Recent content by CharleyL

You are right. Godox/flashpoint is not for everybody, but it's been one of my better photography decisions, so the best choice for me. It cost me a lot to replace what I had, but selling off that old lighting system to someone else that was convinced that it was best, helped me recover some of...

Buying a cheap flash trigger may solve your immediate need, but you will likely wish you had bought the more expensive with the ability to adjust and fire multiple lights as your photography experience grows. Most of the cheapest flash triggers seem to work no matter what camera you add it to...

A little nostalgia - The attached photo was taken by a now 26 year old Sony Mavica MVC-FD98, one of the four shots that fit full resolution on a 3 1/2" floppy disk. This is a 2.1 Megapixel camera that I own and still use it occasionally, but had to buy an external USB floppy disk reader to...

I would use the 7" monitor from my Video Rig for this. Most relatively new still cameras that can also shoot video have HDMI outputs and a "Live View" setting on your camera with this kind of monitor attached should let you do this easily. Charley

When you get a paper jam, look carefully at the shredded pieces that you pull out. Re-assemble them to see if there are missing pieces. If any, they are caught inside the printer and will cause additional paper jams if not removed. I have been there, and know how difficult that it sometimes...

I'm not totally familiar with your camera, but I am a Canon photographer with 77D, 80D, and 90D experience. When shooting moving, especially distant shots, if your camera has back button focus capability, hold this button in as you are preparing to take the shot. The lens will continue adjusting...

"The main reason to avoid a center column for wildlife/action is because it prevents setting the tripod low enough. So I avoid them altogether." My SLIK U-212 Deluxe Pro tripods have a 1/4-20 stud on both ends of their center columns. Normally, I have an eye nut on the bottom stud, so I can...

OK, sorry I missed that. Somebody in the conversation had referred to Gitzo, and it must have changed my memory while reading. Just call the Customer Service for the Brand of gear that you are looking parts for. Most that I have called in the last 45 years have been very helpful. I have ordered...

Have you tried contacting Gitzo Customer Service? I have bought many replacement parts for gear that I own, even for a 28 year old tripod. It took a week for them to find it in their warehouse, but they did and sold it to me. Charley

I don't think fire blanket ponchos existed when I tried this, but knowing what I do about ponchos, it might help, but not cover you well enough to be completely safe. If I had one, it would likely make a good top protection layer, but I would want thick cotton under it as one wouldn't be...

It's all about the kind of shooting that you do. Though a "Well seasoned" photographer who uses Manual Mode often, it depends on the kind of photo that you are shooting. Quick pop-up shots are most always caught best in Auto mode, but there are many times when I'll start a shoot in "TTL"...

When we did it we were wearing some of my welding clothes, blue jeans, thick cotton shirt, treated cotton welders hat, welding gloves and safety glasses. My son and I buy our welding clothes at the local thrift shops whenever possible, because they don't last very long. I still got a few burns...

White on white is equally as difficult. Charley

Use regular steel wool, not stainless, and not with soap imbedded (in the US the embedded soap version is called a Brillo Pad). Experiment with different grades. The 0000 grade is the finest (smallest strand) version and will burn the easiest. A sleeve of steel wool is not expensive and readily...

I have some small square (about 12"X 12") Godox SA-30 Soft boxes that I bought several years ago for one shoot, but find that I'm frequently using them for my tabletop shoots. They are used with Bowens mount adapters or S2 brackets, so fully interchangeable with all of my other soft boxes and...