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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 5, 2008 3:32:54 GMT
The one I got is for the 40D. But call first, I may have bought the last one. How about for 40D? I'm thinking of a backup cable release in not-so-favorable shooting environment. Nilo
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 5, 2008 3:31:14 GMT
Hi, Martin! Sorry for the late response, just read your message. I got it from Aperture Trading at Banawe. Website is www.aperturetrading.com where you'll find directions to get there. It's at the top floor of a very unassuming building and you go through a garage into the elevator. You'd never expect so much goodies in such a place. Hey Ding! This is Martin, we met before at UP. Where did you find this very Economical Device? ;D
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Post by Ding Carpio on Dec 20, 2007 3:29:20 GMT
Got me a 3rd-party wired shutter release cable for the Canon40D from Aperture Trading. Cost=P800. The Nikon model is only P600.
It works fine. Plastic casing looks a bit cheap and may not last rough handling but, at that price, I'll just have to handle it with care.
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 19, 2008 2:51:43 GMT
Good thing I already have one. Otherwise, I'd have hacked into Romy's website and put a moustache on all his birds!!! ;D HehEHheHEHehEHehe Ding, Romy is the guilty one ;D He has a fine print at the bottom of his post contradicting what he said about it being closed on saturdays ;D ;D ;D I didn't see the fine print too and even offered to get one for Bobby nga
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 19, 2008 2:33:34 GMT
Am confused. I thought someone said Island is closed Saturdays? But I see here posts even before 9am that people got it?
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 18, 2008 20:45:39 GMT
Oh, Bobby, sorry, I'd have wanted to return the favor and got one for you but I'm flying out Sunday and back Tues night so I'm sure the other guys here would've bought all the stock by then.
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 18, 2008 20:42:59 GMT
Now, here's a suggestion.
The 3421 is great but very heaaaavy. Why can't someone fabricate it in aluminum? The fabricator can even make it smaller by fitting it exactly to a 40D+400mmL+1.4X combination which, I think many of us use. I think the 3421's current configuration is too large and hefty to accomodate the large 600mm lenses (Master Romy, pls correct me if wrong).
I cannot see any reason why this thing cannot be done locally.
Of course, I'm not sure about aluminum's shear, tensile, etc strengths if as good as the steel of the current model. JP, jump on it! Maybe you can sell it for half the 3421 price, at half the weight! I'm sure you've got a captured market here.
BTW, I've been talking to the Gamboa-Island Photo guys several times already re this head but the guy there doesn't even know what a gimbal is. Good thing they wised up already.
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 3, 2008 2:31:21 GMT
Glad my 2c is helpful. The Travel Angel line looks promising. My only hesitation is that 1) It may be less sturdy given compromises in weight and 2) the many sections may be cumbersome during hurried set-ups and may introduce instability. Of course, these are just wandering thoughts for now, until we get our hands on one. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this tripod Ding. A truly wonderful review that will be helpful to future tripod buyers, that includes moi. After reading your review, it looks like I will be getting this one too but only after I look at that Travel Angel line of Benro - as per your suggestion also Thanks again !!!
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 2, 2008 20:41:46 GMT
Posted a “first glance” in the Bird Photography Gear Forum about the Benro C298n6 when I just got this tripod. Now that I’ve taken it to a number of sorties (Candaba, Boso-boso, UP), I’d like to report my observations below. As I already mentioned, I bought the Benro C298n6 from Aperture Trading (Banawe) for P13k cash (List price is P14.5k). This tripod belongs to the Benro HVC Flexpod series. Its specs and photos are in this Benro webpage: www.benro.cn/Product/1/pa5.htmlAside from its 4 sections, I have not verified the numbers (heights and weights). I can say, however, that it is much lighter than my previously considered Manfrotto 055MF4. Overall first impression is that it is well made. One gets the feeling that it is a high quality product when handling it. The castings seem tough and sturdy. The legs feel supple. On the field, I like the 4 sections because I can close it down to a short length and sling it diagonally across my back when hiking. It comes with a rather sturdy bag (which I wish was in camo). The bag has a small internal pocket that can store the accessories. Accessories include 3 steel spiked feet, a hex key (for tightening three screws in the head mounting plate), and a wrench tool for removing/tightening the main tripod head screw. The center column can be locked with two knobs: one for locking the column’s vertical movement while the other is for rotating the column’s axis into a horizontal orientation. The center column can also be inverted so that the camera hangs from the tripod instead of sitting atop it. I think it’s cool to be able to do these although I have yet to find an appropriate situation (I’m sure I eventually will). There’s a hook on the center column so that one may hang a heavy object to weigh down the tripod in case it’s too windy. Not sure how helpful this would be. I can imagine that, if the wind is strong enough to require the tripod to be weighed down, it would create too much vibration on the long birding lens anyway. Perhaps it would be more useful for counterbalancing really super-telephotos like the Sigmonster or any 600mm-or-greater lens. I observed that the C298n6 is very stable. I think the general characteristic of carbon fiber is that it maintains strength while still acting as a good vibration-absorption material. I recall my old tennis days when my first-hand experience with carbon fiber is that it combines the feel of wood and the power of steel racquets. This same strength and vibration-free features can be observed on the tripod. Seems that Benro has also one-upped Gitzo by producing this tripod with 8 layers of carbon fiber (vs Gitzo’s 6) and Benro claims having the strongest, highest intensity carbon fiber in the market. On the manual is a photo of a man hanging on the tripod to demonstrate its strength. While this may be possible, I obviously preferred not doing this test. The twist-type leg-locks took some getting used to for me since I had been using flip-locks before. One gets used to it. I can see the advantage on this locking design as it provides a more water-resistant, less-mud-prone leg design while keeping the whole unit robust. Benro’s leglock grips are also generous in size yet requires little twisting and little effort to lock in place. When slung on my back in a bag, I keep the lower legs unlocked for quicker set-up. I found the spirit level very useful especially for us who usually shoot on uneven ground. The spiked feet are also very useful. Once I replaced the rubber flatfeet with them, I kept the spikes on. I usually dig in the spikes into the mud with the lower legs extended even for a short length. I hesitate digging in with the lower legs completely recessed since that means mud may get into the leg joints. While Benro maintains its plastic bushings in the leglocks are water-resistant, no sense risking mucking it up. Negatives? I observed three: - My Bogen 3421 head keeps getting locked too tightly. Yesterday, I had to spray WD40 to help me unlock it. But this could either be the head or me twisting it too much.
- Wrong compass orientation. My north points south. It’s more of an irritation, really since I usually travel with a real magnetic compass. Also, I usually observe where the sun is so, most times, know roughly my orientation. I could bring it back to Aperture to change it but the trouble is not worth it.
- The website mentions the legs have an Anti-Rotation feature. “Each leg section will not rotate even if they are unlocked”. Not really true. The top three sections do not rotate. The lowest section does. I can’t imagine how this untruth-in-advertising can be a showstopper, though.
Overall, I’m in love with the tripod. It’s the lightest I’ve seen for this category and relatively costs less. For now, it’s perfect for my use. Here's a photo of it in action in Candaba courtesy of Manny Illana: If you intend to get one, ask Aperture if they already carry the new Benro line: Travel Angel Tripod. The website’s specs show that this new line is lighter and can be folded smaller (more leg sections). You may want to compare this new line with the C298n6 if mobility is a prime factor for you. Hope this little review helps!
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Post by Ding Carpio on Dec 25, 2007 21:43:09 GMT
Got this from Aperture for P800 which, I think, is much cheaper than the Canon brand. Been to 3 sorties already and happy with it.
I have only two "hesitations" with it:
1. The plastic seems too cheap. The push on switch has a sliding lock for bulb exposures (pretty much like flashlight switches of old). This sliding lock rocks a bit so you get the feeling it's not built rock solid.
2. Plugging into the camera requires a bit of "groping". I needed to rock the plug gently back/forth, up/down to finally get that reassuring feeling of getting plugged in.
So, in this case, you get what you paid for. Bottom line, it works.
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 2, 2008 4:23:24 GMT
Thought this might be useful to many of you who use tripods and do mirror lockups. I ordered this device through EBay. Seller is from HK, paid through PayPal. Ordered Dec12, shipped Dec14. Seller said it would take up to two months to ship to Manila but it got here in less than 20 days. It works. Plastic looks sturdy enough. Have tested it within just my room so can't vouch for its 100m range yet. But, if you were me, I'd never leave my camera more than a few meters away from me. Paid less than USD30 for it (shipping included). That's a bargain compare to about USD400 for the original Canon wireless remote. Not sure if the Original Canon has more bells and whistles but the Phottix does the work for me and I'm happy with it. Here's the link: cgi.ebay.com/Phottix-Wireless-Remote-Set-C3-for-Canon-20D-30D-40D-5D_W0QQitemZ200186804043QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200186804043If that doesn't work, just search "Phottix Wireless Remote" in Ebay.
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Post by Ding Carpio on Dec 16, 2007 3:38:15 GMT
But I use it with a monopod.
I don't have as long a lens as The Master's so I'll have to make do with stalking and this means max mobility, and quick set-up, hence the monopod.
At first, I was disappointed at the weight. I had to heft the thing through hikes. I then went back to my old monopod head, the cheap Bogen Swivel-Tilt 3232 head and that's when I discovered the value of the 3421.
I realized that the 3421 allows me to aim much faster. Didn't have to fight with the head's friction to "lock" into an aim as I did with the swivel-tilt head.
So, if you can live with the weight (and it's really heavy!), I recommend the 3421.;
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Post by Ding Carpio on Feb 7, 2008 9:48:36 GMT
Open wiiiiiide.
Excellent pose. High ISO, 2x TC, handheld at 400. Wow!
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 23, 2008 4:05:23 GMT
Bluish mystery explained:
Yes, it's somewhat blue on the left. This tree is actually beside a swimming pool (to the left) so the blue may have come from reflected light. But I think I'll do some tests on my 40D, too, to see if, as Neon suspects, there's a slight shift.
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 10, 2008 9:31:00 GMT
Woohoo! Love the light and composition. Never saw anything as "dramatic" on something as simple as a "ducklike" thing. All that blood you lost to the leeches have now been repaid. So that's what Manny was doing standing by the pond. And I thought he was just laughing (like me) at that floater that looked like a ridiculous pile of trash coasting into the ducks!
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 2, 2008 4:36:05 GMT
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Post by Ding Carpio on Dec 26, 2007 12:57:38 GMT
I felt so lucky that a flock of these doves stay a few hours every morning from Nov to Feb for the past three years in a tree just beyond my backyard.
But now, December's nearly over and I haven't seen them yet. I hope they're OK and have just found a more interesting place to stay.
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 21, 2008 22:05:58 GMT
No, I'm not looking to buy. Just wanted to let the people know here that I think the Vitara is an ideal birding machine.
I've secretly coveted my wife's 1997 Vitara for many years so when it came time for her to replace it, I got it. Replaced shocks and coils with off-road tuned OMEs, put in spacers, got mud-tires, ripped off the bumpers, put in a snorkel, and did general mechanical and electrical repairs. It's now my go-anywhere, no-worries toy. That's about all I could afford to do but there's more that can be done.
It's small so can get in between narrow shrubbery paths and light so it doesn't sink into muds too much. Ixi also drives a Vitara and loves it.
You got low mileage so that's good. And MT's preferred by many off-roaders. I was going to recommend that you post an ad at the Vitarantados site but just saw you're already there.
Good luck!
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 24, 2008 4:27:17 GMT
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Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 22, 2008 22:16:29 GMT
Thanks for the info, too, Nilo. I think it's a good idea for us to share info on good CF cards.
I'm always wary about using anything other than Sandisk because of a bad experience with a different CF brand years ago with my 350D. Somehow, the CF pins inside my 350D bent and shorted out the mainboard requiring a P13k fix from Canon. Canon could not offer any explanation how it happens (and they've had a number of occurences) except to suspect the CF card may have misaligned holes.
So it's always good to know about other brands/models that work without problem.
And, yes, Tina, Amazon prices swing a lot.
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