Thanks for the recommendation about stopping down when shooting up at the sky. I’ll give that a try.

I also wanted to clarify that Scott and I both use the large Giotto Rocket Blower. This is not a blower brush. A blower brush tends to have a rather small bulb which would not provide enough blast to clean the sensor. I would also be concerned about the danger of of the brush touching the sensor. The Giotto is a dedicated blower, and a rather large one at that. It produces a very powerful blast of air which really gets the job done.

A few times I cleaned, retested, and did not get all the dust bunnies, but most of the time it gets it all. I now wear a pair of very strong (over the counter) reading glasses to check the sensor. I can usually spot most of the bunnies directly with the glasses.

I tend to clean the sensor about every 2-3 weeks or before any important shoot. The Rocket Blower is pretty passive and low risk. I would expect that when done right, wiping the sensor with the right pad and solution is the most effective.

thanks.

warm regards,

Michael GW Stein

Personally, I find that I cannot keep the sensor of my D70 clean enough with a blower brush - even if you hold the camera upside down, chances are, the dust particles will simply be displaced and will jump straight back onto the sensor as soon as it gets charged up again. To remedy the situation, I use pre-prepared swabs and eclipse solution and follow the “Copperhill” technique described here: http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning. ALthough I have only resorted to swabbing the sensor a couple of times now, it seems to be OK as long as you follow the instructions and are very careful.

Of course, one day I’d like to have one of those 18-200mm VR Nikon lenses, so I don’t have to swap lenses any more!

Thanks for another good show guys.

Andy

- camera on tripod & cable release
- manual exposure and manual focus
- set focus to infinity
- 4 seconds @ f/8 @ ISO 100

Alternatively, do everything the same but shoot
on “bulb” mode with exposure times anywhere between
one to ten seconds (but you’ll still probably find
that for most fireworks about 4 second works best).

CJ

These are all Gitzo products, so your Manfrotto ballhead would fit with no problems!

My 1st Choice for a tripod: G-1158T
It’s a new 6x Carbon Fiber Tripod. It’s a mere 2.1lbs and supports up to 9.9lbs. It folds up to a very small 16.1″ when you need to store it. At this small weight it’s lighter than some lenses and should be pretty easy to attach to your tripod straps on your backpack.

My 2nd choice for a Tripod: G-1157
Another new 6x Carbon Fiber Tripod. It’s a bit heavier at 2.3lbs yet still supports up to 9.9lbs. You’ll save on costs if you purchase this model but you’ll sacrifice portability considering its folded length is 23.9″. Still a great choice.

Both of these Tripods will set you back about the same price as a lens but they should last a lifetime. (They include a lifetime warranty at least)

My 1st choice for a Monopod: GM-2560T
A brand new 6x Carbon Fiber Monopod. This bad boy is what I’ve been waiting for. It’s 0.675lbs and supports up to 9.9lbs. When folded up it’s 14.3″ so this puppy can go almost anywhere. This is not a cheap monopod however considering it’s $200 price tag. Though IMO it’s worth it and I’m predicting this will be a pretty hot seller.

My 2nd choice for a Monpod: G-1566 Mk2
This monopod definitely feels sturdy. At 1.6lbs with support for up to 11lbs you can definitely feel the weight difference between these two monopods. However it’s still only 1.6lbs so it’s pretty easy to take with you where you want to go. When folded it’s a small 16.1″. It’s also cheaper ;)