[dcstep]

Originally Posted by allachie9

We had a nice display of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) last night. It showed up well even in the bright moonlight.

This shot was taken at our local West Beach, looking due north across The Moray Firth towards Wick and The Orkney Isles.

Very nice, indeed.

I'm hoping that I luck out in January, when I visit Northern Canada to shoot owls. We'll be on the edge of the arctic, so all I need is a little luck with solar activity.

Alan, do you have a resource that you use to estimate likelihood?

[allachie9]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Very nice, indeed.

I'm hoping that I luck out in January, when I visit Northern Canada to shoot owls. We'll be on the edge of the arctic, so all I need is a little luck with solar activity.

Alan, do you have a resource that you use to estimate likelihood?

Thanks Dave, good luck with your trip. Even though we are moving away from 'Solar Max', auroral activity remains good and strong. Up here in North East Scotland, although we have plenty of good, dark skies, bad weather / heavy cloud often spoils our chances.

A couple of good sites that I use and are equally suitable for North America viewers are -

http://spaceweather.com/
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/au...inute-forecast

There are another couple of sites that work well for us here in the UK and Mainland Europe, they are -

http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/
http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

I'm sure there will be similar sites across your side of the pond.

[cb804]

First snow of the season...

icy commute by Carmen B, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by cb804

First snow of the season...

Ugh.

We had our first a few weeks ago, but I don't have to commute it.

[Itsed65]

Just got back from a trip to Oregon. We made it up to Crater Lake, but all the roads inside the park were closed after the visitor center due to the first big snow of the year.

Going for Crater Lake by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

Looks like our nesting pair had success again. I was shooting this one when the sibling burst out of the branches and took off. I hadn't even spotted it.

Bald Eagle #21 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

damn, check out that dinosaur foot. lol

[allachie9]

Taken this afternoon at our East Beach, I thought the shower cloud and falling rain looked almost 'nuclear'.

[Josh (PA)]

We had our first cold snap of the season ("Polar Vortex). It was 20F air temp. The water was about 55F. My dog still loved going swimming and fetching sticks.

What a beautiful morning on the lake:

Crazy Dog by Josh, on Flickr

[Itsed65]

Really neat shot Alan!

Josh, better your dog than me! Brrr

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

Really neat shot Alan!

Josh, better your dog than me! Brrr

[Itsed65]

Ma and Pa Eagle by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[P1]

I currently have a 70-200mm f4, but have the opportunity to buy a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM for $900. It supposedly is in very good condition. However, it's a Version I. Is it a good deal for a V1? And is the V2 worth the extra coin?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by P1et

I currently have a 70-200mm f4, but have the opportunity to buy a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM for $900. It supposedly is in very good condition. However, it's a Version I. Is it a good deal for a V1? And is the V2 worth the extra coin?

Go to DxOMark.com to compare the IQ. The Series II is better, but only you can judge if it's worth the extra money for you.

The f/4 is a stupendous lens. The question is, do you need f/2.8 and is it worth the extra weight and bulk? If you shoot a ton in low light, with no flash and you can't stand the noise of ultra-high ISOs, then you should get the f/2.8. For someone, like me, carrying two bodies, two lenses on the bodies and three lenses on my back, it's not worth the extra weight.

Are you unhappy with your f/4? If not, then you've simply got GAS, brought on by a killer price and you'll get over it. If you've got issues, what are they?

I've sold all my Series I lenses and all the buyers are very happy.

[Itsed65]

Same 2 eagles as above, sharing a branch

The Happy Couple by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[P1]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Go to DxOMark.com to compare the IQ. The Series II is better, but only you can judge if it's worth the extra money for you.

The f/4 is a stupendous lens. The question is, do you need f/2.8 and is it worth the extra weight and bulk? If you shoot a ton in low light, with no flash and you can't stand the noise of ultra-high ISOs, then you should get the f/2.8. For someone, like me, carrying two bodies, two lenses on the bodies and three lenses on my back, it's not worth the extra weight.

Are you unhappy with your f/4? If not, then you've simply got GAS, brought on by a killer price and you'll get over it. If you've got issues, what are they?

I've sold all my Series I lenses and all the buyers are very happy.

I agree; the f/4 lens has done me well. I bought it refurbished from Canon and it was probably never used. I've taken some beautiful pictures with it, and I think it's lightning fast on my Mark III. I don't shoot with flash. I honestly don't have any issues at all, just feel like the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is one of those "must have" or dream lenses. I think if anything, what I'd like to use the most is the IS functionality.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by P1et

I agree; the f/4 lens has done me well. I bought it refurbished from Canon and it was probably never used. I've taken some beautiful pictures with it, and I think it's lightning fast on my Mark III. I don't shoot with flash. I honestly don't have any issues at all, just feel like the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is one of those "must have" or dream lenses. I think if anything, what I'd like to use the most is the IS functionality.

I love the IS on my EF70-200mm f/4L IS and highly recommend it for those of us that shoot handheld in low light. It comes into use all the time. How about a used f/4 IS.

[Mik3ymomo]

Light painting this last Saturday Mclaren by -mik3ymomo-

[Itsed65]

Can't get anymore northern California than this. Oregon to the left of the road, California to the right. The Lower Klamath NWR is a few miles down this highway.

State Line by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

Can't get anymore northern California than this. Oregon to the left of the road, California to the right. The Lower Klamath NWR is a few miles down this highway.

Great perspective.

[Zing]

Helix City by DaZi Photography, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Bald eagles is upset at me pointing my lens at it:

Don't Point At Me by David Stephens, on Flickr

[Itsed65]

Great one Dave.