Heiko's Blog

ChatGPT Revisited

In recent months, I’ve been using ChatGPT much more frequently, primarily for my academic studies. For those unfamiliar with the subject, ChatGPT is an AI engine – AI standing for Artificial Intelligence. It can also translate text and is significantly better than Google Translate when it comes to translating texts into English.

I’m currently using the free version of ChatGPT. As a registered user, I can access version 4.0 up to its maximum allowed usage. Once that limit is reached, ChatGPT reverts to the older version 3.5.

Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L Review

I’ve used the Peak Design Everyday Backpack V1 (the original) for a little over 5 years. I’ve seen the pros and cons of the backpack, and I’ve seen it fail. But before you draw conclusions, hear (read) me out.

Nikon Z8 Review

If you’ve read some of my camera reviews, you will have noticed that I take my time before I write a review. This time I’ve used the Nikon Z8 camera for 12 months before writing this review. I feel comfortable enough now to get good results, and also know what to expect from the camera and lenses.

Nikon Z8 with FTZ and AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6 @ 500mm, 1/2000s, f6.3, ISO 720: Black kite (Milvus migrans) flying near the fish ponds of Tirat Zvi

DSLR to Mirrorless – is it an Upgrade?

I have used Nikon DSLRs for two decades. About three years ago I first bought a Nikon Z6 II mirrorless camera, switched that for a Canon EOS R5, and later sold the Canon gear and got a Nikon Z7 II, all within about a year. Last summer I added the Nikon Z8 to my collection of mirrorless cameras. Was the switch from DSLR to mirrorless cameras an upgrade?

Nikon Z8 with Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S lens: Former Nova festival main dance floor with signs depicting victims of the Hamas massacre as well as the hostages held in Gaza

Mounting an LVM-based NTFS Partition on the Linux Host

I use LVM or “Logical Volume Manager” for all my storage needs. LVM provides a layer of abstraction between physical storage devices (such as hard drives or SSDs) and the file systems that are created on them. Among the file systems are also NTFS partitions that I created under Microsoft Windows 10. Here I share a little BASH script that mounts an LVM-based NTFS partition on the Linux host.

Nikon Z8 Bird Detection

Last Saturday I got a chance to quickly try out Nikon’s new firmware 2.0 release for the Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera. I was anticipating this firmware upgrade since the firmware upgrade to the Nikon Z9 flagship camera.

The following are my first impressions of the new bird detection feature in the Nikon Z8 and how it can help capture sharp, in-focus photos of birds. This review is by no means comprehensive and doesn’t even address BIF or “birds in flight”. Yet I believe it may be helpful in determining Nikon’s improvements in the focusing department.

Nikon Try This

I just watched Matt Granger’s “The Problem with Nikon Mirrorless…” YouTube video and thought to myself how simple it would be to solve the Nikon focus issues with birds/animals/people detect. The Nikon Z9, Z8, Z7 II and basically all Nikon mirrorless cameras have, under certain circumstances, difficulties in focusing on the subject.

Admittedly it’s much easier to criticize than to actually fix something. However, here I’m trying to come up with a solution.

Script to Dump xml Configuration Files

Most people today use the libvirt API and/or its front end Virtual Machine Manager (virt-manager) to configure and manage virtual machines. Both create xml configuration files. Unfortunately you can’t just copy them or edit them using your favorite editor.

Choosing a Camera System

Whether newcomer, enthusiast, or professional photographer, I bet you’ve run into the dilemma of choosing a camera and lenses, or switching your current system to another brand. It may even be more far reaching, such as choosing a different technology.