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delia todd
Moderator but....... If I say the wrong thing put it down to Senior Moments
Registered: December 2004 Location: Perthshire Posts: 220,457
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Sat January 31, 2015 8:27pm
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Now you're going to have some fun with your new toys, aren't you Calvin! 
I'll look forward to seeing the results - that looks to be a lovely area you've got there.
------------------------------ In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed
2006 63, 2007 52, 2008 46, 2009 32, 2010 31, 2011 27 Total 81
Latest Patch tick: Magpie
The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing - Socrates
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CalvinFold
Registered User
Registered: June 2013 Location: San Leandro, CA, USA Posts: 1,295
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Sun February 1, 2015 1:31pm
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Oh, sans the tripod, the recent SX60 photos in my gallery all use this gear. The camera I spoiled myself with, the tripod and head were Christmas and Birthday money from family. :)
I'm spoiling myself and my girlfriend with BlackRapid straps in a few weeks, with any luck. Her borrowed photography gear is much nicer than my personal gear...and alot heavier!
I'm enjoying the SX60 immensely. She gets jealous of my range, I get jealous of the extreme detail and clarity of her photos (especially when she borrows the AF-S NIKKOR
70-200mm f/2.8G ED...beast of a lens, but oh the gorgeous photos!).
------------------------------ Kevin (aka CalvinFold)
My Gallery • Equipment used: 2013 | 2014 | 2015–2018
BF Supporter 2015 2016 2017 2018Support BirdForum With A Donation
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Nickstacey1964
Registered User
Registered: October 2009 Location: somerset Posts: 30,928
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CalvinFold
Registered User
Registered: June 2013 Location: San Leandro, CA, USA Posts: 1,295
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Tue February 17, 2015 5:08pm
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The final piece of the puzzle got added this past weekend: all my BlackRapid gear.
And I have to say...you haven't really enjoyed a camera strap until you've used on of the BlackRapid ones. Wow.
My girlfriend will be trying it out with her heavy DSLR + lens setup (over 5 lbs.) soon, but even on my little SX60 it is much more comfortable, convenient, and annoyance-free than any camera strap I've ever used.
------------------------------ Kevin (aka CalvinFold)
My Gallery • Equipment used: 2013 | 2014 | 2015–2018
BF Supporter 2015 2016 2017 2018Support BirdForum With A Donation
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CalvinFold
Registered User
Registered: June 2013 Location: San Leandro, CA, USA Posts: 1,295
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Tue December 15, 2015 2:52pm
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Followup: December 2015:
This setup has been great. The tripod and head are a little heavier than my lightest tripod, but the head is a huge improvement and it's all still comfortable to carry. Though I don't always take it because I find that except at extreme range or if I plan to just sit someplace for a while, I can shoot long-range photos hand-held with the SX60 without issue.
Despite alot of folks saying the BlackRapid strap is overkill for a bridge camera I still continue to enjoy it and find it far more practical, and safer, than a standard shoulder strap.
The SX60 itself is the expected mixed bag. Tough to use in low-light; tough to use in very glary/contrasty light; and a bit grainy at times. I do have to compensate by shooting in Shutter Priority with custom settings and doing a fair amount of post work on my photos (shot JPEG for the burst speed, processed as Camera RAW and DNG for flexibility/features).
But this was to be expected. For the features I wanted, I still don't see any worthwhile options. Like everyone else, would love a bigger sensor on a camera in this format/setup, but seems unlikely for a while.
So eyes open, proper expectations, and in many ways the camera has exceeded my expectations.
This is my gateway drug until I can find something in a MFT, FT, DSLR, ILC, etc. and lens combo that I can actually lift without hurting myself, and afford for the range I want. ;-p
------------------------------ Kevin (aka CalvinFold)
My Gallery • Equipment used: 2013 | 2014 | 2015–2018
BF Supporter 2015 2016 2017 2018Support BirdForum With A Donation
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CalvinFold
Registered User
Registered: June 2013 Location: San Leandro, CA, USA Posts: 1,295
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Fri December 15, 2017 4:59pm
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Added a Sony RX100 Mk III, Black Rapid Double, and Black Rapid Binoc to my birding arsenal. The BR Double lets me more easily carry both cameras and the Binoc strap integrates that into the mix well. Until I got the ProStaff's as a gift, I didn't really keep a pair of binoculars at the ready, but now I do.
Gave the RX100 a quick try on some short-range shots and it's a great camera for that purpose. My plan is to use it for close-in shots so I can leave the SX60 zoomed-out and ready for long range shots. It takes so long to go from short-to-long range on the SX60 I'm missing too many shots; the RX100 should fill that void nicely once I get the settings where I want them.
The RX100 also lets me have more control in a pocket camera for non-birding than I did with my Sony ELPH 320, so there's that too. Justifications for toys! :-D
(I'll be honest, I was envious of my girlfriend's RX100 Mk IV which got damaged and replaced with a Mk V...I just have a smaller budget so went with the Mk III.)
------------------------------ Kevin (aka CalvinFold)
My Gallery • Equipment used: 2013 | 2014 | 2015–2018
BF Supporter 2015 2016 2017 2018Support BirdForum With A Donation
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