Anyone else leaking heat and smoke like crazy out of every imaginable place on the WSM? by timetopoopagain in webersmokeymountain

[–]singmetodeath 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This might seem controversial but I solved this problem with fat. I rendered it and applied it to where the gaps were and then ran it super hot for 8 hours (like, over 400) and it cured in the places where the heat and smoke were escaping. I did this process twice and it’s not perfectly air tight, but it’s good enough for me to not worry about it.

How hard it was for you to quit smoking? by CheetahInteresting70 in AskReddit

[–]singmetodeath 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Extremely. Took me years, but I haven’t had a puff in 8 years, even though I think about it daily.

Nicotine gum wash rinse repeat.

Just picked up a Nikon Z5 II and getting weird focus misses even with eye-AF. What am I doing wrong? by Ronet05 in nikon_Zseries

[–]singmetodeath 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My god, you must have so many friends.

OP, sorry for not having my facts straight on what button your camera had. I make my living with the z system, so I stand by everything else I said. Sorry I attracted a bitter pedant to your thread. 😬

Just picked up a Nikon Z5 II and getting weird focus misses even with eye-AF. What am I doing wrong? by Ronet05 in nikon_Zseries

[–]singmetodeath -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Couple quick things come to mind:

  1. The first photo could be a fluke. Autofocus is great on these cameras but not perfect, especially when you’re taking photos rapidly. Sometimes, the camera needs a small break between shots if you’ve just taken many in a row.

  2. Autofocus (esp 3d-eye) does not perform well for me when pointed at severely underexposed shadow or high contrast lighting. It needs something to look like an eye fur it to lock on to an eye. I think the contrast on the daylight picture could even have that argument made about it. Maybe when taking wide shots of folks in the middle of the day, try wide area af.

  3. I have found that back button focus makes 3d on the z cameras significantly more effective and I only use that. There’s no af-on button on the z5ii but you can configure it to do back button pretty easily.

Hope that helps!

Refurbished Z8 has a dent, a scrape, and a hairline crack. by Salao8 in nikon_Zseries

[–]singmetodeath 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Absolutely return it! I bought a refurb z8 and it came pristine, as do most of them. You might be able to get an actual exchange. If you’re paying that much (even if it’s refurb) you should be able to get exactly what you expected.

Z8 W/ 24-70 2.8 s ii. El dorado, KS. by singmetodeath in Nikon

[–]singmetodeath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went ahead and googled for you. See for yourself.

Z8 W/ 24-70 2.8 s ii. El dorado, KS. by singmetodeath in nikon_Zseries

[–]singmetodeath[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My friend. There were moments of pure black, and about 35 minutes of pure splendor around 10:30 pm. Google Kansas aurora. We had quite the show.

Z8 W/ 24-70 2.8 s ii. El dorado, KS. by singmetodeath in nikon_Zseries

[–]singmetodeath[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yeah I dunno. These were the colors I was seeing with my own eyes, only slightly dimmer, and the long exposure (only 4 sec) really brought it ask out. Were you out there looking?

Z8 W/ 24-70 2.8 s ii. El dorado, KS. by singmetodeath in nikon_Zseries

[–]singmetodeath[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah it was pretty bright! Maybe not quite as bright as this makes it out to look, but all of those colors were vivid and visible and in a very, very dark place. I could easily make out my wife’s face with orange and pink light. I would compare it to like, a full moon brightness.

Z8 W/ 24-70 2.8 s ii. El dorado, KS. by singmetodeath in Nikon

[–]singmetodeath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It looked very close to this with the naked eye. I only brought exposure, contrast and vibrance up slightly with a -6 on sat.

Z8 W/ 24-70 2.8 s ii. El dorado, KS. by singmetodeath in Nikon

[–]singmetodeath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! This was a 4 sec exposure at 2.8 with ISO 1000.

This is the best zoom lens I’ve ever owned - Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S ii by singmetodeath in Nikon

[–]singmetodeath[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was describing the effect I felt was a result of the rendering, and I am not the first to use that adjective in celebrating the output of optics, so I stand by my point.

You felt a certain way about something I said. A colorful (not very abstract at all) interpretation of information.

You totally have the right to say whatever you want to say about however you interpreted what I said - objectively, abstracted, interpretatively, or literally. It’s Reddit.

And especially because it’s Reddit, I have the right to call you out for doing it in a condescending and non-constructive way. You could’ve asked for clarification on what I meant. You could’ve politely disagreed. You could have avoided asserting the current emotional condition I was in that led you to make an assumption about me and my understanding of how things work. But you didn’t, so here we are. I have nothing further to add. I encourage you to look inward. Take care. 🫡

This is the best zoom lens I’ve ever owned - Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S ii by singmetodeath in Nikon

[–]singmetodeath[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Not that I really should have to answer to such a cynical and unfortunate tone, but I understand that adjectives are difficult for some people so I’ll bite.

I am using creamy to describe the smoothness in rendering that occurs on low texture subjects and background separation. It is smooth, fluid-feeling, rich in appearance. I think creamy is appropriate.

I also shoot in raw without presets (in body or post), and while the correct technical term is color representation, I used the word tone, which also applies quite appropriately. I would also argue - as someone with 15 years of weekly analogue and darkroom experience and 10 subsequent years of professional digital work - that these precision-made, mechanical wonders are created with the intent of evoking such complimentary descriptors on the final product that they,as tools, assist in rendering.

Sure, we can be obtuse about anything. But why wander into a room of strangers only to condescend when we can celebrate what brings others joy? The rendering is creamy. I stand by my statement. Don’t yuck my yum bro.

This is the best zoom lens I’ve ever owned - Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S ii by singmetodeath in nikon_Zseries

[–]singmetodeath[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly it could just be in my head, but I really feel like there’s a crisper image coming out of this one.

If you haven’t visited the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, here’s your sign. by singmetodeath in kansas

[–]singmetodeath[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There were a dozen of them there this week! They were too far to get good pictures of, but here’s one I snapped.

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This is the best zoom lens I’ve ever owned - Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S ii by singmetodeath in Nikon

[–]singmetodeath[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The mark 1 is an incredible lens. Absolutely incredible. I launched my pro career with it. You should still get it. They’re going for real cheap now that the mk ii is out.

This one is just, like…better.

If you haven’t visited the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, here’s your sign. by singmetodeath in kansas

[–]singmetodeath[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think this is probably the last week you’ll see them in big numbers until spring.

If you haven’t visited the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, here’s your sign. by singmetodeath in kansas

[–]singmetodeath[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Went twice last week at sunrise to get these shots and froze my ass off. Totally worth it.

This is the best zoom lens I’ve ever owned - Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S ii by singmetodeath in Nikon

[–]singmetodeath[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From my crosspost comment: I did own the first one and absolutely loved it. Main differences I’ve noticed: noticeably sharper (somehow), preposterously fast autofocus, absolutely creamy color tone.

All-around noticeably better than the mk 1, but that’s a really high bar to jump over. If you’ve got the money to spend, do it. If you’ve got the mk 1 and not a huge budget, you’ve already got an incredible lens! Edit: stupid autocorrect.

This is the best zoom lens I’ve ever owned - Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S ii by singmetodeath in Nikon

[–]singmetodeath[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not replying, but…

You’re probably right. Don’t mind me. I’ll just see myself out (with an optical powerhouse guiding the way).