"Offtopic-posts-topic" NSFW

[Mr.Sandman]

Well, it's offical I'm finally getting a mini lathe! I've been wanting one for ages, and can now afford one now that i've sold off my DSLR. Expect more posts from me, very soon

[mobile chernobyl]

Well, it's offical I'm finally getting a mini lathe! I've been wanting one for ages, and can now afford one now that i've sold off my DSLR. Expect more posts from me, very soon

What model? I've been so close lately to just getting the "$500" Harbor Freight (here in the U.S. at least) 7x12 that everyone loves.

Sorry to hear you sold your DSLR... I just invested in the Sony Nex platform's successor - the a6000. Went back and forth many many many times on a6000 vs a7 base model and ended up at the a6000 and don't regret it one bit.

[Mr.Sandman]

Well, it's offical I'm finally getting a mini lathe! I've been wanting one for ages, and can now afford one now that i've sold off my DSLR. Expect more posts from me, very soon

What model? I've been so close lately to just getting the "$500" Harbor Freight (here in the U.S. at least) 7x12 that everyone loves.

Sorry to hear you sold your DSLR... I just invested in the Sony Nex platform's successor - the a6000. Went back and forth many many many times on a6000 vs a7 base model and ended up at the a6000 and don't regret it one bit.

It's a toss-up right now between the TAIG and this version of 7 x 12 Although I'm leaning towards the latter because the Taig does not have the capability of threading without modification. Tooling is also readily available for the 7 x 12 series and it is a much more rugged "workhorse" of a lathe. It's a shame thats the cheapest I could find it as these lathes used to be much more affordable a few years back, but prices have risen considerably.

I never really made much use of my DSLR quite honestly. I took it to a couple parties and the beach but I'm not very good at finding good things to take pictures of. In the mean time, i'll probably be picking up a cheap Point and Shoot so that I can take somewhat decent pictures of builds.

[mark.f]

On my mom's iPhone posting this on the drive home from Parris Island... what's up Spudfiles?

[Mr.Sandman]

On my mom's iPhone posting this on the drive home from Parris Island... what's up Spudfiles?

Nice of you to drop by.

[jrrdw]

on the drive home from Parris Island

You a Marine now?

[mobile chernobyl]

.....
It's a shame thats the cheapest I could find it as these lathes used to be much more affordable a few years back, but prices have risen considerably.
.....
I never really made much use of my DSLR quite honestly.

Ain't that the truth? I remember when the 7x12 would be on sale for $399 (coupled with the 20% harbor frieght coupon... why didn't I get it back then?!?! lol). and now the 8x12 is pushing $1000...

The DLSR size issue was my main reason for not getting one - I instead went for a mirroless as they can be the size of a point and shoot with the power of a DSLR. And the Sony's offer the ability to realllllllly customize them so it's a pretty fun camera to use old ass lenses on as well - coupled with the capability to 3D print adapter plates and filter holders - it's going to be a fun excursion into an alternative method of "shooting" stuff lol.

[MrCrowley]

The DLSR size issue was my main reason for not getting one - I instead went for a mirroless as they can be the size of a point and shoot with the power of a DSLR. And the Sony's offer the ability to realllllllly customize them so it's a pretty fun camera to use old ass lenses on as well - coupled with the capability to 3D print adapter plates and filter holders - it's going to be a fun excursion into an alternative method of "shooting" stuff lol.

I've been looking at cameras recently as well. The A6000 seems like a good choice, particularly for video.


Honestly, I prefer the size of the DSLR. I took one around Europe and that convinced me as I was previously leaning towards mirrorless cameras. The latter just seem small and fragile, and not very ergonomic. I felt like I could rush around places with a DSLR in my hand and not worry too much about dropping it or bumping in to something (not that I ever did). I think the size is a plus when you have a lot of controls too. That being said, entry-level DSLRs aren't great for video recording. I'd need a camera that has 1080p video with phase detection and a quick autofocus motor that doesn't make too much noise (yours sounds like a good choice for that). At the prices I'm looking at, the best DSLRs are the Canon 600D (Rebel T3i) and the Nikon D5300. My brother has the former and the video function really didn't impress me. If you move too fast (not very fast at all), everything's a blur. It takes for ever to focus and is pretty bad at focussing while recording. The D5300 isn't much better and offers less functionality.

[mobile chernobyl]

If you're most concerned about video and DSLR format and $1000 price range - Sony RX10 no questions asked - it's zoom is amazing, and the clarity I can attest for - fun DSLR format camera albiet the (amazing good Zeiss) fixed lens.

The a7 is not really in the "entry level" being $1200 for the body - but it gives you all the controls of a DSLR in the size of a mirrorless - it's super ergonomic and doesn't feel like you're going to drop it - ever. unfortunately the full frame aspect (native lens's are $$$!) combined with the limited amount of full-frame sony lens's currently available killed that option for me - not to mention the price was not realistically in my range.

All said and done - the a6000 has the EXACT SAME grip as the a7, minus an extra on-board direct control - so you have to click 2 buttons instead of one to alter from ISO to SS - not a deal breaker for me as I came from the NEX-5R and having the electronic view finder on the a6000 is what I needed - to which I may add - the EVF is amazingly awesome for old-school lenses as it supports sony's amazingly well programmed focus peaking - combined with a custom configured force digital zoom on the C1 button right next to the shutter release button - using 30 year old minolta lenses with their great glass is super easy to nail a perfectly focused shot.

to each their own tho - it's a great time in digital photography!

[Mr.Sandman]

My brother has the former and the video function really didn't impress me. If you move too fast (not very fast at all), everything's a blur. It takes for ever to focus and is pretty bad at focussing while recording.

Your brother has a t4i or t5i, the t3i does not have video autofocus. In all honesty if you want good video quality you're better off buying a dedicated video camera, DSLR's arent really that great at video although they do a decent job.

[MrCrowley]

My brother has the former and the video function really didn't impress me. If you move too fast (not very fast at all), everything's a blur. It takes for ever to focus and is pretty bad at focussing while recording.

Your brother has a t4i or t5i, the t3i does not have video autofocus. In all honesty if you want good video quality you're better off buying a dedicated video camera, DSLR's arent really that great at video although they do a decent job.

Ah, sorry I meant that you can 'manually focus' using the autofocus button. It doesn't automatically focus when filming but you can hold down a button to re-focus it using the camera/lens motor.

I would want something that can do both good video and good photos, otherwise I probably would just go for a dedicated video camera.

There's not a lot in my price range (~$600NZD) to choose from in terms of DSLRs, slightly better for mirrorless cameras. The best choices in that range would be a Sony NEX-5R or Alpha A5000 I think. For DSLRS, it's pretty much only the 600D and D3200/5300 (or slightly different models, e.g. 650D).

http://pricespy.co.nz/category.php?k=10 ... s178129971

[Mr.Sandman]

There's not a lot in my price range (~$600NZD) to choose from in terms of DSLRs, slightly better for mirrorless cameras. The best choices in that range would be a Sony NEX-5R or Alpha A5000 I think. For DSLRS, it's pretty much only the 600D and D3200/5300 (or slightly different models, e.g. 650D).

http://pricespy.co.nz/category.php?k=10 ... s178129971

Quite honestly I find the T3i to be mediocre and somewhat bland, mine left me thoroughly unimpressed, after all everything in the Rebel series is the exact same as the T1i with slightly improved features.

[mark.f]

on the drive home from Parris Island

You a Marine now?

Proud to have earned the title.

[jrrdw]

on the drive home from Parris Island

You a Marine now?

Proud to have earned the title.

Earned is the key word there! I have relatives and friends that went through there, errr the island went through them! L0L Thanks for your service young man!

[MrCrowley]

Does anyone know how probe thermometers work? I have a cheap one that reads between -50*C and 300*C but every time it is turned on it now reads -48*C and then will occasionally jump to the correct temperature.

I've been thinking about taking it apart anyway so I can remove the steel probe and mount the small display.