Dear photographer,
I’d like to thank all my subscribers this year, as well as those who made the effort to use my product links, both of which make this site possible. May the rest of this year and beyond be kind to you!
Site updates — Follow what’s happening using the RSS Feed or Twitter, and of course this mailing list. But my blog is your best best, it always gets updated first.
The self-portrait at right was taken in October during a wondrous October snowstorm. Self portraits are one useful reason to have an 18mm or 21mm lens, but shave first!
What I’m working on for late 2009 / early 2010
- Zeiss ZE 50/2 and 100m f/2 Makro-Planar;
- Nikon 70-200/2.8 VR II sample #2;
- New Mac models that might appear (Mac Pro and/or MacBook Pro);
- Canon 1D Mark IV;
- Canon 200m f/2L IS;
- Other lenses for Leica M9.
- Binoculars;
- Other lenses.
- A greatly expanded The Sharpest Image (currently part of DAP, recommended reading).
Noteworthy
November and December have offered exciting developments. Here are just a few worth special note.
• Reviewed: Nikon D3s, Nikon 70-200/2.8 VR II, Leica M9, Canon 100/2.8L IS macro, Intel 160GB solid state drive, OWC 8GB memory modules for Mac Pro, and much more.
• Leica/Zeiss prices — prices are going up as of Jan 1st on Leica M and Zeiss ZM lenses (for Leica M8/M9/M). Popular lenses are sold out at some dealers, but there are some focal lengths still available, scan this list. Price increases on Zeiss ZE/ZF.2 are already in place.
• Nikon D3s — The “shoot in the dark” camera, but much more: better ergonomics and limpid image quality that fascinates. More. “Is it really better than a D3?” — “yes!”. It’s probably 1-1.5 stops better with noise, but it’s more than noise, it’s the sumptuous and limpid feel of the images, perhaps the loveliest I’ve seen from any digital camera (even medium format). Whether to upgrade from a D3 or D700 is a personal choice that takes your own priorities into account. The Nikon D3s is about $5199. I purchased one, it’s that good— I expect it to deliver value for years to come, at least until a D4!
• Leica M9 — My report in DAP is really a guide. A must-read for any prospective purchaser, or existing owner, more than a review it discusses how to shoot the camera. See my convenient Leica M9 wish list and lens list. I’ve purchased the M9 and some lenses and intend to give it coverage over time.
• Nikon 70-200/2.8 VR II — A long awaited upgrade over the disappointing original. A replacement sample has just arrived and will be tested. The hot spot issue remains of concern. However, by f/4 and beyond, the lens is stunningly good, and I’d rate it the best 70-200 zoom yet made. The 70-200/2.8 VR II is about $2399. I’ll be buying one.
• Zeiss ZE and Zeiss ZF.2 — the arrival of nearly all of the Zeiss designs for Nikon (ZF) in Canon EOS mount (ZE), along with the introduction of Nikon ZF.2 mounts — electronic aperture control. My blog discusses these developments and of course in my Guide to Zeiss ZF/ZE Lenses.
• Mac OS X Snow Leopard — I have switched not only to Snow Leopard, but also 64-bit kernel mode, which further pimps performance. Highly recommended for nearly everyone. See my report.
Year-end acquisitions
Business owners here in the US should be thinking about making purchases now rather than in January, for tax-deduction and depreciation reasons (discuss with your accountant).
Photography — I’ve collected all the cameras and lenses that I recommend into my gear/wish lists, all right under the B&H search box on my blog page. I am available for photographic consulting should you need help or advice on choosing gear.
Mac Pro / Mac — Looking for a Mac? Save 15% by buying certified Apple refurbished. See my Mac Pro step-by-step buying and setup guide, and see also my comments on the quad-core iMac, as well as future Mac Pro models. See also my Mac wish list at B&H.
Need help with a computer purchase? I still have a few slots for consulting available on the 23rd, and I’ll be available after the 25th as well.
Computer upgrades — OWC can ship overnight up to 12/23, even as late as 10:30 pm! Here is their specials page. My two top recommendations are a solid state drive for your laptop, and 2TB hard drives. And here is my top picks list.
Under the redwoods
I could hardly focus even with Live View and at f/2 for this 15-second exposure, taken with the Nikon D3s + Zeiss ZF 100/2 Makro-Planar. Yes the image quality is truly stunning. We are approaching breakthrough performance with the Nikon D3s, and the future only holds better things for digital photography. Truly amazing stuff!
That’s all for now. Enjoy the holidays!
—Lloyd
