Voltron

Definitely more than gear pron, including people, nature, traveling, etc. While the web would be the more likely place for gear shots, we do make prints for albums and framing on occasion. I was focused on the lens because even though I wasn't focused on full frame envy I have not been satisfied with the relatively lacking packaged lens (28-135, f/3.5-5.6) that came with the 40D (which I bought as CompUSA closed its doors). I enjoyed checking out the lenses and think that 40D with better lens options would be adequate. The new question posed today is what is lost by sticking with the 40D's 1.6x system? Thanks for the offer of the light tent, which is probably a solution for lots of the gear photo issues. Taking pics on the racks won't allow that, however, unless you got one big-ass tent.

After seeing Gene's 5D is the same size as the 40D, and having a slightly better understanding of the full frame vs. not distinction, how much improvement/difference does the upgrade provide if using Canon EF L lenses in both?

Hey Smeggy- Nice work on the woody Sonys!

I didn't see it/hear it, but I was either drunk or hung over the entire time, so there you go.

Good to see that Nate has in place the mil-spec 5R4W (or whatever they are) that he got off Mikhail. Nice! Let me know if you try the GZ34s sometime. Curious how they work for you.

I don't know all the details, and I don't know wtf you guys are talking about from the technical perspective, but I think that $$$ Plitron was on the amp before he ever came up with the idea of the separate PSU. Would seem odd for him to take it off at that point.

I don't know what DOF means, but I really like the pics you took, Peter.

Absolutely. My kids both have Macbooks and neither has had a problem but you never know.

Macbook (refurb) thirded.

HBD purk!

Scattered posting. I walked away after going to this thread and then saw ryan's post about impressions with balanced Grados and I forgot the thread was about the TTVJ 307A. It really handled the Grados well, and I am honestly trying to remember whether I brought the PS-1s over there or not. Scattered at teh meet too, don't you know.

I had both balanced brown leather RS-1s with a 4-pin XLR and balanced PS-1 with Equinox 2x3-pin XLRs that made the rounds a bit and sat in front of my monster Rockhopper balanced B22. I was very pleased how they sounded from my amp, and I also heard my PS-1s and Craig's RS-1s from the EC Balancing Act. Craig's amps do great things for Grados in general, but the PS-1s sounded a little bloated from the EC/BA on the first track I heard them on. Good but not perfect. Then daveDerek put on a Linda Rondstadt with Nelson Riddles Orch disc and Craig, DD and I all thought it was amazingly perfect. The RS-1s were outstanding from the EC/BA and the TTVJ 307A also. Trying to remember what I heard on the Menace and grawk's mosfet amp but it seems like they were s/e Grados. Woody HF-1s? Anyway, both sounded great but my tube bent made me prefer the Menace and the immense power it threw into the drivers. Sweet.

Same.

Yeah, I have been occasionally posting over on the 'Fi and just put up a windy one. I will reserve some good stuff for over here but do not have the strength to duplicate everything. It was a hell of a crew and the 'Casers were well represented. More need to be there next year people! Sing it with me: We are the world. We are the children . . .

Nate is right that the amp is better in person than the pics, but his are much closer than the original promo shots. As for the cost, it is a low-production, hand-built designs and the transformers alone cost a shitload of money.

Happy LOL day!

I haven't even seen what he is talking about, but I love the OP in that thread! Paraphrasing, but my favorite was "How can I get schematics to build a Hoax?" :rofl:

Kinda thought you might say that!

What the hell is that?

I may be skewed -- and may be more of the target market in some respects -- but the package prices are quite good for everything you are getting. I am quite sure I will get the stands, and have been waiting for a year for them. I have the Desktop Amp/PSU already and I am using the pre-outs into powered M-Audio BX5a monitors, so being able to house the amp/psu under the speakers is a bonus, let alone the integrated headphone holder. As for the power amps, I am looking forward to hearing them this weekend. Last year Tyll had a mock-up with a T-amp or something stuck inside the HR cases. Hoping the HR amps sound good, because that might be an upgrade I would do at some point. The Amphion speakers KICK ASS! They are really amazing sounding and could easily blow you out of your desk chair. Tyll loves them and I am sure they will be at CanJam. I like Harbeth speakers but have not heard those monitors, although I assume that would be a good alternative for a little more laid-back listening style. Not to say the Amphions cannot handle low volume listening, just the Harbeth sound is quite different. I hope HeadRoom sells tons of these rigs! It will be great for them but also for proliferating good headphone setups into the mainstream audiophile world. Who would not be tempted to hang some nice cans from those holders and plug something into those jacks?!

Thanks for input so far. Any more thoughts on a good lens, whether of the types/brands listed or otherwise?

So I bought a 430EX flash on the way to the Giants game but BB had shit for lenses.

Funny, I tried to convince a salesman that I should get a real flash and maybe some kind of diffuser like the one I have seen Tyll use a lot, and he said the 40D flash is perfect for my needs. I didn't agree, but could not believe that he was talking me out of spending money.

I have a Canon EOS 40D and a 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS lens. I have been asking around randomly and was looking at lenses today with the hope of finding the perfect lens for gear pics and use at meets. The question of whether it is better to get a macro or just a wide angle lens is not completely clear to me. Several people have 50mm f2.8 macro lenses and like those, and you can even go to f1.4 with a new Sigma lens, but I think I still want it to be a zoom for greater flexibility. Talk me out of it, of course, if you think that is the best choice. The lens that looks killer to me is the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, although it is very pricey and may be overkill for me. The runner up is the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, but that is almost as much cash. The Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM is more affordable, but the f4 seems to make it less indoor-friendly. I know that you can jack up the ISO, but still, that is probably too slow for use very often in low light. Sigma has the 20-40mm F2.8 EX DG ASPHERICAL, which seems pretty bitchin, and it is much lower priced. So, any thoughts on the right lens for gear? Any experience with any of the lenses above? Just want to spew some photo-knowledge? Please have at it. Thanks.