Everest Trek: Peakfinder Screenshots 2 Dingboche and Imja Valley

This is the second post on the Peakfinder screen shots from the Everest region covering Dingboche, Chukung and the Imja Valley.

Dingboche looking south east

Dingboche looking north east

Dingboche looking south west

Dingboche looking west

Above Chukung looking south east

Above Chukung looking south west

Above Chukung looking south

Above Chukung looking north east

Everest Trek: Peakfinder Screenshots 1 Kala Pattar and Khumbu valley

As mentioned in some of my earlier posts, I have started using the Peakfinder app extensively on my treks to identify the peaks and have been saving the screenshots on my Ipad. Here are the screen shots from that iconic view point Kala Pattar and lower down the Khumbu valley.

Kala Pattar looking north 

Kala Pattar looking south west

Kala Pattar looking south

Approaching Lobuche 

From Dugla looking south

From Dugla looking south west

From the memorials above Dugla looking south

Ghandrung, Ghorepani, Poon Hill Trek

The short five or six day Pokhara to Pokhara Ghandrung to Ghorepani trek via Australian Camp and Landrung is an ideal introduction to trekking in the Nepal Himalaya.

This is a perfect first time trek for those who want a taste of trekking but do not have the time or inclination to do a long trek. It has some great plus points :
a) it is short
b) it does not go higher than 3000 metres so no altitude issues
c) it has fabulous views every day of some of the greatest peaks in the Himalayas
d) it has good lodges to stay every night with excellent meals
e) it is an ideal family trek

South Col does this route every year in December as that is one of the ideal seasons for this route. For some photographs and route description please read on!

Poon Hill sunset- Annapurna I and South

Descending from Landrung to the river at Bee Hive before climbing to Ghandrung

Gurung Cottage Ghandrung

Breakfast at Tadapani

Evening Poon Hill

Looking west Poon Hill

Night sky Ghorepani

Dhaulagiri and Tukuche sunrise from Ghorepani with the Kali Gandaki valley in cloud

Resources

For details of the route and description of this trek do visit http://www.southcol.com/treks-nepal/trekking-annapurna/

For alternative approaches to the Annapurna region from Pokhara please do visit  http://sujoyrdas.blogspot.in/2014/06/approach-to-annapurna-base-camp-abc-trek.html

Nikon D500 Announced

Nikon sprung a major surprise by announcing the launch of the New Nikon D500 DX format top of the line DSLR. For years photographers have debated whether the D300 would be upgraded or this was the end of the so called Pro DX line. The new D500 fulfills most of the expectations of DX shooters with top of the line features some of the more important ones are covered below:

• 20.9MP DX format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 5 image processor - This is a new sensor for the D500 and promises to be very good
• Multi-CAM 20K Autofocus sensor with 153/99 AF points - 153 AF points gives it a superb autofocus system
• ISO range of 100-51,200 expandable to Lo 1 and Hi 5 (50 – 1,640,000 equivalent) - Possibility of pushing higher ISOs with reduced noise
• Share images instanly with built-in SnapBridge (Wi-Fi® + Bluetooth) capabilities
• Shoot cinematic 4K UHD video
• Dual card slots - XQD and SD media

The feature list is impressive and I am quite sure sports and wildlife photographers who are looking to upgrade from D200/D300/D300s will look no further. 

The list price of the body is US $ 1999/- the street price should be lower. 

For a comparison between the D500 and D300s take a look at this link

https://photographylife.com/nikon-d500-vs-d300s

Press Release

Here is the official press release from Nikon:

LAS VEGAS, NV (January 5, 2016) – Today, Nikon Inc. announced the D500, a DX-format DSLR with pro-level features that gives photographers nimble handling, speed and extreme processing power in a compact and lightweight body. With amazing imaging capability, robust build quality and lightning fast performance, the D500 is sure to satisfy as the highly sought-after successor to the venerable D300S. Like its sibling the D5, the D500 benefits from Nikon’s latest technological innovations such as the totally new, blazing-fast Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system and 4K UHD video capture, yet adds a fun new way to share photos with Nikon SnapBridge built-in.

“Nikon has answered the call from photographers to once again re-invent this camera category and offer an unmatched combination of performance and value that is hard for any photographer to resist,” said Masahiro Horie, Director of Marketing and Planning, Nikon Inc. “When paired with the amazing imaging capabilities of legendary NIKKOR optics, photographers can capture intimate portraits, mind-blowing macros or action from extreme distances– the possibilities are endless.”

Pro-Level Image Quality, DX-Format Versatility

The D500 imagines the best of both worlds, offering advanced enthusiasts and pro photographers all the benefits of DX-format, such as smaller form-factor and lens crop, combined with many of the same advanced pro features found in the new Nikon D5. The new Nikon D500 features an all-new 20.9-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor that renders images with outstanding colors and gorgeous tonality. This new sensor is coupled with Nikon’s new EXPEED 5 image processing engine, affording low noise and maximum processing power with a surprisingly small footprint and superbly balanced body.

The benefits of the DX-format are evident for long-distance applications like wildlife and sports photography, where telephoto ability is at a premium and weight reduction is welcome. With Nikon’s legendary FX or smaller-sized DX-format NIKKOR lenses, the sleek D500 is the ideal companion for wanderlust. When mated with the new AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens, the D500 offers a remarkable 350-750mm equivalent focal range for a lightweight, yet super-telephoto duo.

Because amazing images can happen even when the sun goes down, the D500 is capable of excellent low-light performance, with an ISO range of 100-51,200, expandable to 50-1,640,000 equivalent. From low-light cityscapes to action sports under the lights, the D500 is ready to tackle any imaging challenge.

Performance Meets Portability

Within the streamlined body of the D500 is a formidable processing powerhouse. Whether photographing sideline sports for the home team or animals in exotic destinations, a super-fast 10 frames-per-second (fps) burst speed with full AF and AE will help nail nearly any shot. This extreme speed lets users capture every fleeting moment in exceptional clarity, while a generous buffer allows for up to 79 shots (14-bit, uncompressed RAW/NEF) to be captured, so the moment won’t be missed.

To keep pace with the action, the D500 is fitted with the same AF system as the Nikon D5, the Multi-CAM 20K AF sensor module, with a separate dedicated processor for AF function. On the D500’s DX format sensor, the 153-point AF array fills the frame from side to side, letting users flawlessly track and lock-onto subjects from the edges of the viewfinder. Like the D5, the D500 utilizes the new 180K RGB Metering system and Advanced Scene Recognition System to help ensure balanced exposures and fantastic color rendition in nearly any shooting situation.

Controls and Rugged Construction Worthy of a Flagship

The D500 features an enhanced level of robust build quality, offering the same amount of rugged weather sealing as the Nikon D810. The durable body is a monocoque structure composed of magnesium alloy for the top and rear, while the front is reinforced with lightweight carbon fiber. The shutter mechanism has been tested for 200K actuations, helping to ensure maximum endurance. For further durability, the D500 excludes a pop-up flash, yet is compatible with Nikon’s newest radio frequency capable flash, the SB-5000 Speedlight (with optional WR-R10 & WR-A10)1.

It’s easy to compose and view images on the D500’s bright 3.2-inch, high resolution (2359K-dot) touchscreen LCD, which lets users interact with photos in playback, control the camera and operate menus. When mounted on a tripod or shooting from creative angles, landscape and event shooters will appreciate the reinforced tilting LCD screen, similar to that of the Nikon D750. Additionally, images are rapidly written to either a fast XQD card slot or to the additional SD card slot for maximum workflow efficiency.

Constant Connectivity with the New Nikon SnapBridge

The D500 marshals in a new way to share photos wirelessly with the new Nikon SnapBridge, making the camera’s built-in connectivity easier to use than ever before. SnapBridge allows for Bluetooth2 supported connection between your camera and compatible smart device, thus making automatic upload of your images possible. Once enabled, the camera stays connected to the smart device and transfers photos, eliminating the need to re-connect devices. Those looking to share images from their travels or from the field can also tag images for transfer in camera and can password protect their connection for added security. As an added benefit, the D500’s built-in Near Field Communication (NFC)3 capability easily connects the camera to a compatible smart device with just a tap, while built-in Wi-Fi3 capability allows for faster wireless image transfer.

For those looking for an even faster transfer solution, the D500 is also compatible with the new optional WT-7A Wireless Transmitter, enabling wired or wireless transmission of files to an FTP server or computer at faster speeds.

Advanced Video Features

Just like the D5, the D500 has the ability to capture striking 4K UHD video at up to 30p (3840×2160), as well as Full HD (1080p) video at a variety of frame rates. Ready for any production, the camera sports a host of pro video features derived from the D810, including uncompressed HDMI output and Picture Controls, but adds even more great features. These pro-level creative video features include the ability to create 4K time-lapse movies in-camera, Auto ISO smoothing to provide fluid transitions in exposure during recording, and the capability to record 4K UHD video to the card and output to HDMI simultaneously. When capturing 1080p Full HD content, the camera also has a new 3-axis electronic VR feature that can be activated regardless of the lens being used. Challenging video exposures are no problem for the D500, as it also adds in Active D-Lighting to Full HD video to balance exposure values within a scene to help prevent blown-out highlights

Price and Availability

The new Nikon D500 DSLR will be available in March 2016 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $1,999.95* for the body-only configuration. A kit will also be available, bundled with the versatile AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR lens, for the SRP of $3,069.95*. The MB-D17-battery pack will also be available in March 2016 for the SRP of $449.95* and will add extended battery life and facilitate vertical shooting. The WT-7A Wireless Transmitter will be available in March 2016, for the SRP of $934.95*. For more information on these new Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.