Tag: Winter

Mapleton Road and Carnegie Lake

Before I left home this morning I packed my camera bag with my AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR. We had a lot of snow yesterday but the ploughs came late to my neighbourhood. Driving along slick snow-packed roads wasn't a good idea so I stayed home. But this morning, with the roads cleared, I wanted to capture a winter scene.

I took a different route this morning. Usually, I take Blue Spring Road west to 206 South. That's normally the fastest route. But [my navigation system] suggested I go east on Blue Spring toward River Road through Kingston. Perhaps this was faster since the schools had a delayed opening and the roads had no school buses at this time.

I pulled onto Blue Spring Road and I was hit by the beauty of that scene. The golden light of the early morning sun was reflecting off the snow on this tree-lined road and it was just wonderful. I stopped to snap a photo with my iPhone but before I could focus and compose my shot I had three cars waiting for me to move. So I moved on; disappointed. The scene on Blue Spring Road was better than what came later. I could have just let those cars wait.

My commute this morning took along the Plainsboro side of Carnegie Lake along Mapleton Road. There were no cars behind me so I was able to stop and take this shot from the car using vividHR on my iPhone. Not my Nikon D5100. My iPhone.

By the time I composed my shot I saw a few cars coming up the road behind me. The next photograph was taken on the corner of Mapleton Road just before it connects to Route 1 South. I had to pull over onto a side road near an apartment building.

Both photos were post-processed in Photogene. I have a scratch on my iPhone 5 lens that shows up as a purple dot on all my images. I used the healing tool in Photogene4 to remove it.

I don't like the Nikon Df

No, no, no! What is Nikon thinking? How could they?

Last autumn, Nikon unveiled the retro-inspired Nikon Df. It promptly sparked controversy. Some enthusiasts appreciated the retro design that harked back to the 35mm film cameras of the late 1970s. It stirred nostalgia for an era when each shot required careful consideration. In those days, 35mm film was a precious commodity, demanding photographers to meticulously adjust exposure, shutter speed, ISO, and more before clicking the shutter.

Conversely, some detractors loathed the new design and found the camera's specifications lacking. The Df housed the same ageing full-frame sensor as the Nikon D4, limited to 16MP. In contrast, most contemporary professional DSLRs, even consumer-focused offerings, boast 24MP or more. With the Df's price tag, some argued that the Nikon D610 was a smarter choice. Critics accused Nikon of creating a retro camera merely for nostalgia.

Saturday 25 January 2014 · Nikon Df · AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

I was intrigued by the camera's retro aesthetics and wanted to experience it firsthand. I pondered,This could be my ideal full-frame camera. 16MP suffices for my needs, and with my existing Nikon lenses, I wouldn't need to overhaul my kit. I registered for an upcoming photo meetup1 in a nearby town, envisioning it as a perfect opportunity to rent and test the Nikon Df.

Saturday 25 January 2014 · Nikon Df · AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

The camera arrived from Lensrentals via FedEx. I unboxed it, revealing the Nikon Df, the camera manual, and the battery charger packaged in a camera bag. However, my excitement faded after I saw and held the Nikon Df. Compared to the full-frame Sony α72 and Fuji X-E23, the Nikon Df felt colossal. It even exceeded the size of my Nikon D5100. Connecting my AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 to the Df, I instantly realised that this camera wouldn't meet my expectations. This body and lens combination was larger and heavier than I had expected.

Saturday 25 January 2014 · Nikon Df · AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

If I wanted a bulky, heavy, professional Nikon, I would get a D800. If I wanted a Nikon within the Df's price range with comparable technical specs, I would choose the smaller and lighter Nikon D610. The Nikon Df doesn't fit the bill. Its distinctive trait is the 1979-inspired design. For the price and weight, I expect more.

Saturday 25 January 2014 · Nikon Df · AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

Undoubtedly, I enjoyed tinkering with the knobs and dials on the Df. I have cherished memories of day-long beach outings and late afternoon countryside adventures in Bequia with my Dad. The controls on the Nikon Df evoked nostalgia, reminding me of my Dad's old Asahi Optical Co. Pentax Spotmatic II clicking away on those family outings. However, as I held the camera and lens, I questioned how long that sentiment would last while lugging this camera around.

Saturday 25 January 2014 · Nikon Df · AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

Competent retro-styled interchangeable lens cameras from Fuji and Olympus are available4, benefiting from modern technology to reduce bulk. Nikon and Canon, the stalwarts of the camera market, appear to be stuck in a technology dead end.

The Nikon Df isn't the camera I dream of.

Saturday 25 January 2014 · Nikon Df · AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
  1. The Lambertville/New Hope Winter Festival, which, ironically, was cancelled due to bad winter weather. ↩
  2. I played around with one last year at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York. ↩
  3. I tested the X-E2 at the New York PhotoPlus Expo. ↩
  4. The rumoured Fuji X-T1 may be the one. ↩

Opportunity and preparedness

The planet Hoth must have sent a terraforming device to New Jersey last night. I'm not a big fan of snow, so I intended to go outside (except later to clear the driveway). Taking a photo of the bird feeder hanging above the deck in the backyard seemed a great idea.

I read somewhere that keeping a feeder during the winter helps the smaller birds. Hopefully, they will feed here in winter, remember, and return in the spring.

As I fired off a shot or two, I noticed a bird sitting on the branch just above the bird feeder. Opportunity and preparedness?

Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
Dark-eyed Junco · Wednesday 21 March 2018 · Canon EOS 5D Mark III at 1/1000 sec, ISO 800 · EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at 200 mm at f/6.3