GKPE 8, Yet more NZ ramblings from some flightless Kiwis.

kiwichris wrote in post #18618570
Some time back Scott suggested that I take a look at 4/3 range because of the physical problems I was having with the 6D and lenses due weight, bulk etc. He followed up by meeting me and showing me through his gear. I enjoyed that night and learnt something, not the least being service at MacDonalds was incredibly bad. Incredibly. I had done a little research, I liked what I saw and decided yep, that will certainly add value to my life and decided to trade my gear.

Saturday was incredibly wet so I didn't go in, I am not fit enough to prance around, let alone prance around in the rain. I was also wondering how will my 'puter cope with some 80 meg files the Panasonic G9 can produce. So Sat nite my HP caught some nasty virus/malware/ransomwa​re/ and turned toes up. I am by no means a 'puter fixer so called in chappy I have used before and yep, will not fire up. New computer. He organised for me something that has Gigabyte internals, a Segotep box and LG 27in 16:9 screen. My understanding isA320M-S2H clocked at 3.5 meg, has 8gig DDR4 ram and usb 2 & 3. This thing is fast fast fast. The LG screen makes me like my photos which worries me a little, I am wondering if it makes them look good that I am gunna miss they are not sharp or something. Anyway, I have at the moment no photo software, or printer software or camera software loaded, so still setting up.

Yesterday I went to Progear (I cant get in Auckland Camera shop, too many steps, not enough parking) and traded my 6D, 17-40L, 100-400L, 24-105L and bought the G9, 100-300 mkII, 7-14, 14-140. Still setting up so no pics yet. Progear treated me very well, I needed help to get in there but at least parking is on their doorstep and Martin managed a deal I am exceptionally happy with. He also threw in some free uv filters and a 64GB @280 MB/s card so I am really pleased and happy. I felt really well treated.

I want to say tho' apart from thankyou for reading this far Thankyou Scott for taking time to think and present a solution to me that in truth will make my life much more pleasant. I really appreciate that. Thankyou.

No problem at all Chris, I’m sure you will enjoy the new gear. Nice lens choices too, that 100-300 is becoming one of my favourites, and is greatly under rated IMO.

Time to update your signature

I managed to get out for a couple of hours last night, and found some stuff to test the G9 on. Very happy with the handling and photos. There are a few controls that are quite different to the G85 that will take a bit of getting used to, like the joystick for focus point selection, but I can see the advantage once I get used to it.

That last one doesn't look like NZ

Mark0159 wrote in post #18619136
That last one doesn't look like NZ

No, I am in Orlando for an IBM conference this week.

The definition in that squirrel is excellent!

kiwichris wrote in post #18619268
The definition in that squirrel is excellent!

Ill just repeat this.

Cool.

The squirrel photo is a good demonstration of image stabilisation not stopping subject movement. 1/40s was not enough to freeze the flick of the tail, while the rest of the image is tack sharp.

I’m home again now, and might have more photos to post when I’m not so jet lagged. No more trips planned in the immediate future. However I have decided that as one of the best ways to stimulate interesting photos is to go somewhere different, this year I am going to do a few overnight or weekend photography trips to places I wouldn’t normally go. If anybody is interested in making one a GKPE trip let me know. No firm plans, I’m just starting to think about where and when.
My wife and I are also starting to plan and save for a trip to Italy in 2020, which will have a big photographic component.

Happy snapping everyone

sounds like fun, Good to have these plans.

I would like to give one of Rob's workshops a go, but this year is house buying.

Had the thoughts of upgrading the 6D to a 5dmk3. for Macro work I do use those outer focus points and having some better ones would be good.

Just installed a Cisco ASA5540 as my home UFB Router/firewall.
Probably better than I really need, but at less than NZ$100 for a US$17k box, certainly the best value purchase I've made for a while.

joeseph wrote in post #18620392
Just installed a Cisco ASA5540 as my home UFB Router/firewall.
Probably better than I really need, but at less than NZ$100 for a US$17k box, certainly the best value purchase I've made for a while.

What? Only one? Don’t you need a redundant pair, minimum?

Good deal, that’s less than my little Ubiquity USG cost me.

Heh, my house is essentially one room. I have a very 'spensive modem supplied by Skinny!

scotttnz wrote in post #18620246
T this year I am going to do a few overnight or weekend photography trips to places I wouldn’t normally go. If anybody is interested in making one a GKPE trip let me know.

Keen

weka2000 wrote in post #18620961
Keen

Yep, same. Just have to work in with my shifts.

Top of Coromandel is next on my list .... I have a photo planned

Coromandel and Central Plateau\Ruapehu are the 2 places I have thought about so far. I'm thinking the Plateau might be good over winter.

The general idea would be to pencil in a weekend, make a call on Thursday\Friday regarding the weather and book some accomodation nearby. Drive there on Saturday morning, shoot on Saturday afternoon through to evening including the sunset. Dinner and a few drinks, stay overnight, and get up early enough to shoot the sunrise, then drive home. All open to suggestions.

scotttnz wrote in post #18620668
What? Only one? Don’t you need a redundant pair, minimum?

the thought had crossed my mind... briefly! backup box is a Cisco 867vae with a failover time of around 10 minutes depending on motivation.
Must say the hardware disposal company that sold the firewall failed miserably. All the configuration including hashed passwords remained from a well-known betting agency.