Nikon (Nikkor) has released a new traveling lens, a 28-400mm f4-f8 zoom. I ordered one through Tucson Camera Repair, an authorized Nikon Dealer. I got the lens in its first release on April 19th.
The big advantage of this lens is that it weighs about half as much as my 500mm f5.6, and .75 pounds less than my 400mm f5.6 lens. It is much easier to carry around on hikes and can be used as a macro lens as the minimum focusing distance is very short – even at 400mm. The price one pays is less contrast, higher ISO (more noise) and not as good detail. The above pic of a Wilson’s Warbler at 400mm is a representative example. Not quite up to snuff for professional work… but good enough for editorial photos.
Gila Woodpecker at my feeder.
Luna, at about half resolution. An OK pic, but….
Cactus Wren taken at ISO 36,000 in bad light. Not so good.
Cactus Wren taken at ISO 20,000 in bad light. Better than the above.
Dark-lored White-crowned Sparrow. This photo is passable.
Sonoran Gopher Snake. Taken at 120mm. ID by Seth Ausubel
Spike Jones and His City Slickers. Left to Right; Freddy Morgan- virtuoso banjo. Sir Frederick Gas – vocalist and comedian, Peter James- dancer and comedian, Spike Jones.
The Spike Jones band. A lousy capture from Spike’s TV show.
Spike Jones was a musical prodigy on percussion. He could turn anything into a musical instrument. Add to this his impish proclivity to twist and dissemble well known tunes into riots. He played in some of the best big bands of the 1930s, and finally got his own, The City Slickers, in the early 1940s. He had hits such as “In the Fuhrer’s Face”, “Cocktails for Two”, and “McNamara’s Band”. He eventually had a TV show which was primitive by today’s standards – it was broadcast live. The cast included, beside the band and its bizzare banjo star, Freddy Morgan, the comedy likes of Billy Barty, Doodles Weaver, and Jim Backus. Ish Kabible, late of the Kay Kyser Orchestra, joined the band for TV but quickly left. Perhaps he could not handle the slapstick, mayhem and undisciplined Dixieland style that was typical of Jones music. Mel Blanc appeared with the band (Clink, Clink, Another Drink) on film and TV. There were elements of Vaudeville in the band’s performances.
Spike smoked three to four packs of cigs daily, and made it to 53. He was a drinking buddy of celebrity/murderer Spade Cooley.