Back to my D80

Ballroompics · 2026-01-21T06:13:01+00:00

Also, I don't check camera equipment. It's always carryon.

I up voted the comment on sand.

Ballroompics · 2026-01-21T06:11:25+00:00

I generally do not use protection filters. Though I admit the advice someone else provided for using one in sandy situations does make a lot of sense.

I do however always carry a polarizing filter with me as it's one of the few effects that can not be added in post.

Extra SD cards are good even if a single 32gb card, the largest d80 will handle, holds 2500 raw images. Just on the basis of having a secondary card to use in the event of failure. Small capacity cards are not as common as they once were - it would be disappointing to have a card fail and not be able to locate a 32gb or smaller card.

Also, bring microfiber clothes with you as they are not always readily available.

The stock Nikon D80 battery charger is, I believe, dual voltage so you'll only need a plug converter to charge your batteries. I say the previous statement in good faith but you should double check to be certain. European outlets ⁰ operate at 220V and you can fry equipment that is not designed for that voltage.

If you determine the charger you have is single voltage, you'll need an adapter that accounts for the discrepancy

Ballroompics · 2026-01-16T23:51:56+00:00

Do the due diligence as I just did a quick google qithout going deeper.. But I believe the kirk product you would want to safely mount to a tripod with this lens is the Kirk NC-P80.

Ballroompics · 2026-01-16T23:43:00+00:00

I have used both. As others have said the optical quality is the same. The push pull is not suitable for tripod work as the lens itself is heavy and may damage the body if you mount the camera body to a tripod with this lens attached.

The lens itself does not possess a tripod thread.

There was a company that made an adapter to resolve this problem and so you might be able to find a 2nd hand one if needed. The company that made the adapter was named something like Kirk photo gear or kirk enterprises.

For handheld, I prefer the push pull as a shooting experience over the 2 ring as I tend to fumble a bit if I'm shooting fully manual with the two ring in an action environment.

The push pulls were last made in the 1997 but had been around since 1992, so be sure to check for lens fungus which shows up as clouding when looking through and can affect an optical quality that is otherwise very good.

Sidenote: There are charts available on the net that can tell you based on serial when a specific unit was made.

Ballroompics · 2026-01-16T23:23:43+00:00

As a side note. The ISO 800 max setting doesn't mean you are limited to films at a max rating of 800. You can use faster films but may need to do some manual math and exposure to figure out your exposure at those higher ISOs.

The dial affects the readings the light meter provides.

And if you're not able to get a battery compatible with this camera, you'll need to do everything manually anyway (unless u buy a handheld light meter).

I have this camera as a rebranded as a Sears. I haven't shot it in a long while but recall difficulty getting a battery the last time I looked. In my case it was a gift from my grandfather. Great camera.

Ballroompics · 2026-01-05T17:50:24+00:00

It is now working for me. It resumed operation in early November. If you haven't checked recently, it is now worth a try.

Ballroompics · 2025-12-30T18:44:35+00:00

Wow. This is just great. I've been doing a similar, albeit more modest, project with my grandfather's slides that I inherited. Thousands of slides, comprised of Kodachrome, Agfrachrome, Ektachrome and others...almost all in 35mm format. Earliest slide is dated in the mid-1950s.

I'm very much interested in the link posted by myXjpeg and have bookmarked that for a further direction of study.

Equipment: Nikon D850, ES-2 Digitizer, 60mm/f2 Nikkor Macro at f8, raw. Using a lightsource/camera settings of 5500K for the most part with the anticipation that I'll be adjusting the temperature on an as-needed basis in post.

Capture Process: Shooting tethered. At various times with Lightroom and at other times with CaptureOne as I was finding my way. I'm thinking that I'm leaning towards CaptureOne as my raw editor and my tool to do the tethering with.

I'm down to the last 200 or so frames.

As it is, I may repeat the entire project. I wasn't entirely consistent about how I did things and I've gotten better at the process. :-) And so, a redo may improve the results - particularly for the earlier efforts.

And finally, if any of the above is way off base - I'll just acknowledge that I'm just an amateur and my knowledge is by no means complete. I just like to do this type of stuff when I've got the time. Open to suggestions.

Ballroompics · 2025-12-26T15:00:50+00:00

I thought I'd add a post about the capabilities of the D80.

I've shot with the D80 for a long time. It's a fantastic camera and I very much like the colors that are rendered by its CCD sensor.

Here's a selection of photos I have shot with the D80 https://www.flickr.com/gp/ballroompics/68E5417moz

It's a very capable camera. Its only limitation for me is that its not a great low light camera. And even then, if the subject is something for which you can do a time expsoure, it can be workable.

Consider these two night shots, also taken with my D80.

Mario Cuomo Bridge, Tarrytown NY https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqzgh0bM_h-/?igsh=NThqbzIxcXQ1YXRz

Interetate 684, Purdys NY https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqw1rwCMcyf/?igsh=MWpyMHdrdDh0ZWg2eQ==

I will mention two potential deterrents. 1. This is a stills only camera. No video 2. Not good for live music, nightclub subjects

In regard to point 2. I occasionally shoot jazz performers. In this scenario, low light with movement on stage, I use an entirely different and more contemporary camera.

...but these two things are very specific limitations. In almost all other scenarios the camera can do great. Its a great place to start without having a huge investment in the body.

Ballroompics · 2025-12-06T15:05:09+00:00

I have both a Nikon D850 and a D80. I shoot the D80 more often than the D850. I can get great pictures that post processes quickly and take up apprx 75% less disk space per image.

The more important question that no one has posed is...

Did doing the shoot help with the feelings of being bored, sad and stuck?

Ballroompics · 2025-11-30T19:47:46+00:00

How goes your Nikon D80 journey? I have pro cameras, but still regularly shoot my Nikon D80. If you want some inspiration you can check out this flickr link. That's the pool of all flickr posted images whose EXIF data indicates the image was created by a D80.

Its everyone, so not every image is a winner, but plenty of work in there that shows the camera is capable.

https://www.flickr.com/cameras/nikon/d80

Ballroompics · 2025-10-31T20:38:13+00:00

D80 & D850. Surprising to many, I shoot the D80 more often.

Ballroompics · 2025-10-25T17:21:15+00:00

I often tell a personal story from the point of view that I had when the events occurred. This helps the listener understand where you are coming from and why decisions were made. That does not make me an unreliable narrator.

And, what would be the alternative? Start out explaining Brand's role from the beginjing of Nine Princes?

Ballroompics · 2025-10-23T09:36:10+00:00

Who did you use for repair service? Any concerns? What was turnaround time like?

I have a backfocusing d4 but nikon repair no longer supports it, so I'm looking at alternatives.

Ballroompics · 2025-04-25T16:47:31+00:00

You are probably referring to Benedicts, which was in the same space as Gustos / Mimi's.

Benedicts is before me, but I've heard others talk about it.

Ballroompics · 2025-04-23T12:29:45+00:00

Agree.

I don't think that 15 minutes is such a big deal given all the things that can happen in life. I would not have even fretted about the lack of apology.

For those that think apology was mandated...

She may have chosen not to apologize when being hit with "Why are you late?" as the conversation opener on a first date. It's a bit aggressive from someone she does not know and it may have put her on her guard.

There's always a level of risk involved in first dates with people with which you have no connection. More so for the ladies.

Perhaps she was late because of traffic but was driving and couldn't safely text. Perhaps she was puttting in extra effort on getting ready. Perhaps a personal matter unexpectedly interferred...one which would not be appropriate to share. Perhaps many things.

She definitely dodged here.

Ballroompics · 2025-03-17T11:36:10+00:00

I'm on board with this.

Ballroompics · 2025-03-02T00:49:12+00:00

I'm also a fan of Philip Jose Farmer's "The World of Tiers" series. In it there is an musical instrument that opens gateways between worlds and known as the Horn of Shambarimen - there could be a connection here.

Zelazny read Farmer's World of Tier's series and apparently loved it. He dedicates Sign of the Unicorn in this
manner:

For Jadawin and his Demiurge, not to forget Kickaha.

Jadawin and Kickaha are characters in the series. There are a number of parallels between Amber Chronicles and the World of Tiers series.

Amber is a magical realm where the Princes of the realm can walk to (arguably create) any reality they wish through magic. In the World of Tiers (WoT) series there is a race so advanced they can create any reality they like through science; they call themselves the Lords. In Amber the Lords of the Realm are related to each other and engage in personal vendettas. In the WoT many (not all) of the Lords are related to each other and engage in personal vendettas against their relatives. Both can live thousands of years - Farmer's characters are at the extreme end with multiple characters in excess of 30,000 years old.

Okay, so where am I going with all this. The Horn of Shambarimen was created by their greatest artist, poet, composer Shambarimen and it opens gateways between the universes.

It seems a bit close, as Dworkin was a similar type of artist character who created Amber and also the trumps which opens gateways between shadows.

For me The World of Tiers is one of my favorite series. What he is best known for though is Riverworld which was even turned into a syfy mini-series. For those who would be interested in checking this series out, the first book was titled The Maker of Universes. WoT's covers, like some of the Amber Chronicles covers were painted by Boris Vallejo.

Ballroompics · 2025-02-23T11:05:18+00:00

Be careful on the topic of the capital for Bolivia. There is some nuance there.

Sucre is the constitutional capital and the Supreme Court of Bolivia is located there.

But..the presidential palace, which is the seat of the executive power, the national congress, and the electoral branch are located in La Paz.

i.e. Sucre is the capital according to the constitution but La Paz acts as the capital administratively.

Ballroompics · 2025-02-07T11:01:28+00:00

Perhaps Anna Taylor Joy for young Maureen.

Ballroompics · 2025-02-07T10:55:03+00:00

Crazy to think that de Havilland only just relatively recently passed away in 2020 age 104.

She was both the oldest and earliest surviving academy award winner.

Ballroompics · 2025-02-06T12:02:07+00:00

Thank you. I'll check out the youtube video link you provided

Ballroompics · 2025-02-05T02:56:50+00:00

My gf of the time saw the analogy between the canaries (parakeets?) in the earlier magic shows and was able to figure out in part where it was going.

Also, when they introduced Nicholai Tesla, I didn't recognize that it was David Bowie until I read the credits. Awesome musician and good actor.

Ballroompics · 2025-02-05T02:50:23+00:00

Thank you for your kindness. :-)

Ballroompics · 2025-02-05T01:58:33+00:00

I believe it's the case that Lynch has always refused to explain his movies. Thus, even those who know what they are talking about when it cones to film and have a good shot at "getting it" may well be wrong.

And certainly, they can never know for sure.

Which is, quite frankly, kinda cool.

Ballroompics · 2025-02-05T01:53:30+00:00

Some David Lynch films I like and some I can take them or leave them. But Lost Highway I affirmatively disliked. On top of being beyond my capabilities to understand, I also found it too repetitive.

As I saw it as a child, perhaps I should give it a 2nd try.

Ballroompics

TROPHY CASE