POTN Aussie Club #5: Our focus rings rotate the other way too.

So it's down to the R500 for $300 more vs. the Dell Studio. I had already blown my laptop budget since I only wanted to spend $1500.. The R500 does look awfully enticing.

Been playing with the light tent again. Any advice, colourwise, or anything would be great.

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blackshadow wrote in post #7524469
They both looked to go off well - well done to the organisers, performers and those who attended.

I could have photographed the Melbourne one but was glad I declined for a few reasons. If you look at how high the stages were getting decent shots from the pit would have been challenging to say the least (shots in the papers bear this out). The weather was also pretty nasty at times down here and to be honest there wasn't a single act on the bill I really wanted to see. I think I probably had more fun at Eddy Current Suppression Ring at The Espy last night than I would have spending 10 hours shooting at the 'G.

When I was watching it yesterday, I noticed how high the stage was and I don't think I saw one photographer (in the few times I saw one) without a 70-200mm attached to the body in their hands. I don't think many would have enjoyed shooting it, especially with the rain.

So - XP, Vista or Hackintosh?

I've got an old (relatively quadcore with 4x1GB RAM, 8800GTX card, etc. Having just had my XP install kill itself (and losing a couple of backup drives in the process, along with a few months data, photos, etc), I'm now trying to decide as to what to do.

How hard to setup a Hackintosh? I'm typing this on my newish (unibody) MBP, so that would keep me the same across machines, but OTOH, I'm not sure i could replace all my Windows software with stuff for the Mac.

Sigh.

AdamC wrote in post #7521143
Inspired by some of you guys shooting your dinner, I thought I'd have a go too. Never shot food before - I'd be happy to hear any tips you guys have, either on compositionally or technically.

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I would suggest to photograph the food before mastication....

coalcliff wrote in post #7525050
I would suggest to photograph the food before mastication....

ew

Today's tax and a lesson learn't. It's hard to pan a bike rider at 17mm Also ignore the sensor snot above his head.

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Nothing like a bit of retail therapy. I just ordered a Copper Hill sensor cleaning kit, lenspen, lens cloth, and a Rocket Blower. Hardly new-glass-retail-therapy, but it'll have to do.

miccullen wrote in post #7525043
How hard to setup a Hackintosh? I'm typing this on my newish (unibody) MBP, so that would keep me the same across machines, but OTOH, I'm not sure i could replace all my Windows software with stuff for the Mac.

Sigh.

Quite easy. Just do a bit of reading before buying and you should be sweet. Myself and Dave bought parts that we knew would play nicely together with osx to save any headaches. My machine cost me a touch over $500 (already had case, screen, keyboard etc) and is a decent amount more powerful than the base model iMac selling for what, $1800?

intel c2d 45nm 2.66ghz
asus p5k-e wifi motherboard
4gb ram
500gb sata hdd
radeon x1650 256mb graphics card

All of it was working out of the box straight after install except the graphics card, but there was a driver available for that. Even the wifi on the motherboard works natively.

Welby wrote in post #7525131
Today's tax and a lesson learn't. It's hard to pan a bike rider at 17mm Also ignore the sensor snot above his head.

Heh, try doing it at 10 and 11mm

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/in/set-72157603745333156

AdamC wrote in post #7525203
Nothing like a bit of retail therapy. I just ordered a Copper Hill sensor cleaning kit, lenspen, lens cloth, and a Rocket Blower. Hardly new-glass-retail-therapy, but it'll have to do.

I can atest to that. Just picked up a sunpak 383 in minty fresh condition off OCAU. Finally have two flashes that I own (not counting the 3 canon ETTL ones dad felt the need to buy...)

Collin85 wrote in post #7523792
The weird thing is.. my XPS (the one that just died) died after 1.5 years. Yet my Inspiron 6000, which is Dell's consumer grade mumbo jumbo is still going strong after 3 years. I've taken that everywhere.. overseas etc.

The main issue for me is cost. The X200 costs around $700 (just did the online configuration) more than a similarly spec'ed Studio I'm looking at, and for that I'd rather take the risk with the Studio. I'm fully aware of Lenovo's reliability though - I used to sell them. I'm trying to maximise specs here while minimising price. For that, I've never seen anyone beat Dell.

Collin85 wrote in post #7523869
Consumer Dells ftw then. I ordered a Studio, I'll see how that goes. It won't be travelling too much.. mainly two trips to China.

Studio build is sh1te, don't get one!!

The older consumer dells were far better built than the new ones!

Collin85 wrote in post #7524745
Okay, I went there and configured a similar spec'ed setup for the X200's. Turned out to be around $2700, including something like $700 off. With Dell, I'm paying nearly $1000 less at $1800. But this probably isn't fair, as the X200 is a portable 12". So I went and configured a R500 to similar specs, and that again turned out to be over $2700.

If Lenovo can offer me a 2.4GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, non-integrated graphics, 320GB 7200rpm laptop (with whatever screen size) for $1800, then we're in business.

Collin85 wrote in post #7524805
So it's down to the R500 for $300 more vs. the Dell Studio. I had already blown my laptop budget since I only wanted to spend $1500.. The R500 does look awfully enticing.

T-series is better IMO....

How about T400 for $2300
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9550 (2.66GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)
Windows XP Professional
14.1" WXGA+
TFT w/ LED BL ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 (2 DIMM)
9 cell Li-Ion Battery60
Big bit is 6MB l2 cache...
and better T series build etc

But it is more expensive...
Have you looked into latitude series from dell?
Also, you want it for uni as well, I would not go for 15" for that, too big and heavy to drag around everywhere every day (unless it is MBP, that thing is light and small for 15" which is why I have one)

miccullen wrote in post #7525043
So - XP, Vista or Hackintosh?

I've got an old (relatively quadcore with 4x1GB RAM, 8800GTX card, etc. Having just had my XP install kill itself (and losing a couple of backup drives in the process, along with a few months data, photos, etc), I'm now trying to decide as to what to do.

How hard to setup a Hackintosh? I'm typing this on my newish (unibody) MBP, so that would keep me the same across machines, but OTOH, I'm not sure i could replace all my Windows software with stuff for the Mac.

Sigh.

depends what motherboard?

Welby wrote in post #7525131
Today's tax and a lesson learn't. It's hard to pan a bike rider at 17mm Also ignore the sensor snot above his head.

Nice

BTW 14mm 2.8 on 5D2 is joy

Back from the city, parade wasn't too bad but Hyde Park was probably by far more interesting where everyone was going all out on Guiness beer lol. I can get myself a 5D2 for 3500AUD. Pity no moolah at the moment

For some reason I got an impression the Dell Studio was an improvement over it's predecessors? No?

fungry wrote in post #7525499
Back from the city, parade wasn't too bad but Hyde Park was probably by far more interesting where everyone was going all out on Guiness beer lol. I can get myself a 5D2 for 3500AUD. Pity no moolah at the moment

For some reason I got an impression the Dell Studio was an improvement over it's predecessors? No?

Any shots?

fungry wrote in post #7525499
Back from the city, parade wasn't too bad but Hyde Park was probably by far more interesting where everyone was going all out on Guiness beer lol. I can get myself a 5D2 for 3500AUD. Pity no moolah at the moment

For some reason I got an impression the Dell Studio was an improvement over it's predecessors? No?

Well, it looks nicer.....
Other than that I would say it is as well built

S7000 wrote in post #7525529
Any shots?

Yea, will look at how they are later tonight.

pendulum15 wrote in post #7525539
Well, it looks nicer.....
Other than that I would say it isn't as well built

Hmmm, yea aesthetically, they look fine. I can't speak of the quality though..

Welby wrote in post #7525131
Today's tax and a lesson learn't. It's hard to pan a bike rider at 17mm Also ignore the sensor snot above his head.

Pfft ya girl, atleast he wasn't showering you with dirt n rocks