Moose News Blog

Heyya…Nikon just posted a firmware update for the D3, here’s the link for both platforms. Here’s the IB PDF of the updates.

04.17AM: Despite my pleases of no emails in regards to the firmware, I’ve been flooded especially in regards to the always faithful internet rumors. I have loaded the firmware update into the 3 D3s I have and found no issues, the D3s work just perfectly. I like being able to make the AF sensor indicator brighter and with my latest project, having the AF Illuminator work with all focal lengths is a HUGE help. But please, don’t send me more examples of your issues, I don’t run a repair shop, I don’t write the firmware and I have no ability to fix it. If you feel you have a problem, I highly recommend you contact Nikon. Thanks!

04.17PM: It seems the saga continues and the mystery deepens. Rob G just posted this, it appears there are many plagued by the mysterious D3 Ghost. Rob G is saying you might want to hold off on installing the new firmware. I’ve yet to get my D3s to create the ghost, so there is something going on in either the installation or a combo of settings not yet determined either causing or not causing the problem.

That’s right DLWS is heading to Hawaii, the island of Kauai to be exact. 08-11 March, 2009 you’ll find the DLWS staff (and hopefully you too!) at the gorgeous Hilton Kauai Beach Resort making beautiful images. If you need more info, head here, or simply CALL NOW!

Those of you who already expressed a desire to join us, we’re holding your spot for a week before releasing it. Two of you have already made the call so spots are going fast.

PS…this is SO special, we have the special DLWS room rate for our folks starting four days prior and extending to four days after. Schweeet!

We have an opening in our upcoming South Dakota Wildlife Photographers Base Camp (must be tax time). We also have a couple of openings in our June, Alaska Base Camp. “Just what is Base Camp?” We get asked that alot. We’ve updated our Base Camp webpage that hopefully will answer that question better. All the photos on that page were taken during the last two Base Camps in MT & FL. If that isn’t enough, here’s a couple of love notes from past Campers.

From MT Base Camp:
Moose,

I spent Saturday at the Pelican Island NWR Festival in Sebastian, Florida where I won Best in Show plus 2nd place in Birds and Wildlife (Landscape was the other category) in the Photo Contest. Photo was taken with a D3 and 200-400mm f4.

I have only entered a few photo contests. This was my first “win”. The competition was quite good, so I am excited.

Thanks for your help - even the tennis balls.
Vince Lamb

From FL Base Camp:
Moose,

I just wanted to drop you a note to say thanks for a great week. You and Josh went over and beyond my expectations by far. You gave us a lot of great tools and so much information that the learning goes on as things continue to “click” even after the event’s end. That sort of learning rather than simple regurgitation of a string of facts is invaluable.

Base Camp solidified the foundation of my photography and gave me a barometer to measure future efforts. There wasn’t a waisted moment and the hard work was far from a vacation, but the education was priceless.

I hope to join you again soon.

Best,
Jim Poor

Come shoot and learn with Josh, Sharon & I, you owe it to your photography!

When we first saw the Varied Thrush in our yard about 10days ago, I had to do a double take. These are not a common bird on our hillside, or in our area for that matter. Early in the morning Sharon & I hear its very loud, single note call. In the last ten days, we’ve seen it perhaps a dozen times in the dim light which it prefers. And each time we stop and watch because each observation is a real treat.

Well, just now he came up to our feeder for the second time (that we’ve seen) and I could get a lens on it. Not the greatest shot in the world, but it’s my first photograph of a Varied Thrush so I’m quite happy. Now that I’ve broken the jynx, there surely will be more to come.

Photo captured by D3, 600VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

As promised, here’s some trivia on the new 24PC-E lens.

I’ve shot with it for about a month now, starting at the March Moab DLWS event. It can be used as a “regular” 24mm lens with manual focus put that’s not truly how it’s meant to be used. Simply put, it’s an amazing piece of optical technology. Its Tilt is vastly more than what I expected, the Shift is what I expected. The panos it produces are stunning. It is a very sharp lens with amazing edge to edge quality.

It’s purpose, operation and shooting tips I’ve written up in a four page PDF you can find here. Hope it helps.