Peak Design Travel Tripod Unboxing 2019-12-27

Peak Design Travel Tripod Unboxing 2019-12-27
Product: https://www.peakdesign.com/products/travel-tripod

I joined the Kickstarter for Peak Design's Travel Tripod in early 2019,  forgot about it, and then received my travel tripod before the close of 2019.  It's designed by Peak Design and manufactured in Hong Kong.  Now that it's been made, shipped, and cleared customs and in my hands, my unboxing photos are below.  Review and feedback pending after I find opportunities to try it out.

Package from Hong Kong

Opening the Box

Peak Travel Tripod Packaging

Opening the Top of the Container

The Travel Tripod comes in a nice travel case

Opening the Travel Case

Aluminum Peak Design Travel Tripod and Case

Opening the Tripod with 2 segments extended

Peak Design Slide Lite Strap 2019-12-27

Peak Design Slide Lite Strap 2019-12-27
Product: https://www.peakdesign.com/products/slide-lite

It took me a while to find a camera strap that I enjoyed using with my gear.  I've tried a few other straps and have finally found one that suits my needs.  Enter the Peak Design Slide Lite Strap.  This strap has been updated and enhanced by Peak Design, I am currently using an older design of the strap but it suits my needs perfectly.

Peak utilizes its custom Anchor Link system that enables the user to quickly connect the strap to their camera.  Once you get used to the system, you can detach and reattach the strap to different anchors and devices.  As I have an older version of the strap, my anchor mount on the bottom of the camera is significantly larger.  It does work with peak design's capture mount though.

Even though the slide lite is billed for mirrorless and light DSLR cameras, I prefer it over the slide as the thickness of the strap is much slimmer.  Dual quick-adjusters allow easy reconfiguration of length.  For anyone who fiddles with their strap length and shifts between using it as a neck strap, sling, or shoulder strap, peak design's straps are very versatile.

As I generally like to use it as a shoulder strap, the anchor mount on the bottom of my camera enables this functionality best.  The strap comes with a hex screw for the times where I need to remove the anchor mount to use with a tripod.  With the anchor link system, I can easily reconfigure the strap to be used as a neck strap.

Pricing is a bit high but after using peak design gear for a while, the convenience of being able to switch straps amongst gear and configure it to suit my needs on the fly, it's worth it.

Peak Design Slide Lite Strap

Peak Design Slide Lite Strap

Peak Design Slide Lite Strap

Peak Design Slide Lite Strap

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G 2019-12-27

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G 2019-12-27
Product: https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/af-s-dx-nikkor-35mm-f%252f1.8g.html

I've been shooting with my phone and a compact camera of late and have made a conscious effort to shoot on my Nikon DSLR a bit more.  Along those lines, I'm going to make a more concerted effort to use a prime lens and force myself to move around a bit more instead of just zooming.

I shoot on Nikon's DX (APS-C) line of cameras so I'll be looking to use the 35mm f1.8G lens for this "homework" assignment.  It's a highly embraced DX lens in the community and is quite economical (sub 200 dollars).  It is a G lens and is made of hard plastic.  As I mostly shoot casually when out with friends the f/1.8 aperture is perfect for low light photography in evenings and allows me to avoid using as much flash.

The lens itself is quite small, very light, and has a lens hood, soft lens cover, and uses 52mm thread filters.  For those newer to the DX line of Nikon cameras, this is the first prime lens to get for most shooters.  You'll read online that 50mm is the preferred lens but that is for full-frame (FX) shooters.  On Nikon's DX line with the crop factor, the 35mm lens is the DX lens that fits the bill best as it approximates the zoom of a 52mm FX lens on your DX camera.  Lastly, 50mm on FX is revered because it most closely approximates the viewing angle of the human eye.

If you shoot Nikon DX DSLR cameras, this lens is one of the quintessential lenses for your kit.
If you shoot on Nikon FX DSLR there is a separate 35mm FX lens.  DX lenses are wasted on FX cameras.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

2019-12-27 Update

I'll be updating this blog space to focus on musings and reviews of photography and tech gear in 2020.

Nikon J1

Nikon J1:

I got a new toy.  It's white.  I've been told white is a girlie color... oh well I like how the white looks.
Now that I've had this camera for a little under 2 weeks I think I can start to talk about my likes and dislikes.

Likes:
Small, compact, easy to bring out and about in the city. 
Takes DSLR quality photos in good lighting.
HD 1080p video quality with really great focus and subject tracking
Ridiculous electronic burst mode and a continuous shutter mode.

Dislikes:
Still not pocketable.  This camera, as small as it is still isn't pocketable.  I would need to get the 10mm wideangle lens and then i could probably just put this camera in my pocket when I'm out and about.  Only con?  That lens would be $250 and I can't really justify it. 
For such a nice camera it lacks some features found on the Nikon CoolPix super zoom cameras.
There's no panorama stich mode.  There's not many effects.  I think Nikon whiffed a little with the camera options.

Overall:
Photos look sharp as you would expect from a Nikon.  Its really just a fancy point and shoot where you can zoom in and out on the lens barrel with a quality smaller nikkor lens form factor.  The sweet spot is use as a point and shoot that takes crisp photos.  I haven't really used the zoom lens that comes with it because realisticially who brings their camera gear back out with them?

If you're looking for a compact DSLR replacement and you actually want manual controls: this is NOT that camera.  Get a SONY NEX.  Really.  There is no manual focus on the Nikon J1.  Where this camera excels is HD video and snapping off photos that look great the the amateur photographer.  If you want to play with the apeture and shutter settings you can but its hidden in too many menus.  There are no dedicated controls which gets frustrating.  Lastly, you can't control both shutter or aperture.  This is clearly meant to be used as a fancy, slightly pricey toy, yet I actually really like this camera.  It will most likely be the camera i take out 80% of the time.  I love my Nikon D60 but its too bulky (it will be relegated to special occasions where the focus is going to be taking pictures).


Sample Photos:

tumblr vs blogger

Gonna try to get this blog going again as well I have opinions and we'll see who reads. I've been behind in my social media because well frankly, who's got time to have facebook google+ tumblr blogger twitter etc. I've realized that while google+ and facebook have become very good places for me to share photos ( i like taking random photos) its harder to get thoughts and ideas across. This will probably become a place of my musings.