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Subject, lighting and the camera settings have a lot to do with focus accuracy. It can take time to learn how a particular system performs under different conditions. I don't use Nikon (I rented one once and could not stand the reverse lens mount) but I think it has 3 auto focusing modes to...

Wow, 22 mpg is excellent (hand calculated I hope, as the computer often reads high). Our 2500 CTD gets less than 20 unloaded and 13-15 with a ton of load. The good news is that the load levels the truck perfectly and the weight distribution is evenly split. Without a load the truck is a bucking...

Benefits of not polluting are just as valid in the country. Untreated diesel exhaust is a carcinogen and a contributor to greenhouse gases. To be sure the exhaust will affect more people in the city but even those in the country are at risk. Although more diesel competition in the light pickup...

We got one of the first ones and learned some things before trading it in on a 2500. It's an outstanding light truck: powerful, smooth, quiet, comfortable, drives well and is indeed economical for a pickup. We easily got 25 MPG unloaded, less when towing a travel trailer but still good (18+...

Bugs are one of the nasty parts of driving in the spring and summer. The bigger the truck the more bugs. Cleaning them off after a trip is a drag but the longer they sit the more baked on they become. Prevention through frequent waxing and pre-trip sprays sounds good but I rarely have the energy...

Typical bug collection after spring trip.

When I backpacked a lot in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, especially from the east side trailheads that are over 10k feet (a few are over 13k feet), altitude sickness was a frequent problem. It was sometimes accompanied by migraines and throwing up. It went away after a day or so. I hiked...

Interesting article on why some people are compelled to wander more than others: http://news.bitofnews.com/the-wanderlust-gene-why-some-people-are-born-to-travel-all-over-the-world/. Quote: "...there are dozens of studies that correlated DRD4 gene with increased desire to explore new places...

I had Sprint years ago and currently have a Sprint-enabled phone. Sprint definitely lacks in coverage compared to the big two. The saving grace is that the phone is compatible with Verizon's system so roaming works. However, data limits on roaming are low with no option to buy more so I have to...

As for internet access when traveling, that really gets my blood boiling. It is frustrating, inconvenient and potentially dangerous to lose contact. But corporate greed has dictated that communications need to be complicated, redundant, expensive and frequently updated. The industry is a...

I have tried to but none of the 3 phones in the household have the chip turned on. That is evidently up to the manufacturer or service provider, and few U.S. providers activate it unless we pay for it. There's a movement afoot to require the chip to be activated. Read more at...

The Power Wagon is a nice full-size truck for rough travel. I seriously considered it but Ram forbids installing a camper because of the high COG, soft suspension and limited payload (see Ram Camper Guide). One camper manufacturer I talked to would not even consider it. I could have installed a...

Funny! There's at least one woman in the snow. Only a matter of time before drones enter the battlefield. :P

Depends on the camera and your computer system, but as noted the manufacturer's software will do the basics. If you use a Mac, Apple's OS X has built-in raw conversion and the included Photos app provides moderate editing capabilities. ACDSee Mac Pro is a relatively cheap (currently $30) and...

Many good points made. The challenge for me is as much organizing backups as it is making them. I use database software to keep track of storage devices and their contents, but the increasing volume of image and video files is intimidating. Not to mention that there are often multiple versions...

I'm no expert at caving or cave photography but I try when I have the opportunity. Caves are distinctive and there are many photographic approaches including depth, dramatic backlighting, people or water in motion, geometric shapes, etc. In general I do best with a wide-angle lens, tripod...

I'll get this started by saying that I shoot almost anything from landscapes, events, action, macro, portraits, street scenes, abstracts, to night skies. Most of it is outdoors without flash, tripod or filter, although I will use those tools if necessary. Most of my photography is done during...

I'd wager the large majority of photographers here use Adobe products for their post. Not me. I abandoned Adobe a decade ago because they treated me badly and I didn't like the direction they were going. Around that time some good alternatives popped up which I have been using ever since. One of...

I have a GoPro, too. Fun little device. It takes pretty good stills as well as video and is, of course, great for crazy locations such as your truck bumper, deck of a kayak or under a drone. The 3 problems I have had are the tiny screen, short battery life, and the run-and-gun nature of the...

Reminds me of this Volvo XC70 concept from 2005. I heard that they showed the car awhile and then destroyed it much to the distress of many who wanted it.

I chuckled after reading this comment on a bicycle touring blog by someone named Cranky: "Too much technology for too little return. Boil water, turn off stove, pour in coffee, throw in egg shells if you have’m from breakfast, sit for 4 minutes, sprinkle with cold water, pour into cup thru old...

There is always much discussion about diesel payback. That generally occurs between 3 to 5 years according to studies. What is often overlooked is that the diesel will last longer under heavy loads and resale value will be higher. Oil changes may be more expensive but are also less frequent, so...

Another data point is good. Not much detail on specific models yet, although it is a developing project. I find the narrative articles more interesting than the charts. Another alternative to Consumer Reports I have used is TrueDelta.com.

Taking off the camper jacks will save another 100+ lbs. A full fuel tank should be included in the curb weight so that doesn't count against the payload. But for any kind of extended trip it's a challenge to keep payload under a 1000 lbs. If your weight label says you have a 1974 lb payload...

I would look very closely at what they were selling and take a test drive to see for myself. "Never paid any attention to the GVWR" begs the question as to what else they ignored. GVWR is not standardized and is only one of several key factors to consider in a truck camper. People have been...