Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]David, Unfortunately, that activity which provides the wherewithal to buy film and equipment will keep me from joining you tomorrow for the gyrfalcon. Good luck on the quest! Joseph Yao has already spoken on the SCA adapter you'll need for your Metz flash. To that, I'll add the suggestion that you keep a copy of the adapter's manual in your bag as that little device has a lot of features packed inside. I myself had hoped today to nail visually and photographically one of the snowy owls that's been reported on the Connecticut shoreline. There are at http://www.ctbirding.org/ct_bird_photos.htm a couple of non-Leica photos of these birds along with a fascinating video of one regurgitating a rather large pellet. Although all the requisite photo gear was with me, it all stayed in the pack because I couldn't locate one. However, the day turned out very well anyway. Through some birding connections I was able to watch both with Trinovids and with unaided eye at a distance of about 3 feet a female rufous hummingbird, a western U.S. species that is a major rarity in Connecticut. The bird will be trapped during the week and turned over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who will house it through the winter. Because I was a guest in someone's house and because of possible stress to the bird, I left all the camera gear in the car. One item that made the time on the shoreline bearable was a newly acquired of Thermax glove liners. These provide a measure of protection against the cold metal of tripod legs and lens barrels and are thin enough to allow the fingers to change shutter speeds, nudge a focus ring or trip the shutter release. I learned the importance of good gloves when I forget mine the cold morning when I was trying to get a decent photograph of an unusual goose. My hands gave out before I could get a good shot. Roy On 10 Dec 2000, at 19:37, DavidS8451@aol.com wrote: > Dear Roy and other New England birders, > > I took my brand new R8 and new-to-me 250 f 4 out to Plum Island this > afternoon to take some sunset/moonrise pictures. When I got there I found > many cars lined up with scopes pointed out over the marsh. It turns out that > a gyrfalcon has been seen there regularly for the last week! I only had my > binoculars with me, but waited for half an hour without seeing her before > commencing with my original plan. > > I went down to parking lot #6 and out to the beach and shot a roll of Prove F > 100 on aperture priority with both multi-patern metering and center-weighted > metering selected. It was pretty cold, and I really appreciated the ease > with which I could lock up the mirror and set the self-timer with my frozen > fingers. The clouds were rolling in, but I think I got some nice shots as > the moon became visible through the clouds, even if the sky was relatively > monochromatic.__On the way back I got a great view of a coyote 50 yards from > the road. It looked as if it were "pointing" like a hunting dog. Great time! > > To keep track of the gyrfalcon, see: > http://www.virtualbirder.com/bmail/massbird/latest.html > > and for one expert's report, see: > http://www.virtualbirder.com/bmail/massbird/200012/09/index.html#12 > > I'm going to try to get back there tomorrow for this rare opportunity. If > anyone wants to join me in the rain, e-mail me off list, since I get the LUG > digest. > > BTW, I have the Metz 32MZ-3 with the 351 module. Is it true that this flash > won't work with the R8 TTL system even with the 3501 module? Do I need to > buy a new flash for the R8? > > All the best, > Dave Schaller > Newton, MA >