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Merco_61's Content

There have been 1000 items by Merco_61 (Search limited from 29-March 23)



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#87761 Help: Auto Focus Not Working!

Posted by Merco_61 on Today, 01:15 PM in Beginner Questions

These old lenses don’t have any af/manual toggle on the lens. There is only the AF/Manual selector on the body.

 

Remove the lens and check that the screw drive coupling in the lens mount advances when you set the selector to AF and retracts when you select M. While you have the lens off, check that the female part of the coupler rotades when you move the focus ring. If things look right, mount the lens on the body again and make sure that it clicks into place. 
Make sure that the aperture ring is on the most closed setting. (f/22 on your lens, if I remember correctly.) AF will be inactive if the aperture reads EE.




#87749 Nikon Z7ii - Advice

Posted by Merco_61 on Yesterday, 02:14 PM in Nikon Z Mirrorless Cameras

A Z7II would be a good match for your current needs. If you can swing it, a Z8 is a much better, more versatile, camera. 
 

Do you have the lenses you need in F-mount? Would you need to buy more lenses to do what you want to? Are any of your lenses screw-drive or are they all AF-S? If you have third-party lenses, are they new enough to be compatible with an FTZ adapter? 
 

Do you shoot your portraits in a studio setting, or are they informal, decisive moment style? If the latter, the Z8 would be a great help as the customizable AF areas are much better than the, by now, dated AF in a Z7II or D850.




#87740 Three primes

Posted by Merco_61 on 26 March 2024 - 11:30 AM in Photographic Technique

 

If you've written about your Tri-X/HP-5 recipe, I've probably missed it. I always presumed that you did all your cooking in Silver EX Pro.

 

 

--Ron

There's a blog post up now. https://www.nikonfor...nochromes-sooc/

I have an old blog post about using the Adobe channel mixers for monochrome conversions here. https://www.nikonfor...s-in-lightroom/




#87732 Three primes

Posted by Merco_61 on 25 March 2024 - 02:03 PM in Photographic Technique

I've recently setup my D7000 to shoot RAW only with a monochrome picture control. The three lenses I'll be using are the Nikkor AF-S 20mm ƒ/1.8G, the Nikkor AF-S 35mm ƒ/1.8G FX and the Nikkor AF-S 85mm ƒ/1.8G.

 

--Ron

That’s a nice set of lenses, even if I prefer the older D version of the 85 as it renders subjects at portrait distances, both on DX and FX, a little softer. It will be fun getting to know the Z 85/1.8… Have I written anything about my settings for a more Tri-X/HP-5 like rendering for jpg-s SOOC?




#87728 Your best photo of the week ending March 31 2024

Posted by Merco_61 on 25 March 2024 - 12:11 PM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

Sometime before midnight (whatever time zone you are in) this Sunday, March 31 2024, post the best photo you have taken this week.
Any subject, any style and any equipment—just give us your best shot.
If you can, list your EXIF info and any special lighting setups you may have used.




#87727 Catch of the day

Posted by Merco_61 on 25 March 2024 - 12:04 PM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

gallery_1251_908_682286.jpg

Model: NIKON Z 6_2
Lens: Z Nikkor 70-200/2.8 VR S
Lens (mm): 200
ISO: 504
Aperture: 3.2
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: 0.0




#87726 Monochrome mondays, permanent post

Posted by Merco_61 on 25 March 2024 - 11:55 AM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

SOOC:

gallery_1251_849_729883.jpg

Model: NIKON Z 6_2
Lens: Z Nikkor 70-200/2.8 VR S
Lens (mm): 104
ISO: 800
Aperture: 3.2
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: 0.0

 

Tonemapped and cropped:

gallery_1251_849_1059192.jpg

 

SEP recipe:

gallery_1251_849_36485.jpg

 

Final monochrome:

gallery_1251_849_688315.jpg




#87724 NX Tethering Starting Issue

Posted by Merco_61 on 25 March 2024 - 11:10 AM in Technical Troubleshooting

Is your camera compatible with your software?

I thought the D780 and the D6 were the only DSLR-s supported, all other cameras on the list are mirrorfree…




#87723 Exposure Bracketing for Solar Eclipse

Posted by Merco_61 on 25 March 2024 - 11:02 AM in Photographic Technique

The D7200 can do what you describe… I don’t have a D7500 to try it out.

 

  1. Set the camera to aperture priority.
  2. Set the aperture you need.
  3. Set bracketing to 5F 1.0.
  4. Set the interval to 5 minutes.
  5. Set the number of intervals to 24 if you want it to run for 2 hours.
  6. Set the number of shots per interval to 5.

 

These settings should work, unless Nikon have screwed something up in how bracketing or intervalometer works in your, later, camera. I have used this type of combination of settings for bracketed timelapse series’ since the D300 days without problems. 




#87712 Your best photo of the week ending March 24 2024

Posted by Merco_61 on 24 March 2024 - 09:20 AM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

This is not only my best this week, it is my best this year, so far.

gallery_1251_908_1043200.jpg

Model: NIKON Z 6_2
Lens: Z Nikkor 24-70/4 S
Lens (mm): 24
ISO: 283
Aperture: 7.1
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: 0.0

 

This will be printed, framed and go on a wall somewhere as soon as I can get some Hahnemüle Fine Art Baryta 325 g delivered in A3+ size.




#87711 Catch of the day

Posted by Merco_61 on 24 March 2024 - 08:57 AM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

gallery_1251_908_1043200.jpg

Model: NIKON Z 6_2
Lens: Z Nikkor 24-70/4 S
Lens (mm): 24
ISO: 283
Aperture: 7.1
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: 0.0




#87702 Three primes

Posted by Merco_61 on 23 March 2024 - 04:32 PM in Photographic Technique

A revisit in 2024.

 

On the Z6II, my trio are:

  1. Viltrox 24/1.8
  2. Z 50/1.8 S
  3. Z MC 105/2.8 S

On the Zf:

  1. Canon EF 20/2.8 USM on a Viltrox AF-Adapter
  2. Z 40/2
  3. Z 85/1.8 S

The Viltrox and the ancient Canon will be replaced with f/1.8 Nikkors as funds allow. The Canon has higher priority…




#87686 old lenses on DSLRs

Posted by Merco_61 on 22 March 2024 - 01:28 PM in Nikon DX DSLRs

All my Ai and Ai’d lenses show the set aperture on both D300 and D7200, as long as I have remembered to set the correct lens data.




#87683 Your best photo of the week ending March 24 2024

Posted by Merco_61 on 22 March 2024 - 12:08 PM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

Sometime before midnight (whatever time zone you are in) this Sunday, March 24 2024, post the best photo you have taken this week.
Any subject, any style and any equipment—just give us your best shot.
If you can, list your EXIF info and any special lighting setups you may have used.




#87640 That’s got to be good value

Posted by Merco_61 on 19 March 2024 - 11:47 AM in Nikon FX DSLRs

It is a very good camera, but not for me. There is something with the ergonomics of the D7x00, D750 and D780 that puts a corner right on a nerve cluster for me without a grip. 
 

It has the same backlit sensor as the Z6, but with the same wildlife- and sportscapable AF as the D750 when you use the prism finder.

 

Unlike its DX brother, the D7500, it is backwards compatible all the way back to 1977 and even earlier lenses can be adapted to provide metering.




#87632 Monochrome mondays, permanent post

Posted by Merco_61 on 18 March 2024 - 01:06 PM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

SOOC:

gallery_1251_849_310565.jpg

Model: NIKON Z f
Lens: Z Nikkor 40/2
Lens (mm): 40
ISO: 250
Aperture: 2
Shutter: 1/250
Exp. Comp.: +1.0

 

Tonemapped and cropped:

gallery_1251_849_920360.jpg

 

Detail Extractor preset in CEP:

gallery_1251_849_243897.jpg

 

SEP recipe:

gallery_1251_849_84548.jpg

 

Final result:

gallery_1251_849_308253.jpg




#87620 Your best photo of the week ending March 17 2024

Posted by Merco_61 on 17 March 2024 - 01:20 PM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

gallery_1251_913_339540.jpg

Model: NIKON D750
Lens: AF-S 14-24/2.8
Lens (mm): 20
ISO: 400
Aperture: 7.1
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: -2.0




#87619 That was the week that was, minichallenge for March

Posted by Merco_61 on 17 March 2024 - 01:17 PM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

I have finished one week now.

I decided to go with a theme, rather than a narrative...

That theme is dusk.

 

gallery_1251_913_898727.jpg

Model: NIKON Z f
Lens: Canon EF 20/2.8 USM
Lens (mm): 20
ISO: 1000
Aperture: 5
Shutter: 1/60
Exp. Comp.: 0.0

 

gallery_1251_913_768628.jpg

Model: NIKON Z 6_2
Lens: AF-S 14-24/2.8
Lens (mm): 17
ISO: 100
Aperture: 4.5
Shutter: 1/200
Exp. Comp.: -0.3

 

gallery_1251_913_1012748.jpg

Model: NIKON Z 6_2
Lens: AF-S 14-24/2.8 
Lens (mm): 16
ISO: 635
Aperture: 7.1
Shutter: 1/15
Exp. Comp.: -1.7

 

gallery_1251_913_203955.jpg

Model: NIKON Z 6_2
Lens: AF-S 14-24/2.8
Lens (mm): 17
ISO: 5380
Aperture: 5.6
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: -0.7

 

gallery_1251_913_339540.jpg

Model: NIKON D750
Lens: AF-S 14-24/2.8
Lens (mm): 20
ISO: 400
Aperture: 7.1
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: -2.0

 

gallery_1251_913_519814.jpg

Model: NIKON Z f
Lens: Canon EF 20/2.8 USM
Lens (mm): 20
ISO: 534
Aperture: 4.5
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: -1.3

 

gallery_1251_913_7479.jpg

Model: NIKON Z f
Lens: Canon EF 20/2.8 USM
Lens (mm): 20
ISO: 1420
Aperture: 7.1
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: 0.0




#87616 Lens gray marking

Posted by Merco_61 on 17 March 2024 - 09:07 AM in Nikon Lens Discussion

I don’t know when they started doing only the functional markings in white, some lenses I bought new around 2016 have his text in grey and some, bought the same time, in white. My FX 35/1.8 in F-mount has the grey markings, the 24/1.8 I bought on the same day is white. All my Z-mount lenses are grey…




#87613 Battery and Recharge Suggestions

Posted by Merco_61 on 17 March 2024 - 12:21 AM in Beginner Questions

The MH-25 in any variant is the correct charger for any EN-EL15. The newer MH-34 can only charge EN-EL15c.

 

Each new iteration of the EN-EL15 has slightly bigger capacity than the previous one. The -c has a new BMS that enables faster charging with the new charger and charging in the camera in Z bodies. It is, however, fully backwards compatible.

 

An MB-D18 vertical grip can house an EL-18c battery with a BL-5 lid. This battery needs another charger, either an MH-26a or the older MH-26. This adaption of the camera is not difficult to do, but expensive. 
 

The EN-EL15c stores approximately 17 Wh of energy, the EN-EL18c stores 27… As the EN-EL 18c has three cells, it will not always balance the charge fully on charging. This is why it has provision for a balancing discharge that Nikon call calibration in the charger.




#87612 Lens gray marking

Posted by Merco_61 on 16 March 2024 - 10:27 PM in Nikon Lens Discussion

I don't mean to hi-jack this topic, just asking. I had read that Nikon stopped the 5 year warranty on all lens. I purchased my 70-200 f2.8 from B&H and ask if it was US or Gray market before I got it, the assured me it was US. the warranty is 1 year.. ?

The warranty is one year again. There is still a Nikon USA warranty card in the paperwork bundle, together with the manual.




#87606 Catch of the day

Posted by Merco_61 on 16 March 2024 - 12:52 PM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

gallery_1251_908_708607.jpg

Model: NIKON Z f
Lens: Cannon EF 20/2.8 USM on Viltrox adapter
Lens (mm): 20
ISO: 599
Aperture: 4.5
Shutter: 1/125
Exp. Comp.: -1.3




#87602 Battery and Recharge Suggestions

Posted by Merco_61 on 16 March 2024 - 03:15 AM in Beginner Questions

Draining a battery completely is much more strain on the cells than leaving them fully charged. Neither is good, but charging before storage is much less bad. 
 

Putting a full battery in the charger does no harm as the BMS won’t let the charger start charging with any current.

 

The grip for the D850 makes the camera much more versatile if you shoot in portrait orientation, with the bonus of having an extra battery in the grip and the provision for using AA cells, either NiMH or alkaline dry cells, as a backup. As you don’t shoot professionally, an EN-EL18 or two, battery lid for the grip and charger are overkill.

 

I usually change battery with 18-20% left and put them on the charger(s) when I get home.




#87601 Godox TT685-N and X1R-N: i-TTL radio issues

Posted by Merco_61 on 16 March 2024 - 02:50 AM in Technical Troubleshooting

As a master unit, it seems to turn itself into what is effectively an XPRO-N, at least as a default mode… 

 

What is your M bank set to? 




#87590 Fisheye Friday, permanent post

Posted by Merco_61 on 15 March 2024 - 01:55 PM in Mini-Challenges, Member Contests, and Games

gallery_1251_896_727471.jpg

Model: NIKON D750
Lens: Samyang 8/3.5 II Fisheye
Lens (mm): 8
ISO: 100
Aperture: 3.5
Shutter: 1/80
Exp. Comp.: 0.0