WooHoo-new toys on the way :-)

[Lionheart]

I'm weak, weak, weak....oh woe is me. I gave in and bought some new toys. After reading reviews and seeing pics on dpreview.com, I splurged a little and replaced my aging Canon G2 with a new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 because I wanted more reach and ability than the G2 but am tired of lugging around 20+ pounds of EOS-1D Mk II and a bunch of "L" lenses. Then I did something really pathetic. I also ordered a digital video cam- a Panasonic VDR-M53 DVD-RAM/DVD-R Camcorder along with the Lumix. As if that wasn't bad enough, I ordered it FedEx next day, because I wanted it before my son's trumpet recital on Saturday, and piano recital on Sunday, and because I want both before I leave for Hawaii with the family on vacation early Monday morning. Then on top of all that, I put it on the office credit card out of habit, and since none of it is office related, it's coming out of my next paycheck as a cash advance. Am I pathetic or what? Oh, well, I'm sure I'll be enjoying them when they arrive.

[Speed]

I'm weak, weak, weak....oh woe is me. I gave in and bought some new toys. After reading reviews and seeing pics on dpreview.com, I splurged a little and replaced my aging Canon G2 with a new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 because I wanted more reach and ability than the G2 but am tired of lugging around 20+ pounds of EOS-1D Mk II and a bunch of "L" lenses. Then I did something really pathetic. I also ordered a digital video cam- a Panasonic VDR-M53 DVD-RAM/DVD-R Camcorder along with the Lumix. As if that wasn't bad enough, I ordered it FedEx next day, because I wanted it before my son's trumpet recital on Saturday, and piano recital on Sunday, and because I want both before I leave for Hawaii with the family on vacation early Monday morning. Then on top of all that, I put it on the office credit card out of habit, and since none of it is office related, it's coming out of my next paycheck as a cash advance. Am I pathetic or what? Oh, well, I'm sure I'll be enjoying them when they arrive.

I do hope all your monthly bills are paid! :-O

My wife would have a kaniption if I did that!

You must have a very understanding wife...

;-)

Oh yeah, congratulations on your new toys!!!!

[Arctirus]

hehe, I do that kind of thing all the time It's great isn't it?

It took all I had to not order a new dual core processor the other day.

[Liz]

Congratulations! I think you did good - now you can enjoy your son's performance for years to come - and you can enjoy the rest of the summer playing with your new toys.

I can relate to wanting a smaller camera for snapshots, etc. vs "always" carrying a heavy one. A few months ago I bought a Panasonic Z3 as a carry-with-me-just-in-case camera. It really does get good results - it also has a nice long Leica lens, and it's as light as a feather. I got a great deal - less than $300 after $50 rebate and $35 gift card. :-)

I hope to see some of your pictures. In the meantime, I have to say that I think many of us get a little "pathetic" now and then. It's kind of fun to do crazy things.

Jill

[paulnj]

Have a wonderful time in Hawaii and bring home lots of great images to post from there.


Gene

Preferably an image of an I'iwi , but your children going nuts on the beach will do ;)

As for the FZ5..... GREAT choice!

[Lionheart]

hehe, I do that kind of thing all the time It's great isn't it?

It took all I had to not order a new dual core processor the other day.

That's my next temptation but it'll have to be when I'm in the mood to overhaul my rig. I just overhauled my PC at the beginning of the year and replacing the mobo on this machine isn't all that fun.

[Lionheart]

I do hope all your monthly bills are paid! :-O

My wife would have a kaniption if I did that!

You must have a very understanding wife...

;-)

Oh yeah, congratulations on your new toys!!!!

Well, my wife found out just now. I had to tell her eventually of course, since the G2 is hers, and I sold it today to my team coordinator (for $200-was that too much?), and it would be worse if I suddenly started using a couple of cameras she had never seen before. She didn't have a kaniption, but she was DEFINITELY not pleased. The Panasonic FZ-5 is now officially HERS. She was very gracious however, in letting me have the digital videocam.

[Lionheart]

Dear Leon:

There's nothing weak or pathetic about you. You wanted what you wanted, you figured out a way to get it, and you went on and got the job done. I highly commend you for being forthright and l look forward to seeing the shots from the trumpet and piano recitals.

Have a wonderful time in Hawaii and bring home lots of great images to post from there.

Best Regards,
Gene

Thanks Gene. I wish everyone was as understanding as you. I'll definitely be bringing lots of pictures, but I have a hunch my son will commandeer the new FZ-5 from my wife and myself, and most of the pics will be his.

[Lionheart]

As for the FZ5..... GREAT choice!

Thanks Paul If this camera with its 12x zoom gets the job done, and is fast and responsive enough, I'll permanently keep the 1D Mk II at the office.

[Lionheart]

Congratulations! I think you did good - now you can enjoy your son's performance for years to come - and you can enjoy the rest of the summer playing with your new toys.

I can relate to wanting a smaller camera for snapshots, etc. vs "always" carrying a heavy one. A few months ago I bought a Panasonic Z3 as a carry-with-me-just-in-case camera. It really does get good results - it also has a nice long Leica lens, and it's as light as a feather. I got a great deal - less than $300 after $50 rebate and $35 gift card. :-)

I hope to see some of your pictures. In the meantime, I have to say that I think many of us get a little "pathetic" now and then. It's kind of fun to do crazy things.

Jill

Thanks Liz. Being able to relive my children's precious moments is why I've finally decided to get a video camera. A camera is great, but I remember how fun it was to spool up the old 8mm films my dad used in the old days to capture picnics, and important family events, and just watch and laugh and cry reliving those moments in time. I remember when you got the Z3 and how pleased you were with it. I read the reviews on dpreview on the FZ-20 as well, and originally wanted the FZ-20, but B&H didn't have it in stock, so I got what was available after studying the reviews on the FZ-5 on dpreview. I'll definitely be posting pics from Hawaii. Right now I need to get off this site and finish two orthodontic diagnoses and treatment plans for tomorrow's consultations and hopefully, orthodontic treatment starts. Plus I need lot's of sleep tonight for tomorrows marathon general anesthesia cases (three patients back to back to back). I don't do a lot of GA cases, but when I do, I try to schedule them the same day so my anesthesiologist can utilize the whole day productively and not waste the day travelling for just one case.

[Arctirus]

That's my next temptation but it'll have to be when I'm in the mood to overhaul my rig. I just overhauled my PC at the beginning of the year and replacing the mobo on this machine isn't all that fun.

I spent the entire summer last year turning a compaq proliant server into a athlon 64 pc and now I already want to make something new. I just can't get enough of cutting cases I guess.

Photos of many of my machines and a sample:

http://www.photogeeks.net/index.php?.../Mark/My%20PCs

(by the way, some of those are comically bad, my first mods from years ago, sniff sniff.)

[92135011]

The trick is to buy most of your toys before marriage.
I've already started getting things here and there. Of course, if you are into digital, forget about investing in a digital body early.

I personally have a used Minolta Color Meter IIIf on the way!

[Lionheart]

I spent the entire summer last year turning a compaq proliant server into a athlon 64 pc and now I already want to make something new. I just can't get enough of cutting cases I guess.

Photos of many of my machines and a sample:

http://www.photogeeks.net/index.php?.../Mark/My%20PCs

(by the way, some of those are comically bad, my first mods from years ago, sniff sniff.)

Cool rig Arctirus. Show more dude!!! I wonder if we could have a place to show off our rigs, or maybe start a thread showing our digital hot rods.
I cut my first and last case before my current rig. It was just a simple window with green lighted fans and green cold light strips, but it looked pretty cool. After that experiment, I decided it was easier just to buy ready made windowed cases like my current rig, and add lighted fans, lighted power supplies, flourescent cable covers, round IDE cables, and monster heat sink/radiators with LED's.

[jar_e]

Nice looking PC machine and a great new toy you purchased! Have fun with it