FriendFeed should be faster again. We were had some network issues which caused a lot of slowness this past week, but I think it's fixed now. Let me know if you are still encountering any extreme slowness.
Mainly just had problems with email posting and the bookmarklet. The rest seemed fairly okay.
- Jason Huebel
I've been told that I'm extremely slow much of the time, but I don't think that's what you meant. Thanks for taking care of the issue, Paul.
- Jim Addz No Value
Meanwhile, Dad's kids with his new wife get what kind of toys?
- Matthew DeVries
Matthew, FriendFeed users have no reason to complain about our toys. And even if we did, bitterness doesn't help.
- Bruce Lewis
FriendFeed is dying for me. In fact. it's just about gone. I use it as a control room and discussion space for my Twitter feed, and a searchable archive. Discussion threads are down about 80 percent. "Likes" are off about 90 percent. There's no real time feed in from Twitter any more. Sad.
- Jay Rosen
Agreed, Jay. My personal life is in a bit of an upheaval right now, which hasn't helped, but the FB acquisition took the wind out of the sails for me. It feels like there's no future, or worse, a future wired up to the "friending" criteria of my Facebook account. I use the services COMPLETELY differently, however. Inbound updates continue, since they're automatic, but this is the first comment I've posted in weeks. Sad, indeed.
- Ken Kennedy
I am using Twitter and FB more and more lately. On the plus side, it's strengthening some real world connections. I'm missing out on the cool new stuff but I think I had gone overboard on that front.
- Daniel J. Pritchett
I like FriendFeed, but I happen to find myself using Twitter and IRC more as of late. I guess I've probably just burnt myself and others out, given that I don't seem to have much in the way of compelling content and commentary these days, and that I just don't feel as motivated as I'd like to. :(
- Tyson Key
Thanks for throwing some love over to FF :)
- Susan Beebe
Is there currently an issue with posting from FF to update Facebook -or is Facebook broken after the re-design ? i dont get anything posted to FB anymore which worked fine before yd
- Del_
Hi Paul, I know it has been a while since this post. But over the last 48 hours my Twitter updates have quit showing up in FF. I tried manually refreshing. Then I removed the account so I could just add it back in. When trying to do that I get the following message: "We could not find the given account" I haven't changed anything. Any thoughts on why this is happening? I haven't had any trouble until now. Thanks.
- Mary-Lynn
My Twitter feed is coming into FF much faster now - thanks! *Edit - Blog feed, too!
- Kurt Starnes
I reshare this to Ideas & Inspiration room :) These are so realistic!
- Kristian Salonen
I'm sorry but this is unbelievable:) I'll give credit to the artist upon more convincing proof! The photogenic look of the tiger and lion really helps the artist's case though:)
- Roney Smith
I'm with Roney... I find this hard to believe... or maybe I'm just jealous that I can't even get stick people right!
- Jasmin Smith
you cannot win on the interwebs. draw some crap it doesn't get noticed. draw something amazing in pencil and people say it's not real.
- Joe Breen
I'm really happy everyone liked these. They're my most liked entry to date, Thanks! There also seems to be some question about whether these are actually Pencil Drawings.I can assure you that they are.When I get home, I should have the links. I have more drawings, too.
- Michael Fidler
from fftogo
Thanks Enrique, I'll post some more soon. They are a little more obvious than these ones. As Luke points out; without being able to look closely it's impossible to tell. He's right; but up close it's more obvious. I'll upload the originals to Picasa later, and then you'll be able to zoom in with any photo viewer and see for yourselves. I can't believe how many people liked these. A few people have reposted them already. Thanks!
- Michael Fidler
Absolutely awesome, Michael. You are extremely talented. Everyone should repost these pix and help to make you famous. You should be doing this full time - you obviously have some passion for this. Bravo.
- Chris Loft
These are really beautiful, Michael. Do you sell them?
- Shannon Jiménez
Chris, I would love to say they're mine, but it's not true. I've had them for a while, but I'll find the artists names. It will just require a little backtracking. Besides, they deserve the credit; all I did was find them:-)
- Michael Fidler
Cut the bullshit! :) Photos are very good.
- Burçak Çubukçu
I draw alot in pencil, but they are amazing, the best for me is the girl, that is the most photo-like one. :o)
- Rob Sellen :o)
I agree Rob, the girl is amazing. My favorite by far! Wait until you see it close up! It's really had to tell, even up close!
- Michael Fidler
Burçak Çubukçu If these were photographs, they would be very good. As Pencil Drawings,(which they are), they're amazing.
- Michael Fidler
@Burçak Çubukçu I can't tell if your serious now or just kidding around. I hope your just having fun! If you are serious, I've never given you a reason to question my integrity, nor do I ever intend to. However, the second set is up now, so judge them for yourself, but don't judge me! http://ff.im/1BJh5 BTW, I messed up and reposted the shot of the women again. Oh well. Hope you like them:-)
- Michael Fidler
@Michael: try deviantART, not Picasa, to submit your artworks
- LouCypher
WOW "I can't believe it's in pencil"
- sofarsoShawn
LouCypher, I know it well, but I don't see why I would want to do that. I hope everyone knows by now that they're not mine? I'm sorry, but I can't say it any clearer than that.
- Michael Fidler
nah, i don't believe it is done in pencil. i am sure it is photoshopped :)
- hasin hayder
I'm finding this both interesting and humorous at the same time. There's a separate message board where this post is being discussed and it has another forty comments on it already. I think its great how this has created some lively discussion, considering that when I posted this I was doubtful if anyone would even like it. When I went to sleep last night there was only had 3 or 4 likes...
more...
- Michael Fidler
Very interesting. I would like to see them up close and in person...just to make sure. Bill said it's real and possible. Your 2nd set of picts look like pencil. Nice work in finding these!
- LaFern Cusack
Kol, I can't thank you enough! Kol found another post which helps to prove that these are done in pencil. I had my doubts about a few of them because I collected them from several different sites over time, but the site Kol found has done a great job pulling together an impressive collection of these drawings and more. Take a look - http://www.flickzzz.com/2009...
- Michael Fidler
Actually there are more than what this site shows. There's an entire set with the cats(little cats), which I have, and there's a new portrait set.
- Michael Fidler
Found your post here, Michael. :-) I tried my best to find the artists.
- Kol Tregaskes
Amazing and very very very good.... Very impressive ...
- Linda Zeek-Bobinski
Yeah we know, thanks though, James. :-)
- Kol Tregaskes
Excellent pictures - how long did it take you to scan the photographs into Photoshop and then edit them? The only pencil that has come into contact with these "drawings" is the Photoshop pencil. A tip - stop trying to fool people into thinking you are a "real" artist, because all you are doing is cheapening proper artist's works whom have spent hours creating real pictures as opposed to a few minutes on a graphics editing package.
- The Wimp
A bell does ring here. And I am remembering why I was so attracted to the tiger...and the lion for that matter. These are exact replicas of prints I had in our bedroom when I lived in Dallas. I had bought the prints (in color) at a department store,
- Melanie Reed
Actually, I have learned quite a bit about these drawing since I made this post. Not only have I discovered all of the artists, but I've learned more about how they are created. They are always copied from a photograph or painting, but usually a photograph. It is extremely time consuming and detail orientated work. There are many other artists besides the ones featured here who practice...
more...
- Michael Fidler
Most of them have portfolio's on deviantart.com and their work is truly amazing even if they are copies of other artists work. I suppose with this level of detail, they have to start with something. Nevertheless, I'm still in awe of their talent. Melanie, the animal prints you refer to are from a very well renowned photographer. The originals are B&W I'll look it up later but I do have...
more...
- Michael Fidler
Actually, as far as I can tell, Like in FB does do something: it's basically an empty comment, so you get notified of new comments that occur after you Like it.
- Mistletoe Glen
@Glen: it's true but what bothers me most is that unlike friendfeed, fb delivers a separate mail for every person that comments on that post. #lame
- 'Like' robot (frɐnc)
I would just like to go on record here and clearly state that, were I able to do what this lion is doing, I WOULD NOT! NO! NEVER! EVER! Thank you.
- Mark "DerBingle" J
Mark, not even if they were dipped in chocolate?
- Adrian
Yau'll are some sick _ucks. Let the King have a private moment for God's sake. Shame on you people. Can't yau'll see he's welcomed in the jungle. He went down south :)
- Jeunelle Foster
er...shouldn't there be *6* minifigs?
- WorldofHiglet
i was at a toy store with my wife and kids today looking for a dolly for our oldest. after that was concluded, i disappeared into the 3 aisles of LEGO for nearly 20 minutes. my wife says that when i emerged my face looked like i'd recently received oral gratification. dang.
- Joe Silence
It's Monday morning and my fingers are raw. Very hard to type... Now, how to explain this to my work mates without encountering the relentless mocking that usually follows these types of projects....
- Johnny Worthington
I've only recently found myself as a steak fan, but I've conjured up a pretty good rub, and I think I have a pretty good cooking technique. It's too big though, oh my stars, I ate just under half of it.
- Derrick
Chili powder, granulated garlic, brown sugar, kosher salt, little dried thyme and oregano, black pepper, cayenne, and onion powder. I put it on just before lunch time, let it sit, and let the steak come up to temperature just before putting in the cast iron, which had been in a 450 degree oven for twenty minutes.
- Derrick
In a wonderful turn of events, D, you'll get to have steak on Instinct as well.
- Jason Toney
That's a lot like the one I use. I have a couple ribeyes in the freezer right now, in fact.
- ha3rvey (Ho)^3
Whuuuut, JT? I have to admit I bought these for a photo shoot that never came to fruition. The indulgent side of me loves the ribeyes, but the more practical likes the skirt steak. Good to know, JT. Just gotta load up on the veggies, right?
- Derrick
yeah, 6 oz steak portion (and lean) plus some veggies and you're all set.
- Jason Toney
@Derrick - now I know you are family...sweet potato fries are loved here too!
- JA Castillo
Well, damn, JT, that's kinda what I ate tonight. JA, I need to learn how to make mine from scratch; these were frozen via Trader Joe's.
- Derrick
The wife cuts hers, places them on a cookie sheet and adds a dash of olive oil atop and then drops them in the oven. Season w/ salt thereafter. It's a bit different and if you are not on top of things, you can burn them, but it beats frying them up! :)
- JA Castillo
I think Cook's Illustrated had a recipe for oven sweet potato fries earlier this year. I'll see if I can find it.
- ha3rvey (Ho)^3
Damn that looks good. Not to mention a very tasty looking skillet.
- Mark Krynsky
Left to right, as if you didn't know already: Dan Hsiao, Casey Muller, Ana Yang, Jim Norris, Tudor Bosman, Bret Taylor, Paul Buchheit (with Camilla), Sanjeev Singh, Kevin Fox.
- Tudor Bosman
That's why I love today's web : you can talk with the people that build the next web, and see those who build your current web. Congrats guys!
- Zackatoustra
FriendFeed Team, I love you !!!! Thanks to you all, I'm very happy everyday!!!
- Renchin(Reina)
So that was the TGIFF ("Thank Goodness It's FriendFeed") party? Perhaps slightly off-topic, but if Camiila hasn't been betrothed yet, have I got a grandson for her ;-))
- ianf ⌘
TGIFF was excellent. Great event and great people.Thanks for the invite and hospitality.
- AJ Kohn
Louis, thank you and thank you to the FriendFeed team for making a killer product and hosting a great open house!
- Brian Solis
(bump) Ana and Casey are now married. Here's a pic of them on the left, between Ross and Jim. Congratulations to Ana and Casey! (per http://friendfeed.com/jessica...)
- Louis Gray
علی حجوانی تو روحت، ای واسه چه موقعیه؟ :)))
- Mehran
:))))))))) مال بعد از عیده. اواخر فروردین فک کنم
- Aly
Because I don't think they're looking at her arms at all, Tina.
- Derrick
Definitely 'shopped. I've seen a lot of these. You can tell by the pixels...
- MVB (Grinch of FF)
The picture Demi posted is identical to the cover shot minus a few lighting tweaks. The original would have had more hair fly aways, more facial flaws, weird dimpling or whatever in the dress, etc.
- EricaJoy
This is clearly not my cat. If this was my cat he's have one arm shoved down into the printer trying to tear up all the internal whirling bits with his bare claws.
- Soup
Too Funny! Reminds me of the San Mateo Cat Shelter where one of the cats loves to sleep on top of the laster printer where the paper comes out...
- Greg Lato
1600+ to beat the FFundercats live chat thread. I think with this real time now on all threads we're going to see some truly epic comment numbers.
- Simon Wicks
Ivan, no the picture speaks for itself. ;-)
- Kol Tregaskes
Petr, I have no idea what you mean, but thank you. :-)
- Kol Tregaskes
@Kol .. :] that, partially, might have been the purpose.... I don't know it exactly either. :] .. was I reflecting on a cat under the fax, and that it is hard to fax that way ... /?:] ... "underfaxing at its worst" ..
- Petr Buben
there ya have me ! :] .... see, to be honest with you, i saw this pic couple days ago, but i let it go, without posting it ..... what does that make me? :]
- Petr Buben
even a flat cat... faxes just can't handle the hair. You'd have to shave the cat first, else the hair will burn and stick to the drum... a mess! (I am extrapolating from transparencies, mind, i don't have access to a cat to test)
- Joelle Nebbe (iphigenie)
Hehe, Joelle. This is now tied for the 'likes' top stop. One more then, hehe. :-)
- Kol Tregaskes
Hehe, Greg. Blimey! Erm, is that not far from 500 likes now? ;-)
- Kol Tregaskes
Bloody marvelous, Kol. Wish I could like it again... too cute (and help u to 500 likes).
- Roberto Bonini
I couldn't believe it when I logged on from the morning over posting it and saw it was at something 200 likes! You all have a strange fetish with cats and fax machines, hehe. ;-)
- Kol Tregaskes
Am I the only one who saw this and their first thought was - My goodness did someone break that cats neck? It still freaks me out a little
- Steve C
Steve, it does look a little out of place, but cats are pretty bendy. ;-)
- Kol Tregaskes
They fax much better if you flatten them first. What?
- Kevin Pedraja
So we can put this post to rest now. :-) 505 likes final count, wow! :-D Good night all!
- Kol Tregaskes
My like is the last one so far :) - 509 afaik
- getalifejerk
did 3 people really un-like this? now at 506. wtf (edit: uh, oh, yeah, me and 2 + 506 others makes 509. dammit, jim, i'm an artist, not a mathematician)
- ɐ ɯıʞ sıɹɥɔ
One of the best funny cat pictures I've seen! :-)
- John Collis
Kristian, it appears to be. Hehe, John.
- Kol Tregaskes
ای بابا این پیشول بی خیال نمی شود، بابا پاشو برو دنبال یه بازی دیگه ، از هفته پیش تا حالا تو فکس ولو شدی حوصله ات سر نرفته، پاشو اقلا بپر رو کیبوردی چیزی
- Maryaminaa
It's really only social convention which regards it as inappropriate, same with Xeroxing it, like one does with their b__tocks. Wait are we still talking about cats cats here or...
- sofarsoShawn
OMGosh 700+ likes now!! LOL. Thank you all 702 of you. :-)
- Kol Tregaskes
"The Volkswagen Microbus is a classic - even to those of us born after its time. Arguably unlike the newly remade Beetle, this remake of a VW classic is remarkably true to the original on the outside - but on the inside it is a bio-diesel hybrid stuffed full of high tech gadgetry and eco-friendly innovations."
- Kol Tregaskes
from Bookmarklet
Super cool VW Bus making a comeback...
- Walt Ruppar
First of all, I'll cop to wanting one of these. That being said, Jason is right. This is for rich hippies (who probably aren't hippies at all). The VW microbus became the darling of the Flower Power crowd because it was cheap, easy to repair, and big. You could camp in it. Is there a car today that fits this bill?
- Chris Baskind
wow, you can buy an awful lot of pot with $129,000.
- Thomas Hawk
I don't know a self-respecting hippie that would prefer this over a really nice indoor greenhouse. ;-)
- Chris Baskind
@Chris, Most cars today aren't as simple, but with the wealth of knowledge online, it just takes more time. The minivan/SUV can become a camper van with a few mods. They'll never take the place of the VW, but they're an updated version of the 70s panelvan conversions (hopefully without shag carpeting & a disco-ball).
- Steven Cains
Nope: there will never be anything that simple again. That's not all bad: I can't imagine a 1960s VW Minibus would satisfy *any* federal safety standard these days. You're right. A used minivan might be the closest thing.
- Chris Baskind
Very Cool. You can't drive your house but, you can sleep in your Van !!!
- Eric Logan
Very intriguing. How much steel is in that thing? Chris, that would be my next question after fuel consumption: how safe is this thing? And I agree, when we can go back to making transportation that costs less than a small home, we may have achieved something amazing. ;)
- Melanie Reed
However, I have heard (and I'm not remembering where at the moment) that there has been a movement growing of people seeking alternative housing and substituting things like this as the new "mobile" home.
- Melanie Reed
Everyone is loving this! We should have an FF one and use it to travel to all the FFers around the World (like Pea seems to be doing ;-)). Hehe. :-)
- Kol Tregaskes
cool idea, kol. the ff-stream of this tour would be alltheawe. just imagine the photos.
- esther ♥ ♫
I've owned 5 VWs, two of which were split window vans. I'd love to have another, this is awesome!
- Rick Bucich
from twhirl
I have had more VWs than other cars...starting with a 71 Superbeetle, and a Split Window Microbus. I would LOVE to have something like this.
- Kreg Steppe
Good for grandparents to visit grandchildren and children through the European continent (or another one as well)...nomadism-revival!
- Isabelle Ayel
wow i posted this a while back and now can't seem to find it for some reason. friendfeed's search function really sucks!
- Cee Bee
So after reading this article yesterday, I found myself this evening in front of a local place that specializes in reconditioning old VWs. It was closed, but there's an awesome red and white microbus out front with a For Sale sign on it. Ugly, underpowered -- and probably dangerous, by modern standards. Want. ;-)
- Chris Baskind
Cee, really? I find FF search is pretty good.
- Kol Tregaskes
I love this Mobile...owned a few Vdubs, lived in a VW camper, but this is off the hook..I would become a true nomad with this...
- bcultral
I'd like to have something like this, something small. What do you really need? A bed, perhaps a TV and room for your computer. Then you can live anywhere you like, in theory.
- Kol Tregaskes
Who is this Canadian designer Alexandre Verdier? Seems like he is on Facebook, Linked In but I can't seem to find anything else about him.
- Brian Sullivan
We had a wesvalia built Micro when I was a kid. I loved that thing. It was a little flimsily built; but boy it was perfect for my family of campers and road-tripping warriors. Too bad this one is so pricey
- Bill Rawlinson
"Though the term “herd behaviour” today is most often used when talking about financial markets, it originally described individuals in a group acting together without direction – for example an animal herd fleeing from a predator. When seen from above, animal herds seem to follow intricate and intriguing patterns."
- Kol Tregaskes
from Bookmarklet
When we watch Planet Earth, I'm always amazed at the sheer numbers of herds. I like to think of herds as >1000 (is that less than?), but we saw one doc that showed something like 25K gazelles. Amazing. Or the one with the gigantic flock of birds. WOW.
- Admiral Anika
Planet Earth is an amazing documentary. I guess Nature's Great Events are on their way to the US soon too. That's another great natural history doc from the BBC.
- Kol Tregaskes
Yes, I've seen NGE, but seriously PE is infinitely better, visually speaking. The only thing that bugs me about PE is the constant, "Thanks to our brand-new, super-expensive technology we were able to be the first to capture this fish swimming." or whatever. Enough with the dick-stroking just give me facts.
- Admiral Anika
Yeah but there isn't much of that to be fair and is completely overshadowed by the quality of the images and documentary. Both NGE and PE are excellent. We get so much of that from the BBC, it's great.
- Kol Tregaskes
You don't think it's a lot? The other night we watched the PE marathon on Discovery. In each hour show, Weaver must have mentioned it 3 - 4 times. That's a lot to me. :) I can't wait to get both series in a boxset, but we agreed that we'll wait until we get a better TV.
- Admiral Anika
Anyone know when the new Planet Earth is coming out, i heard they were filming it a long time ago but i know it takes years to make those?
- Steve C
Steve, I had no idea there was even a new one in the making. How exciting.
- Admiral Anika
Steve, I just realized that the Planet Earth marathon I was watching was narrated by Sigourney Weaver, whereas the old ones were narrated by David Attenborough. Maybe these are the new ones, which explains why I was confused over some of the topics thinking, "Gosh I don't remember that one."
- Admiral Anika
New Planet Earth? News to me. I think there is a "movie" coming out or even out but I've not heard of any new series.
- Kol Tregaskes
In the U.S. Discovery cut the episodes and redid the narration with Sigourney. Same footage.
- Stephen Mack
Ah you can't beat David Attenborough - who could ever replace him?
- Kol Tregaskes
I'll have to look it up, but I thought it was in like Discovery magazine that they were making the next set of series. I was wrong once in like the second grade, so I guess it could happen again.
- Steve C
Seriously? I liked Attenborough's narration.
- Admiral Anika
Anika. That's what I meant. There's no one better IMHO. :-)
- Kol Tregaskes
David Attenborough is the king. Nobody else comes close. He's an incredible man- Parkinson did a great interview with him.
- Bec Rowe @d0tski
And Attenborough says he has no plans to retire. Yippee for us. :-)
- Kol Tregaskes
I did that, but I was heading vertical, school had a vaulted ceiling and I went running, stepped on a chair right were it dropped, on impact both shoes fell off, one hit a guy in the face.
- Jimminy Fuller
wonder if that kid had aspirations of being a stunt guy... "dignity, always with dignity" ;)
- alphaxion
If I weren't afraid of going right through the wall, I'd probably still try that. I know I would have done that (and did similar things quite often) when I was much younger.
- Curtiss Grymala
This is still superb this morning after. :-)
- Kol Tregaskes
Defining the line between brave and stupid?
- Eoghann Irving
If I did that, first the wall would collapse, and then the floor. (So, you see, it's not that I *couldn't*... I just choose not to, for the protection of others.)
- Mark "DerBingle" J
You're right. I don't have the guts...and I'm proud of that.
- Tammy Marshall
It's funny, I joined friendfeed just to connect further with my brother...I got that for a time, but in a larger sense I connected with a community and discovered so many interesting people and so many noteworthy stories. Despite what I've written before, to Paul Bucheit and the rest of the friendfeed team, I will forever be grateful for the...
Amen, Alex. I have come to know more people through FF than I ever could have imagined. It may not be as geeky as it was when I first joined, but the community has grown & improved. Kudos to all of you (devs & users) for giving me that. :)
- JA Castillo
You are my favorite Scoble by far! (Sorry, Robert) ;)
- Jorge Escobar
Hmmm.. sounds like the speech that is said before the music is queued up and the lovely ladies come from stage right to escort you off. But Then again.. thanks are not said enough in life so say it often. ;)
- Uncle CW™
Happy Birthday! (Belatedly... no, you're birthday was right on time... it's just my birthday wish that's belated... am I overexplaining?)
- Mark "DerBingle" J
no.. clearly I've always forgotten that when a new toy arrives it needs to charge! This is also the first SLR I bought where I've got the battery grip as I'm doing many vertical shots now and I thought that it'd be handy - interesting to note is that by using the battery grip I can also apparently get an AC adapter for continuing powering. Didn't know that before.. so I'm glad that I got it (but AC adapter is sold separately so I guess I'll have to get that also...)
- See-ming Lee 李思明 SML
"The Fiction of Science is a collection of photographs by Frank Hülsbömer, who has made a name for himself with contributions to magazines such as Wallpaper. Reminiscent of the abstract photography of Moholy-Nagy, his work indicates the recent rediscovery of abstraction and geometrical work in contemporary art. Whether sketchily visualized thoughts or meticulously staged motifs, his dynamic depictions of immobile objects often resemble computer renderings. Despite its minimalistic strength and quasi-scientific precision, Hülsbömer's photographic aesthetic shines with exceptional depth and creates an outstanding poetic visuality."
- See-ming Lee 李思明 SML
from Bookmarklet
If you were going to take some photography classes and wanted to buy a DSLR, what would you get? Assume your budget is around $2k (or under of course). What are you looking at in that range?
Harold may have a tip. He's gone to bed for the night (we're in our separate homes for today).
- Kamilah Gill
I have a first gen Canon 5D that I love. You could probably get that for a lot cheaper than the nearly $3K it originally cost. The Canon 7D just came out and that's popular, though it lacks the full frame that I really like, but it also shoots 1080p which the kids really love. Ask the dSLR group here on FF? http://friendfeed.com/dslr
- Derrick
If I were doing that I'd get a cheap body and spend the rest of the 2K on lenses.
- John (a.k.a. dendroica)
My wife actually got a Cannon Eos Rebel something or other from Costco last year... 10+ megapixels with two great lenses for $950. Great starter set with enough cash left over to start talking about another decent lens. A.K.A. I agree with John.
- SAM
Pick up an entry level + kit lens (like a Canon T1i + 18-55IS or Nikon D90 + 18-55VR) and then a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens and use those for your class. Save the rest of your money until you figure out what you like to shoot and what all the different lens ranges mean. But get to a store for some hands on with the different camera bodies and go with whichever one feels more comfortable in your hands and has controls in locations that make more sense to you.
- ronin
Get a good, but less expensive body - like a 40D or T1i and spend the rest on quality glass. I bought a 50D back in March and have found that lenses make the real difference. My 50D is as big as a 5D mkII, so buy a body that fits with your purpose. The T1i is vastly easier to walk around with for hours compared to my 50D.
- Drew
Yeah, I got my Nikon D60 for like $550 at Costco with two lenses. If you want video, get the D90. I have the 50mm lens which I like for depth of field, but it is manual-focus only on a couple of models (mine is one), so you may want to do some research. I do miss having auto-focus with that lens, since I am a little hard-of-seeing. I have had both a Canon and a Nikon SLR and I find them to be quite similar, controls-wise. I think it is just a brand preference, or lens availability.
- Sumotuwe
Can I offer the suggestion of picking 1 or 2 and renting them for a day or so. Renting is cheap and you never quite know until you shoot with it in hand
- Johnny Worthington
from iPhone
@Sumotuwe Nikon does have a new 50mm now that will autofocus on your body. It's the 50mm f/1.4G as opposed to the 1.4D which you probably have.
- ronin
Go to the store and handle them. You'll know which one is right for you. I was pretty sold on a starter Canon SLR when I bought my first "real" camera about 4 years ago, but once I held it, it didn't feel right. I picked up a Nikon next and didn't look back.
- cecily
from iPhone
If you don't know much about photography yet don't get the absolute best body available and don't get a lot of lenses at first. You might decide that you don't like it as much as you thought. Or that you aren't interested in they type of subjects you thought you'd be. I don't know Canon but on the Nikon side for that range I'd be looking at a D90 probably. For $2K you have a lot of...
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- Benjamin Golub
Oh and you should definitely go to the store and hold them. Canon and Nikon do feel different. You can't go wrong with either company though.
- Benjamin Golub
I love my nikon d5000 it's less than half your budget. that leaves a lot of $$ for lenses which are more important.
- sean808080
I shoot Canon and recommend their stuff, but you should handle each manufacturer's (Sony, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Canon, etc.) body yourself. For me, the Canon body and layout (I have a 40D) were more intuitive / preferred over the Nikons. I am in agreement that if at all possible, you should get the best glass you can afford and a body to fit those lenses. The 50mm f1.8 is a great...
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- JA Castillo
Awesome thank you everyone I passed this on to Phil since he is the one looking. He is a much better photographer than me already (he has read lots of photography books) and he has lots of patience, whenever we are someplace he is always stopping to get a good picture and I am like LETS GO GET SOME TACOS and kicking him.
- Andrizzle Gizzle
This is great info! A thousand bucks is still a lot of money to me, I am tempted to break out my heirloom Nikon N50, but it is a film camera..
- Phil G
Yeah I think the first class just requires the camera be able to shoot in RAW and you could upgrade at any time.
- Andrizzle Gizzle
It's worth it to try digital, it will really open up some possibilities for you. Hang on to that film Nikon though. If you already have some Nikon film stuff it might be a good idea to research full frame Nikon bodies (just be sure your existing lenses will work, if they won't you can get cheaper bodies that aren't full frame).
- Jason Wehmhoener
Also, in the Nikon vs. Canon debate, I think it's largely personal preference. They both seem to have strengths, and just different approaches to things like camera controls, and emphasis on glass (Nikon) vs. camera body electronics (Canon). You can take amazing photos with either platform.
- Jason Wehmhoener
I only saw one mention of Sony DSLRs in this thread. Any opinion on them? I have an old (late 90's model) Minolta film camera body that I'd like to start using again. I've been told that I could share lenses between a Sony and my Minolta which would be ideal.
- Give 'Em DBizness
Minolta film cameras were awesome in their day. I used a 1.2 50mm Minolta in the early 90s and I LOVED that lens.
- Jason Wehmhoener
I found mine in a box a move or two ago. It had disappeared a couple of moves before that. The lens I had for it didn't survive all the moving but the body seems to be in good shape still. I just don't have a lens to test it out with right now.
- Give 'Em DBizness
pick the camera that feels good in YOUR hand ,, some people will get in the "this vs that " convo .. I use a pentax .,,, nothing wrong with my pics ,,
- johnpiercy
The Sony I'm looking at is kind of big and bulky but I have big hands so it doesn't really feel out of place. I don't want a camera that my hands dwarf.
- Give 'Em DBizness
Most modern cameras take great photos. There are a couple major things to be concerned about: low light performance, and compatibility with your preferred glass. I'd research those two things and by the time you are done with that you will probably have an idea about how comfortable you'll be with a particular camera. All the other stuff is basically icing/nice-to-have or just personal preference.
- Jason Wehmhoener
dpreview.com is a great place to research particular photo equipment. they do incredibly thorough reviews
- Jason Wehmhoener
My former roommate bought a Pentax DSLR a couple of years ago. It took great pics but seemed kind of plain to me. I guess I'm more of a gadgety, bells and whistles kind of guy.
- Give 'Em DBizness
I'm a gadgety bells and whistles guy too. I shoot Canon.
- Jason Wehmhoener
If you have Nikon film lenses, they should mount on any of the Nikon DSLR bodies. Things like autofocus and auto-metering might not work for all lens-body combinations, though. (You can still focus or set exposures manually.) This explains it: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon...
- John (a.k.a. dendroica)
Sony bought Konica Minolta 3 years ago and as far as I know, the new Sony-brand bodies still support every KM lens ever made. As far as image quality is concerned, they lag behind Canon/Nikon when it comes to high ISO/low light quality but anything below ISO1600 should be pretty comparable. Overall lens selection (for the Sony branded lenses) lags behind the big two but their high end...
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- ronin
I have a Nikon D80 and an 18-200mm lens that we received as a Christmas gift from family last year (the original owner was upgrading) and I love it. I was kind of overwhelmed with starting to research brands, etc. so it was nice to sort of have the decision made for me. I thought about upgrading to a newer body at some point, but the D80 just fits in my little hands perfectly. That...
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- joey
A really high quality 50mm is a dream to work with because they will generally have a much lower f-stop available than any other lens. This makes it possible to take photos in so many more situations, it really is incredible. I am currently missing a 50mm prime in my kit, and really need to correct that situation.
- Jason Wehmhoener
A friend gave me my Minolta back in college. He thought it was broken so he said I could have it if I was willing to get it repaired. I took it to a camera shop. The little Japanese man looked it over really well and found that there was nothing wrong with it. I bought a lens and a battery from him and left the store very happy. I got a $500 dollar camera for the cost of a cheap lens and a battery. I never had any problems out of it.
- Give 'Em DBizness
I loved shooting with a 50mm prime when I was using a Minolta film camera. It's very versatile.
- John (a.k.a. dendroica)
One of the surest ways to determine the maturity of someone is to see if they can handle others having a different opinion. If they can't comprehend why someone could possibly like some band or some movie that they don't like, then, well, they've failed.
'The proof is in the pudding!' 'Well I *HATE* pudding!'
- Akiva Moskovitz
Pudding rocks...Your insane..I completely disagree with you....lol
- Bill Heslin
I cannot remember the source of this quote, but: "the older I get, the shorter the time between when I realize that someone is a jackass, and when I tell them they are one."
- DGentry
It gets tougher, however, when someone holds an opinion that diverges from a bedrock truth of yours. Nevertheless, it's important to try to understand those that are wrong - I mean, that have a different view of life.
- John E. Bredehoft
from fftogo
It's mistaking being fierce/strong willed with being intolerant and really just stupid, like you said #FAIL
- sofarsoShawn
I can certainly comprehend the psychological/sociological reasons why some people enjoy racist rap or Nazi death metal or kids programs that teach jihad, but if you ask me to refrain from insulting such taste or ask me to teach my kids to tolerate such obvious insanity, I guess I fail the maturity test. I won't insult a person, but I will insult their evil art.
- Gus
Gus, there's a huge difference between the brainwashing that MEMRI TV delivers and someone being all pissed off because you like Jethro Tull.
- Akiva Moskovitz
MEMRI TV? How about Fox News? Less news, more conspiracy theory.
- Dennis Jernberg
I think this is true in most cases, but some things are just wrong.
- John (a.k.a. dendroica)
Dennis, as soon as FOX News features the equivalent of a Jew-eating Rabbit, I'll buy into your comparison.
- Akiva Moskovitz
Akiva, if someone is OK with your opinion because he/she doesn't care about other people's opinions, does that mean he/she has maturity?
- Brome
Damn... I just realized that if Akiva likes Tull, I have to agree with him again *pout*
- Michael W. May
:-) I was wondering if anyone would go there, Akiva! It's really just first person plural, though, as in "We humans are so silly."
- Kathy Fitch
I've had to fire so many friends based on this criteria alone.
- Sean Oliver
Brome, it means that they're invited to my Solstice Party.
- Akiva Moskovitz
I think I've been fired by some friends for being okay with some other friends' opinions, regardless of my personal comprehension or embracing of them.
- ɐ ɯıʞ sıɹɥɔ
I'm still back on this Josh Haley/Milli Vaniilli thing. Josh, I respect you. (Actually, I didn't say that. Someone else said it and I moved my lips.)
- John E. Bredehoft
OK, we all know that neither Fab nor Rob actually sang on that hit album. I am just saying that the people who DID sing on it and the producers therein really knew what they were doing in cranking out a quality pop album.
- Josh Haley
from iPhone
If you try and think of the things people say more like the sounds of dogs barking, and what they write more like the paths left by insects in tree bark, things make a lot more sense.
- SuezanneC Baskerville
This seems bumpworthy to me for some reason.
- Ken Sheppardson
I think "maturity" isn't necessarily the right term. It's more a measure of stubbornness. It may come from "failing to understand others", I just don't think it the term "maturity" accurately depicts the notion here.
- G. Sigh
I would counter and say that it takes a mature person to just walk away rather than demonstrating epic stubbornness.
- Akiva Moskovitz
Akiva, that sounds like wise council: "Before a quarrel bursts forth, take your leave."
- Melanie Reed
I would also say that it takes a mature person not to troll someone for disagreeing. Both sides can walk away or handle themselves with some kindness.
- joey
I wasn't unkind to him. I was unkind to the girl who blocked our driveway. He's the one tried to make it personal by bringing Audrey into the mix.
- Akiva Moskovitz
I didn't point a finger at a specific person; I think that several people were very unkind to him in that thread from the moment he opened his mouth.
- joey
Oh. I just assumed you were talking about me since this is my thread and all. And also the fact that you hate me!~!
- Akiva Moskovitz
Jimminy, yeah but only to say that he hopes that someone says mean things about her when she does something wrong as a teenager as I was saying mean things about the girl who blocked our driveway so as to teach us a lesson or something.
- Akiva Moskovitz
But I kind of have a policy that if you try to use my daughter as leverage against me in a discussion, the gloves, kid or otherwise, come right off.
- Akiva Moskovitz
Audrey's not a very good lever...she's too short.
- Alex Scoble
But, man, does that girl have some torque.
- Akiva Moskovitz
My point re: the word "mature" is that it's a bit too broad. My 5-year old niece may not exhibit epic stubbornness, but she is not a mature person either. My 70-year old uncle may not agree with me politically, and can be very stubborn, but remains a mature human for whom I have great respect. In other words, we're just painting with too broad a brush here. Mutual respect for one...
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- G. Sigh
G. Sigh, I agree. We learn the most about compassion when our heart's been the most broken. The kindness may be there before hand, but our loyalties can sometimes put that compassion out of balance.
- Melanie Reed
Woman putting on her lipstick in a park with Union Station behind her, Washington, D.C. (LOC) on Flickr - Photo Sharing! - http://www.flickr.com/photos...
OH NO!!! Now I will have to the Charlie Brown Christmas head bob. Anytime I watch the dance sequence I do the bob. Hmm, that reminds me I should see if the Scrubs take of Charlie Brown Christmas is still up on Youtube..
- Molly, "sorry"
Ivan (pronounced ee-VAHN) Makarov is a Bay Area photographer that I have admired and loosely worked with over the past year. He strikes a balance of discipline, curiosity, and variety in his work; possibly a function of his continual pursuit of decency. Although stoic in facade, I think Ivan is constantly inserting emotion into his photography. I wanted to probe a bit on a few fronts of his style and inspiration. Read on…
- Ivan Makarov
from Bookmarklet
Absolute congrats, Ivan. This is one of my favorites and gives me the "willies" every time I look at it. Your subject is certifiably nuts!
- Roger Loewen