Search found 122 matches

by Jonathan K
Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:03 am
Forum: DSLRs pre-2006
Topic: External power for flash guns
Replies: 21
Views: 8233

Re: External power for flash guns

I use the antique Minolta 5400... (which is a pain, since it does not work on WL)... Here is a inexpensive solution to transform you hold 5400 to support wireless. You need at least small skill in electronic soldering, but is is very not complicated : http://www.voitzsch.net/index.php/en/flashconv-...
by Jonathan K
Sat Sep 11, 2010 10:23 am
Forum: DSLRs pre-2006
Topic: External power for flash guns
Replies: 21
Views: 8233

Re: External power for flash guns

That's good to hear, because visually the sockets are significantly different (but also neither of them match exactly the recessed shown in your photo of the plug). I was worried in case Sony had changed the size of a septum to prevent using a Minolta part for some reason, but apparently not. The o...
by Jonathan K
Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:58 pm
Forum: DSLRs pre-2006
Topic: External power for flash guns
Replies: 21
Views: 8233

Re: External power for flash guns

David Kilpatrick wrote:If you take along a Sony flashgun, they will tell you whether as dummy battery unit or a proper external connection could be used. They will indeed be at photokina.

David
Thanks, I will do that!

Cheers, Jonathan
by Jonathan K
Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:56 pm
Forum: DSLRs pre-2006
Topic: External power for flash guns
Replies: 21
Views: 8233

Re: External power for flash guns

Javelin wrote:
pretty annoying tendancy of Sony to modify plugs and cables in a way that you can only use Sony products?
Hrm what cables and plugs would that be?
Remember the optical cables for Sony DAT recorders? I mean the walkman version...
J
by Jonathan K
Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:30 pm
Forum: DSLRs pre-2006
Topic: External power for flash guns
Replies: 21
Views: 8233

Re: External power for flash guns

Hi David, that looks about exactly like what I have been looking for. I have had a quick look at the website: I don't find any official statement about compatibility... Are you aware of any problems concerning the Minolta/Sony hot shoe or the pretty annoying tendancy of Sony to modify plugs and cabl...
by Jonathan K
Fri Sep 10, 2010 2:35 pm
Forum: DSLRs pre-2006
Topic: External power for flash guns
Replies: 21
Views: 8233

External power for flash guns

Hi all, just a question concerning the flashs: I noticed that during a portrait session you can hardly rely on a set of batteries to survive the session. Which means: slow recycling times or even flash failures and therefore missed opportunities. So I thought I would try to find an adaptor which wou...
by Jonathan K
Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:55 am
Forum: Imaging Helpline
Topic: Group portraits
Replies: 2
Views: 2355

Re: Group portraits

Hello David, great piece of advice! Thanks a lot. I just ordered the book... The pictures he takes have some warmth which is kind of inexplainable... I suppose I will have to practise a few afternoons with a setup of dolls or teddy bears :) The pictures I saw until now (I just had a quick browse) ar...
by Jonathan K
Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:18 pm
Forum: Imaging Helpline
Topic: Group portraits
Replies: 2
Views: 2355

Group portraits

Hi all, A few days ago I got an "assignment" from a chamber orchestra, who needs pictures for their website and flyers... Since I have done this kind of work only once, and have been totally unhappy with the results (they lacked about everything, from dynamic, style, composition etc) I was...
by Jonathan K
Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:54 pm
Forum: Alpha A-mount System
Topic: Link to noise comparison A500
Replies: 38
Views: 17285

Re: Link to noise comparison A500

Dear David, this sounds pretty thrilling to me... I can't make any educated statements here since I have been too lazy so far to use DxO (ACR is soooo practical in use). But did I get it right: Does Sony sell the A5xx with DxO instead of IDC? Sorry if I misread your post. That would be quite an achi...
by Jonathan K
Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:33 pm
Forum: Alpha A-mount System
Topic: Link to noise comparison A500
Replies: 38
Views: 17285

Re: Link to noise comparison A500

Looks promising, certainly better than the ISO 6400 samples that showed up on the polish site, which showed less detail that the A700. Only did they follow Nikon's path and opting for a brighter exposure in order to avoid shadow noise? In any case, the colour noise question seems to be addressed. Jo...
by Jonathan K
Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:35 am
Forum: Lens Lore
Topic: SAL70400G
Replies: 39
Views: 13203

Re: SAL70400G

Hi Winston and David, yesterday I tried out the lens on a boat race... I had much less difficulties to get a lock, even on moving objects. So my take on this: I noticed the same difference in focus speed with my old 100-300 APO when it was supposed to work in bad light. (you could even hear the pitc...
by Jonathan K
Sun Aug 09, 2009 11:11 pm
Forum: Lens Lore
Topic: SAL70400G
Replies: 39
Views: 13203

Re: SAL70400G

Hello David,
this makes sense.
Is there a reason for slowing the focus down more one way (1.5 to infinity) than the other way (infintiy to 1.5)?
Thanks a lot for your qualified information, as always.

Jonathan
by Jonathan K
Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:40 am
Forum: Lens Lore
Topic: SAL70400G
Replies: 39
Views: 13203

Re: SAL70400G

Just to clarify matters - unless a lens is f/2.8 or faster, and activates the central f/2.8 sensor, all the AF sensors in all current Sony models read the lens as if it had an aperture of f/7.1 (the only exception is the 500mm f/8 which has a special code to enable the central sensor only, and over...
by Jonathan K
Sat Aug 08, 2009 7:51 pm
Forum: Lens Lore
Topic: SAL70400G
Replies: 39
Views: 13203

Re: SAL70400G

Mine takes longer to focus at the longer focal lengths too. As an old servo systems engineer, I'm not surprised. I suggest using the the focus limiter; that's what it's for. Another thing I do is to manually set the lens at infinity. It's only a quarter turn to the right. It beomes second nature ra...
by Jonathan K
Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:55 pm
Forum: Lens Lore
Topic: SAL70400G
Replies: 39
Views: 13203

Re: SAL70400G

PS: I made the lens focus with the lens cap on. It focuses at the same speed in both directions which makes me rule out a faulty HSM motor. Wouldn't this rather indicate a faulty motor? :? Anyway, I only had a few minutes to play with an 70-400 on my A700 earlier this year and I didn't notice what ...