URLS >Does anyone out there know what happened to Walter Pietsch's site? >I have been unable to raise it for some time (URL not found). It was >a site I used fairly often for Nikon information. I try to keep links updated on my site at http://members.tripod.com/~luckyrwe/f5.html please feel free to check out those links and let me know if I ought to add any more! ------------------------------ BRAND NAMES >I said it before, and now I will say it again. Put Nikon lens on Nikon >cameras. >Sam Unless you like the Nikkor 60mm Micro AF, then you can say, "Put Kyrocera lenses on Nikon cameras." ------------------------------ LET'S RAVE >I know this is preaching to the choir, but want to rave about the durability >of Nikon lenses. >As I watched $600 of glass hit the floor, I reprimanded myself for being so >stupid. >Thanks for letting me share. I think we all have stories here. I was on one shoot where I needed a lens for a suicide misison. I knew the lens would not survive. I opted for the 50/1.8E lens on an F3HP body. I knew the lens would get trashed, I had no idea about the body so I got the best I could at the time. As I got to the desired shooting site I took off my pullover sweater while I still had the camera around my neck, and there it went, over 6 feet down! The filter shot off the lens, I prayed for it to go further and further, thus bearing the brunt of the fall. The F3 finder had a dent in the top. The 50mm lens was locked in the near infinity position and I only had 3 apertures available to use. What a lousy start. Thirteen days later I was done with the shoot, the camera and lens were no more worse than the day I dropped them except for some sand damage on the front element. The lens was a loss, the body took a few C notes to repair. Another time some friends and I all had F4s and we were standing around when we heard a CLUNK! We looked down and there was an F4 rolling between our feet! It was NOT mine. Someone's strap gave out. The camera was fine. ------------------------------ EBAY RULES >I was the high bidder, but I >failed to meet the reserve price. Well, it appears that the seller >was contacted by someone else (probably another bidder) and accepted >their offer for the EXACT SAME PRICE that I bidded. They did this >without even contacting me first! See for yourself at >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=72771910. If they sell they should give the option to the first person who bid the high price. There are 2 bids for $325. and they should take the first bid if they are going to sell anyway. I guess you are Sir Jeeves and bid first? I have had items up for sale that did not meet reservse so I can decide not to sell them, then later I may sell them to the first party that comes by. I believe they have the OPTION of accepting your offer, but if you did not meet the reserve they are under no obligation to sell to you. ------------------------ 1000MM >I am looking at buying a 1000mm for important but occasional use. The >Nikon 1000mm catadioptric is a bit expensive and the 1 review I have >found rates it as optically so-so. There are two Russian 1000mm cats >which are one tenth(!) the price. I have also had someone in the know >recommend a Celestron 5" telescope which is supposedly diffraction >limited and still cheaper than the Nikon. Anyone out there got hands on >experience at this length and care to pass on their experience? The AFS >500/4 and TC20E would be nice, but I value my marriage higher :-) I just sold my 1000mm on Ebay for a little over $420US. It was a Meade. It was the only brand I ever had that I could hand hold to any degree. I understand the Russian ones do not hold up under temperature fluctuations. Whatever you decide, make sure you have a solid surface to grip! Robert in Redlands
