Jon L

Yup, I had high hopes for Sony QX100, too. But it just does not seem ready for prime-time. If I find nothing good, though, it may still be in the cards. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3jgKD2ascc

My tubby fingers just cannot deal with iPhone's 4" screen. Unless iPhone goes to at least a 4.6" screen, it's no go for me. I actually would prefer a non-zoom, fixed lens on my phone camera, ideally with a fast aperture (f/2.2 like Lumia 1020) and as large a sensor as would fit. 1/1.5" sensor like Lumia 1020 would give me decent utility in low light, just enough to let me leave aps-c or full frame cameras home.

I need to have a phone with me at all times, partly due to work-related obligations. Thus, carrying a separate camera, even point-and-shoot becomes a chore, which then encourages not carrying one, which has caused a ton of missed photo opportunities for me. I may have to wait until Verizon decides to carry a version of Nokia Lumia 1020 (1028?) next year, or that Samsung S4 looked quite nice, too.

I was kind of hoping it would be mirrorless and therefore smaller, a competitor to Sony A7. But at 765g, it's going to be DSLR type weight. Still, the D4 sensor is cool, and I just hope the price will be decent.

I was at the Verizon store, trying to undo a Verizon mess-up (what else is new?). It gave me a chance to scope out my next phone, upon which I will be placing a large emphasis on *good* camera performance, as I tire of carrying a real camera to various casual events. My prime candidate, the Samsung Galaxy Camera, was heavily disappointing. It was MUCH larger and heavier than any phone OR compact camera I've owned, not to mention the ugliest. It's like they literally took a phone and camera and fused them without weight or size savings. The 21x zoom lens was not bad even zoomed all the way out as far as IQ and focus speed, but it looked ludicrous when zoomed out. Considering it only has the usual 1/2.3" size sensor, larger than usual phone but same as run-of-the-mill point-and-shoot, this phone should have been smaller and lighter. Nokia Lumia 1020 is a candidate with its larger 1/1.5" sensor but why 41.3 MP?? Verizon does not even carry it, and I would like to stick to Android anyway. Any other candidates? Galaxycam1 by drjlo2, on Flickr Galaxycam2 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Awesome build and congrats! And I do agree there's something extra special about the sound of a good tube amp over sand

Sad but true. Samyang already announced they will make FE mount versions of their popular MF lenses. I'm hoping Sigma announces FE mount versions of their ART series lenses. Now THAT would seal the deal, as I don't like those Zeiss FE lens prices at all..

There's already a review of Sony A7 and A7r from Camerastore. At about 11:30 into the video, the guy is seen shooting Canon L glass using Metabones adapter WITH autofocus intact! Now I'm excited, as I can see using my 85L on that 36 MP D800E sensor!

Precisely ONE lens interests me out of that whole group, which is the 55mm f/1.8. 35 f/2.8? 24-70 f/4? Meh to the Moar power.

I was dumbfounded to see this photo from RMAF, showing off the $15K combo of Woo 234 monoblocks, which is able to use 2A3, 45, or 300B with both speaker and headphone outputs. The Abyss planar 'phones at $5500 costs a little more than Stax SR009 even. Anybody tried either product? woo234 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Well, woodies should introduce some warmish distortions/resonances to mask over SR009's prostate-exam-without-lube sensibility, at least I would presume. Even with KGBH, I still don't see how both SR007 and 009 could sound "optimal" at same time without any change in something. I am playing with SuperEQ software, and < 1dB shaving in the presence region and 1-2 dB boost in mid to low bass for SR009 is letting me enjoy both SR007 and SR009 with same setup, so that's a promising. Does a brand new SR009 need to be "broken in" a while before sound settles?

I would personally go with the new Liquid Lightning and Stax SR009 combo. Liquid lightning2 copy by drjlo1, on Flickr Stax SR009 2 by drjlo1, on Flickr

Wow, so LL III must have been in the "works" for quite some time, way before the Head-Case thread regarding LL II. Any guess to what tube circuit the Mk III sports?

Sudden thunderstorm in SoCal today. EOSD5131dx by drjlo1, on Flickr

If someone has both Sigma 35 f/1.4 and Canon 35L, is it possible to post photos from both lenses shooting same subjects, preferably with people/skin tones as well as colorful things in the frame? I'm kind of torn about the Sigma because while no one will disagree it's sharper wide open than Canon, the photo's I've seen from the Sigma seems a little muted in color with less "pop" of the subject, especially in portrait situation. I've seen some photogs buy Sigma, then return it, complaining of this impression as well. I'm thining about picking the Sigma up to experiment, but not sure if it's worth the trouble, especially with the possibility lurking my copy may have AF issues, etc. I'm happy enough with my 35L, though it's getting long in the tooth. If 35L II comes out with some improvements, I will have to look hard at the presumably big price hike from Canon vs. the Sigma.

Or, forget all that and get the new Zeiss Otus 55 mm f1.4 lens for $4000.00. It's Moar to the power of Moar http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/10/07/zeiss-announces-new-high-end-otus-1.4-55-lens Zeiss55f1.4 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Get the D610. While D7100 is a fantastic crop body, the images I've seen from D600 from friends and on-line are top, top notch. D610 should be one you can use and keep around for years and years without compromise in photo quality. Check out iso3200 comparisons of D600 vs. D7100 (select cameras, iso samples, then blow up image) below: http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

My brain just exploded reading about the Realiser. It seems to me the $3000 price (without the 'phones) would be worth it for me only if the premium room profiles were readily available for much lower prices or even for free. It also seems like the reviewers who love the A8 mostly are guys who hate headphone listening to begin with, so making the headphones sound like speakers are amazing to them. I on the other hand love headphone listening and already have a speaker system that satisfies that itch; I wouldn't want to turn my Stax experience to speaker experience. What also makes the Realiser a non-starter for me is that its only digital output is toslink, whereas my DAC's sound best via USB or Firewire, even aes/ebu. Realizer's only digital input is via HDMI as well. Arrgg. Lastly, I'd rather save that $3000 towards a real good 'stat amp really. But thanks for the interesting option, which I do hope to experience some day.

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Stax SR009 1 by drjlo1, on Flickr My very own SR009 just arrived, as beautiful as ever. Although I already knew it, switching between SR007 MkI and SR009 in real time, I am severely struck by the fact there is NO way one system could be optimized for both 'stats. If using the same amp, at least some tube and cable swapping must follow in order to enjoy both. Now I wish for 'stats that combine the strengths of SR007 and SR009...maybe stick those SR009 drivers into nice warm wooden cups, but who'd be Krazee enough to do something like that

Of the numerous 300B amps I've listened to, only couple of them sounded very good to me, so lots of circuit/ implementation hurdles to make a truly great 300B amp. I did enjoy my time with the superb AVVT AV32B, but only in a "normal" 300B op points. I wish somebody would design an amp around AV32B with its 65 watt max plate dissipation Oh, and drive them with something other than the 6SN7 AVVT32B by drjlo2, on Flickr

Is 6c33 out of the question for an electrostat amp? It's used in many commercial amps already, sounds good (to me), and affordable at $50-60.

I recommend checking out the La Jolla Cove, which is absolutely gorgeous. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-jolla-cove-la-jolla?select=UmzTaFrBePCl5OoH29nFzw#DYrOi7gv14gV9zCHKUB5Iw And the Seaport Village, from which you can take a short ferry ride to Coronado Island across the water. There's great restaurant called Peohe's right at the Ferry Landing on Coronado side with breath-taking view of the City. Have dinner there and take ferry back to Seaport Village, so no need to drive to coronado over the bridge. https://www.google.com/maps/preview/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x80d9534c152b68f9:0xc77720c3526ef354!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://plus.google.com/113660721442449907275/photos?hl%3Den%26socfid%3Dweb:lu:kp:placepageimage%26socpid%3D1!5sPeohe's+-+Google+Search&sa=X&ei=YW1LUvCyDOGejAL36IGADw&ved=0CKIBEKIqMAk Seaport Village. http://www.yelp.com/biz/seaport-village-san-diego-2

That EML20B sure is pretty, but damn at $500+ per single tube, it's a hard pill to swallow. I did find this EML20B SET on line, and I do love the possibility of a simpler circuitry revolving around the EML20B. http://www.tubeaudiolab.com/id148.html EML20Bamp by drjlo2, on Flickr

I would like Chinese-made T2 and KGSSHV on eBay on Buy-It-Now for $399.99 please.