Modifying Nikon PC 24mm lens

As I mentioned in my last post, I bought an Nikon PC 24mm lens. This lens allows movements of shift and tilt; however, Nikon PC lenses have a problem especially for landscape photographers. When I shift a lens vertically, the lens can tilt only horizontally.

Landscape photographers use tilt and shift lens to avoid conversing lines which is seen when a camera is pointed up. Also landscape photographers like hyperfocal distance, images on focus from foreground to infinity. Tilt allows increasing the depth of field without closing down aperture. So it is more practical to set the movement of tilt and shift on the same axis.

So I had to modify the lens. Here is steps

1) Unscrew four screws on top of squire block of the lens. Micro screw did not work because screws were quite tight. I bought a screwdriver with large grip.

2) Lift the top CAREFULLY since the top and lens body are connected with electronic cables.

3) Rotate the top 90 degrees clockwise and screw the four screws back.

4) Movements of the shift and tilt are the same axis.

I you want to try, please do it at your own risk.

 

 

Calgary Stampede – Chuckwagon race 2013

Calgarians were suspicious of opening of the Calgary Stampede after the flood hit in south Alberta. It turned out to be not so different from every year. It looked not as busy as last year, but still many people visited the Stampede park and enjoyed events, live music, attraction, food and of course rodeo and chuckwagon races. I tried to capture some exciting moments of the chuckwagon races this year as well.

Last year, I used a conventional manual focus “rangefinder” camera. Contrarily, this year, I used a modern DSLR, Nikon D800 and 70-200 mm zoom lens which has vibration reduction.  obviously, I benefited from the state of the art auto-focus system. Please take a look the images of chuckwagon race from last year here and compare with this year.

Actually, I needed a little practice to chase the wagons and to keep focus on. They runs that fast. But I shot about four times as many frames as last year, and I got some sharp images with D800.

Calgary Stampede Chuck Wagon race 2013 – 1 by Hiroaki Kobayashi

Please click the image for checking details of the camera settings. Shutter speed is 1/250.

I also tried panning. Shutter speed is 1/50.

Calgary Stampede Chuckwagon race 2013 – 4 by Hiroaki Kobayashi

Well I could shot much more images than last year with modern DSLR, but I do not know if I got better images. I still prefer artistic “blur” images, like this.

Calgary Stampede Chuck wagon race 2013 – 2 by Hiroaki Kobayashi

No food or drink allowed

This picture is a coyote I photographed in Kananaskis Country near Canmore, Alberta. I wish it were wolf, but it is definitely coyote. I was driving towards Canmore and I found this guy on the load.  I took some shots of the coyote. And I started my car again. After driving 5 min or so, I found this coyote chasing my car. I stopped my car and took more photos. This coyote was totally relaxed and quite an entertainer. 

On the other hand, I hope this coyote has not been fed by humans. Photographers, in general, are bad species in nature because some of us feed wildlife to get UNIQUE shots. But it is BIG NO, NO.  

I used Nikon DSLR for this shot unusually. I got the 3rd position on zoology competition by the local camera club .