Falling in love with the Nikon FE

Warren TangLeave a comment

I have a Nikon FE. I wasn’t planning to buy it but I did. It was when I was visiting my favorite camera store in Okayama looking at an old lenses that got my digital cameras, trying out one on this body that I fell in love with it.

The FE was simple. It had on the top panel a shutter speed/auto dial, ASA/exposure compensation/film rewind/film access dial, wind lever, and shutter. On the back, a battery check switch. On the front, a lens unlock, depth of field, and timer/exposure lock switch. On the bottom, battery access and film advance release button. That’s it.

Compared to my DSLR Nikons, the controls were pretty much in the same locations on the body. The lenses for this camera has aperture rings, and you can see the settings in the viewfinder. The point is, everything I do on the DSLR is done in exactly the same way on FE.

This was what taking photos felt like. The DSLR experience continues this. The thirty-eight year old FE made it fun. Shoot and wind. Shoot and wind. My first SLR, the Canon EOS888 has the same feel. My upgrade EOS55 didn’t.

Through the years, there shutter cameras made photography feel like what I experienced photography was. The iPhone simply cannot do this. It gets the photo but it doesn’t give the feel. That feeling is important. With modern technology, we have lost that mindset.

Camera Feedback

Warren TangLeave a comment

There is nothing more satisfying than the feedback from pressing the shutter and feeling the mirror clap to expose the film or sensor to light. An instance of light has been captured and an image has been made.

Learning to buy well secondhand

Warren TangLeave a comment

Over the past six or seven years I have slowly acquired a camera system with which I am satisfied with. It began with the D610, a Nikon camera body that stood at the level to entry professional photography gear.

Finding the lenses I used to be insufficient I then purchased an old 70-200mm f/2.8G. It was a generation before the D610 but it worked perfectly with this body. But then I found the D610 could not keep up with this lens. The lens was clearly a true professional tool. It could handle faster shutter speeds and auto focus. My D610 was simply not truly professional in that sense.

Later, I acquired a few more professional lenses before I realized how lacking the body really was. By the time I had accumulated a set of serious professional lenses I knew I needed to upgrade my body.

It was then I found a secondhand D500. This camera was able to handle these lenses. But it was a crop sensor so I was covering the wide end with my D610. No longer was the D610 a joy to shoot with after you have seen what a true professional body can do.

So I took the plunge and bought the D850.

This body came out one year after the D500. It is still a current production model. While Nikon, like everyone else, is moving to mirrorless cameras this is thought be the last DSLR Nikon will make for now. Nikon did the same thing when it transitioned to digital SLRs form film cameras. It created the F5 as a farewell. This time it was the D850 and the already discontinued D500. In other words, I now own the pinnacle Nikon gear of the DSLR era.

And what would have cost me double if not triple or more I got for what would be considered a bargain.

I now have a professional kit which will cover landscape, lowlight, portraiture, macro, astrophotography, street/documentary, action, wide, zoom, detail, pretty anything you can throw at me with a set of six lenses and two bodies. And I didn’t need to sell my house for it.

The right camera strap system makes a difference

Warren TangLeave a comment

These days, I use the Peak Design (PD) straps system which uses anchors on loop holes on cameras. As such you can change the strap to fit the body and lens combination as you need.

I have the Cuff (wrist strap), Leash (small), Slide Lite (medium), and Slide (large).

For example when I use the D500 with the 70-200mm f2.8 VR I use the Slide attached to the right and there lens tripod collar screw (without the foot) via a small plate. I sling it on my left shoulder across my body with the camera either to my right side or behind my back. It is comfortable and secure. My hands are free but still I have quick instant access to it. And also I can move freely with minimal camera swing.

It is also discreet; people are less threatened by a big camera that is not in your hand.

When handling the camera at home or storing it in the bag I can take the strap off easily because of the quick release anchors.

And when I need itto be on another camera body like on my D850 I can swap it out straight away.

All anchors are rated at 80kg maximum load. This is more than enough when my camera set up is 3kg at its heaviest. The rating overkill gives me a peace of mind.

The price for PD may seem excessive but seeing that your gear is worth thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars the cost is pennies for security and reliability.

The other straps like the Slide Lite are equally good for a smaller set uplike the D850 with 24-70mm f2.8 or with prime lenses. The Leash is good for compact cameras and light SLR/DSLR set ups. And when I need a wrist strap for quick lively action then there Cuff comes in handy.

Auto ISO

Warren TangLeave a comment

In the days of film cameras, once you insert a roll of film (24 or 36 frames) you are stuck with it. This means you are locked in to the ISO. If you inserted ISO100 you will be good for bright day time scenes but not night and indoor shots (unless you use a flash).

But this changed with digital cameras. With digital sensors you can change your ISO setting and even have automatic ISO. In film cameras you choose an aperture and the shutter adjusts to match or choose the shutter speed and the aperture adjusts to match.

But with digital cameras you can set both the aperture and shutter speed and the ISO will adjust to make the correct exposure. This difference is a significant improvement on shooting workflow.

One year with a 38mm Murph … a short review

Warren TangLeave a comment

After one year with my Hamilton Khaki Murph 38mm it has shown to be a workhorse. Barely a scratch (mostly on the bracelet) and the movement has kept its accuracy to less than 3 seconds per day closer to 1 second). Fantastic overall for its cost-to-performance.

Very comfortable to wear.

It was my first no-date three-hander. It is so easy to set up from no power. It is a hassle-free watch. 80 hours of power reserve means many Mondays I have returned to it without missing a beat.

I have noticed some markings on the rotor which may be due to moisture. It has been worn cold many times with abrupt transition to warm temperatures. I may have to take better care in this area, drying the watch properly after wear.

Anniversary 20th

Warren TangLeave a comment

It’s been twenty years. How much and little I have written.

Not much about sustainability these days (there is nothing sustainable about my life right now). Though it is an important other things are more urgent.

Stuff I do not write about are the ones that occupy me the most. That’s the irony and reality.

Anyway, there are hints of it here. You will see them.

All Wordled Out

Warren TangLeave a comment

Today, I finish all the Wordle available up to this day. That’s 1,688 wordles.

These are my tips for consistent results. For the first guess

  • use high frequency letters
  • use five unique letters
  • balance out between consonant and vowels (2:3 is best in my opinion).

For the second guess:

  • use revealed letters but shift position if yellow, and stay if green (just as in hard mode)
  • use new set of unrevealed letters
  • use high frequency letters
  • if a vowel is revealed in the first guess don’t guess with a second unrevealed vowel.

70 percent of words will have 5 unique letters. Over 25 percent will have 4 unique letters (one repeated). Less than 3 percent will use 3-or-less letters.

4 guesses is a par. 3 guesses is a birdie. Failing to finish in six guesses should be at a rate of less than once a month.