Happiness: Got my powdercoated calipers from the big brown truck today. Yaayy!

Frustration: Got an e-mail from a vendor explaining that my brake lines aren't actually available yet and were added to the website prematurely. This has been a bit of a hassle and runaround since placing the order last Monday. Boooo.

:thumbsdown:Booo Hissss :thumbsdown:

Yes, mine are indeed the illuminated ones. I know I have to remove the interior trim panel to get to the wiring, but I was just trying to "pop" up the outer kick plates... but that was the one I was having trouble getting to release. It was flexing pretty good, so I stopped for fear of breaking something :( The tape could be the culprit... but man, what a pain in the a$$.

Probably Nikon 3000, case, and 8GB SD card. Any else needed to take great picts in the sun?

Polarizing filter

Thank you, mr.onzedge! :tup:

You are welcome, Mr Kenchan. A decent polarizing filter is valuable to have. Also when you get your camera get a UV filter for your lens(es) and keep it on all the time. It is fine glass and does not impact resolution or clarity in any appreciable way. However, if you bump the lens into something, it is better to take out a 20 dollar filter than a multi-hundred dollar lens. :tup:

Oh, so I need a circular polarizer and a UV filter.
Is this one ok for polarizer? (I am looking at B&H)

B+W -(11 reviews) 52mm Circular Polarizer Multi-Resistant Coated

I would use the polarizer over the UV filter? :confused:

So the UV stays on all the time. Use the polarizer only when you need it -- around water or glare. It is like putting on high quality sunglasses like the RayBan Clubmaster or RayBan Caravan that I prefer.

Yes, you screw the polarizer onto the already mounted UV.

That's the story.

Aha! Thank you again. Now it is starting to make sense to me. :D
分かって来たぞ！(^_^)/

You old school or a Rockwell follower?

I suppose I am old school (I have 50 years on me) and I am unsure about the Rockwell reference.

You're finally taking the plunge?!?!?!? :D congrats buddy!

Yah, very soon. I just want to sit on it for a few days to be sure the excitement doesn't wear off. Wheel curbage replacement for the Z and new tires for the G were easy no brainers for me to decide but camera... I don't want to buy it and later not use it. :D total cost $595 shipped.

You will definitely wind up hooked.

:iagree:

YAY! Ken, I expect you to take :pics: of the device that is supposed to take the pics :D hehe... in other words, show us your new camera!!!

yah, that's wat im hoping. i mean, considering the price it's not a huge deal... my uncle is a retired professional photographer (made those huge bulletin boards ads at airports and train stations) so hopefully during my next visit i can ask him some smart questions instead of .... uh.. so you put the circular polarizer over the UV filter? :confused: :confused: and dat doz wat again? :ugh2: :rofl2:

mr.onzedge, thank you for not stomping on the kenchan.... :icon17:

once im hooked in a few yrs i'll get the top of the line one from nikon at B&H's site.

hahaha, so i need a mirror... :pics::pics: :D

someone sell me their stillen G3's noW!

why? those things are just noisy. get the HPS tubes and K&N drop-ins. same thing... if not better. :D

Yes, I have the Stillen Gen II. I go them because I was not keen on pulling the bumper just to inspect/clean the air filters.

In hindsite, I think I would have gone a route like the honorable Kenchan suggests. The Stillens are cool and all, I just don't know if there is enough benefit to justify the cost. they definitely improve the throttle response and sound (and likely HP).

Ken, skip the circular polarizer and just wait for dusk or wake up at dawn to take pics outdoors. Direct sunlight shots will always look "washed" no matter what lens you use. You might be able to get away with it if the subject is in the shade, but even then its a bit tricky. A circular polarizer will cut reflections and looks great in some cases, but really not needed in most situtation. In other words, you don't want it on all the time.

Now all you need is a speedlight flash to take good indoor shots, a "fast" low aperture lens (like a 50mm f1.8 which is really inexpensive) and of course a tripod & remote trigger.

Also, in addition to a UV filter, a lens hood is a good addition if your lens allows it (might be unlikely if you have the 18-55mm kit lens though).

^ agreed, except on the d3000, go with the 35mm 1.8. Freaking amazing lens for the price.

Ken, come hang out in the photography thread!

hey thanks for the insight. although i have some change and some toys to play with, i just dont have the luxury to choose which time to take picts. being a dad and working all week long i only get like 2-3hrs per morning on weekends to really play with my cars. which means, i dont get to choose sunny or cloudy. :D if rainy then obviously i just stay indoors. that said, i need a setup that could work on sunny days as well...and that means i need to have a circular polarizer, no?

nikon offers a factory hood for the lens, i think i will pick one up as well. :p
im not sure how the polarizer works, but does the hood need to come off when i use the polarizer? :confused:

you see, such newb questions... :icon14: kinda like some of you folks asking... so how to use washlet. do i just press a button and enjoy myself? :icon17: :eek: wow, that's some strong schit!! :rofl2:

The hood and polarizer will work together.

I was not suggesting using the polarizer all the time, just when around glare. A polarizing filter was the first filter I ever purchased for my first SLR, a Canon FTB I got in 1974 or so and I have always had one available for my lenses from all of the film SLRs I have (and have had) to the lenses I use on my DSLR -- a Canon EOS 7D.

You can use a cicular polarizer with a hood, but depending on the lens and hood, it might be hard to use together. To use a circular polarizer, use need to be able to adjust it. It's not like a UV filter that you just put on. You turn it to adjust.

You might be better off with a neutral density filter with direct sunlight shots.

sounds great! :tup: yah, first issue i have with taking picts in the daylight with my digital cam or my droidx is glare and werd/fuzzy contrast. i want the depth so will get the polarizer for the times i need it for sure. :)

thanks.... huh, 'neutral density filter'... yet another new term i need to study. :D

Sorry to bombard you with all these terms. Basically, these filters reduce the amount of light entering the lens.

Here's an example of a ND filter
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/31/51...3108f93cb5.jpg

Makes it easier if you see what each one actually does. Best way to learn is to try stuff out and see what works for you.

wow! that looks great. i will definitely look into getting this as well. :tup:

thanks!

Got it out of the garage so the AC people could fix the extreme leaking from it. So I went to work, get a text from the old lady that she pull the car in the garage. My garage is a real tight space one...so I say to myself, ooh $hit..she has never driven my car.

Well got home and the car is all sideways in the garage. How she managed to park it that way and get off the car... don't ask me. Luckly there is no scratches or dent that I did notice at lunch time.

^ I'd check that again man... just to be 100% sure. And if you do find something, well, let's just say they'll be hearing from you...........

Getting an alignment as we speak...er..type?

:rofl2: so she did a burn-out dorifuto into the garage? :icon17:

anyway hope you dont find any scratches... :eekdance:


btw, i can't find the Neutral Density filter at B&H.... where to buy such filter lens? :confused:

Mike, your so badass at cameras.

your like the darth maul of light sabers

I took a mf towel and some quick detailer and quickly wiped off the dead bugs that accumulated on my bumper and hood from my commute into work this morning before they had a chance to dry up.

good work Masa!

Ya man, bug guts and bird poo are vicious on our soft paint :rofl2:

I can't get on the B&H website for some reason, but here's a link to a local shop I go to. There are different kinds depending on how dark you want to go, but the one below allows you to adjust. I usually go with Hoya, but I don't think they make a variable ND filter.

Polaroid 52mm HD Multi-Coated Variable Range Neutral Density Filter

Just know that because your allowing less light in with a ND filter, your shutter speed will need to be longer to achieve a correct exposure. You might need a tripod or at least a flat surface to keep your images sharp.

Note: Don't confuse with the graduated neutral density filter which has only has half the filter dark.

Also, I would take some shots without buying the filter first to see if you really need it. You'll get better results buying a book on photography than any filter. You could get away with just adjusting how your camera exposes the image. It's where one subject could underexposed and another could be overexposed in the same frame that filters come in handy.... or if you want to capture blurred movement in bright situtations like a waterfall.

nice job! i do this all the time on my cars too. :tup:

thanks! i will check this out for sure. :tup:

been reading the reviews on amazon for the D3000... one thing that's not going to work for me on the D3000 right off the bat is that it cant show the image on the LCD view finder live.. :ugh2: so im now looking at the D5100 instead... :rolleyes:

any recommendations from Canon? i dont want to spend too much but i dont want to spend on a crappy camera either... (per mr.onzedge recommendation...get a tad more than intended budget)

T3 isn't bad. $600 at target online.

D3100 is the way to go though. Paid $650 with 18-55 and 55-200... And you get the live view....

Edit: t3 for $540 at amazon temporarily.