Supplemental information: the VR uses quite a bit of battery. Probably as much as the flash at near full power. Also, the VR "sleep" behavior I demonstrate is true of all VR I've tested. I went to the store and tried 5 different VR lenses and they all went to sleep if you held the lens too still. This only happens when you brace yourself or rest your elbows on something. I doubt you could hold it still enough free-standing. "Normal" mode will attempt to actually lock on and hold that position where as "Active" mode simply dampens movements but does not attempt to out-right stop them. NOTE: be sure you turn off vr for any long exposure! The lens will "drift" causing any long tripod exposures to appear motion blurry. Kind of ironic.

Nikon 18-200 F3.5-5.6 VR 2 Demonstration / Review is a post from: The Camera Spider

Tamron Discounts on Amazon.

Between Tamron and Sigma, I have had better luck with Tamron. The outstanding Tamron 17-50 f2.8 is one of my more heavily used lenses. For some the range is too limited, but you can't fault the image quality for the price.

Anyway, if you have been considering a Tamron lens, this might be a good opportunity to save a bit.

Tamron Lens Sale/rebates on Amazon is a post from: The Camera Spider

The primary symptom of oily blades is usually over exposure on shots where aperture is set smaller than wide open. So for example with a 85mm f1.4 lens, wide open is f1.4. If you set f5.6 on the camera and take a picture it comes out overexposed for no good reason.

What is happening is that while focusing, the camera holds the lens wide open so you have a bright viewfinder and the AF unit can do its job well. When you press the shutter release the camera closes the lens to the specified aperture and takes the picture. With oil on the blades, the blades don't move or not quickly enough to get to the correct position. The result is that you end up with an aperture more open that what was specified on the camera.

There are a few ways to check and see if this has happened to a lens.

• Visual inspection is the best way. Obviously if you can see oil, you have identified its existence. Remove the lens from the camera and shine a flash light into the lens and look down on the blades. In most cases you can get the best view looking through the front element but you can also try the rear. Oil will appear as a circle or little triangular wings. Clean blades will look consistent and dry. Patterned discoloration is generally a sure sign of oily aperture blades. In large aperture prime lenses this technique is usually very easy to do. For zoom lenses it can be very more problematic.
• Check "snappiness" of the blades. With the lens off of the camera, pull the aperture actuator back to open the blades. It should retract smoothly without stickiness or inconsistent resistance. When released, the blades should snap closed. If they stick in place or close sluggishly, this may indicate oil on them or a broken return spring.

Some lenses will operate fairly well even with oil on the blades and in other cases the blades might become completely stuck.

The difficulty in cleaning blades varies considerably between lenses. In any case for this job you will need the right tools, instructions and care. If you decide to give it a try, take good pictures or make a video of the disassembly, so you know how to put it back together. Work over a tray or have some way to capture parts if they drop from your work or a spring fires them off.

Of course, for rare or valuable lenses please consider a reputable repair shop. I have heard good reports about Keh’s repair service

Symptoms of Oily Aperture Blades is a post from: The Camera Spider

On my Sony A700 this is a problem because you can't turn off the on-camera flash. So a trick I used was to tape a piece of exposed film over the flash. This way the signal light could still trigger the remote flash while not contributing to the overall exposure. (if you do this make sure the camera is set to wireless mode or you will melt the film to your on-camera flash... not ideal). Obviously the Nikon system is better.

A quick demonstration using Nikon's CLS with SB-800's and a Nikon D200

Nikon CLS Demonstration Video is a post from: The Camera Spider

This video demonstrates the basic hands-on demonstration on Nikon's new professional-grade speedlight of SB-900.

Check prices on the Nikon SB-900.

Nikon SB-900 Usage and Features Video is a post from: The Camera Spider

We put the new Nikon D5000 to the test for one day with two kids, Maddie and Lockie, and let them loose in Sydney to find out how they would go capturing their day on camera. See more @ My Nikon Life: mynikonlife.com.au

Join award-winning photographer Chase Jarvis, along with his well-known staff, as they take us behind the scenes for advance testing of the Nikon D90.

Nikon D5000 / D90 Videos is a post from: The Camera Spider

Amazon Sigma Sale

The sales code is: SIGMADAD

Amazon often has excellent prices to begin with, so an additional 10% is nice. If you have Prime, you can get free 2 day shipping as well. I do most of my online shopping since it comes tax and shipping free. It is more convenient than shopping local.

I buy most of my camera equipment from eBay, but let me give you another example. I purchase a fair amount of computer components for work. I can usually find a better prices at other sources, like Newegg and others, BUT with tax and shipping cost Amazon is almost always cheaper AND faster.

Good luck finding your deal

Sigma Lens Sale! is a post from: The Camera Spider

And you too can scare farm animals with your flying camera...

Cool! The Spider wants a ride!

RC Helicopter Camera is a post from: The Camera Spider

Search results below

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Indian Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Polish Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions UK Auctions

Best Match Time: ending soonest Time: newly listed Price: lowest first Price: highest first Price + Shipping: lowest first Price + Shipping: highest first

Holga 120N Used Once

13 Bids

US $22.50

1d 17h 41m

HOLGA 120N 120 N Camera Plastic Lens w Hot Shoe 6x6

US $23.75

25d 17h 51m

HOLGA 120N Camera w Two rolls of film LOMO

0 Bid

US $15.00

2d 18h 5m

Holga 120N in Excellent Condition

5 Bids

US $5.50

3d 5h 53m

Holga 120N Camera

1 Bid

US $9.99

3d 16h 27m

HOLGA 120N 120 N Medium Film Plastic Camera Silver

0 Bid

US $24.99

2d 21h 22m

HOLGA 120N 120 N Camera Plastic Lens w Hot Shoe 6x6

US $23.75

17d 4h 47m

Holga 120N Film Camera

0 Bid

US $17.99

4d 7h 16m

Holga 120N medium Format Camera 120 N built in lens NEW

US $27.79

26d 5h 20m

HOLGA 120N 120 N 12MFC Flash Film Toy Camera Pink White

US $59.99

26d 23h 50m

Here is a nice gallery of photos from this camera.

Holga 120N is a post from: The Camera Spider

One of the Spider's favorite cameras, the Lomo LC-A. Its an old plastic Russian film camera. People call it a rangefinder, but it doesn't have a rangefinder "finder", so it is really a point'n'shoot. In any case, it is still wonderful (and cheap).

The LC-A produces unique images and the camera itself encourages quick, informal shooting. I expect no more than one good shot per roll -- but I am generally surprised at how interesting that one shot is.

I think everyone should try the Lomo out at one time or another.

Added Lomo LC-a Section is a post from: The Camera Spider