The new Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical (IF) joins a growing community of wide-zoom lenses. In contrast to an earlier version of this lens, which is available in several mounts, this APS-C Tamron optic (designated Model B005/$649 street price) is only available in Nikon DX (with built-in motor) and Canon mounts. Given that I mated this lens to a Nikon D300, that effectively...
It is a popular belief that the predator cats of Africa do not swim and avoid water. Several extremely rainy years in the mountains that feed Botswana’s Okavango Delta region have shown that to be a great misconception. Water has overflowed the usual waterways of the world’s largest inland delta to cover grasslands and roadways. Yet, the wildlife of Botswana continues to thrive. ...
Emily Morgan Merrimack College North Andover, Massachusetts
Stage Craft When we spoke in mid-May, Emily was just finishing her freshman year at Merrimack.
Her work for the college’s Media Center gave her access to the campus production of Rent and the assignment to produce photos for promotion and publicity.
The first time I met Sam Gray was probably about 1975. I was a young photographer attending one of my first Maine state conferences and Gray was one of the program speakers. I can still remember how elegant and beautiful his images were. I also remember how he struck me as a quintessential southern gentleman. He was soft spoken yet exuded confidence. You couldn’t help but admire the...
My wife and I live in an alternate universe. It’s called “RV Land.” We inhabit a vibrant subculture in which people live full-time in various types of recreational vehicles. An RV is a little home on wheels, able to carry computers and camera gear along with a full life support system. It requires a diet of gasoline but the expense seems trivial as we pass hundreds of motels...
Nikon’s AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II Lens
The AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens is constructed from die-cast magnesium and sealed to resist dust and moisture. It features meniscus glass to protect the front element, VR II image stabilization, Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements, Silent Wave Motor technology, and three Focusing modes. The suggested...
It sometimes seems that there are two kinds of photographers: those who bang their cameras and lenses around mercilessly, and those who baby them. The former see themselves as rough, tough, and macho; the latter are perpetually worried about the slightest risk of damage to their precious cameras.
Neither attitude makes a lot of sense. Yes, you need to be unlucky to damage a...
Our Picture This! assignment for this month was “Shadows and Form,” images where the shadow plays an important role in the composition and point of view of the photographer. Shadows can redefine form, create volume and space, and can both echo and abstract form. Readers responded with images of landscapes, architecture, and even portraiture. In all cases the play of light and dark, of...
When you talk about lenses these days you always have to bring in the multiplication factor, especially when you have a lens that fits comfortably on both so-called full-frame and APS-C sensor cameras. To know what angles of view you will have available you have to know: (a) that the lens is made for full-sized sensors (or not) so will work with the multiplication factor on smaller sized sensors...
Nikon’s entry into past universal 80-200mm f/2.8 lenses started back in 1978 with a manual focus, push-pull lens checking in at 4 lbs. Ten years later the autofocus model arrived sporting ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass; ’92 marked the “D” package. In ’96 the AF-S version came along, followed by the new generation of front motor drive “G” models. Now we...