The NIK collection is now free!

I've been using the NIK collection of plug-in's for years with Photoshop. I think

its a great set of plug-in and have actually paid for the last set I had. In particular the Silver Effects Pro filter is an excellent Black and White conversion app. I think Dfine was the

first one I used and its also very good for noise reduction. I highly

recommend downloading and installing these.

https://www.google.com/nikcollection/

Not sure why Google decided to offer these for free now, but 

I think its a great offer and I'm loading this set into all the WU Photoland

lab computers for my students.

From Tuesdays shoot at Tyson

From the previous days shoot

This was shot with my Nikon D810 and the B & W conversion 

was done with NIK Silver effects software.

Tyson shoot with Erica

Along the Mississippi River

Taken with my new Fuji Xpro 2 with a Ziess 12mm and this shot was

 rendered using the Fuji ACROS film in camera conversion.

Sony vs. Fuji repair experience

I year ago January I sent my Xpro 1 in for a new shutter, it was returned very quickly but the image review button no longer worked. I really needed the camera so I learned to live with it. I just took delivery of my Xpro2 so I called Fuji repair in N.J. and explained the problem, their reply, no problem send it in. Now compare that to my experience with Sony repair of my RX100, the lens cover/iris kept hanging up after one month, I sent it in and 5 weeks later got it back, at the 9 month mark it happened again and I  sent it back (remember its still under warranty) and they refused to repair it saying it had impact damage and it would cost $380 to repair.

Just saying Sony does not offer the find of customer support that Fuji does. Great customer service is not about how well things go but when things go wrong what does the company do to make it right. I've owned my last Sony camera in my case.

Along the Mississippi River Floodplain

Shot with my new Fuji Xpro 2 and a Zeiss 12mm

Self Portrait, Modoc, Il.

St. Johns Church, Fults, IL.

Screwed by Sony repair warranty service

As some of you may remember from my previous "rants", I've had trouble with the lens cap/iris on the RX100 MK III I have (9month old), it was repaired under warranty the first month I had it (repair took 5 weeks), and again I sent it back at 9months and now Sony has refused to repair the problem saying it had "impact" damage and now it will cost $380 for a repair. There was no impact damage but there was a very small nick on the outer ring (I carry it in my coat pocket a lot) but have never crashed it. This turn of events is very disappointing and will be my last Sony. I had already purchased the Fuji  X70 and honestly do not miss the zoom of the lens or the little pop up viewfinder, I used the camera mostly as a snapshot carry around camera anyway and use my D810 for the serious stuff. I find the X70 to do very well at ISP 1600 and the lens on it very sharp, so I'm a big fan of the new camera. Thanks for allowing me to rant a bit more, honestly as far as this forum goes, I'll let it go and move on. I would warn anyone against purchasing a Sony Cybershot with this type of lens cap/iris, it seems to be a design flaw and Sony does not stand behind their products.