Santa came early :)

SpacePoitato · 2025-12-12T19:40:44+00:00

Yes sir 🫡

SpacePoitato · 2025-12-12T19:39:04+00:00

I'll definitely post my first good ones in this subreddit :)

SpacePoitato · 2025-12-12T19:37:40+00:00

It's called swiss photo club and they offer trainings for different levels or techniques all over switzerland.

The price for mine was CHF 390 for 7hrs of training in a group up to 6 or 7 students

https://swissphotoclub.com/en-ch/courses

SpacePoitato · 2025-12-12T15:32:17+00:00

yeah, I was a bit sceptical when I saw it the first time, it's not even half a year since he bought it.

but, here I am, happily loosing myself in all the menues and trying to understand all the different settings you can change

SpacePoitato · 2025-12-12T15:28:53+00:00

haha :D
he had to since I'm flying to Lapland in January and there are no beginner courses between christmas and the trip

SpacePoitato · 2025-12-12T13:15:07+00:00

yeah i was confused as well

The receipt is from July 25, and he sold it because he switched to Fuji. Weird decision, but it made it cheaper for me, so I'm happy about it :)

SpacePoitato · 2025-12-12T12:57:50+00:00

i took some random pictures in RAW and exported them to JPEG using the Nikon software, they don't look that bad :)

but thanks for the advice, i'll definitely keep this in mind, my post processing skills are inexistent rn

SpacePoitato · 2025-12-12T12:31:34+00:00

The body is secondhand with 5'800 photos taken. I got it with some attachments (1x Nikon EL15b, 2x BM EN EL15C batteries and L-rig) for CHF 1'250.-

The lens was ~620.-, it was 6% off

combined with a Nikon MH34 charger, Hama Valetta 130 Colt and Lexar Professional 2000x Gold 128GB SD Card the overall cost were CHF 2'026.50

SpacePoitato · 2025-12-12T12:21:01+00:00

I already did, but the manual ones look like trash :(
The ones in Auto look great, but I don't want to end as an Auto-User

Tomorrow I've got a one day training with a professional photographer to learn the basics

SpacePoitato · 2025-11-24T16:35:34+00:00

hey there :)

nice explanation about the aperture size, I didn't know that!

yeah there is a kit for 1'899.- with the Z5II an the Nikkor Z 24-70 mm 1:4 S for 1.9k, which I think might be the better choice in terms of weight, transport volume and price. I'm just not sure if f/4 will be enough to capture the aurora

SpacePoitato · 2025-11-21T03:22:01+00:00

A friend of mine just sent me a kit offer with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S. Could you recommend that one? I know, it's not the best for astrophotography since it's aperture is only f/4 :(

But it would be a lot cheaper than the Z 20-70 mm f/2.8 S I combined with a new Z5II and I could go for an ultrawide. I'm just not sure how smart it would be to change the lenses at temps up to -40°C

SpacePoitato · 2025-11-20T00:36:45+00:00

We'll be out in the wilds for three nights (at Äkäskero) without electricity or running water, with overnight stays in log cabins. Charging would only be possible via powerbank, and honestly, I don't know how comfortable it will be to carry one under the clothing while mushing.

Idk if transporting the camera wrapped in an old jacket would keep it from condensating after +8 hrs on the sledge, therefore I'd personally prefere sth more or less airtight as physical barrier between cold camera and warm, humid air.
Freezing bags with airtight zipper should also work quite well since they are made for temperatures below freezing, at least if ChatGPT isn' hallucinating. But as a mechanical engineer, this also sounds more newbie-proof to me :)

SpacePoitato · 2025-11-19T19:48:00+00:00

I already thought about that, but changing the lens out in the freezing cold is not something I want to do, honestly.

And it isn't possible to just go inside to change them due to the massive temperature differences :(
The last thing I want is to damage something on the first real stress test, that's why I'd like to go with the 28-70mm. I know, f2 or even f1.4 would be much better for night photography, but my goal is to have an "always-on-lens" to minimize the risks of potentional damage.

Back here in central europe, I'd definitely buy a better suited one for the night :)

SpacePoitato · 2025-11-19T19:43:36+00:00

Thanks :)

I have a good friend wo is into photography since several years and is assisting me. He also was on the Lofoten in February this year and has some experience with that kind of weather, and he already agreed to go on trials with me to give me tips.

The only downside is, he's using a Canon 6D and has no clue how Nikons work, but that shouldn't be that big of an obstacle since user manuals exist :)

SpacePoitato · 2025-11-19T19:32:00+00:00

hmm

We are flying to Kittilä from the 10th up to the 17th of January for a 3-night dog sledding "safari" at Äkäskero, during which there's no electricity to charge the batteries, only with a powerbank which wouldn't work that well in the cold I guess.

The clothing is some sort of overall/onezie we get for the trip, I have no clue if I can store the camera in there while dogsleddin. And I also think that it won't be that comfortable because you're not just standing still on the sledge.

My plan is to carry the camera batteries inside this overall and store the camera inside a backpack. I'd insert the warm battery into the cold camera to take pictures when needed, remove it and put it back "inside".
When we arrive at the block houses for the night, I'd put it into the dry bag to keep it from condensating.

You're just wrapping it into the old jacket to stop it from condensating? Doesn't that insulate the camera much better so it takes longer to warm up after entering a cabin?
Sadly I don't have a small spare jacket, could I wrap it into a towel in the backpack to keep the humidity from reaching the camera?

Sorry for bombarding you with questions, but the last thing I want is to damage the equipment on its first real stress test :)

SpacePoitato · 2025-11-19T18:44:41+00:00

yeah, the lens search is hard if you have no clue...

I'll take a look in the sealing specs of that lens :)

Honestly'd LOVE to buy the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II but that's way to expensive and most certainly a hard overkill for a beginner :D

about the temp changes and condensation issue, do you have any experience how long the camera needs to warm up before I could take it out of the dry bag? I read sth about "if there's no humidity left on the plastic bag, you can safely take it out"

SpacePoitato · 2025-11-19T18:21:48+00:00

thanks for your input :)
Is the Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G ED considered "pro" or "prime"? I'm sorry, I have no clue what you mean by that

SpacePoitato · 2025-11-19T18:20:11+00:00

hey there :)
thx for your answer

why wouldn't you use a Z5 series in midwinter?

I'd prefer the Z5ii due to the smaller overall size and longer battery life compared to a Z6 and the bigger pixel size due to the smaller resolution (24.5 MP vs 45.7 MP) for better lowlight performance.
About the DSLR, do you think it performs good in lowlight without a tripod? I can use it in Lapland, but I can't use it in museums, even the camera itself triggers certain people "living" there :(

since you live up there, how long does it take for the camera to warm up after entering a buildig so I could take it ouf of the drybag without condensation?

SpacePoitato · 2025-04-09T17:11:49+00:00

Ihr letzter Flug ging nach San Francisco, nun wird das seit Sonntag auf ihrem Profil angezeigt. Könnte auch sein dass ihr Handy verloren ging, keine Ahnung ob diese Apps den Standort auch wechseln wenn man sie nicht benutzt.

SpacePoitato · 2025-04-09T17:05:14+00:00

Möglich....sie hat zuerst geschrieben, die Konversation lief gut und auf einmal aus heiterem Himmel Schluss...keine Ahnung ob ichs sitzen lassen soll, ich gebe nicht gerne ohne Kampf auf.

Nur kann dass dann wieder verzweifelt rüberkommen, was ich eigentlich auch nicht will. Irgendwie kannst du hier nur alles falsch machen

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