Category Archives: Cameras

Cameras, Drones

Great suggestions for those thinking of doing drone photography

The link below goes to a great article.

But I add tip #0 – make sure you are in an area where you can legally fly a quadcopter. Many enthusiasts live within 5 miles of airports and cannot legally fly unless they drive considerable distances. They may also find that there are restrictions at their destinations – no flying in National Parks or National Monuments and many state parks also prohibit drone flying.

Do read the linked article – a lot of good ideas, especially for photographers.

Source: Tips for Doing Drone Photography and How it Improve All Your Images

I learned to fly a quadcopter in stages. I started with a tiny toy that I could fly indoors.

I then made a detour into building my own quadcopter, which is fun, but I recommend buying a higher toy such as the MJX Bugs 3 and/or Bugs 5w and become proficient in flying before you build your own and definitely before choosing a $1,000 camera drone.

You will crash. A lot at first. Far better to crash your $80 Bugs 3 and learn how to replace broken props, burned out ESCs and motors on that than to crash your expensive camera drone.

I once read that it takes about a dozen flights before feeling confident in your flying schools. I think that’s about right. But … feeling confident can lead to getting cocky and doing more than you should, like flying faster, higher or further away, or flying in tight spaces such as between trees – and crashing.

Regarding building your own – mine actually flew – until I crashed it because I had neither the experience yet and I was simultaneously configuring and setting up my home made quad. Too many variables, all at once!

And since you are going to crash, practice safety. I joined a local model aircraft flying club and all of my flights have been on the model airfield. We have the space for safe flying – and safe crashing. We also have water and fire extinguishers on site and buckets of sand to put out Lithium battery fires.

FYI I post a lot of items related to drones and quadcopters on my Coldstreams blog. Check it out!

Cameras

Pros say lack of a second memory card slot in the new #Nikon Z6 and Z7 #mirrorless cameras is a deal killer

Professionals want digital cameras with two memory card slots so they can create an instant backup while shooting, just in case a memory card fails. For professionals shooting events or spending an entire day shooting in remote locations, the loss of a memory card is catastrophic. Unfortunately, the new Nikon Z cameras lack a second memory slot and the pros commenting on the linked article, below, say that this oversight by Nikon is a deal killer for professionals.

If you are not a professional and do not need a second card slot, the cameras do look pretty cool.

Source: Why This Photographer Does Not Recommend the New Nikon Mirrorless to Professional Photographers | Fstoppers

Business, Cameras

Nikon discontinues Nikon 1 product line, abandons Nikon 1 consumers #Nikon @NikonUSA #Nikon1

Nikon discontinues entire Nikon 1 line, including cameras and lenses. Consumers who bought into Nikon’s 1″ sensor system stuck with a dead end lens system.

As seen in this chart, the camera line de facto existed for about 4 years, from its introduction in September 2011 to its last new camera introduction in late 2015:

Photography and Camera News, Reviews, and Inspiration

Source: Has Nikon Shuttered Its 1 Series Line of Mirrorless Cameras?

After 2015, they just milked money from their customers before abandoning them.

Nikon executives repeatedly said during the past 3 years that the Nikon 1 line was not dead. And then in July 2018, they killed it, abandoning users who had invested in the Nikon 1 lens systems.

This impacted me and I will never again buy a Nikon product. At NAB, I spoke with every camera manufacturer except Olympus. I mentioned that someone needed to produce a camera body with a software development kit. All – except Nikon – were interested in the idea.

The Nikon rep told me with a straight face that Nikon would never allow third party products to potentially damage the Nikon brand name.

I could hardly contain my laughter – you mean like how the iPhone was ruined by third party app developers? Hah hah!

That exchange told me Nikon management are dimwits. Since then their revenue plummeted and it was not because of third parties harming the Nikon brand – it was because Nikon shot its own brand in the foot.

In so doing, they enshrined themselves in business school case studies forever – how not to launch, mismanage and lose customers all at once!

So long Nikon. I won’t be buying Nikon products again. Good bye!