[Plamadude30k]

That’s seriously cool, CauseISaidSo. Seriously.

[Plamadude30k]

Well, I got all four of my shots for this week, even though a cloudy day made me have to go archive diving for ‘Earth’. Also, while doing the shots for fire, this happened:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/W7LsxoQGR-0LF_E9qW9oig?feat=directlink
Long story short, I managed to cut myself while using my flint & steel to light some magnesium. The worst part is that I’m not going to end up using ANY of those photos. Thankfully, it wasn’t incredibly deep, and seems to be healing fine.

[Plamadude30k]

If your idea going into this is that a mountain has to be Mt. Everest IMHO you’re setting yourself up for failure. Being from the midwest, even the “hills” around San Diego seemed like enormous mountains to me. Even a molehill can be a mountain in the right perspective…

Damn, you just reminded me-I might be going to Mt. Everest next summer (as long as I can work it into my schedule). Too bad I won’t be able to use it for that contest.

[Plamadude30k]

For those not on Facebook, last week we found out orionid is no longer needed in the Navy, essentially is getting laid off in June and our wedding is Saturday so we have that, then finding a job and figuring where we want to move to on the Navy’s dime.

Damn well better not be Hawaii, or the rest of us will never win a landscape contest again. 😥

I’m working on that. 😀

Orionid, I’m sorry to hear that you’ve got to move. At least you’ll have somebody moving with you! I can’t wait to see the wedding photo gallery-knowing you guys, it’s going to be awesome.

[Plamadude30k]

Just got the new camera and the 18-105mm lens. It’s pretty wonderful. More reports and perhaps a small gallery once I’ve had some time to get to know the new kit.

[Plamadude30k]

As to affecting distortion or CA, I don’t think it changes anything, but I really don’t know for sure.

A larger crop factor (meaning smaller sensor) *might* mean less distortion or CA-these are typically off axis effects, and a smaller FoV should mean that these effects are less pronounced-you can think of it as if you’re only using the center of the lens which is typically better optically. A lens with edge defects can just be stopped down and be used as a smaller aperture lens.

/Three classes in advanced optics causes rambling.

[Plamadude30k]

All good advice, which leads me to the conclusion that I should eventually get both. At this point, it’s just a matter of which I want to get first, and given that I found a great deal on the 70-300, I think that’s the one I’ll be going with right now. I’ll let you guys know how it all goes!

[Plamadude30k]

I am *so* excited about this one. Now let’s just hope I get my camera back in time to do all four.

[Plamadude30k]

Those are pretty good points, I have to admit. Also, the 70-300 is an FX format lens, meaning that with the DX format D7000, it has an effective focal length range of somewhere around 110-450mm, which is awesome-I could finally do wildlife, sports, etc. like I want. Almost seems obvious now.

[Plamadude30k]

So I just graduated today and my relatives all gave me checks, which I completely didn’t expect. Long story short, I’ll probably be ordering the new camera in this coming week. After reading all the suggestions in this thread and thinking it over, the lenses I’m considering for my new kit are:
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro
Nikon Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8
18-105mm D7000 kit lens

Now I have to decide between the Tokina 12-24mm f/4 and a used version of the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 which would cost about the same. They both overlap my focal range coverage and add new capabilities-I’m just having a LOT of trouble deciding which would be more useful. Does anybody have preferences specifically between the two?

[Plamadude30k]

Ah, and so begins the PUNishment. Such humor requires a PUNctilious nature and perfect PUNctuality from its PUNdits. Please don’t PUNch me.

[Plamadude30k]

I could make you a helluva dill on one, Plama.

Argh. I think I feel physical pain after that one.

[Plamadude30k]

I just wasted so much time on that site. Good thing I don’t have any finals this year.

/I liked the camera with 12.1 megapickles. That’s a lot of pickels.

[Plamadude30k]

Well, thanks, guys, and congrats to Rav! This was by far my highest vote-getting contest evar, which was especially nice after the last few vote-lite weeks.

EDIT: I should note that I though Rav’s shot was technically better than mine. I was only up there because of gimmick value. Gotta love those farktography voters!

[Plamadude30k]

Mine ain’t so bad tonight either: http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/Kpr61AZkey.html?1 (CSC for my research telescope). I can almost see it from my house now. Too bad I don’t have time on it until the 27th. Still, the seeing doesn’t look *great* tonight, even if it’s really clear. The best I’ve ever gotten is about 0.7″, which is pretty amazing-all of the stars are completely steady, no scintillation anywhere. You can get some really great data on nights like that.

Also; stellarium is awesome, isn’t it? Even the pros use it!

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