Re: Photography Thread
 

I tend to find Adorama cheaper. The Macbook I am looking at is about $400 cheaper there. Shipping is a bit higher though so it would be wise to factor that in. However, you can get better shipping prices if you buy through their ebay shop.

Re: Photography Thread
 

Justin, are those HDR? The colors look very saturated. I like em.
.

Re: Photography Thread
 

I found a shot I did with blur, lol.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a...nawaytrain.jpg


I wish I had used my time more wisely last night and
posted some pics from New Orleans I shot with my
$75 camera, but I had a delivery of computer parts and
had to assemble them. In the end I had the wrong power
supply, so the time I spent was wasted for the most part.
But I have not safari'ed out there to shoot in a long time.
I need to work out some cameras and see what comes of it.

Re: Photography Thread
 

Could also be Photoshop...Although the woodsy one looks a little HDR boosted, too.

Re: Photography Thread
 

You and me are looking for and at different things then. EVERYTHING I have ever looked to buy for
work or for me has been a virtual tie with the lowest legit price I have been able to find. Now I can find
very respectable-seeming sites offering grey market items that BEAT the hell out of B&H, but apples to apples,
I come down on the B&H side. Lemme show you,

http://www.adorama.com/BOTH770.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ce_Tripod.html


http://www.adorama.com/SOHVRHD1000U.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...efinition.html

It goes on like that product after product. And keep in mind, I only stay with B&H because of our track
record and their performance. I always believe if it doesn't hurt you, stay with one vendor for as much
as you can, because you are buying clout. If I bounced all over, I would be a big buyer of optical elect-
ronics, but not enough to where any one vendor could look at my records and say, 'damn, I need to get
cracking and fix this guy's issue fast." I buy a lot of pro-sumer video and audio equipment, and a lot of
personal cameras and tripods and memory cards and all sorts of photography and video-related stuff.
Almost every item I shop, they have the lowest legit price. I can get that Sony Camera for $1100-$1200
dollars if I don't mind getting a Chinese copy or one that fell off of a truck somewhere.

If you see a price a lot lower than B&H, step back and thoroughly evaluate your deal. And of
course, I only defend that statement as far as it might serve YOU. My mind is made up but by
far, I don't know all of the best websites for gear. I just can relate what has worked for me
over time. MANY SITES have the SAME price, I just prefer to accept the B&H price, all things
being equal.

Re: Photography Thread
 

Looks like those are the same prices. If B&H works for you, fantastic. I was just inputting my experience at Adorama (it seemed like you were seeking input). I have bought from both places. I do agree there is a lot of benefit buying from one vendor, if possible. I just do not buy enough to have that kind of clout.

Re: Photography Thread
 

I replied pretty clumsily, I feel the same way, whatever works for you. On any given day we will all find
an item that is unique to us that bonds us forever to a vendor because of that sweet deal. Its also force
of habit.

As far as me shopping Adorama, it is more out of curiousity that made me say I would check it out, not need.
If I buy one more camera, I am turning myself in to a real asylum. I am supposed to be saving for a house,
but instead I keep coming up with half-baked excuses to spend money on cameras and video gear.

On an un-related but creepy note, I just found out I am finally gonna be forced to earn my money.
The boss is angling to get a big bed bug job, and its the perfect house to shoot the video he has been
wanting to shoot for YEARS. The Fu(kr just handed me a tyvek suit and a full faced respirator. Now for
most of the people who work here, ehh, its part of their job. I AM USED TO sitting in my office and
throwing together an occasional flyer or brochure, 30 sec commercial or something innocuous like that.
Shizle just got serus. :gary :tf :sl

Re: Photography Thread
 

Bed bugs are gross.

Re: Photography Thread
 

I didn't do the editing on those. One of the COs I work with did. I just who the image. He has a photog business on the side. He said he used Lightroom, and he used the HDR preset, reduced the noise, then tweaked color to his satisfaction.

Re: Photography Thread
 

Oh it's on like donkey kong!



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8230/8...288eeedf_c.jpg
Untitled by emopunker2004, on Flickr

Re: Photography Thread
 

To me B&H and Adorama are a tie. I've hade great experience with both places and only hear great things about them.

Re: Photography Thread
 

OK, just to make everyone feel better, I bought a Used DSLR today, about what you would expect for someone
like me, a Nikon D70. Funny thing is, this morning, there were THREE used D70s to be had, and sometime between
leaving work at 4pm and getting home and opening up a browser at 6, somebody snatched the Grade "9"
one I had in my cart. The reason I did not buy it at work was that I figured, with all these newer and better
items for sale worldwide, who is gonna buy an ancient D70? Then by the time I got the "8+" into my cart and
paid for this evening, ALL of the D70s were gone from B&H. I thought I would have many days to make up my mind.
Quite simply I didn't need to spend any more money on cameras to tell the truth. I bailed out of checkout
at lunchtime, and then again at 4pm. I thought I could do this for a week or more, sell some cigars, maybe
sell a Point & Shoot, and then leisurely stroll over to B&H and get it next month. I KNOW this camera was great
in the early 2000s, and I know that there is a perfectly good reason to still want a 6 MP camera li9ke it in 2013,
but there is no way I thought that 3 would sell in a little under 3 hours today. I actually thought that maybe
Robulous had bought the "9" out from under me, lol. I was not so excited about getting a 1/2 grade lower model.

In the end, all I really want it for is your basic 18-55 stuff, I am not planning on shooting tele and long-reach shots
with it. I have capable P&S cameras for that and they do well enough. I am not really interested in changing lenses
and getting all caught up in what P&S makers tend to call a trap (and they can be right). For all intents, this will
end up being a large sensor, fixed lens, portraiture and landscape camera. One I will be proud to have in my bag.
Now I have to get rid of one P&S to make room.

Re: Photography Thread
 

:r damn brad, a knockdown dragged out fight over some d70s huh? Crazy

Re: Photography Thread
 

Snagged a shot of "Peanut" taking a lil nap.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8...cdcc905d_c.jpg
IMG_0057 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

Re: Photography Thread
 

I still can't believe it...that's how I KNOW the government is watching me.

As a camera though, it is a pretty entry-level item, but I would be lying if I said I didn't KNOW why
people still want them. It remains a very solid camera even after all that has happened since it
came out. Luckily with these types of cameras, bells and whistles aren't always necessary for taking
great photos. A bigger sensor alone makes it a better alternative to my "collection" of large lens P&Ss.
Is it a Flintstones DSLR?.....I think so, yeah. That woodpecker is gonna get a workout. :D

Re: Photography Thread
 

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps652d2c27.jpg

I guess in the end it has to be the Canon. It doesn't have the reach that the other P&Ss in the bag
have. The only reason I keep it is for the Flickr group for it....A LOT of people learned how to take
good photos and how to work aperture and shutter speed and other essentials on this camera, and
the group is SO SAD these days with everyone bailing to DSLRs. There are some hold-outs (including
me) and it is A REALLY GREAT LITTLE CAMERA.

The HS20EXR NEARLY obsoletes the S200EXR, but I am convinced the older camera has the better,
if shorter-reach, lens. But to keep a long reach lens in the bag, I need to carry the HS20. I think the
S200 only goes 14x. If it was even 18x, I would have sold the HS20EXR the day the camera repair shop
fobbed it off on me in exchange for the pile of parts that was my old S200EXR. If anyone is confused,
I quickly went out and bought a replacement S200EXR....might have been a bad idea, but I LOVE that
camera. What I obviously should have done was realized that THAT was the time to grab the used DSLR.
Then I would not have 4 cameras and 3 spots in the bag.

Sigh, I guess the Canon stays home.

Re: Photography Thread
 

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7041cbe2.jpg

I guess in the end it has to be the Canon. It doesn't have the reach that the other P&Ss in the bag
have. The only reason I keep it is for the Flickr group for it....A LOT of people learned how to take
good photos and how to work aperture and shutter speed and other essentials on this camera, and
the group is SO SAD these days with everyone bailing to DSLRs. There are some hold-outs (including
me) and it is A REALLY GREAT LITTLE CAMERA. I shoot with it for the group, and because even though
it is technically obsolete with VGA video, it's 8MP sensor is sensible and effective and the damn camera
just keeps on GOING! You HAVE to pull for a Rudy like that.

The HS20EXR NEARLY obsoletes the S200EXR, but I am convinced the older camera has the better,
if shorter-reach, lens. But to keep a long reach lens in the bag, I need to carry the HS20. As I told you
all before, I am willing to own a DSLR, but I am not willing to own a lot of lenses. I draw my mania line
right there. As great a camera as the S200EXR is, I think it only goes 14x. If it was even 18x, I would
have sold the HS20EXR the day the camera repair shop fobbed it off on me in exchange for the pile of parts
that was my old S200EXR. If anyone is confused, I quickly went out and bought a replacement S200EXR....
Might have been a bad idea, but I LOVE that camera. What I obviously should have done was realized that
THAT was the time to grab the used DSLR...not invest in MORE P&Ss.
Then I would not have 4 cameras and 3 spots in the bag.


Sigh, I guess the Canon stays home.[/quote]

Re: Photography Thread
 

Girlfriend is an increasingly serious (and I'm told, talented) photographer working with a Canon T3i. Has 4 or 5 lenses, a couple of them pretty good (read expensive $700-1300 each.)

She will probably want to step up to full-frame in next year or so. I've been able to find nothing regarding use of current lenses (EF-S types.) At least nothing that I am even close to understanding. Maybe there isn't a simple yes/no answer....but, if one upgrades from crop-sensor to full-frame, are old lenses serviceable? Obsolete? Partially usable? Craigslist fodder?

Greatly appreciate an insight...in 3rd grader English, if possible.

Re: Photography Thread
 

I THINK, from what little I know, that there is no reason to think they may be fodder.
Certain lenses may be fodder, but I think a lens with the proper mount system, would
only affect your framing and what the camera spit out relative to what the photographer
THINKS she took a photo of. That and of course, functionality of automated processes
that might vary camera family to camera family.

But MAN, am I ever the wrong person to ask. I just emailed B&H about something,
which I think you could also do....or Adorama. Someone there could help, in the
interest of selling her a full-frame soon. And of course, someone HERE will know better.
I am just the one here NOW, lol.

Based on what I see in the Lens section of Canon at B&H, it WILL indeed be a crap shoot.
Some winners and some losers. Some lenses say 'fits all digital cameras' and some say
'for film and digital SLR cameras' and some say 'for select digital cameras'.

Re: Photography Thread
 

Well to me the new entry models may have upgrade software and sensors but the advantage the d70 has over those is that is has the screw drive AF motor in the body so It can use all AF lenses

Re: Photography Thread
 

That and it was cheap, lol. $139 with a $109 lens. :D
About what I paid for my replacement freaking S200EXR P&S. :(

Re: Photography Thread
 

What lens? 18-55?

Re: Photography Thread
 

Correct. Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR DX LENS Refurb.

I thought about getting the tele, but in the end, if the
camera is going to be a 'fixed lens' camera, I want the
good wide end. I don't HAVE to never change lenses,
its just that I have an addictive personality, (along with
Type A, lol) and I can't get caught up in buying a bunch
of lenses. That's mostly why I bought advanced P&Ss
with manual controls. I wanted to have it all without
opening myself up to the quicksand of chasing better
and better lenses. That and sensor dust.

Re: Photography Thread
 

Went to the Zoo yesterday. The sun was brutal so it was had to get some good pictures. Here are a few I took there.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8...89edd9e5_b.jpg
IMG_0284 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8521/8...aaf083e5_b.jpg
IMG_0235 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8...49b096d6_b.jpg
IMG_0209 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8...93f59465_b.jpg
IMG_0206 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8...e5e620e7_b.jpg
IMG_0159 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

Re: Photography Thread
 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8...82ea2bed_b.jpg
IMG_0119 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8...41ce1187_b.jpg
IMG_0110 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8...d8bc0c1a_b.jpg
IMG_0095 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

Re: Photography Thread
 

The lion saved the day....I was gonna rag you on your hoidy toidy DSLR and how it can't hang, :D but after
25 years of shooting video for my supper, I know where you are coming from. They don't have a term like
"the golden hour" for nothing. NOW, you shoulda brought along your Neutral Density Filter, lol. But what
would that REALLY change? Get you a circular polarizer, too, THAT coulda helped.

I'd be happy just being able to GO TO THE ZOO on a weekday.

Photoshop that wire out. :r

After checkingt your photostream, I actually like all the lion shots...granted, looking right at the cam has to
make the chicken dinner, but the other ones also have some kind of appeal to me, just the WAY she's not looking
at you in those is also good.

Re: Photography Thread
 

:P
:r
I have to wait to get my tax return before I touch any of these is post process. Shouldn't be too long. Couple weeks. Alot of the pix I took were near noon and it sucked cuz everything but the subject would be blown out, or I could have the surroundings be good but the subject dark. Next time I go when they open...we have an annual membership after all.

Re: Photography Thread
 

You don't have to explain it to me, when camera owner goes to zoo, he takes pictures.
It doesn't matter what the sun is doing. Conditions are conditions. I am only glad you shared.
Animals are about my favorite subject matter. My other favorite kind of photography is
when a girl shoots a photo of herself naked in a mirror and posts it on the web.

I don't know about art, but I know what I like. :D

Re: Photography Thread
 

Keep Calm and Chive On

Re: Photography Thread
 

Nice pics Justin! That baboon (Or whatever it is) is hilarious.

Re: Photography Thread
 

That's one of those monkeys that sleeps on a cliff face at night I think.
I need to figure out what kind of monkey that is. AHHH, its a FEMALE
Howler Monkey, that's why I didn't get it right off. Howlers are usually
Black, so it threw me, now aware the female was brown....like a gibbon,
they are two different colors. Monkeys are fascinating.

Now which one sleeps on the cliff?? Hmm, gotta look for more monkeys.

Re: Photography Thread
 

:r the tangents my pictures cause you to go off on are amusing Brad... :r

Re: Photography Thread
 

Some of the Cat.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8...c1eaed0b_c.jpg
IMG_0020 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8...db65ed38_c.jpg
IMG_0027 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8...cdcc905d_c.jpg
IMG_0057 by emopunker2004, on Flickr

Re: Photography Thread
 

The Ef-s lenses will not work on full frame. She should sell the Ef-s to fund Ef mount lenses when the change happens. Sigma has started making some really well regarded lenses if she doesn't want to pay the canon premium.

Re: Photography Thread
 

This is why I hate you people with your fancy DSLRs. I bought one new camera in my life.
It was a little Canon SD200. To call it old insults old people. But it takes pics. Once I began
buying a lot of gear for my work at B&H, I started perusing the Used section there in case
I could save the boss some money. In the end i couldn't buy used gear for HIM, I couldn't take
the abuse should it come up short. But once I got used to checking out the used gear, I thought,
"Hmm, I wonder what kind of Point and Shoots i could get used. I had priced DSLRs, I never even
looked at the used ones, they were probably too expensive even used. And I often found STEALS
there in the point and shoot section, like the day I got THIS camera for $189.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a...PixS200EXR.jpg

I knew that DSLRs were expensive, but I thought as long as I continue to only buy real steals, I can come
pretty close to the quality of shots that these 'snobs' get. The ones that are always on about how the
sensor and the lenses and the blablabla are so great. it became a badge of honor that on a good day,
I could take a picture I found just as good as the 'snobs'. Now keep in mind, the snobs were RIGHT about
the abilities of their cameras, but to me a great photo is never about the gear, anyone can BUY a great
camera and shoot crap, and a person who sees great pics can take one with a LOMO camera or a Holga.
So I never out and out called anyone a snob, but it made me ever more determined to get great Point and
Shoots so that I could shoot good photos and 'show those snobs' and feel good about my sour grapes.

I STILL BELIEVE the basics of that. It's not the gear, its the photographer. But great gear shure helps.
So flash forward to me perusing the used gear as I always do when I get bored. I had priced DSLRs many times
and knew that I was better off just sticking with the good P&S cameras, I wasn't gonna sink a mint into a camera
just to make a pretty picture. But one day out of curiousity, I looked at used dslr bodies and saw a OLD Nikon D70
for $139. I thought $HIT, I could afford that. Sure its OLD, but it has a large sensor and I am basically a photographer.
I don't even have to get a great lens. I could get this zoom here for 69 bucks and be out the door for $200!!
WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING TO MYSELF??? DAMMIT.

So I picked it up, cranked a lens onto it and went and sat out in the BY and watched the birdies.
NOW, this shot is NOT a Nikon D70 shot, I shot it with a full frame D700 that I fell into as a result of my
newfound love of used gear. I can't go into it, but it was cheaper than I could ever expect to get it.
And the camera felt like I am sure a rabbit vibrator feels to a woman. I couldn't SHOOT the thing hard enough to
piss it off, and I felt a sexual charge as the shutter fired away effortlessly, and the camera wrote to the card
so blazingly fast. I was not in Continuous drive, but it fired like an AK in semi with a fast finger. I GET IT now.
granted I ain't spending $2000 to get that feeling, I am going to wallow in the shallow end forever. For me it
is not about the age or specs of the camera, provided I can meet a standard that I am comfortable with, which
in the case of the D70 is a sensor a bit larger than a postage stamp. I don't NEED the speed of the D700, but
damn that felt GOOOOD. ANYWAY, the reason I insulted all of you DSLR owners was to post this pic I took today.
The finch couldn't be bothered to FLY to the feeder, it hopped off the branch and onto the feeder. And I love the
way I was able to not just freeze him in mid-hop, but to see his EYE looking at me through that suet cage was something
i got a charge out of.

This was not a drive shot, just a few fast singles that got me more and more charged up the more I fired the shutter.
I always curse and mutter at those arabs that fire all the bullets we send to them off into the air whenever a cameraman
is around, to show their enthusiasm and readiness to face the enemy. But I'll be damned if I didn't want to just keep
firing the shutter on that D700. My apologies to the snobs. I don't mean that term to be TOO derogatory. I just
hated that you were basically right and I was basically damned to eternal noise and poor dynamic range with my bag
of point and shoots. i still intend to keep the one above and my Canon S5 IS. But making room for my cheap little DSLR
is going to be a pleasure. I hope you can accept my apologies, even though they aren't very convincing, lol. ONE DAY
I will be free to tell the story of the D700. From my cold, dead hand, as they say, lol.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2c7a9d94.jpg

Re: Photography Thread
 

I guess the Finch is actually ABOUT to pop out his wings and fly the 10-14 inches to the cage feeder.
But here it looked like he was just going to hop over. But man does that camera lock up a focus fast.

Re: Photography Thread
 

So wait, D70 or D700?

Re: Photography Thread
 

Thanks, SG. I had been told that was the case, but didn't want to completely believe it. For Christmas, I bought her a used Canon EF-S 10-22 from a guy on Craigslist. Rather scary transaction for someone who knows absolutely nothing about cameras or lenses. But I did a little resarch and the guy made me comfortable, so I pulled the trigger. (He's the one who said that the only reason he was selling the lens was because he'd upgraded to full-frame. I thought this a little strange and couldn't validate on the interwebs.) Somehow I rationalized that the $200+ savings was worth the risk. Turns out it was and she's extremely happy with it, having placed in a couple competitions with it already.

OLS, I hear what you're saying....however, the message is twisted in my head since I can't see the pics, when reading this on work computer... :) Guess it comes down to shoot with what you like....like what you shoot with :D

Re: Photography Thread
 

I can only tell you that story once you are sworn to silence forevermore.
Well, no that is only half right. I HAVE a D70. And that's all you get for
free.

Re: Photography Thread
 

One never has to see MY pics, its all BS and drivel with me. You are right,
people always feel best about their work when they just do what they think
is best. My bias against the price of DSLRs almost 'cost me everything' lol.
I never dreamed I could find a body of a one-time world beater that still was a
capable camera and pay less for it than I would a lower-tier Point and shoot.
I still like the convenience of never changing lenses, but to discount the DSLR
completely was a mistake. And I mean FOR ME. I do not discount nice cameras.

Re: Photography Thread
 

Hey pros and semis, I am looking at a normal lens for a Nikon FX camera, and if I stick with 1.8 high end aperture,
I don't saddle myself with an extra couple hundred bucks it would take to bring down the big game, the 1.4 50 mm.
Is that extra room OVERKILL, or is it really the difference between shooting in any light and most light?

Re: Photography Thread
 

Went with the 1.8. If it was film I think it would matter more to me. But with a good DSLR,
if I was ever in a jam that I had to have the extra .4 aperture, I have ISO settings I can fall
back on. If I had crazy money, I am sure I would have gone for the F/1.4. That's what I get
for asking a question during the work day. Well, that and I am an a55hole no one wants to
talk to, haha.

Re: Photography Thread
 

50mm f/1.8 is a great lens for cheap

Re: Photography Thread
 

It almost wasn't the 'cheap', it was the 'WHY pay' that had me hung. If someone could have
come up with a compelling reason to spring, I might have laid down the extra duckies.
I guess I wanted to know if .4 was world-saving faster or just faster. I did in fact pick up
the cheap little 1.8 which was not cheap per se, but cheap enough, and even cheaper used.

I almost wanted to pick up a 1.8 for the D70....but for now I think I will rest and evaluate.
3.5 is gonna have to be fast enough for that camera's normal lens.

Re: Photography Thread
 

Well I ordered a desktop that should run lightroom a PS CS6 just fine and dandy. Should be here this week.

Here's some specs:
Intel Core i5-3450 3.10GHz processor (6MB Cache)
8GB of DDR3 memory
1.5TB HDD

Re: Photography Thread
 

Having a fast computer is a treat. For going on 30 years now I have had computers,
and one thing that was always true of my rigs, they were NOT the latest and greatest.
Staying one or two generations behind always served me well, financially. If I splurged
it was on a video card, cause I loved gaming. Now that I do a lot of 3D animation and
video editing, I don't have the luxury of a slow box, but I am still behind. I now have a
basic computer for photo work and web and DVD creation and poarn, and one smoking
fast and clean unit for Video editing. Now I just need to get out and take some photos.
Bill86 and I might get together in Nashville to smoke a little this weekend, and I guess
I will get some pics there.

Re: Photography Thread
 

I just recieved my new 'puter. I've been using one that is probable aleast 12-14 years old (a 2.4 GHz w/ 2 gig of RAM).

My new screamer:

3rd Gen Intel Core i7-3770 processor 3.40 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.90 GHz
1 319-0938 24GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz 3 DIMMS
1 320-9396 AMD Radeon HD 7570 1GB GDDR5 for Win 8

Re: Photography Thread
 

Hey Steve :fu :fu

Re: Photography Thread
 

Howdy... :banger

Re: Photography Thread
 

Talk about thread jacking....nice to know I started it, lol. I talked with a guy at work who shoots a lot of
weird events, dog shows and stuff, and I told him I was ready to help split the labor on some of em for
half the take. I will probably settle for 40% though. I have a lot of 'photographic' experience, but none
for money, and not MUCH with stills. But it will be nice to squeeze a foot into an already crazy competitive
market right now. He is scared to do weddings and I don't blame him. Miss ONE little cake shot and they start
in chiseling you on your money. I can hang, though. I need to get a lil faster on the shitter, dammit, SHUTTER.