f Stop Blues

Yesterday my new D7100 camera arrived. I unpacked the box, inspected the camera body, and pulled the battery and charger out. My objective was to simply get the battery charged up. I placed the body back in the box, with all the manuals and other stuff that came with it. I said to MeAsWe, that I needed to think of a good first shot to inaugurate a new era of photography for me.

This morning I got up at 5, took a shower, put the coffee on and grabbed the battery that had been charging all night. It was time to put the camera all together. I had 2 32g cards still in the packaging and would be perfect for the camera, it takes 2 cards if you want. Grabbed my D5100 taking the 35mm prime lens off, put the kit lens on that came with the d5100. Grabbed the D7100, spun the body cap off, snapped the 35 mm prime in place, inserted the charged up battery and inserted the cards.

Turned the camera on and all I see is Japanese characters on the screen. Oh I have to set the language and other stuff. Set the date, time, time zone. Camera is ready.

Played around the knobs and then realized, even though I had read the manual a little bit, all of the controls are  very different from the D5100 and I pretty much forgot what I had read. Tried to put into Aperture Priority mode and the wheel wouldn't spin. Tried again and nothing. Oh you have to press the lock on top of the wheel to get it spin. Very nice !!. I don't how many times while out on the bike putting the D5100 in my tank bag that the camera wheel turned setting the camera to Shutter Priority from Aperture Priority, snapping off a bunch of pics, to found out I had to take them all over because the wheel turned.

Changed a couple of other settings like Auto Focus Mode, Image Quality, how to configure the 2 SD slots, and how to name the JPG and NEF files. This all went pretty smoothly since I was familiar with the look and feel on the Nikon Menu System.

I have still not figured out what the first picture is going to be. I put the camera up to my eye, with the intent of only testing the focus by pushing the shutter release button 1/2 down to see how it works. I hear the beep and a clunk.

DAMN I just took a picture. SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHH. So much for that special first shot.




Great pic eh. The feel of the shutter release was totally different than my D5100. I immediately set the camera up for Back Button Focusing, which moves the focus function from the shutter release to another button on the camera and makes the shutter release only for grabbing the picture.

Eat Mor Chikin

On Saturdays I head over to Giffs Garage to hang out. When he closes we generally head out for lunch to talk bikes, politics, books and other such guy stuff. We have our regular spots to hit, such as the Valley Café, Mendon Diner or Miss Worcester. Lately we have been branching out and trying different places so we don't get to set in our ways, a factor at our age. We have tried The Willowbrook, China Pacific, which have become part of our repertoire of go to places.

Today we were heading to Sammy's in Northbridge. This place has gone thru multiple owner changes in the last several years. Traffic was a bear in Whitinsville (part of Northbridge), We turned left, taking the long way to the restaurant to avoid traffic. When we got to the intersection of Hill St and Sutton, Giff said, hey I know another place we could try. Of course, this is just to add confusion to the quest and complicate the matter with too many choices. Instead of making a right onto Sutton, we go straight and head for Rick's Hilltop Restaurant and Lounge. On the way we passed a diary farm that caught my eye. I said I really should take a picture of that, having my camera with me. Figured I could grab some snow shots. Like all of the streets in this neck of the woods, they have become narrow from multiple plowings and there is really no where to park other than in the middle of the road. I have been known to do this, but only when I am by myself or MeAsWe is with me.

We get to Rick's and the place looks closed. I don't even think the OPEN sign was on and there was only one truck parked in the lot and not really parked like they were in the place having lunch. So we headed to Larry's the original choice. Heading back we had to pass the diary farm again, so I looked for a pull off. Well the driveway entrance to the diary farm looked as good as any and it would be just a short walk to the spot for a good picture.




What this reminds me is a bunch of people standing at Dunkin Donuts having coffee and a donut before going to work. Maybe this is where the cows get their signs put on for Chick Fil A. have something to drink and eat, head out for a day of work.

A wider view

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow - GIVE ME A BREAK !

I think most of us who live in New England would like to draw and quarter Sammy Cahn. He came up with the lyrics. This past weekend we got some more. Where's Judy Garland when you need her. The Beatles come to mind too, even Donovan and the Cream.

Nevertheless it was time to break out the camera.

A picture looking down our street. I hear there is more on the way.