Rangefinder Magazine
June 2005

Click Here for printable version of this article.

Problems and Solutions

Please accompany your questions with a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish an immediate reply. Alternatively, you can email me at: bhurter@ rfpublishing.com.

From: DonnaJo Landes, donnajo.landes@sanofi-aventis.com
I have a Tiltall tripod that I bought during my college days (we won’t talk about how old the tripod is). At one point, I had broken one of the stabilizing knobs. Now, years later, I wanted to start using it again but had no idea where to get the part. Through Google, I found an article you had written for Rangefinder in 2000. There was a message from Konny Lang about the fact that his company, Atlantic Camera Repair, stocked parts for this tripod. I have since spoken with Konny and gotten the part for my now fully operational tripod. Konny was so pleasant to deal with. In this part of the world, where everyone seems to be in such a hurry, he took the time to help me figure out what I needed and made arrangements for me to get the part within a week. The real person to person friendly service will have me going there whenever I need any kind of camera repair. Thanks for the article.

From: Ellen M. Bartlett, bartlettpear@comcast.net
I want you to know I look forward to every issue of Rangefinder. It is really the only magazine I read cover to cover. I actually have to fight with my daughter over who will read it first.

From: Glenn Paridimonriva, fotoguy68@comcast.net
A few months ago a reader was having a problem firing flashes from his digital camera. I, too, had a problem when I first bought my Canon EOS 10D. It woudn’t let me use either my Vivitar 283 or my Lumedyne system. I ended up buying a Wein Safe Sync Adapter, which goes on the hot-shoe and accepts a PC or hot-shoe attachment. The Wein product is essentially a surge protector for the camera. I have been using it successfully for about a year. It works well, only cost about $50, and I didn’t have to buy any new flash units. I just wanted to pass this along since your column, and your readers, have been so helpful to me in the past.

Thanks for passing this along. FYI, the Wein Safe Sync Adapter can be purchased at Tallyn’s, online or by phone: www.tallyns.com or (800) 433-8685 for $49.95, plus shipping and handling.

From: Robert (Bob) Davis, artistry@skyride.net
Once again I must prevail upon you for your assistance. I have searched the web till I’m bleary-eyed trying to find a Photoshop plug-in for retouching portraits. I’m currently using Photoshop CS and as soon as it’s released, Photoshop CS2. As a Portraitist I need all the help I can to give that wonderful air-brushed look we used to get with film. If you know of a company producing/selling this, please let me know. Thank you for one of the greatest magazines there is for us photographers.

Thanks for the kind words. There are, by conservative count, around 20,000 plug-ins available for Photoshop. From your letter, I’m not specifically sure what effect you want to achieve. The best sources I know of on plug-ins are our own contributing writers, Jack and Sue Drafahl, who have authored a book for Amherst Media, entitled Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop. If you email them, I’m sure they can point you in the right direction: digitalduo@jackandsue drafahl.com/.