Reconstruction

The old kit was evaluated and virtual check is on the way. What now, we wonders?

As of now I've lined up a D600 and Nikkor 28-105D. No stabilization with that pair, but iso5000 is no longer a major drawback with a 36×24 sensor! I nearly won a 70-210D but lost out at the wire. Looking a bit further revealed a Tamron SP 70-300 VR (MARK II by today's nomenclature since it's not the earlier 1:2 macro model). For the price and features it's a good deal, although much bulkier than the 70-210D. Its bulk is similar to the Pentax 50-135 and I survived well enough..

So two decent zooms from 10+ years back, covering 28-300mm (yay no more mm/e conversions!). Next up?

A prime or two would be quite sufficient for me, preferably a sub-28mm and something from 85-100mm; that would let a 50mm lens in at some point and keep the large kit small as it were. That's what I want: now what's actually available?

My first choices would be a Nikkor 20/2.8D and 85/2D. Hm, something about the D series it seems.. Curiously enough other options are available for less than that 20. Such zooms as Nikon's 18-35 and other similar items, for example. I'd prefer a small prime though, we'll wait a while before making a call there.
While seeking ultrawide zooms I did a search on Quantaray, which was Sigma lenses relabeled for the immortal Ritz dealerships. The Q-ray 18-35 is really a bargain, but something else struck me first - a 90mm f/2.8 Quantaray macro lens. Oh that's right, Sigma made 90 macros just like Tamron once! This thing is smaller and lighter than the Tamron thanks to its design of 1:2 closeup +screw-on 1:1 adapter. It also has autofocus with a limiter switch, and was well liked in the early 2000s. 

I had hopes for a bargain on an 85mm f/2 or faster, weather seals and other over-budget miracles.

Oh well, this will do!

The adapter for 1:1 shooting feels familiar.. ah yes, it's just like the old Cosina 100/3.5 I owned many moons ago! Thankfully this lens is built to a higher standard; the 'plastic fantastic' Cosina felt like I could crush it in hand like a drinking cup! When the 1:1 adapter is added the lens can only shoot up close, so mostly I'd consider it a 1:2 lens for shooting 6" to infinity. No problem, the adapter can rest safely in a pocket for 'emergency use'.

p.s. the Quantaray 90 arrived, looking as new in original box, styrofoam packing and the screw-on 1:1 adapter. Such a deal!! No hood though, a common theme among re-badged Sigmas. First tests look excellent, and focus sound isn't bad - much more a whoosh than a Pentax grind. Quiet enough for me, and for complainers manual focus is pretty effective..

One prime down, one or two to go!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Later reflections - 

It could be that I've cornered myself a bit. My interest in weather seals, plus my superwide 18mm lens, makes the 24-85VR seem a pretty good fit in this kit compared to the 28-105D. Nothing that needs to happen soon, but a rubber gasket at the body would be a good idea for outdoor travel with a wx-resistant body. Just thinking aloud.. today at least.

Gearshift

In proper keeping for a mold|breaker, I am making a rather radical shift in camera gear. It will be interesting to see how this turns out!

I've been a big Pentax fan since about 1980. Film SLRs from 80-00, a compact film body for a couple of years after that, then digital SLRs since 2010. A recent return to micro43 has produced a kit that serves me well in that format, so the PK gear has seen little use. Others have pointed out that with two sensors of similar size, one or the other will dominate; I now agree with that assessment.

Pentax lenses have accumulated over time, with occasional purges. I have learned the hard way that I'm unable to resist a good deal on a used K-mount lens! It's better than buying new, but it's still stress on the family budget. I've sworn off more than once, but I keep watch and invariably fall to the siren call.

The best choice for me to improve a larger system would be a K-1 body. This would restore my prime set to its proper place with a 36×24 sensor and justify a few of those deals I found irresistible. Problem is the K-1 is $1200 or more for a used copy, and its size and feature-set are more than I'd ever need.
Bummer.

So it's all leaving.

I find that the kit (Pentax + a few redundant m43 items) has an accumulated value of about $500.  For that amount I can pick up a used Nikon D600/610 body: 24Mpx 36×24 sensor, a limited amount of pro-level features that fit me better, rumours of improved focus and video competence, and an entirely different set of compatible legacy lenses.

The D600 was composed of many D7000 components (Nikon's K-5 contemporary) and a "FF" sensor. It had some issues that led to the 610's appearance and some low-key maintenance offers to D600 owners; by not issuing a true recall they lost much goodwill among Nikonians). It is therefore not "pro level" gear but targeted at higher-level amateurs and upgraders. Someone like.. me!

What the -

My reason is true to the mold|breaker motto ("hm.. I'd better come up with one"). Since I know pretty much NOTHING about Nikon gear beyond its large following, I am free of any siren call. I won't have lens nostalgia or a large forum of familiar people calling out amazing old items to be acquired, no reviews to sway me (assuming I manage to stay away). I believe this can work, and I'm betting All of my K gear on it. Also it's all leaving at once: I'll get a lower price than dealing piecemeal but the break is quite clean this way.

I have a line on a D600 with a factory-replaced shutter and fairly low clicks, and a few readings recommend the older 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 lens. This pair, a prime or two (35+85?) and a long zoom with stabilized optics and I'm good, considering the 𝛍43 kit will get the most use.

2 weird days

Storms and showers all around - yet barely a drop for us!

Yesterday saw storms rushing north from a low-pressure blob just off the OR/CA border. As they approached they wore down and essentially disappeared just south of us. I mowed the lawn under a fierce 0.01-inch downpour i.e. I did not get wet.

This morning we awoke to a large patch of radar echoes east of Portland. By this time the low was near the coast and storms were moving from east to west. Once again the storms died out; most probably as they came west off the Cascades the downslope dried them out.

This afternoon storms began developing to our north and dropping our way! Several blew up around Castle Rock as an E-W pressure ripple dropped our way. And again they missed us - this time the downsloping was off the Willapa Hills which are nearly as big as the Cascade foothills. So many hard showers around, and we have recieved 0.01" total.

More attempts could be made this evening; we shall see.

summer preview

Circumstances in your favor, collect $$$ - or in this case, much sunshine!

At 3pm we're close to 89°, and two more days of this will follow. Very nice, and time to spend some time on the deck. With all the enclosure forced by the covid-19 pandemic, outdoors is a great place to be!

Monday we return to onshore flow and showers. It took a few days but forecast models are now adding thunderstorms on Sunday night. That seems entirely appropriate given the 15-degree drop in temperatures. We approve  :^) 

juggling during a crisis or three

Unlike many folks, our financial inputs are not suffering right now. A pension, some Social Security income, and a part time job at an essential supplier. A stimulus check would still be extremely helpful as some deferred tasks need doing and some debts need settling; hopefully we will find ourselves in a position where giving to vital causes can be managed.

We began to look into home refinancing just as the virus was coming ashore. Papers were begun a month ago, rates have settled quite a bit lower than our current loan, and the appraisal shows we're in a likable place to live. We aren't done with it yet, but in this area too we are in an enviable position. Since we're driving two high-mileage vehicles and our dryer just died, we have some needs that will be served well by a better cash-flow situation!

As for Covid-19, our county is now at 50 confirmed cases. We're mostly locked down but my evening job and occasional run for food and medicines keep me focused on good hygiene. Golf has become an option again this week; it will be interesting to see how many can afford that for a while.

Like many others, I've found that this down-time is a good 'cure' for acquisitive tendencies, in my case relating to camera gear. I still have too much, especially too much in similar systems. Once the juggling of dollars is finished this month, I plan to pack up a lot of stuff and get its value determined - after that, a final idea or two are germinating. Hm, that reminds me to germinate a bunch of seeds and declare a bit of independence in the vegetable department.

Many changes are happening now in this chaotic world, and more will come soon - both around the world and around the yard!

making sense of chaos

It's what we do as humans - extrapolate from data in hand. Today it's being done from tiny amounts of data, which leads to very risky interpretations.

We always seek what's coming next, whether to make our fortunes or prepare for the worst. Clearly we didn't do that latter for a viral onslaught; today will probably put us at a million confirmed cases of covid-19 infection, and 50000 deaths. Big cities are easy to find by the red circles of infection, but it really has spread to nearly every corner of the globe. Greenland now has a few cases! People are rightly worried - but they seek answers that time has not provided yet. Pregnant women want to know how the virus will interact with their fetus; we all want to know, but sadly the test cases are still enwombed.

Another very common to forecast future data is a simple one: to know what to wear tomorrow. It's now April so the flowers are coming out, and cold-weather gear can be consigned to a deep closet.

Or not.

None of this is forecast to accumulate more than 1/2 inch. But the fact that it's early April makes it a small sample-size for predicting such things! Models for weather are far more developed than for a previously-unknown virus, however.

As always, we'll wait and see how it plays out.

The wait for snow is over; it did not happen. Perhaps a few flakes at 2AM but nothing ever appeared on ground or deck. As to the virus.. now over 1 million cases worldwide, and climbing steadily.

grinding to a halt

So many changes have come with the virus surging around the world. Flights, drives, jaunts and in many cases, even jogs are shut down or strongly discouraged. Our county still has just three positive cases and all are resting at home - so it's fairly quiet around here.

On the other hand, our workplace has many people out 'sick' meaning they are either ill with something else or in self-preservation quarantine due to previous conditions that the virus will greatly complicate. My work is among the few considered 'essential' so I'm getting my part-time check, unlike many in the USA and elsewhere. Congress is about to finalize a massive injection of cash into the system in several forms, and we're also partway into a home refinance that was being looked at before the viral growth curve began its exponential upswing.

If all goes as planned - a phrase that is getting little use right now! - we will emerge from this better than many others. My elder siblings and my mom are at a far greater level of risk than myself, but this virus is pervasive and not as discriminating as casual onlookers (mostly younger) have been led to believe. Less than 2% who catch it are dying, but they are not all above 85 or confronted with contributing health issues!

Nearly all of us will endure beyond this first phase, and any others that may await. The world will be rather different on the other end of it, I'm thinking.