Day: July 21, 2014

Protecting and help retain the value of lenses

by Stanley LearyPhotography

Not long after I bought my first Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, I invested in the LensCoat Neoprene Cover for the lens.

On the most basic level, it prevents cosmetic blemishes on the surface of the lens and helps retain the value of the lens. However, your lens will still depreciate. Look at KEH’s guide, and you will see how much depreciation is cosmetic.

KEH grades:

NEWNew defined as packaged by manufacturer complete with manufacturer’s USA warranty. Not previously owned or used by a consumer. *You have probably seen the words “NEW” or “LOWER PRICE” listed online or in our catalog, where prices usually appear. Due to specific manufacturers’ minimum pricing requirements, we are not permitted to publish the price if we sell it for less than the manufacturer’s Minimum Advertised Price (MAP). While these listings may seem inconvenient, it is our way of letting you know that when you call or click through on the website, you will be quoted the lowest pricing anywhere for comparable items.
DEMOThe demo is defined as packaged by the manufacturer, complete with the manufacturer’s USA warranty. She was never owned by a consumer but used for demonstration.
LN“Like New” Includes the original box and instructions.
LN-“Like New Minus” Extremely slight wear only seen upon very close inspection. Box and accessories are usually not included. Glass perfect*.
EX+“Excellent Plus” is Exceptionally nice. It May have slight wear on the finish but is visible only under close inspection. Glass is very clean*.
EX“Excellent” Shows moderate wear. It may have minor dents, dings, and slight finish wear. Glass may have little marks and blemishes that will not affect picture quality*.
BGN“Bargain” Shows more than average wear. It May have dents, dings, brassing, and finish loss. Glass may have marks and blemishes that should not affect picture quality*.
UG“Ugly” Very rough looking. Multiple impressions in metal, excessive finish loss, and brassing. Glass will have marks, fungus, and haze, affecting picture quality.
AI“As-Is” is Usually to be used for parts only. All equipment sold in the As-Is category carries no warranty nor return privileges. The equipment most likely doesn’t work and may have missing pieces. Defects include but are not limited to the problems listed in the description.

Here you can see the lens without the lens coating; that is how I hope to keep it looking for a long time.

A great feature includes a clear, flexible UV-PVC window over the AF/IS/VR controls and the distance-scale window. This window also helps you from accidentally bumping and changing those settings.

LensCoat® Lens Covers are manufactured from 100% closed-cell neoprene, offering protection from bumps, jars, and nicks, with a camouflage-pattern fabric cover. LensCoat® Lens Covers also provide a thermal barrier, protecting your hands from cold lenses in lower temperatures. In addition, they are easy to install and remove, sliding on like a sleeve and leaving no residue on the lens. And LensCoat® lens covers are waterproof, protecting in harsh conditions.

If the LensCoat performs as well on this lens as the last one I had on my older 120-300mm, I will recover the cost of the $89.

Here is a video explaining the product that LensCoat produced.

Photographers need repetition to grow

by Stanley LearyNikon D4
 
Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/7.1, 1/125, EV -1.7

My bird feeders are teaching me a great deal these days. Of course, the feeder doesn’t change daily, but the light and the birds do.

This past weekend I observed we had a lot of fledglings. Fledge is the stage in a young bird’s life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. It also describes the act of a chick’s parents raising it to a fully grown state.

Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/420, EV -1.3

Here I watched the House Finch feeding the Fledgling. It was just fun watching this take place, and so I decided I would pull out the cameras and photograph them. Again, the combining of one interest with another enhances the experience.

When I started, the photos were overexposed. This overexposing is because I was shooting in aperture mode. I had Auto ISO chosen with a minimum shutter speed setting of 1/500. I compensated for the exposure by turning the EV to -1.7 and would fine-tune it here and there based on the histogram.

The Fujinon XF 55-200mm was pretty slow with a ƒ/3.5-4.8 aperture. I was getting pretty good results, but we had rain coming down most of the weekend, and I thought this was a great time to test the new Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8.

Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Lens, ISO 4000, ƒ/6.3, 1/320 EV 0

With the Red Bellied Woodpecker, I was not having to use the exposure value compensation and got great detail in the feathers.

Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Lens + Sigma 1.4 converter, ISO 4500, ƒ/6.3, 1/500 EV -1.3

However, when the darker Downy Woodpecker visited the feeder, I had to compensate the EV -1.3.

I was having fun, and the thing is, while I was having fun, I was also learning how to check the exposure from bird to bird because that would affect the direction. I could have tried the manual exposure, but the light was changing as the sun would peek through a little and then disappear.

I also enjoyed shooting with the faster ƒ/2.8. I was able to add the Sigma 1.4 converter when I photographed the Downy Woodpecker and got just a little closer to 420mm.

I was also learning about the birds. I downloaded Peterson’s guide to my iPad and enjoyed finding out the names of the birds. For example, at first thought, I had a Hairy Woodpecker, but that is a bigger bird with a longer bill.

Taking photographs allowed me to have the time to zoom in and examine the bird in detail. But, unfortunately, too often, they come and go on the bird feeder too quickly for me to study.

Now you know why so many birders are also photographers. The photos give you a long time to examine the bird.

Do you have something you can photograph regularly, see how your camera reacts in a different light, and also help you grow? If not, I recommend you look. I found mine in my backyard.