All I want for Christmas...

[psycln11]

A point guard.

That was my first thought!!

[psycln11]

And some signed Cyclones paraphernalia......

Now where are you going to get that...this close to Christmas. You're gonna have to find some one around here that has some at home or something!!

[Jeremy]

Now where are you going to get that...this close to Christmas. You're gonna have to find some one around here that has some at home or something!!

Hmmm... If only we knew of anybody

[ISUFan22]

I got a Sony Cybers shot with a Carl Zeis lense just waiting for you.

The standard lense with a DSLR will be far better than the one given with the Powershot. I guess I'm biased. I went through this same thing a few years ago and now I want a DSLR and to get rid of my Sony!

Just did the same thing. Sold our Sony DSC-V3 that we bought early in '05 and went to a Canon DSLR.

I learned quickly with the Sony (which was an SLR-like camera) that I wanted a true SLR. I could shoot raw with it and it had a external flash shoe. But the camera took around 10-15 seconds to save each raw image before I could take another and the flash for that camera was very limited.

Probably within a year (could be that long) we plan to get a Canon Powershot that we can walk around with when we don't want the SLR.

A couple cameras I'm preliminarily looking at are the Canon Powershot G9 or Canon Powershot A570.

Canon | PowerShot G9 Digital Camera | 2082B001 | B&H Photo Video

Canon | PowerShot A570 IS Digital Camera | 1773B001 | B&H Photo

I like the G9 because from what I've read, it's a damn fine camera that some treat like an SLR, probably similar to the Sony I had but better. I like the A570 because it's very compact (although the G9 isn't big by any means) and it has image stabilization. I've got my hands completely full with the SLR right now though... :)

The links above are B&H Photo - highly recommend them when buying cameras or other electronic items online. If you find a better price (which you may) from another store, look 'em up on resellerratings.com. I almost bought our camera from a very, very shady website until someone told me about that site. Probably saved me from getting a grey market camera, one that is in a different language or not getting anything for my money at all.

I'm a huge fan of buying online and a person can save a ton that way - just be smart about who you buy from. Reseller Ratings is a great way to check up on these online stores.

[psycln11]

They are still in shock from last night.

I am trying to figure out what to get my dad for Christmas (he is 58). Someone suggested a George Foreman outdoor grill. He is a bachelor and lives in an apartment in AZ. In other words, no gas grills allowed and he doesn't cook in the kitchen much.

Anyone have one of these or any suggestions?

An evening out with an escort service??

Just kidding!!

[bos]

Peace and quiet. For everyone to get along at least for the day. To just relax in front of the fire with my wife.

[C.John]

The links above are B&H Photo - highly recommend them when buying cameras or other electronic items online.

I've had good experiences purchasing my camera's, lenses and lighting equipment from:

B&H Photo
Adorama.com
Beachcamera.com

Also I frequent my local shop.

[ISUFan22]

Yup, all three of those are great sites. I have bought from adorama.com as well. Have not from Beach Camera yet. For a while I think they had a bad rep but have turned it around - they have over a 9.0 (out of 10) rating right now!

I did buy a couple items on Ebay as well. The biggest was a used Tamron lens. Scoured the wire for a bit and bought from a reputable seller. The lens is virtually brand new and I saved some cash going that route.

I am by far not the expert on cameras. Have asked a lot of questions from people that know what they're doing (from CF...thanks wesley_w!), read many reviews, etc. I'm still quite confused, but some of the clouds are lifting. :)

[Jeremy]

I'm in the same boat - more of a wannabe than anything right now when it comes to doing everything manual. I think the G9 will be a good step for me though. It has great reviews and can be fully automatic or manual and you can attach external flashes, etc so I can grow with it before taking the step up to a DSLR. Plus then I have the G9 for when I don't want to, or can't, take a big DSLR somewhere (ahem, games).

[CYKID]

Gift certificate to a spa for a massage and mani/pedi!! Maybe throw in a haircut and hilites with that!

I am going to get the wife a massage at one of these places. Do any of you ladies have a favorite place to go? We live in Clive and there are quite a few of them in the area. There is a new one called Fusion near us. I prefer not to go to the Jordan Creek Area. Everything in that area seems to be overpriced. I also thought about tying it in with a trip to Ameristar or Harrahs if anyone has used those spas. I could at least drink and gamble while she is getting worked over and if I lose she will be in too good a mood to care.

[ISUFan22]

Right. And the big reason we didn't keep the Sony for that purpose was...

- Canon > Sony
- Wanted the cash to get stuff for the new camera
- New technology with other point-and-shoots

Granted, we don't have a "walk-around" camera right now, but with the learning curve involved and dollars spent - I aught to be married to this Canon SLR and not cheat on it for a while. :)

[4VR4CY]

I am going to get the wife a massage at one of these places. Do any of you ladies have a favorite place to go? We live in Clive and there are quite a few of them in the area. There is a new one called Fusion near us. I prefer not to go to the Jordan Creek Area. Everything in that area seems to be overpriced. I also thought about tying it in with a trip to Ameristar or Harrahs if anyone has used those spas. I could at least drink and gamble while she is getting worked over and if I lose she will be in too good a mood to care.

Just make sure you stay overnight too.

I would love that as a gift.

[SuperCy]

Maybe you guys should start a thread about cameras.

[CYdTracked]

oooh, I want a remote start also.

To all you that want remote starters, take it from someone that has one: they are over-rated. Unless you don't park your car in a garage at home or you are within range from the office to start it up before you leave work it really doesn't help much I think. My new car came with one standard and to be honest I hardly use it. It's more of a "toy" really when I just like to hear the V8 rumble when it starts up while I am walking towards the car. You gain maybe 30 seconds of run time before you get in the car when you do that which isn't enough time to warm up/cool down the car until it's been running for at least a few minutes anyways.

As for what I want, I really don't have any "must" wants this time which is why it took me awhile to put any substance to my Christmas list. I'd like a 2nd bathroom in my house along with a wider driveway and sidwalk repairs but I doubt I'd get any of that as a Christmas gift. :)

[guitarchitect7]

Speaking of spas, I got my spouse a message for mother's day at the one off of hickman and 86th right by hobby lobby. Expo (?) maybe, or something close to that. She seemed to have liked it and they have other things to do as well.


As far as the Camera, the G9's would be a good introductary type SLR. I can say thats where my Sony did pay off. I have gotten a decent feel using that, that now I want an actualy SLR. I dont know enough to use regular film hence wanting a digital one, but I definately want to step up.

Thats the one down side, I can't shoot RAW, the zoom is bad, the lenses are so propriatary! Does Minolta make those type of Powershot cameras?