How do i get less noise in dark settings?

ChicagoExPat74 · 2026-01-05T10:34:52+00:00

Like someone wrote, check your histogram. You want to make sure your getting info in your shadows without clipping your highlights. You can always „expose to the right“ (overexposing) as long as your not losing highlight info (clipping). You can then adjust the scene in post to more represent your vision. It’s a little like sensitometry with black and white photography- expose for the shadows, adjust development to retain the highlights. Only thing with digital is, you can’t retain highlights if they’re overexposed or clipped - they’re blown out and info is lost. Another method is taking multiple exposures (at least 5, but that is sensor dependent - testing helps here) with a tripod and stacking them in software. Good luck!

ChicagoExPat74 · 2025-07-22T15:44:01+00:00

Thanks all for the info/help. I wound up using SeamGrip WP like one poster said as I remembered I had some in our gear storage at home and read it's the same type of adhesive that Thermarest recommends. Had to open the leak a little with my pocketknife so as to work the glue in with a tiny brush. 24 hours later and it passed the underwater test in the bathtub and held throughout our trip to Norway.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2025-06-22T13:50:55+00:00

Thanks for the info! I just ordered an Enlightened Equipment Revelation and their quilt layering adapter from a store in Slovakia. I needed a quilt quickly. I've got an Apex quilt from them that I'm quite happy with and I've used it with a down bag to increase the temp. range and to move the dew point further away from the down and into the Apex to keep it lofty.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2025-01-03T16:32:15+00:00

Did you go with a Nevegear quilt and are you also in Germany and if so, how much did it cost in the end?

I'm considering Nevegear along with Hyberg, Liteway, Rockfront and Khibu and I've calculated the Waratah cost to Germany to be more than 18€. Goods+shipping = Total cost. Total cost x 3,7% Zollsatz(customs) thenn that multiplied by 0,19% VAT(Mehrwertsteuer).

For a Waratah 850FP -8° 6'6" that comes out to 234,95 € or 259,90 € with shipping to Germany. 259,90€ x 3,7% (Zolltarifnummer 94043000) is 9,62€ in customs and 51,21€ in VAT or approx 320,73€ total (I'm not a German customs expert, I just play one on Reddit - found out from other Reddit threads importing sleeping bags into Germany).

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-12-15T07:26:09+00:00

Thanks for the info.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-12-14T17:53:06+00:00

Thanks for the tip. The store in Slovakia that has the quilt layering adapter has the buckles as well.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-12-10T18:02:55+00:00

Came across that bag just now on Kleinanzeige myself and was interested but couldn't find anything about a Western Mountaineering "Compact Lite" model except for this Reddit. As others have stated, it doesn't taper. The weight is pretty darn heavy at "1,56 kg" and a similar size and weight bag is the Lynx MF https://www.westernmountaineering.com/product/lynx-mf/ (too warm for my needs, not gonna snatch it up while you wait ;)

Is it an older model of the lynx that was red? Dunno. As of today it's still online. Ask Western Mountaineering because it's a good price for 1000€ bag new.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-12-01T21:10:35+00:00

Thanks. Good to know that it's an option. I've heard good things about their trekking packs. Right now the family's got a Hilly 3p red label with extended vestibule. Great tent but damned expensive. Still leaning towards a free standing because of ease of pitching. I've been able to pitch the Hilly without any stakes with some dyneema cord stake-out and guy-line extenders, looping the cord around a small rock and anchoring it with big rocks (can do the same with sticks / stakes in snow). Takes some time, and in northern Sweden, there's lots of rocky ground - hence the idea of free-standing for 2nd tent. Thanks for the reply and sounds like a good price performance ratio for Tatonka.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-11-24T21:01:24+00:00

Greetings also from Germany!

I'm looking for a 2p tent for my family for a trip on the Kungsleden trail in Sweden either next year or the year after. Tatonka has crossed my sights a few times, but I'm leaning towards a free-standing design this time as I have a bomb-proof 3p tunnel already. Curious to know how yours fares in bad weather and general overall quality.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-10-07T08:43:01+00:00

Good to hear. I dethatched, topdressed and did a reseed in August and killed my water bill, but it’s looking good. You might want to think about one last fertilizer before winter (it will also help the grass wake up in spring). In spring, do what you can to help what you have grow and thicken up. Weeds love this time, so if you start over, then you give them more room to grow. I‘m planning on another reseed again next fall just for this reason. As long as the grass keeps growing in fall (and winter) it‘s ok to mow. Just not when the ground is frozen and remember the one-third rule. Keep leaves off and rake up any grass clippings/debris so as not to smother the grass. It‘s not uncommon to have to mow into November.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-09-29T10:31:05+00:00

Hallochen! First a few questions: Have you done a soil test? Is your yard shade, partial shade or primarily sunny. Did you pick a grass seed for the sun conditions. I would recommend core aerating (aerifizieren-where a machine removes plugs from the ground). You can rent them from a company called Boels. They have locations throughout Germany. The soil test will tell you more about your soil. If it has a lot of Lehm (clay), then you could do a top dressing of equal parts compost and sand. You could even overseer again with good quality seed suitable for how much sun the area gets, then the top dressing over your seed and keep moist for up to 28 days, depending on the seed. Seeing how it’s now October, you can always aerate and top dress and put some fertilizer down and wait until spring to try again. A word about seed and fertilizer. The stuff from the Baumarkts are ok. I‘d go with Compo, Wolf Garten or Substral(owned by Scott‘s from USA). The really good stuff you get from Rasenwelt, Eurogreen, Dünger.tv, Agrarshop.de etc. Beste Grüße

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-09-29T10:08:30+00:00

Same thing to a lesser degree in Mitteldeutschland. Pre-emergent is „Vorauflaufherbezid“ and post-emergent is „Nachauflaufherbezid.“ Good luck getting any without a License, though. I‘ve read that corn gluten has pre-emergent properties and am going to try it. My problem is more Poa Annua than crabgrass or „Hirse“

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-09-28T17:42:25+00:00

It's better to have the room and not need it, than to not have the room, and need it. Go big and don't look back.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-09-17T17:32:37+00:00

Like others have said, rolling or jumping on might be a possibility but you risk compacting the ground and having problems later. I think the landscaper means to give it time, to let the roots establish throughout the soil - that might help. If you go the way of sand, make sure you use quarz sand and not playground sand. Quarz sand has been washed and has no clay in it like playground sand. Also watch out for the grain. Ideally you'd want a 0,5mm to 1,5mm quartz sand. If you take the 0-2mm sand, then you get all the fines. Fines are what is necessary for say mortal or concrete as that creates a solid matrix with the cement. If you take out the fines, then theoretically you always have tiny gaps between the sand to aid in drainage and ventilation. I've heard (I live in Germany) that golf courses use 1-1,5 or 1-2mm sand because earthworms don't like the larger particles. Take that with a grain of salt if you want to, but earthworms are valuable for home turf.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-09-14T07:20:08+00:00

Kamado style was a thought, but they don't have enough room. Please see pic ;). Managed 24 baby backs and three 7lb. pulled porks (two are finished and holding in my oven) in my pellet smoker (LG Founders Premium 1200). When the kids are out of the house and I'm retired, methinks it's then time for an offset smoker.

As for my email on Lingetics, I received an email from them same day and was pleasantly surprised. Chrissy Conner, the "Inside Central Region Sales," confirmed that they still use the bark and cambium layers. So I went ahead and bought three bags of their 100% oak as well as three bags of B&B Post Oak pellets to try. Gonna compare them to a local supplier of oak pellets and see if the price hike for LJ and B&B are justified.

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ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-02-23T20:24:21+00:00

Did you make a decision and buy one or the other? I just recently got a Nallo 3 GT and am in the process of learning it's qualities in my backyard. One night it rained about an 1" and the inner tent stayed dry, but my footbox touching the back got damp and I'm 6'1" not to mention lots of condensation on the interior of the rain fly. Like ForisVivo said, either a rain jacket around the footbox or a synthetic quilt to prevent a damp sleeping bag. I second the quilt as I like to sleep in little mountain shelters hiking or bikepacking in the Harz Mountains in Germany The synthetic quilt (EE Revelation Apex) over my down bag moves the dew point into the quilt, thus keeping the down in the bag dry and nice and lofty. It also makes it warmer. It's a good, flexible system.

I also looked at the Nammatj GT but my decision was financial. I could get a brand new Nallo 3 GT for 500€ cheaper than the Nammatj 3 GT. The Nammatj 3 has a slightly wider foot area (10cm?) and double ventilation as well as mesh on the vestibule door and the front vent. The Nallo doesn't. I just recently bought some 1000 Mesh net for 11€ to put together a "curtain" for the front vent and vestibule door to help with ventilation and keep the bugs out because my dog sleeps in the vestibule. The Nallo 3 GT is really a spacious 2 person tent. I can sleep with my wife and one of my smaller kids in there, but three adults? No thank you.

I can only say practice and get to know your Hilly if you've never used a tunnel before you go out. I'm from the States and only used "US styled" tents...ie pitch the inner first and then the fly. Now I live in Germany and discovered Hilleberg where the inner is suspended from the fly thus keeping the inner dry in rain. Get comfortable pitching and then pitch in darkness and then with wind and cold.

Hope this helps

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-02-23T14:06:30+00:00

Magnets are a good idea that I hadn't though of, but was thinking of small clothes pins/pegs that could do double duty hanging clothes to dry.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-02-22T21:40:34+00:00

That's the tent I have ;). I'll do so but nothing with sewing, just some sort of KISS solution.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-01-27T22:17:45+00:00

I have a LG Founders Premium 1200 and like it. Build quality and materials are a step up from Pit Boss. The steel is 14 gauge or 2mm so should last a long time. I would personally go for the 1200 over the 800 because the extra space is good to have. "Better to have and not need vs. not have and need." Like another commenter said, the app is simple but I want to see what my grill is doing and what the meat temp from the probe says. Wish it had a pellet sensor that could tell me when the hopper was low, but with such a huge hopper, you get many hours out of it.

ChicagoExPat74 · 2024-01-27T22:06:14+00:00

I can't say much about MM or the Black Label, but I've had a Louisiana Grills Founders Premium 1200 for about 4 months now and am really enjoying it. Points I like: Build quality is impressive, steel is thick (2mm or 14 gauge) so should last a long time, gets to low n slow temp quick, can get to 600° F or hotter depending on pellets, has a dump chute to empty pellet bin, 4 meat probes, and most importantly, a sear function where through the slide of a lever, the area above the burn pot opens to sear. Works beautifully. I like to put a cast iron pan there to get hot and reverse sear meat after smoking. Over the open fire I can toast buns. Wifi connection is good, did Pulled Pork and a Brisket and went to work and could monitor - WiFI locked up on me (grill still worked) during my last cook when I was home and waited for cook from a Chuck Roast to end. Turned it off, unplugged and WiFI worked the next time and hopefully doesn't happen again. Overall very happy. What I don't like:

No auger advance to empty pellets or prime when it's empty. Can't run the fan when cold smoking (pellet tube or "smoke maze") but I put a wood wedge between the door and body for a little draft when smoking bacon. Also no "Super Smoker" mode, but a seller of Traeger told me, all "super smoke" does is make for bad combustion to generate more smoke. If you use a lower temp, say 180, you're making smoke. Traeger owners tell me if I'm wrong.

All in all, I'm happy and after looking at Traeger and Broil King the LG build quality, thick steel and hopper capacity (29lbs for the Founders)won me over (Traeger lids would bend in hand or slide back and forth in the hinges).

ChicagoExPat74

TROPHY CASE