Complete beginner question

[Spot focus]

I would have a look at a pentax k100 dslr with builtin anti shake and 6mp just my 2c

[Warin]

to spinkle on those words? LOL

One thing I have learned in my life... never say. "never".

Not even remotely, Don.

First, I have far too much money invested in decent Nikon glass to want to change systems for a feature I dont find that useful.

Second, I see that Nikon has something new in the 10mp department coming out around the 9th of march, and I bet it will knock the socks off the A100.

I also like that with my extreme III I can get a burst of around 20 frames of raw, at 5 frames per second. Dont see that on the A100 Funny that you have such a love for a camera that hasnt even hit retail yet. It's like all the measurbating (as much as Ken Rockwell is a bit of a dipstick at times, I love that term!) that went on before the D200 release. Thankfully, the camera matched up to the majority of the expectations

[DonSchap]

are not for the A100... far from it. No, sir. My expectations are destined for what comes NEXT.

The A100 is the intro... for a much wilder and professional entry. Think of it as expectations of Robin to those of the Batman.

I suggest we all just keep and open mind and let the chips fall where they may.

BTW: Like myself, with Canon, you can sell your investment in Nikon glass... you will probably get your money's worth... so that really is not an issue, if you want to make the transition to SONY. I feel your... your...

(Cut to the interior of the Cloud City on Bespin) - (having déjà vu, yet?)



VADER: There is no escape. Don't make me deny you. You do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your photographic prowess.
Join me... and I will complete your training. With our combined talent, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to DCRP.

LUKE: I'll never join you!

VADER: If you only knew the power of the "digital dark room". Obi-Wan never told
you what happened to your photography instructor.

LUKE: He told me enough! He told me you ignored him.

VADER: No. I am your photography instructor.

- Shocked, Luke looks at Vader in utter disbelief. -

LUKE: No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!

VADER: Search your feelings. You know it to be true.

LUKE: No! No! No!

VADER: Luke. You can destroy the hold Nikon has on you. They have foreseen this. It is your... destiny. Join me, and we can rule the DCRP as instructor and prodegy.

Come with me. It's the only way.

Vader puts away his camera and holds his hand out to Luke.
A calm comes over Luke, and he makes a decision. In the
next instant he steps off the gantry platform, into space. The
Dark Lord looks over the platform and sees Luke falling far
below. The wind begins to blow at Vader's cape and the torrent
finally forces him back, away from the edge. The wind soon
fades and the wounded student begins to drop fast, unable to grab
onto anything to break his fall.

(Fade back to reality)

You see... there are larger forces at work here... LOL

[Warin]

Too funny.

To be blunt, I doubt we'll ever see a camera from Sony that hits "pro" to the extent that even the D200 does. When it comes to the DSC market, they dont seem to have the drive to break into it. If we look at video, they are pretty awesome (other than the stupid insistance on using HDV in a ~5K "pro" camera. There is nothing "pro" about HDV )

They seem to be happy to stick with the prosumer market.

[DonSchap]

like chips falling where they may, do ya?

(The screen darkens and opens on another familiar scene: )


NIKON'S CORP PRESIDENT (laughing)
Good. Use your aggressive feelings, boy! Let the hate of SONY products flow through you.

Luke looks momentarily toward the Corporate President, then back to Vader, and
realizes he is tempted into relying on the digital dark room. He steps back, turns off his Nikon camera, and relaxes, driving the conflict from his being.

VADER
Obi-Wan has taught you well.

LUKE
I will not fight you, my instructor.

Vader walks back up the stairs to Luke.

VADER
You are unwise to lower your camera.

Vader attacks with several mouse edits and color retouches, forcing Luke on the defensive. The young student leaps in an amazing reverse flip and history deletion, then jumps up to the safety of the catwalk overhead. Vader stands below him.

LUKE
Your thoughts betray you, my instructor. I feel the "good photographer" in you...the conflict between the digital dark room and good composition.

VADER
There is no conflict.

LUKE
You couldn't bring yourself to edit my work before, and I don't believe
you'll destroy it now.

VADER
You underestimate the power of the digital dark room. If you will not submit to software, then you will meet... your destiny.

Vader throws a digital scanner and it smashes through the supports holding the catwalk, then returns to Vader's hand. Luke tumbles to the ground in a shower of sparks and rolls out of sight, under the President's platform. Vader moves to find him.

PRESIDENT (laughs)
Good. Good.

(Fade back to reality)

This will end when it ends... and I can not believe that SONY will allow all the technology involved in Minolta's 9D project to just fade away without trying to turn a buck with it. You can be sure they are going to use the A100 to provide captial for the project and then pop out with, as I and others have surmised earlier, the FF-sensor killer.

[aparmley]

18 days until Nikon announces a new 10.2MP body. Its expected to be priced below the 30D. . . .

This could shake things up - Pun very much intended, Don.

[DonSchap]

Yoda and Luke sprint through the slimey jungle of Dagobah.



YODA: Run! Yes. A photographer's strength flows from his creative Force. But beware of the digital dark room. Wrong ISO... shake... muddled focus. The darker side of awful composure are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a image. If once you start down the digital dark room path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.

LUKE: Vader. Is the dark room stronger?

YODA: No...no...no. Quicker, easier, more seductive.

LUKE: But how am I to know a good shot from the bad?

YODA: You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A photographer uses the software for knowledge and inadvertant repair, never for composition.

LUKE: But tell me why I can't...

YODA: (interrupting) No, no, there is no why. Nothing more will I teach you today. Clear your mind of questions. Mmm. Mmmmmm.

Artoo beeps in the distance as Luke lets Yoda down to the
ground. Breathing heavily, he takes his shirt from a nearby
tree branch and pulls it on.
He turns to see a huge, dead, black tree, its base
surrounded by a few feet of water. Giant, twisted roots form a
dark and sinister cave on one side. Luke stares at the tree,
trembling.

LUKE: There's something not right here.

Yoda sits on a large root, poking his Gimer Stick into the
dirt.

LUKE: I feel cold...

YODA: That place...is strong with the corrupted dark room. A domain of deceit it is. In you must go.

LUKE: What's in there?

YODA: Only what you take with you.

Luke looks warily between the tree and Yoda. He starts to
strap on his newly released Nikon camera that the all-knowing Andy had warned of...

YODA: Your camera...you will not need it.

Luke gives the tree a long look, than shakes his head "no."
Yoda shrugs. Luke reaches up to brush aside some hanging vines
and enters the tree.

(the scene fades back to your computer desk)

The fact is... we are turning out the products of our craft... despite the equipment we use. I suspect Canon, in turn, will have a response for Nikon. This is a great year for digital photography (DIGITAL WARS)... but remember, it is still we who decide what gets the shutter pulled on it.

[aparmley]

The fact is... we are turning out the products of our craft... despite the equipment we use. I suspect Canon, in turn, will have a response for Nikon. This is a great year for digital photography (DIGITAL WARS)... but remember, it is still we who decide what gets the shutter pulled on it.

Don "Its all a bunch of tree-hugging hippy" Schap, you're an odd bloke, entertaining none-the-less.

Just bringing the fact to the attention of the OP - if which camp is still in question, he should decide after that announcement.

[some guy]

Don is about as entertaining as Rhys. Right up there. Whoa!

[DonSchap]

Interior of a dark “Corporate Board Room”



VP of Sales: The Corporate Board of K-M will no longer be of any concern to us. I've just received word that SONY has dissolved the ties with Konica-Minolta branding permanently. The last remnants of the Old Company have been swept away.

VP of Service: That's impossible! How will SONY maintain service and repair without their bureaucracy?

VP of Sales: The regional repair centers now have direct control over the sales territories. Fear will keep the local dealers in line. Fear of this corporate monolith.

VP of Service: And what of the Rebellion? If those K-M Rebels have obtained a complete technical readout of this new version of the 9D-release, it is possible, however unlikely, that they might find out we tricked K-M out of their real rise to creative power and not buy it.

VADER: The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands.

VP of Technical Design: Any boycott made by those K-M Rebels against this company would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they've obtained. This company is now the ultimate power in the photographic world. I suggest we use it!

VADER: Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a single corporate board is insignificant next to the power of the creative photographers.

VP of Technical Design: Don't try to frighten us with your creative ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient line of cameras has not helped you conjure up the stolen data drives, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the K-M Rebel's real agenda...

Suddenly, the VP of Technical Design chokes and starts to turn blue under Vader's dark spell.

VADER: I find your lack of faith disturbing.

VP of Sales: Enough of this! Vader, release him!

VADER: As you wish.

Vader opens his hand and the corporate goon falls to the table, clutching his throat.

VP of Sales: This bickering is pointless. Lord Vader will provide us with the location of the K-M Rebel concentrations, by the time this Alpha-line is operational. We will then crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke… and the re-branding will be complete.


Fade to reality...

The K-M model (9D) that was "on the drawing board" represents an entirely new approach to professional photography as we know it. I guess the question remains: Will SONY release this incredible design... or bury it?

Stay tuned...