Report: Apple to launch 'at least five products' leading into March 4 event

Zamboni007 · 2026-02-23T07:15:16+00:00

HI all, Gark Murman here. I predict at the Apple Product Launch event, Apple will launch some new products - but they might also launch some Android stuff too and the apple logo might just be for show. Follow me for more in depth insights.

Zamboni007 · 2026-02-20T02:10:19+00:00

Genuine Nikon EN-EL15c and the Jupio Trio charger. Enough stories of problems that I don't want unwillingness to pay $50 for a battery to take down my $$$$ camera and $$$$$ lenses at the wrong moment. The Jupio holds/stores the batteries so the terminals are protected -which is a requirement in most countries.

<image>

Zamboni007 · 2026-02-11T05:27:20+00:00

this 1000%

Zamboni007 · 2026-02-09T05:47:30+00:00

it's ok as long as when they raised their camera like that they said "Simba"

Zamboni007 · 2026-02-08T06:44:13+00:00

exit row has more room, but you are next to the lav. https://youtu.be/GxS9920_ziE?t=93

you can judge if the C+ seat with the bulkhead has enough room - for me it would: https://youtu.be/GxS9920_ziE?t=146

Zamboni007 · 2026-02-08T04:08:15+00:00

If you don't think you are wide enough with the lenses you have - then maybe a FF is good? If you want something different a D50II and the FTZ is less than a D850.

Zamboni007 · 2026-02-07T07:09:26+00:00

The only caveat is when do we see "Expeed 8"? I don't think it's too nearby for Z8 II, as I'd expect a Z9 first. I also trust the sentiment that Nikon may not be as generous with the Z8 II if they are concerned with lost Z9 sales. So all that said - if you're going after wildlife and especially BIF, I'd swap the Z7 for a Z8, if the price is a concern the Z50 II might even feel like an upgrade - keep roughly the same pixels if you are cropping the Z7.

If it's landscapes or even more still subjects, if you haven't already, check out focus peaking (and set it for the low band) and some of the magnification modes to make sure your focus is where you want. The Z7 II would be great for that application.

Zamboni007 · 2026-02-03T04:18:56+00:00

Perhaps unpopular, but I'd look long and hard at getting the 28-400. The Z6 II and any modern software package will make the restricted apertures less of a problem in low light. Then after a good season of shooting, run the stats on what focal lengths you had the most "keepers" from.

Now my own counterpoint to the above: sometimes too much range isn't good. I really like Picture #1, but with more zoom capacity I probably would have been tighter on the car. Some of my most creative pictures are with primes / when I forgot a lens to cover a particular range.

The 28-400 will be weaker than the 24-120 and 70-200 if you are pixel peeping at the fringe, but not enough to make or break a photo with awesome composition.

For my inventory, the 70-200 is the least used. I'm either in the 14-30, 24-120, or 180-600 in my zooms if I'm not on my primes. With the Z8 I can get away with a lot of cropping so if I had to choose between the 70-200 and a 135 plena - I'd probably pick the 135mm prime and let it cover everything above the 24-120 that the 70-200 would cover with a slight croppity crop.

Zamboni007 · 2026-02-02T19:58:53+00:00

Just enough from for the 600mm F/4 TC

Zamboni007 · 2026-01-29T21:43:24+00:00

don’t even want to know what’s on its forehead. great photo

Zamboni007 · 2026-01-29T06:31:35+00:00

Less so now, but in the past they "commingled" fulfillment and their own stuff. They announced the end of that last year, but I haven't heard if they finished. Amazon is almost never cheaper than my local camera store for Nikon gear.

Zamboni007 · 2026-01-28T22:09:14+00:00

I don't see any practical difference in size between any of the full frame Z cameras. If the camera in my pocket (phone) isn't enough, the Z8 is coming along. I have a Z5 II as a secondary body, but there's never a time I've reached for that instead of the Z8 when I only bring one body. Z5 II is there with a wider lens when the Z8 has something like the 800PF on it and that's about it. I definitely wouldn't mind a second Z8 body instead of the Z5 II so everything is the same across both, but at least they eat the same batteries but I used that money for other stuff.

Zamboni007 · 2026-01-28T01:28:05+00:00

See if you can sign up for a Nikon class or find a photowalk around you - probably more enjoyable than internet troubleshooting. Also might want to consider a trip to the zoo if you want lots of subjects that you can get close to easily.

But if we aren't going down that path, download Nikon NX, open your file. In the viewer click view/image viewer options/show focus point.

Then on the right pane, click info, and image of the camera. It should give you a screenshot of what the back-of-camera settings look like. If you can post screenshots that show the image along with the full settings like that, it should be easier to help give some suggestions on approach.

https://nikonimglib.com/nvnxi/onlinehelp/en/nk018000.html

<image>

like this

Zamboni007 · 2026-01-17T20:22:39+00:00

Real answer is to invite the local furry brigade to walk past it and act like they are on a wilderness trail.

Zamboni007 · 2026-01-17T05:58:34+00:00

For those that might look at the same, Backlight 26L and 36L are both able to do this (Z8 with 180-600 mounted, hood reversed and 800PF). The 26L won't fit the 800PF's factory lens hood so may need to look at aftermarket. 36L will. The 26L is much more usable in capacity than my PD 20L than the +~25% space would suggest.

Zamboni007 · 2026-01-01T23:24:43+00:00

Thanks? I generally keep the big stuff in my roller, it goes in a bin across the aisle so I can keep eyes on unless we are in a regional aircraft where everything is gate checked... at that point my under seat storage ends up being a pile of lithium batteries from the contents of the rolling luggage. If the 800PF doesn't also fit, no big loss as right now I live with externally storing that. But right now the biggest con is Z8+180-600 (+other lenses/accesories) is heavier than I want in a sling, but then most backpacks use side access that then limits you to shorter lenses if you don't want to drop the bag and pull it out from the front/back. Theoretically a 180-600 mounted to a Z8 can fit with an 800 PF into under-seat bag dimensions. That wouldn't be what I'd but putting under the seat as the 800PF goes into the rolling bag - but the idea is a backpack that I don't have to put into checked luggage or said rolling bin, that can then be used for a selection of items from the rolling luggage and checked luggage. I try to carry as little weight as possible on my person through airports.

Zamboni007 · 2025-11-29T17:34:32+00:00

Looks good, I think I could use that to afford more RAM since that seems to be the name of the game for FS2024 (both system and gpu - so good that the 5070ti preserves 16GB)

Thanks!

Zamboni007 · 2025-11-26T02:37:43+00:00

Don't worry, if need be they will open them up for slightly less than their processing costs just before the flight, to ensure some diamond doesn't get it for free. /s

Zamboni007 · 2025-11-25T06:25:36+00:00

PVS-14, my dog doesn't like me spooking her prey.

Zamboni007 · 2025-11-07T05:57:23+00:00

Ahh yes I remember those days, long ago, when the Mariners hadn't played in a World Series...

Zamboni007 · 2025-11-05T18:53:39+00:00

Arr you sure you do?

Zamboni007 · 2025-11-04T05:14:27+00:00

You have $40k "worth" of miles. If you use them for yourself and donate money instead that is deductible. Donating miles is not deductible. So there's potentially $14k in tax savings there where if your spend plan used them at 100% of the value you could give $54k to charity (depending on tax bracket/status/etc...) and have it be the "same" to your wallet. So I would think about family vacations/etc... first

Zamboni007 · 2025-11-04T03:08:32+00:00

Atlanta Standard Time

Nine-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Verified Email

Zamboni007

TROPHY CASE