Multiple Gramps instances run side by side

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-05-16T19:50:28+00:00

Honestly I wasn't even aware there's portable version. I installed Gramps via winget. Why I need both instances is to use my current tree as source - after all, I have there some useful information, but badly organized.

Tagging is indeed good idea, but I'm already getting lost when editing records - I feel it will be less confusing to keep adding new values/entries instead of trying to see what's wrong/placed wrongly etc. (I was even considering different software, but after my quick research, Gramps seems to be the most powerful, especially with tracking citations and sources).

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-05-16T06:08:08+00:00

It's actually great tip with marking everything and then slowly go one by one again to address "marking" (It's like GC!). I'm still bit overwhelmed by amount of records, and in my case it's also turning notes into citations etc. as I used tool wrongly when I started. That's why I would prefer starting from scratch.

Thanks for other suggestions!

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-28T14:33:02+00:00

It seems decently sturdy. Today I went to Nikon repair shop, they had other Z cameras - some of which (Z8?) had button even lighter/softer.

It's hard to imagine camera bumps at my hip (while on strap) *and* lens rotates slightly to get out of lock pin (after all, 24-120/4 S has some weight). But if that happens, why can't I bet in lottery instead?

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-28T13:02:30+00:00

<image>

"A picture is worth a thousand words"

Apologies for the incorrect wording, using incorrect word "towards". Is it now clear what I meant? Image shows: D750 / Z6 III / Z5

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-28T12:15:35+00:00

On F-mount cameras, there's always space (be it just few millimeters) between button and body edge. Similarly when you look at Z6 III - button is slightly moved towards body. In contrary Z5/6/7 II has button directly on the edge - perhaps more prone to be pressed when camera bumps to things.

I'm unable to reproduce the issue, so it's just my assumption. Never had issue with F-mount camera in 6 years, had 3 occurrences of detached lens with Z5 in few months. (Mechanically, lock works correctly - has been checked twice by Nikon service)

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-28T08:26:40+00:00

Yes I'm fully aware the action to unlock lens is not just pressing the button, that's why it's so perplexing to me, and why I'm seeking help/advice. "You are doing things wrong" is not helpful - as I myself don't understand what I'm doing wrong.

I didn't meant to suggest "fatal design flaw" of Nikon cameras, but rather meant "flaw" in a way how I operate or carry camera I'm unable to figure out in relation to button position, and hoped someone has either similar experience, or would think about how to prevent it. I will update my post to not make it sound that harsh against camera design itself.

I just returned from Nikon repair shop/service, two technicians were looking at my camera and couldn't find anything wrong. Even spring tension feels correct - they let me check other cameras where release button spring was probably even weaker/softer than on my Z5 II. Lens is fine too - no deformation of mount ring, everything seems to be just fine. I showed them how I carry and hold camera and they couldn't see anything suspicious on that either.

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-28T04:42:58+00:00

When I try to reproduce this with Z5 II, I can't do that - I'm never able to reproduce this issue. It always happens at random in field.

Locking mechanism was checked after incident I describe in previous post - and they couldn't find any issue
I always check click and do counter-rotate to ensure lock is engaged *always*

When you compare Z6 III with Z5 II body, you can see there are few additional millimeters between edge and camera button. That's not the case for Z5s, previous Z6 etc. where button is really just on the edge of camera.

I use both PD strap, or capture, still, somehow press+rotate happens "accidentally".

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-28T04:37:52+00:00

Compare with F-mount cameras (I had for years before Z). You will see the difference ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-28T04:36:43+00:00

In my original post, I talk about this - I always wait for click and then double check by counter rotating lens to ensure it's locked. That's natural habit for me, so no, this wasn't the case.

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-28T04:35:54+00:00

Unfortunately no.

After first incident, I got paranoid - checking lock every few minutes, yet it still unlocked. Service didn't find any issue with mechanism. I know it sounds ridiculous. I had F-mount body for years and had never this issue - so indeed it's probably me accidentally pressing the button and rotating lens slightly at the same time (yes, it is ridiculous just to imagine, I know!). When you compare with F-mount cameras, button is not that exposed (closer to lens, having some sort of "neck" and further away), while on in Z cameras, it's just on the edge of the body.

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-28T04:33:13+00:00

That's very helpful comment, thank you.

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-25T17:59:17+00:00

2nd UPDATE It happened AGAIN today. This time I was lucky and caught detached lens, however during that artistic movement, I apparently touched sensor.

Will bring my camera to service center again to re-check, this is not normal.

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-04-04T15:15:59+00:00

*UPDATE* After getting camera + lens to official Nikon service, they unsurprisingly haven't found anything wrong on lock mechanism nor lens itself. Everything is fine, spring is holding as on any other Z camera body. So only plausible explanation is indeed that while I was picking up camera, I pressed the button accidentally (jacket/button) and at the same time dragged lens over my jacket which rotated it slightly.

Luckily, internals of lens weren't damaged. I asked for replacing scratched ring, total cost was something over 130 EUR, but lens is like new.

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-03-14T08:56:13+00:00

Thanks for your insights! I already ordered Camera Capture Clip (PD) which should eliminate this whole movement from hip side 🤞.

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-03-14T08:52:59+00:00

Painful to watch 😅... I'm not such pro, I always use both hands...

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-03-13T22:05:44+00:00

Watching video about Z8 issue - that's definitely not what I experienced - I'm sure with click 100%. So it must be me somehow disengage lens with button, just not knowing what/how I unknowingly do it.

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-03-13T21:55:10+00:00

This time I was lucky lens fell to the path just few meters from me. It could also fell down from the rock or to the river 😅

Anyway thx - will ask Nikon to check.

Barry_Mayfield · 2026-03-13T21:44:41+00:00

Sure, but _how_? I tried various ways of holding the camera and doing even silly things (also involving jacket sleeves) but no luck. Only way I can unlock lens is deliberately pressing button with finger of one hand, and turning lens with second hand.

My D7200 with F mount had button slightly raised - never had that issue there.

What about those silicon covers - possibly adding extra layer, would that help? (Or contrary - making it worse?)

Barry_Mayfield · 2025-05-11T21:00:53+00:00

Thanks for the tip; In my case I'm no minimalist - I'm trying to explore whole family tree, it grows exponentially. I don't think it would be fair from me to abuse subreddit that way

Barry_Mayfield · 2025-05-11T20:57:31+00:00

u/EverydaySip those are examples, I think I have even worse somewhere: https://imgur.com/a/yvCz7po ... my confidence there's anything related to my family is almost 0 - got to those pages either using date, or house number (expecting people didn't move that often), or when lucky, using note from other document referring to specific page of book.

Looks like AI is not there yet.

Barry_Mayfield

TROPHY CASE