thanks! :tup:

yah, been reading so many reviews im starting to get tired. :D hahaha.

bascially im going to rely on auto-mode and want live view. im a newb and dont know any of the features so want something very simple like a point and shoot, yet better quality images. budget around under $1K. i want to be able to enjoy it for a few yrs before getting the real camera i will keep for a long time. :p

You can't go wrong with either one. Both companies make really good SLR's. The Nikon "feels" better IMO. Go to a shop or even Best Buy to see which one you like better. Also, the thing with DSLR's is at least they tend to hold their value a lot longer. When your ready to upgrade, you can easily get back most of your investment & use towards a better one.

Live View isn't all that handy for DSLR's actually and you get a better sense of how the image should be framed using a viewfinder. Nice to have but not a deal breaker. Usefull if your doing any macro photography or any video though.

Go for the D5100 if you can. I believe the D3100 has live view also.

:iagree: Nikon and Canon are pretty equal. I have a Canon DSLR only because I have always had Canons with excellent results.

Reinstalling my painted door handles. Finish de-badging the car (370z and Nismo emblems). Install the black Nissan emblems (Hood and rear deck) that I purchased from Diasuke when they arrive Friday/Saturday......

cool, thanks!! :tup: yah, i think D3100 is probably best for me... :p

great to hear. :D

Droped it off at the stealership for Maintenace Pkg #2

$400 later, got my baby back

- Oil Change, air cabin filter change, brake maintenance and I got an alignment among all the other stuff tested

Anyways, changing to Amsoil for next oil change and will be doing it myself!

Sounds good! :tup: nothing like getting things done while taking a nap. :D

I had a great Z day. Drove 600 miles today, half with the top down.:tup: Had to test drive a firetruck that my department wants to buy. I was me and the dept president. I didn't really know how far away it was but hey always up for a road trip on a sunny day. Quite a bit of road construction but no big holes and didn't scrape once. :ughdance: Only problem is the bugs on the car but hey that happens when you drive your car, eh :tiphat: Have to clean the car tomorrow. Oh sorry ken don't have a camera post.:stirthepot:

I had someone take rig shots, he attached a pole to my hood and I drove around. I should have some pics in a week or so.

Don't even want to know...

Ken... just to add something here, since I was reading to get caught up with your DSLR status ;)

You do know that though the filters mentioned prior are nice, you can do ALL that and then some, but just editing it with the software that comes with it? Essentially, any photo editing software would work. You can do ANYthing to your photos, esp when shot in RAW mode. You can add/remove flash/flash effects if taken without/with flash, add sun tones (to replicate dusk or dawn), add filtering characteristics, etc etc. In other words, the benefit is, you don't have lug filters around or have them on your camera body. Just download the pic file, and modify/change the file you want to.

I just have the basic VR lens that came with mine, and another similar one for the ability to zoom from further away. That's it... for 90% or more of your needs, that should be sufficient.

thanks for the info. yah, been reading and watching a lot of reviews between the 3100 and 550D and im tired. lol :D will check one out in person hopefully over the weekend just to feel the difference. one might fit better in my hand, wat not.

i am planning to get the UV protector lens and circular polarizer though as i prefer to adjust the image to best match my actual car in real time before taking them home and adjusting it some more if needed. :)

and obviously i will try to take picts on a cloudy day as much as possible without the circular polarizer, but having tools to fix saturation on a sunny day would be a worthwhile investment... i wont have the luxury to go back later to re-take the picts the same day.

Mr. Kenchan -- this sounds like a good plan. It is helpful to make sure the camera feels good in your hands. I will spare you analogies about things that feel good in ones hands.

Anyway, I think the filter and camera choices are solid. It is true that photoshop can correct a multitude of exposure sins, but it is far better to start with a well-exposed and composed image.

A previous poster said shooting in RAW format is a good way to go and that is true if you want the maximum flexibility in your photo editing software. Keep in mind that this file format is quite huge -- 4 to 5 times bigger than hi res jpg.

Good luck and have a great weekend, man.

Thanks again, mr.onzedge! My local bestbuy appears to have both in-stock so this will help me greatly. :p have a great weekend too!

So what I did with my Z.... let's start with yesterday.

Since I had my 3M clear bra installed on my hood earlier this week, there were some leftover soap solution that my installer used for applying the clear bra. The solution was dried up and on the other parts of the car withOUT clear bra. That was ok, since I told him not to touch the rest of the paint of the car :D

So stupid me, I washed it with ONR after the drive home, but the hood was still hot... so, the ONR dried up before I could properly dry it with FK425. Needless to say, I left some minor etching on my paint :( So I whipped my Flex and PC, and used Menz PO106FFF on the hood, then glazed with CG EZ Creme, then sealed with Jetseal109, then 1 coat of SN Hybrid.

ahhhh paint imperfection gone.

Then this morning, I proceeded to 2 bucket wash her at 6 am, blow dried, then QD'd with FK. Then I topped her with Pinnacle Sig Series II... mmmm.. best part, as I was washing and waxing, 2 older gentlemen were walking this morning and commented on my car, giving props left and right. Coming from them, I was humbled. This one guy even said he had a 280Z in the past... and he wanted to get one of these "new Z's" really soon :p

(p.s. I never got comments like this with any other "sporty" car I've owned)

I love our Z's!!!!

Picked up my paycheck.
About to wash some cars!
(:

:tup:

G2Z-thats alota work for bringing back to normal but :tup: I too fixed my bad tap on the rear view camera last weekend. All the work just to bring it back to where it was. Hahaha. :ugh2:

The camera worked fine this am. :p dropped off my older kid to private school and motored afterwards. Was a great drive. :tup: my kid loved the Z too, especially the sound and watching me shift. Was his first time riding shotgun ever! Booster seat worked well...not a perfect fit as the Z's seat has more of a bucket shape, but was solidly planted so no issue.

gave her a bath... i noticed one of the lugs missing on the front passenger tire... just had it to the dealership for an oil change and checkover... how dangerous is this condition? (i.e. can i drive back to the dealer to get them to replace it?)

How dangerous depends on how far -- only a few miles should be OK, Take it slow.

Currently installing my swift springs:tup:

One of the most underrated waxes out there, it is the only wax that I have finished an entire tub of and bought again. FK425 is one of my favorite QDs as well. :tup:

Very nice! You will love them, the best lowering springs out there for the Z.

All finished with my Swifts. Time to test drive!

Pics please!:tup:

How old are your children? Private school on Saturday? Man...you are driving home that edu-ma-cation aren't you?:tup:

This!

Whew! I need a nap after only reading your post! Sounds good tho man!

I'm going to have to check out that FK. What can you tell me about the application of the product? Is it ok on rubber and plastic if it gets on there? Have you used it on glass perhaps?

Just installed my rear spacers and gave her a bath. I will be installing the fronts sometime this week. Definately going to have to get some camber adjustment in the rear.

http://www.the370z.com/members/beach...amber-kits.jpg


Yes, I know I should have been mowing the grass rather than working on the car. :P

http://www.the370z.com/members/beach...mm-spacers.jpg

Quick Droid pic. Still cleanin up.
<a href="http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/avryan/?action=view&amp;current=photobucket-18254-1310238640699.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l265/avryan/photobucket-18254-1310238640699.jpg" border="0" alt="2011-07-09_14-56-11_555"></a>

Dayum look at that shine! Very nice!:tup:

Alchemy, that height looks PERFECT! How do you like the ride quality so far?

Calipers in Brembo gold!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...Z/fa76dec0.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...Z/534a5b1b.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...Z/a74fb30d.jpg

^Nice, looks familiar ;)

I'm about to go wash the beast in preparation for a massive meet tomorrow.

They ride amazing. Cant wait to get into some twisties! Even during a hard 1-2 shift you can notice how the rear hunkers down and bites better. Just did a quick lil run on highway for the most part. Full potential yet to be seen :)

TypeOne. Calipers looking good.

Looking great TypeOne!! +1

:tup: :iagree:

Ooooh, Mamacita! Looking Tres sexy TypeOne!:icon17:

Yep, I went too when I was a kid. I turned out ...ummmmm...ok(?)... or not. :D

Indeed. Cars are looking great! :tup:

Had to tend to my injured wife this pm. :( she sprained her back pretty seriously. She will need to stay in bed for a few days and rest. Will help her walk around the house and exercise. So not sure if I'm going to be motoring my Z tomorrow. Atleast I was home when this happened. :)

I hope she is better soon. :tup: