Hi Ron,
Yes, I have used the MLU feature on both the FM2 and the F4. In days gone past I did actually try some shots with MLU used and not used, and definitely did see a benefit with a loupe. I am sorry, but if I could remember where I had stored this shots, I would share them! However, I have read of many who feel that the mirror d&ing in the F100 is absolutely fine, and on certain tripod rigs any significant vibration is largely eliminated. I guess I am not that much of a purist, or I would definitely go and get an F6 (would need to sell the car first) For my more recent efforts, I have been more than content to use the F100. While I guess it is in the "wish list", AA batteries and an aperture ring on the lens would be my priorities.
I used MLU mainly for landscape shots with a tele zoom (in the past), as I tend to keep my eye on the wildlife while shooting - I prefer this to blazing away with the motor drive, and hoping I will get the right shot. This may not be the best way to ensure the capture of a great shot, but I generally have been conservative in film terms (for individual shots, if not overall while away). I realise there is just as strong a case for using MLU on animal shots, but since I have really only had the opportunity for any tele animal shots since I bought my 80-400 VR lens, I have chosen my F100 to use the VR function.
Your N8008 is, I believe, the equivalent of my fantastic F-801. As I mentioned a while ago, I sold this to a good friend, and he passed it on to his brother, who is serving with the British Army in Iraq. It has been all over the world several times, and the outside looks bruised and battered, but it STILL functions well. As many have stated, it is the person and not the camera that takes the photos, but the ruggedness of even this so-called "consumer" Nikon is simply incredible. Certainly a good choice.
Although I have used a solar charger with the AA batteries for the F100, this is a particular kit for such batteries with an incorporated solar panel. I will admit to not being too able on the electronics front, but am interested to learn that you can make a set-up to charge the D70 batteries with solar power. I take it you connected your panels to the D70 battery charger directly. A few have posted here that the D70 batteries last for any number of photos I could possibly shoot, and so I guess this may not be such a big feature after all. However, it is hard to break the habit, and I can't see why Pentax and Fuji can happily power their cameras with AAs and Nikon's digital range require special batteries and chargers.
You obviously have experience using your D70 for wildlife, and I expect from what you have posted that you found this more than adequate. It would be interesting to think that, even if it's better to learn about the ins and outs of digital before heading away, the 80-400 lens could stay on the D70, and so remove the dust-on-the-sensor problem mentioned earlier, while maybe the 20 could stay on the Fm2 - and I leave the F100 and its kit behind to save on weight and bulk. I could still take film shots with the FM2 (I would have to rely on my eyes, instead of an AF-sensor to get things right!) if the digital system was proving too steep a learning curve.
I gather that the D70 and the CP8800 can simultaneously shoot NEF and JPEG files - is that right? If so, I imagine I could take a few shots while practising, and yet still have the image information stored as a RAW file to allow better post-shooting digital image manipulation - from my reading of the situation, anyway. However, I guess I agree with Larry that this is not the ideal time to be experimenting...
Regards,
Ian
