106th Obsequious Banter Thread: Halloween Edition of Two Ghosts

[Kermit the Prog]

@Kermit the Prog Apologies for jumping in, but you've posted some of your work and it was obvious you know what you're doing.

I'm actually shopping for a camera for my wife for Christmas. I don't know specifics other than she wants to do some nighttime sky photography among other interests. Would you consider a used Mirrorless from a reputable place like B&H or Adorama to be a reasonable purchase or should I suck it up and buy new? Let's say the budget is $2500ish for the body.

If the answer involves going to a store, I don't mind a trip up to B&H or whatever else makes sense.

No problem, Jojo. My advice is to buy used from B&H or Adorama. They are extremely knowledgeable, provide great support, and are known as vanguards in the game. They also offer online courses and warrantees. I would advise against going straight in at the top for, say, a Canon 5D Mark IV, 1Dx II or III, Nikon 750, or Sony a1. Let her cut her teeth on a lower model first and if/when she hits her stride, then upgrade. The key is not so much the camera body itself as much as it is the lens. Invest in good lenses first before upgrading the body.

For @GKJ , too -

Here is something I would heavily advise. I have a guy in Willow Grove who has fixed my lenses and cameras. Not only is he a certified camera and lens repair person, his prices are very reasonable and his turnaround is quick. I drive up from Delaware to drop off gear on Monday and back up on Friday to pick up the repaired unit. His name is Matt and his shop is called Authorized Camera Repair. 339 York Road in Willow Grove (215-659-2905). He's also an extremely chill guy. He really is the only guy in the Philadelphia area who offers this kind of quick and reasonably-priced service.

EDIT: For $2,500, you can get a VERY good used camera body. However, the lenses should be your primary focus (no pun intended), so the budget should encompass both the body and the lenses - and don't skimp on the lenses.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

No problem, Jojo. My advice is to buy used from B&H or Adorama. They are extremely knowledgeable, provide great support, and are known as vanguards in the game. They also offer online courses and warrantees. I would advise against going straight in at the top for, say, a Canon 5D Mark IV, 1Dx II or III, Nikon 750, or Sony a1. Let her cut her teeth on a lower model first and if/when she hits her stride, then upgrade. The key is not so much the camera body itself as much as it is the lens. Invest in good lenses first before upgrading the body.

EDIT: For $2,500, you can get a VERY good used camera body. However, the lenses should be your primary focus (no pun intended), so the budget should encompass both the body and the lenses - and don't skimp on the lenses.

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. It's appreciated immensely.

I did manage to understand that I shouldn't skimp on the lenses, but after reading this, I think I'm going to shift a bit more of the budget away from the body.

 

[ajgoal]

@Kermit the Prog Apologies for jumping in, but you've posted some of your work and it was obvious you know what you're doing.

I'm actually shopping for a camera for my wife for Christmas. I don't know specifics other than she wants to do some nighttime sky photography among other interests. Would you consider a used Mirrorless from a reputable place like B&H or Adorama to be a reasonable purchase or should I suck it up and buy new? Let's say the budget is $2500ish for the body.

If the answer involves going to a store, I don't mind a trip up to B&H or whatever else makes sense.

No problem, Jojo. My advice is to buy used from B&H or Adorama. They are extremely knowledgeable, provide great support, and are known as vanguards in the game. They also offer online courses and warrantees. I would advise against going straight in at the top for, say, a Canon 5D Mark IV, 1Dx II or III, Nikon 750, or Sony a1. Let her cut her teeth on a lower model first and if/when she hits her stride, then upgrade. The key is not so much the camera body itself as much as it is the lens. Invest in good lenses first before upgrading the body.

For @GKJ , too -

Here is something I would heavily advise. I have a guy in Willow Grove who has fixed my lenses and cameras. Not only is he a certified camera and lens repair person, his prices are very reasonable and his turnaround is quick. I drive up from Delaware to drop off gear on Monday and back up on Friday to pick up the repaired unit. His name is Matt and his shop is called Authorized Camera Repair. 339 York Road in Willow Grove (215-659-2905). He's also an extremely chill guy. He really is the only guy in the Philadelphia area who offers this kind of quick and reasonably-priced service.

EDIT: For $2,500, you can get a VERY good used camera body. However, the lenses should be your primary focus (no pun intended), so the budget should encompass both the body and the lenses - and don't skimp on the lenses.

Second this on the lenses. If she sticks with it, she'll replace the body several times before she needs to get new glass. You might consider calling Adorama or B&H, they can probably take your needs and budget and build you a good starting kit with new and in-stock used gear. Locally I like Allens in Bristol for used equipment as well.

And Authorized Camera Repair is awesome to do business with.

 

[VladDrag]

**Notice if you are a tailgater**

I habitually speed about 5-8mph over the speed limit. If you tailgate me and I am already going over the speed limit, I will slow down to 3 mph under the speed limit.

 

[landsbergfan]

**Notice if you are a tailgater**

I habitually speed about 5-8mph over the speed limit. If you tailgate me and I am already going over the speed limit, I will slow down to 3 mph under the speed limit.

we talking 2 lane road or 4 lane highway here?

 

[ajgoal]

we talking 2 lane road or 4 lane highway here?

Yes.

 

[VladDrag]

we talking 2 lane road or 4 lane highway here?

2 lane road...Where I live (Phoenixville) there is a 2 lane road (route 29) that takes you to the Malvern area. The road is 45 mph. It's very windy, and is surrounded by trees/forests between the two towns - there are a bunch of deer in the forests (as evidenced by the multiple deer carcasses seen on the side of the road). I'll go ~50 mph on the road, but if that's not fast enough for you, and you tailgate me I'll slow down to like 38 mph.

On a 4 lane highway, I usually speed about the same, 5-7 mph over the speed limit and use cruise control. I'll stay in the right lane, expect when I need to pass.

 

[Young Sandwich]

I'll stay in the right lane, expect when I need to pass.

 

[Rebels57]

Oprah is the reason for Oz. Oprah can f*** herself

Imagine spending $27 Million of your own money and relocating to PA to try and steal a Senate seat and still losing to a guy in a hoody

No problem, Jojo. My advice is to buy used from B&H or Adorama. They are extremely knowledgeable, provide great support, and are known as vanguards in the game. They also offer online courses and warrantees. I would advise against going straight in at the top for, say, a Canon 5D Mark IV, 1Dx II or III, Nikon 750, or Sony a1. Let her cut her teeth on a lower model first and if/when she hits her stride, then upgrade. The key is not so much the camera body itself as much as it is the lens. Invest in good lenses first before upgrading the body.

For @GKJ , too -

Here is something I would heavily advise. I have a guy in Willow Grove who has fixed my lenses and cameras. Not only is he a certified camera and lens repair person, his prices are very reasonable and his turnaround is quick. I drive up from Delaware to drop off gear on Monday and back up on Friday to pick up the repaired unit. His name is Matt and his shop is called Authorized Camera Repair. 339 York Road in Willow Grove (215-659-2905). He's also an extremely chill guy. He really is the only guy in the Philadelphia area who offers this kind of quick and reasonably-priced service.

EDIT: For $2,500, you can get a VERY good used camera body. However, the lenses should be your primary focus (no pun intended), so the budget should encompass both the body and the lenses - and don't skimp on the lenses.

That's like 5 minutes from my house and I didn't know it existed. Good to know in case my wife's DSLR has an issue.

 

[DancingPanther]

Imagine spending $27 Million of your own money and relocating to PA to try and steal a Senate seat and still losing to a guy in a hoody

After he has a stroke

 

[Embiid]

I'm glad the ad wars between those two are mostly over......of course there will be other ad attacks from nebulous sources...

Sick of the never ending election campaign. These people need to just effin govern once in office instead of all this jerky jockeying.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

 

[FLYguy3911]

**Notice if you are a tailgater**

I habitually speed about 5-8mph over the speed limit. If you tailgate me and I am already going over the speed limit, I will slow down to 3 mph under the speed limit.

This is me. Did this on a two lane road a few weeks ago and completely took my foot off the gas as we were approaching a red light. Crazy bitch goes around me, against traffic, and passes about 3 other cars to race to a red light. Just absolute lunatic behavior.

A couple days later some dude was doing a legit 90 in a 45 residential area and kept hitting lights. Somehow I found a little shortcut at one of the lights. Got in front of him again. Went below the speed limit as we approached a light. This maniac goes around me as I’m braking for the light and gives me the finger out the window.

I was a bit crazy behind the wheel in my younger years but some people are out of their skulls in cars.

 

[Beef Invictus]

2 lane road...Where I live (Phoenixville) there is a 2 lane road (route 29) that takes you to the Malvern area. The road is 45 mph. It's very windy, and is surrounded by trees/forests between the two towns - there are a bunch of deer in the forests (as evidenced by the multiple deer carcasses seen on the side of the road). I'll go ~50 mph on the road, but if that's not fast enough for you, and you tailgate me I'll slow down to like 38 mph.

On a 4 lane highway, I usually speed about the same, 5-7 mph over the speed limit and use cruise control. I'll stay in the right lane, expect when I need to pass.

I know this road. The deer have an aggressive desire to die. That or there are way too many of them and someone in charge needs to arrange culls.

Got shafted by a random fallen tree while trying to hustle to a wedding once too, so it's not my favorite road.

 

[landsbergfan]

 

[VladDrag]

I know this road. The deer have an aggressive desire to die. That or there are way too many of them and someone in charge needs to arrange culls.

Got shafted by a random fallen tree while trying to hustle to a wedding once too, so it's not my favorite road.

Yeah - I grew up driving around in wooded Chester county, so I'm used to driving around heavy deer populated areas. I know what to look, and where to look when to look for them.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. It's appreciated immensely.

I did manage to understand that I shouldn't skimp on the lenses, but after reading this, I think I'm going to shift a bit more of the budget away from the body.

J, for what it's worth, after they let everyone but me and one salesperson go at the newspaper, I had to take my own photos at games or interviews. In the very early stages I got by with my iPhone4 and some creativity, believe it or not. Then I went to the main office and asked them if they had any old "real" cameras and lenses that no one was using. I got them, and I have no idea what model they were, but they came out with unbelievable photos, even though I had neither any real experience nor even advice on how to use them.

I'm only posting this to put your mind at ease that whatever you decide on, chances are good that you will do well.

 

[landsbergfan]

2 lane road...Where I live (Phoenixville) there is a 2 lane road (route 29) that takes you to the Malvern area. The road is 45 mph. It's very windy, and is surrounded by trees/forests between the two towns - there are a bunch of deer in the forests (as evidenced by the multiple deer carcasses seen on the side of the road). I'll go ~50 mph on the road, but if that's not fast enough for you, and you tailgate me I'll slow down to like 38 mph.

On a 4 lane highway, I usually speed about the same, 5-7 mph over the speed limit and use cruise control. I'll stay in the right lane, expect when I need to pass.

okay 2 lane road makes sense. 4 lane road would've been psychotic.

I must say, as someone who is elite at driving over the speed limit, I see some crazy shit with people trying to keep me behind them that I'll never really understand.

Reckless drivers are the worst, regardless of how fast theyre going

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

One thing I definitely hate about the suburbs is there’s too many senior citizen drivers. I feel bad but these mother f***ers will drive like 20 mph below the speed limit on a single lane road causing back log of traffic.

One of my biggest driving pet peeves is when a scumbag will fly up a turning lane during a red light to cut off the lead car when it turns green light instead of waiting like everybody else. I watched this person do it one time & they didn’t realize there was a cop in the line of cars. The cop when out of the line & hit their sirens to pull the person over. It had no effect on me in reality but I was so happy when I saw that. I hope that ticket was expensive.

 

[ajgoal]

One thing I definitely hate about the suburbs is there’s too many senior citizen drivers. I feel bad but these mother f***ers will drive like 20 mph below the speed limit on a single lane road causing back log of traffic.

One of my biggest driving pet peeves is when a scumbag will fly up a turning lane during a red light to cut off the lead car when it turns green light instead of waiting like everybody else.

People coming to nearly a complete stop when making a right turn. There's nobody coming across your nose. You're not going to get T-boned. Absolutely slow down so you're making the turn under control, but you can drop 10mph from your travel speed and be there. You don't have to get to almost zero.

 

[VladDrag]

okay 2 lane road makes sense. 4 lane road would've been psychotic.

I must say, as someone who is elite at driving over the speed limit, I see some crazy shit with people trying to keep me behind them that I'll never really understand.

Reckless drivers are the worst, regardless of how fast theyre going

I feel you. Again, I don't go slow. Usually about 5-7 mph over the speed limit, more on high ways.

The worst are the people who will tailgate you even though there are cars infront of you. I can't do anything about the line of traffic and you riding my ass won't change that.

 

[landsbergfan]

I feel you. Again, I don't go slow. Usually about 5-7 mph over the speed limit, more on high ways.

The worst are the people who will tailgate you even though there are cars infront of you. I can't do anything about the line of traffic and you riding my ass won't change that.

maybe you just need to learn to enjoy letting people ride your ass

 

[Flybynite]

Don't be like Larry and get into crypto with FTX (Super Bowl commercial)

If someone put $10,000 into FTX after watching that. They'd have $1,330 right now.

Since I posted that at 7:21PM yesterday if you were still holding onto that $10,000 investment. That $1,330 has been reduced to $762.

 

[Runner77]

And the Oscar goes to …

 

[Kermit the Prog]

What I never understood was, when at a traffic light, a car will put a two- or even three-car length of distance between themselves and the car ahead or the light itself. What the hell is the problem with these people?