After reading through the posts in this Soap Opera I can see why Scott Kelby shops at B&H Photo for all his photography needs. I alternate between them and Amazon.com myself.

Helen of Adorama, if you really still do have this guy's camera and can't provide the new camera he and you agree to, simply send his old one back to him. He's its rightful owner. If you don't really still have it, and if you knew you couldn't provide the "out of stock" product the guy agreed to purchase in the contract he signed with you, why then did you get rid of his camera? Helen stated they have his camera and are waiting for him to contact them before returning it to him. Why? Why is that necessary when he has stated several times he just wants his camera back since you don't have the new D4 you agreed to provide him? Simply return his camera to him. If not Adorama's credibility will take an even bigger hit here and elsewhere than it already has. Seems like a simple solution to me. Just give the guy back his camera. Duh. By the way, the name calling is totally rude and unnecessary, semprasectum. I realize you're frustrated and upset, but keep it civil, okay? Good luck!

Cindy, I totally agree with you. What's supposedly "trendy" is often just lame looking in the name of "pseudo-creativity." It may make the photographer feel edgy, but for me personally some of these gimmicky compositions are simply indications that the photographer has grown tired of shooting photos for years under basic guidelines, and is trying for something "more creative" or exploratory. I prefer "less intellect" and more common sense in taking photos. JMHO....

Try to spend an hour or so in New Bern, NC for sure. We live here and love our little town. Tryon Palace here was the seat of the first NC government and is open for tours. The "downtown" area is quaint, on the water, and has several nice little stores, and a big marina at the Hilton Hotel. Nice walking town. I've attached a couple photos to give you some idea of what we look like. It's a straight 3.5 hours or less shot down 17 to Myrtle Beach from here, with a by-pass around Wilmington if you don't want to stop there. Wilmington has a battleship moored there which is also open for tours. Have a nice trip....

New Bern, NC from the air


Persimmon's waterfront restaurant


Tryon Palace, open for tours

It's supposed to be out by the end of the month, at least at B&H Photo. The f/2.8 throughout the entire ranges is a BIG deal! I'd pop for the FZ200 if I could afford it and wanted the best bridge camera out there. I don't believe the lens is actually made by Leica... I think they partner with Pany and provide specs or something... can't remember the connection. I know the FZ100, 150, and 200 all shoot in RAW, and their RAW shots are supported by Photoshop and PSE10. Here are a couple of shots I took with my FZ150 that I thought were pretty good. The black and white was shot from the back of the auditorium, tripod, telephoto obviously....

My wife (a native D.C. girl) recommends somewhere along the way you include the Blue Ridge Parkway in Western Virginia. Charlottesville, VA is beautiful. Manassas, VA is nice, and of course Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is a big historical battlefield site. Either Nashville or Atlanta can get you near western NC and Virginia. Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC is also an interesting site to include if possible. Have a great trip!

I upgraded to the FZ150 from the FZ100 and enjoyed a nice improvement in image quality, and have now sold my FZ150 and upgraded to a Sony NEX F3, which uses the same large sensor as are used in DSLR's. BIG jump again in image quality. I loved the FZ150, but the IQ is not equal to what I'm getting from the little NEX F3. I now have no EVF, no hot shoe, and have to go into the menu to set iA, iA+, P, S, A, and M, but the built-in bouce(able) flash is plenty powerful enough for interior shots, and I rarely used the eye-level viewfinder on the FZ150 anyway, so I don't miss it. The FZ200 is going to have even better IQ than the FZ150 judging from sample photos, and f/2.8 through the entire zoom range is just awesome. There are excellent condition FZ150's available on eBay right now (I sold mine there for $390), so you may want to consider picking up one there if you decide on it rather than the FZ200 (but you'll probably want to upgrade to the FZ200 later anyway, so I'd pay the extra bucks and get the FZ200 when it comes out if I wanted to stick with an FZ model). LOVE this little F3, however, and wouldn't change it for any other camera other than maybe the NEX-7.... JMHO....

I owned the FZ100 and upgraded to the FZ150. VERY happy with the camera overall. Vivitar 383 external flash fits and works with the FZ150. The range, 24mm to over 600mm, is astonishing. Here are a couple shots I took at a local stage production of "An Evening of Old Time Radio, Richard Diamond and The Bickersons." I then converted to b&w for printing using Topaz BW Effects in PSE 10. The data indicates these were shot at a 35mm equivalent of 584mm, 1/30th sec. f/4.9, no flash, using a tripod. Shot in .jpg and RAW, but processed with RAW. I'm very happy with the results. And I've never experienced any shutter lag with the FZ150. It's a great camera, and the FZ200 should be even better. f/2.8 THROUGH THE ENTIRE ZOOM RANGE! That's amazing!!!!!!!!!!

"Richard Diamond"


"The Director/Announcer"


Blanche Bickerson

I'm with you, Steve. I have no interest in a camera with a touch screen....

I was wrong... the LX7 has a SMALLER sensor than the RX100. Sorry. Duh....

Just read a review of the new Pany LX7. 1.4 LENS, BIGGER SENSOR THAN RX100, wider 24mm, control ring, AND an expected price around $500. That's more like it! VERY interesting. Love these competitive camera tech wars!

A friend got his yesterday and loves it. From what I've seen of his photos, it is a very impressive camera. Big sensor, fast f/1.8 lens, control ring, small size, a true "carry everywhere" pocket camera with amazing image quality. I want one!!! Anybody have a spare $650 they don't need? Now can't wait to see how Canon and Panasonic respond....

LOL about marrying your Canon lens!!!

I've always been told 85mm was ideal for portraits, but years ago I owned a Nikkor 105mm and it was amazing for portraits. Seems anything under 70mm is probably not best for portraits due to the wonderfully shallow depth of field attained using the longer lenses, but 50mm is probably okay. JMHO.

For a brief period of time. Lowest prices I've seen. Nikon J1, two Nikon lenses, 8GB SD card, small carrying case for $649! Here's the url: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11752033&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|90607|83|93504&N=4052774&Mo=3&pos=2&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=93504&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10604-Cat83&topnav=

Imus on Fox! Amazing. Guess money really does talk! Thanks....

Imus still has a show??? He dropped off the map after his Rutgers women's basketball team comment screw-up....