Moose News Blog

No sooner than the first IP D3 arrived and I needed to clean the CCD. I reached for my favorite tool, the Arctic Butterfly, and realized it was the wrong size. You guessed it, it was for DX and not an FX sensor. So, I contacted my good friends at VisibleDust and asked what they recommended. In a heartbeat Mr Postman delivered the coolest kit I’ve ever seen. The SD 800 kit rocks because it covers ALL the bases. It includes: BriteVue XL Sensor Loupe (my favorite), Arctic Butterfly, 1.6x Sensor Brush, 1.0-1.3x Sensor Brush, Angled Mirror/Focusing Screen Brush (great tool!), and one size fits all adapter.

You’ll be cleaning the sensor of your D3 or D300 the most when it’s new during the lens mount break in period. I strongly recommend you check out our CCD Cleaning pages and buying the right, new brush sizes you need! If you don’t know what’s the right size for your camera, contact the folks at VisibleDust, they are really nice!

I can tell folks have been receiving their D3’s, the emails are flooding in asking what settings to use. While I did publish my D3 settings on our D3 website, and updated the AF page with this important info, I will admit the new AF settings might be a little overwhelming for “right out of the box” shooting. SO….here’s a visual. When you have a subject like this, a wild Mallard Duck, but more to the point, a single subject against an simple background, you might want to use 51 3D. If you want a complete explanation of the D3’s AF (same as the D300) and times to apply which AF mode to what and how, quickly, you’ll simply need to get the upcoming (mailed later this month) BT Journal. Hey, I can’t give it all away for free.

Photo captured by D3, 600f4 AFS II w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Wacom announced today TWO new Cintiqs, the 20WSX and the 12WX (pictured here). Those of you who have been either to a DLWS event or our office (where two 21UX live) know how much I depend on these tools, and just how cool they are. These two new introductions, a wide screen (20WSX) and portable (12WX) model, makes them fit everyone’s needs like a glove! We’re hoping we’ll have the 12WX at our DLWS events (along with the 21UX) in 2008 so folks can test drive and then get hooked on this vital tools for the digital darkroom. I highly recommend you not only check them out, but buy them! Oh, this is going to be a great xmas!