Archive for 2007
Deep Thought
Maybe I'm being a bit dim, but how is it possible to have multi-grain corn flakes?
Multi-grain flakes... yes, I can understand that concept, that would be flakes made from a range of different types of grain, one of which may or may not be corn... but multi-grain corn flakes? Is it possible to have multi-grain corn? Whatever, it still doesn't sound right.
Maybe next time?
Due to, er, family commitments, I didn't enter the 2007 World Beard & Moustache Championships. It looks like fun - I must remember to get my entry in for the 2009 event.
The trouble is, they don't seem to have a category for "Wild and Unkempt". Maybe I should contact them to see if they can sort it out?
Making stuff
At last I got some time between DIY jobs to make a few of the things that I can't be arsed to buy, or which just can't be had at the shops.
First up - I made a footprint for the Vango Spectre tent. Same plan as usual - get a cheap green woven plastic tarp from the Pound Shop (cost 50p, no, I can't figure that either), cut to shape, fold over the cut edges and iron them down to make them stick. The addition of three plastic eyelets (10p each) is the only other cost. Making a few X-shaped cuts in the fabric (for drainage) finishes the job.
Next up - a reflector for the Nikon remote unit. The D50's IR sensor is on the front of the body, so it doesn't detect a signal from behind. There are a few proper gadgets available for dealing with this situation, all of them involve an unwieldy fixed-attitude plastic reflecting plate that's attached to the lens with a bit of bungee cord, like this:
I made a more compact hinged version by cutting down a redundant sd-card case and attaching a rubber band. Using this, the remote works a treat from behind and from the side, and the whole thing is a better fit into my camera case.
Finally - pull-loops for the latest batch of Alpkit Tikes. These pegs come with a length of heavy-duty red cord attached, it's fine for most applications but I find that a) the bulk takes up room in the pack which I could use for something else, and b) the red colour is difficult to see at night. Said cords have been replaced with off-cut lengths of fluoro-yellow dyneema which is much easier to see in the dark and which has very little bulk. You can just about see them in the following picture of the "big red slug":
Another gadget arrives
While I was interwebnet trawling for the right-angle viewfinder, I got to thinking that a remote shutter release for the D50 might be a handy gadget to have around, especially for those moments when I don't want to put down my beer just to press the release on the camera.
The Nikon ML-L3 was the gadget of choice - simple to use (just the one button, all of the other parameters are set in the camera), light and cheap at just £11 delivered from Dzone2 on eBay. Included is one battery and a pouch which will accommodate a spare battery in addition to the remote unit.
It works in all camera modes that I've tested it with. I like the way it works when the camera is set to Bulb mode - click the remote once and the shutter opens, click again and it closes - ideal for exposures up to 30 minutes long.
Please excuse the poor-quality photo (I couldn't be bothered to take off the 70-300 lens just for this shot):
