+1. But we buy all our servers from the dell outlet. Generally a generation older and half the price.

They have a scratch and dent slim notebook for about 600 before taxes. I think I might swipe it. It's a good model, comes with the processor that's a tier down (i.e. what I thought I could afford), and has all the other baseline specs I wanted.

I guess it'll have lower power drain too.

If the scratches are too bad or whatever, I can send it back and order the other one.

Ugh these kinds of decisions paralyze me haha.

And yeah, I'd notice the new lens way more... but I'm splitting the cost of this so whatever the difference, take off 20% and then cut it in half. So my cost won't really be going up much.

That said, I might have to buy a computer for when I start grad school because schools want you to get something through them for integration and support, i.e. pre config laptops with everything to give to students. Might be the best option not to spend too much now...

------------
Just ordered it.

Scratch and dent of this one: http://www.dell.com/us/dfh/p/xps-15z/pd

Dun dun dun.

Droid RAZR MAXX now has Ice Cream Sandwich. It's awesome. The skin is sweet. Being available to disable built in apps is awesome.

The plot thickens: generous pro cycling photographer accepted my offer.

Naughty picture of this kit:
http://dmunsonphoto.exposuremanager....of1-5_full.jpg

This particular camera:
http://dmunsonphoto.exposuremanager....f1-11_full.jpg

...and weapon of mass destruction

Damn you! I want a new body -- D800 or better, and a 14-27 2.8. Then I'll have the ultimate Graham Watson wanna be kit!

My 80-200 is the best lens I have, but I've come to realize I need something fast and wide.

Lucky you WR.

Have a blast with that thing!

I ordered a 50mm prime lens over the weekend.

I really want a new body. Really really really. I'll keep my eye out for a good deal, but I think I'm going to make do with what I have right now unless something awesome comes along.

Lets see if I can free up some finances by selling a few things. I'd have no issues turning that into a camera. Otherwise, it might have to wait.

How fast? I have a 1.4 that took a tumble and needs to be repaired.

It's the canon 1.8
It's 110 bucks for the lens.

I ordered it on ebay, but then realized that the price on amazon was the same. Ugh. It's going to ship from abroad now. I could have had it in a week. Oops...

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8...rds=canon+50mm

Yeah, the urge is tough to fight. Gah!

Not to complicate your life, but depending on what you shoot, a used D3s might be better for sports. Much more rugged, and much faster.

That's why I chose the 1D Mk iii over the 7D: focus speed, frame rate, weather resistance, and ruggedness. One MTB shooter posted that he had two of them (long lens and short lens). One was laying on the ground while he shot from the other on his monopod. A racer flew off the course, photographer ran out of the way with one camera, but the rear wheel of the bike landed on the other camera laying on the ground. Damage: scratched the paint -- nothing else.

FWIW: my local camera shop sold me the 50 f1.8 for $100. They also had the best price available for my T2i when I bought it (although I don't believe I will ever ever ever again buy a new body or lens -- DSLR stuff is so durable).

Yeah. I don't want a new body. I looked around used stuff for the lens and didn't find anything that was much cheaper.

Do you have any forums/recs for finding used bodies?

Yeah, I should have qualified that: I won't buy any expensive lenses or bodies. There's not much to be saved from a used 50mm f/1.8 II. Wonderful little lens though.

The two best sources I know for used bodies and lenses:
-http://www.keh.com/ (Great reputation. Not the absolute lowest prices, but fair. Condition ratings are conservative -- nicer than described)
-Photography On The Net forums. Canon only (I'm sure there's a nikon equivalent). This is where I found the 1D3.

If you haven't read it yet, go to the library or book store and grab "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. Gold standard for getting started and really understanding all the settings and why you'd want them.

I don't really have any spare money to spend on anything other than cycling at the moment, and you guys are killing me with this photography stuff. I have wanted a DSLR for so long, and have never gotten one. :(

If I get a new body, my dad's getting my XSI. I'm pretty sure he'd part with his XS for cheap.

I'll let you know if you're interested.

Old xsi's / xs's can be had for not that much with the kit lens. Great starting point honestly. I just want a new toy. I haven't 'outgrown' this.

Well, the 1D MkIII got here and it's freaking awesome. I haven't had a chance to shoot it much other than just goofing around. I think I have it set up the way I want initially anyway. There are so many AF settings -- it's really awesome. I'll have to see if I want to do stuff like AF point expansion or drive speed priority (over AF) in different situations. Really cool to have all these settings.

Oh, and the speed is fo' reals. 10fps is just crazy.

Oh man WR, oh man!! You lucky dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man, I got that thing out int the back yard tonight for a few minutes. Only $1200? Holy crap:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...8#post14709468

Trying to get the dog moving so I could try out the focus tracking on the new camera. The quote on my daughter's select swim team shirt is appropriate for the forum. At any rate, this camera is incredible -- I can only imagine what the 1DX is like. It is SO much more capable than my T2i.

http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Othe...H3X7875-X3.jpg

http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Othe...H3X7870-X3.jpg

http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Othe...H3X7872-XL.jpg

Ok, I got a couple more swimming shots, but with the 1D this time. Holy Crap.

I was starting to see softness in my images on the T2i, and it was bugging me. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. Then I get the 1D, and everything is sharp (well, everything I want to be sharp is sharp).

Holy crap is right, what an amazing shot. Good job.

Thanks man. This camera body and I get along real nice.

I want that body goddammit.

:*(

The 50mm lens I bought is really awesome.

Glad I won't be taking sports pictures abroad.

I really really really want a better body. Maybe if I find a good deal, I'll swing for it but dropping 1200 bucks on a body right now doesn't make sense when that's going to be 2 months salary when I move abroad. Hahaha.

Yeah, it's too bad this stuff is so expensive.

pretty hard core.

In other news, I got the new laptop.

I tried to turn it on and it just sits there beeping at me and nothing happens.

They're sending a tech to help. I think that the ram, video card, or screen attachment is unseated.

This is making me very nervous. I don't know if I can trust something that has had this many issues before I even go abroad...

Holy crap.

----

I'm honestly really frustrated about this. Maybe the slim version (15z) isn't the best option and I should get the XPS 15-L502X instead...

This is getting obnoxious now.

Like the movies you watch.