers rob

Rob,
if you're interesting in it, price is still the same.
read this reply from Ron Zenick on DPR:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=11863097

wow wonder how much the 400 f2.8 would be
cheers rob

Sorry to hijack the thread but I just needed to know...

robw25 - Did you take that image of your aviatar?

If so do you have the origianl (or bigger version of PP shot)?

Would love to see it.

W00DY

robw25 wrote:

Birddog114 wrote:

robw25 wrote:was the double whopper on discount ? last time i enquired i think was $8,500 ( $12,700 at maxw...s )

cheers rob

Rob,
if you're interesting in it, price is still the same.
read this reply from Ron Zenick on DPR:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=11863097

wow wonder how much the 400 f2.8 would be
cheers rob

Not much! it's just a small number, it's 10K

W00DY wrote:Sorry to hijack the thread but I just needed to know...

robw25 - Did you take that image of your aviatar?

If so do you have the origianl (or bigger version of PP shot)?

Would love to see it.

W00DY

WOODY
i will try to find it tomorrow when we get home .... will put it on this thread
cheers rob

robw25 wrote:

W00DY wrote:Sorry to hijack the thread but I just needed to know...

robw25 - Did you take that image of your aviatar?

If so do you have the origianl (or bigger version of PP shot)?

Would love to see it.

W00DY

WOODY
i will try to find it tomorrow when we get home .... will put it on this thread
cheers rob

Cool thanks.

W00DY

Steve
1,3,4&6...beautiful pics. You certainly make that lens perform. The duck almost jumps off the screen! (or should that be swims?).

Sheepie
I just love pic no 2!!! I find it strangly erotic and I just can't take my eyes off it.
No 8 is an Aussie classic and you should be able to sell it.
No 10, the camera, is beautifully colourbalanced! You have made it sing!
Thanks for posting.

C'mon MattK... we're all waiting for your pics... Did I miss them, or are you still uploading them?

Matt. K wrote:I just love pic no 2!!! I find it strangly erotic and I just can't take my eyes off it.

You made me go back & look cos I couldn't remember what it would be. I laughed so loudly I scared my cat who jumped off the computer desk onto me and scratched me when he lost his balance trying to jump over my camera backpack - but the pain was worth it - you've made my day!

(oh and I thought auto eroticism was only for car lovers)

Guys!!!!!!
There’s some awesome photography in amongst this thread.
Truly inspiring stuff

Well done to all!!!!!!

Cheers
Ray

Seems I'm a little late to check in...

Yep, I had/have the Bigma. Tested out the 70-200VR and the 80-400VR and was very impressed. Tried my Bigma again and found I just didn't like it anymore. We won't go into what causes me to shake so much but the VR makes a big difference. The 70-200 was a better lens, but the extra reach and the difference in cost swayed me to the 80-400.

Finally I reached computer ...

Was very nice to meet everyone. Thank you for a very good day!

P.S. Some guys were "shooting" my bike but I don't see any pictures yet

skippy wrote:Seems I'm a little late to check in...

Yep, I had/have the Bigma. Tested out the 70-200VR and the 80-400VR and was very impressed. Tried my Bigma again and found I just didn't like it anymore. We won't go into what causes me to shake so much but the VR makes a big difference. The 70-200 was a better lens, but the extra reach and the difference in cost swayed me to the 80-400.

SKIPPY
did you prefer the 80-400 from the 200-400 ?.. give us your thoughts on the difference please......

WOODY
i took the sunset in a place down the south east of s.a. and the pelicans from port lincoln, i thought i was a smart bastard when i put them together but looking at it closer iy's a stupid picture..... but nice colours eh
http://www.pixspot.com/albums/userpics/normal_pelican-sunset.jpg

cheers rob

SKIPPY
did you prefer the 80-400 from the 200-400 ?.. give us your thoughts on the difference please......

Rob,
You can't compare the two, the 80-400 can be compared with the Bigma
and I don't know which ones we can use tocan compare with the 200-400VR, it's difference league and glass.

Late check in as I was busy all weekend building fences and slaving over a hot keyboard... very sorry to have missed the event. Thanks to all those who've put up pics from the day: there are some great shots there!

Onyx: how come your 18-70 just bounced from 5ft with no damage while mine has cracked glass from nothing I can recall? Very glad to hear about yours and even more mystified about mine now!!

I spent Saturday night taking low light shots with the 70-200VR and was most impressed with the results... will post them tonight. The only problem was the subjects tended to be intimidated by the size of it but some good red helped to relax them

Tim

birddog
im in a situation where i want longer reach than my 70-200vr but i still want to have the ability to use it in low light eg F2.8 and if i'm going to fork out around $8,500 i want to get the right one ! i want a fast/long lens for sport photography...... anybody got any suggestions ???
cheers rob

robw25 wrote:birddog
im in a situation where i want longer reach than my 70-200vr but i still want to have the ability to use it in low light eg F2.8 and if i'm going to fork out around $8,500 i want to get the right one ! i want a fast/long lens for sport photography...... anybody got any suggestions ???
cheers rob

The 80-400VR is definitely not for the lowlight.
The 200-400VR is OK for the low light and on the tripod.

If you want to shoot sport or other in low light 2.8 as you're after:
1/ 300mm/ 2.8 AF-S around 5K
2/ 300mm/ 2.8 AF-S VR around 9K (Estimated/ No stock yet)
3/ 600mm/2.8 AF-S around 11K