Wow. Your HS is kinda rare. Most people are telling me nobody wants the old darkroom stuff. I have been buying all kinds of big darkroom gear over a 5 state area.

I have bought without bargaining on prices, meaning I have paid what they asked, many items. Such as NOS Arkay fiberglass 7 foot sink for $20 and at the same house a perfect dust free Beseler 45MX for $20.

8 foot stainless Calumet sink NOS $100.
6 foot stainless Leidal used on stand $100
Two 57 Beseler enlargers one motorized and working both for $80.
10x10 very shiny Fotar 8 foot tall floor model enlarger chassis only $295
20x24 perfect Saunders easel $300
20x24 very clean Calumet Vertical print washer $300
Two excellent 9 foot Arkay camera stands with Masestic heads both for $225

I will skip the Large Format cameras, lenses and tripods. But Pros are dumping all that too. Package deals are the best price.

Then there older studio lights, stands and booms.

If other words I have built a very nice and large old school darkroom and portrait studio for peanuts. All in 3 months. Not quite done yet, but close.

I would be worried any of these sticks could be considered weapons by both police and others. Weapons can be taken away and used on the OP (original possessor). Most of us are too old to end up in a confrontation. BTW I was at the 1968 Chicago convention. Not much fun at all.

He is actually partners in a documentary film production studio.

Now that's a good idea!

I really only lend that one camera to a good friend who lends me any of a huge assortment of high quality film cameras.

I just cannot understand why he doesn't get a digital. He never uses any of his film cameras. So it is not that he is some purest. He is simply cheap. I did sell him for $50 a nice Nikon P&S which he gave to his mother who cannot figure it out and never will.

He also did not buy any of those nice film cameras. He inherited them.

I got a D7000 when I lost my D700 and never missed the D700.

I thought I read somewhere the D70 does not need an IR conversion as it does not have an IR filter built in. I cannot recall the source or how they recommended using the D70 for IR.

Any ideas? IR wise?

I use the D70 as a loaner to my friends who are too cheap and lazy to actually buy a good camera.

If you want a D7000 I think you better buy it while you can. I consider the D7000 to be one darn near perfect camera. It will be difficult for Nikon to make anything better! IMHO

Right now I am constantly switching between my D7000 and my D800 and the D7000 is so fast, comfortable and small, I wish we had the full frame D800 features inside that body.

Oh I suppose that will be the next new Nikon.

I just checked mine with those darn targets and such and found no focus problems.

I did the tests with both my D800 and D7000. I did find diopter correction to be important and setting the type of focus also important.

Yes!

I would not take a huge laptop on vacation. But then I have a 17" for home and a Mac Air 11" for travel. A Kindle is so thin I jam it into my jeans back pocket.

I take a small camera, might be digital or not. It's vacation, I try to do something new...

Actually this iPod 4 Touch I am using does damn near everything. If it had the iPhone 4 camera it would be all I would take.

I really dislike a bag. A boy's pockets are good enough for all his toys, and leaves my hands free for self defense.

Made me laugh! My big bikes have become scooters, my arthritis is so bad I can rarely ride, but each short ride is still a blessing. I understand the .22 syndrome well. The other day I was just able to drill a 3/4" hole in 1/4" plate to make a camera adapter. I almost let the big drill go, but gutted through it, anything for a camera. Heck, I am way better than last year, when I spent the winter in a wheel chair. Good thing I bought an ADA condo 9 years ago, I now need it, and my large darkroom and shooting studio is built for wheel chair usage.

In 20 years I will need a mind reading camera to shoot, maybe we will have it!

I don't consider our past degenerate, I do feel sorry for the lack of enthusiasm most of our youth suffer.

If I can, I am plotting a scooter trip with a camera for fall photos...my young friends wonder why I still keep some bikes. My reply is, this may be my last year riding. They do not understand.

Good advice Fred, but I never listen and Jim may not either. I doubt he will dump 63 guitars. Collectors are wily, we seem to always have some more.

Yes, today's cameras will be long obsolete, if we live 20 more years. I just retired at 61 and have been doing similar things as Jim.

I will worry about 81 when and if I get there, in the meantime I deny myself little as life is too short. I have 2 ex-wives and 3 dead girlfriends. I miss them all, they do not miss me.

You could always look it, the age old rule is, 'if you have to ask you cannot afford it.' I heard that in a movie I think.

quote=deanna_hg]Have not read all the posts as I am taking a small break from house cleaning, How much does the 24-70 lens cost? Or do I really want to know?[/quote]

Each to their own. Why do I buy several different motorcycles every year. Because I like them. I also sell the extras every year. I am not rich, just crazy.

I am a collector of many things and people.

My 3 favorite cameras cost all together under $100. And I do shoot them.

At 4:00A I bought online a $39.00 lens. I am so excited to try it out out with my 1966 Mamiya 33 TLR.

The new digital cameras are fantastic, but may not last more than 10 years, due to progress and lead removal. I do not trust digital to last, including electronic lenses.