StephenFrink

Two of my friends were complaining about inability to get sharp focus on the same 17-35mm Nikkor zoom, and wondering if it was faulty glass.  As we dug through variables we discovered the issue was more about being set to continuous AF when they should have been on single servo, and the fact that the camera acquired focus more quickly than they were used to and was often catching detritus in the water rather than the intended subject.  But, while we were at it, we did some pool tests to determine which port extension was best with Seacam supedome, test PVL (port extension, in mm) 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60.  We also tested for sideways motion and forward motion, and how efficiently it acquired focus in single servo.

 

Both motion tests looked great, as they dealt only with performance in the center of the frame.

 

Scenarios looked like this:

 

 Motion_17.jpg   196.21K   27 downloads

 

 Motion_30.jpg   223.82K   27 downloads

 

100% views:

 

 forward_motion.JPG   184.23K   20 downloads

Motion forward

 

 sideways_motion.JPG   161.77K   21 downloads

Motion sideways

We have a couple of SEACAM D2X housings at the moment, having been asked by friends to sell them following their transitions to D800 housings.  In each case, they are happy to sell at a very good price, $1250.  Ports and viewfinders are not included, as they used those for their new housings.

 

If any interest, please contact info@stephenfrink.com or call 305-451-3737.  About the only difference I can see between them is the one on the left has shoes for strobe arms and the one on the right does not.  

 

 D2X.jpg   313.78K   9 downloads

We are trying to decide between two wonderful cover images, each submitted for the Ocean Views Photo contest (run as collaboration between Nature's Best magazine, Wetpixel, and Alert Diver).

 

Here are the shots, but the links are not live here.  You'd have to go to http://www.alertdiver.com to vote.

 

 Screen Shot 2013-03-13 at 11.05.30 AM.png   255.12K   100 downloads

A buddy of mine just migrated to a new Seacam D800 and bought some new glass for it.  He has pristine Nikkor lenses for sale that he used on his D7000:
 
12-24mm zoom  - $300
 
105mm Micro-Nikkor (older style AF, not internal focusing) - $300
 
I'll get some photos of them and post later.  If anyone wants either of them, send me a PM or call Liz at 800-451-3737.
 
 

I'll be in Dominica with a small group in early February. In researching the bagge allowance on AA I came up with this information that I used for my trip prep bulletin:

"I didn’t trust the web to deliver accurate information about baggage allowances into Dominica, so I persevered though an interminable hold time to actually speak to an AA agent. Here is what she told me after 40 minutes and 38 seconds on the phone … 70 pounds trumps all.

If you fly first class you get three bags for free and you maximum weight per bag is 70 pounds. If you fly coach you get one bag for free and a second one is $40, so long as both under 50 pounds. That’s a normal expectation for the Caribbean from the USA. Dominica is not normal. Over-ruling all of this is the baggage embargo into Dominica which states you may have 2 checked bags but the aggregate total on checked baggage can be no more than 70-pounds. It is not a matter of paying more, it is simply not allowed. We will have to be very creative with how we pack for this trip!"

I deduce the hand carry rules are as per normal for American Eagle but this is what the agent told me for checked baggage to Dominica (connecting through PR).

Does anyone have real world information on this?

As an aside, has anyone had problems with bag pilferage in PR lately? It used to be outrageous, but assume/hope this is no longer the case.

Thanks.