All Forum Comments
Comment by George Lazarette posted on Feed coming back… at 20/10/2007 - 10:56
I rather like that. The DOF gives it a 3-D quality, and the scene has a timeless quality about it thanks to the lack of anything man-made in sight.
However, it looks a little greeny-yellowy on my screen.
G
However, it looks a little greeny-yellowy on my screen.
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on Feed coming back… at 20/10/2007 - 09:34
Quote:
But my favorite is the 1.2.
Kim
Moi aussi.But my favorite is the 1.2.
Kim
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on 50mm 1.4: opinions, images at 02/11/2007 - 23:19
Don is spelt DON. A DOM is either a monk in the Catholic church or a lady of mannish tendencies in a wholly different field.
G
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on pentax repair turnaround at 19/10/2007 - 18:45
Quote:
[
BTW: that's an very impressive arsenal you are aquiring
I'm very jealous of the 135-600.[
BTW: that's an very impressive arsenal you are aquiring
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on 16-50 - a problem lens? at 22/10/2007 - 20:43
Quote:
I hate threads when they turn political. However, I do think the prices of digitals are cheap and getting cheaper all the time. I quite often find that some dealers are charging more for S/H than you can buy for new because the way prices are dropping. I remember the first "crop" of dSLRs. Even the "budget" Fuji was over £3000 and this was for 3Mp. Factor inflation into that and a far better quality body will cost you 1/10 of that today. The electronics are getting cheaper all the time but glass will always retain a slightly better value.
Kim
I largely agree, but computerised design and automated manufacturing have reduced the prices of lenses too, whilst at the same time improving their optical quality.I hate threads when they turn political. However, I do think the prices of digitals are cheap and getting cheaper all the time. I quite often find that some dealers are charging more for S/H than you can buy for new because the way prices are dropping. I remember the first "crop" of dSLRs. Even the "budget" Fuji was over £3000 and this was for 3Mp. Factor inflation into that and a far better quality body will cost you 1/10 of that today. The electronics are getting cheaper all the time but glass will always retain a slightly better value.
Kim
A good modern zoom is as good as most primes from thirty years ago, and much cheaper, relatively.
Of course, a good modern prime is better.
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on K10 and K100 Super Rebates in the US at 22/10/2007 - 20:40
Quote:
Hi RG
When you said:
"My wife was in the UK last March and could not believe the cost of just about everything. Her comment to me when she got back was, "quote"
My god how do those people live over there" ?
Having lived in England for well over 50 years, I often ask myself the same depressing question !! Under the current Labour administration, taxation by 'stealth' has risen out of all proportion, currently making us one of the most heavily burdened countries in the world. This doubtless explains the steady stream of Brits seeking out alternative livelihoods elsewhere, where the overall cost of living is more affordable. In fact the ridiculous inflation particularly in house price values seems totally unsustainable and IMHO I fear things will deteriorate badly in the near future. The current generation of young people cannot afford to get their first foot on the 'rung of the property ladder' in England without virtually bankrupting themselves in the process. Many financial institutions are still prepared to loan buyers up to 6 or 7-times their combined annual earnings, which IMHO is totally unsustainable in the long-term. It almost seems inevitable that this teetering pyramid may collapse due to borrowers defaulting on sub-prime mortgages, rather like it has done in certain parts of the USA. Remember that Banks have gone bust before (Northern Rock is a pretty shaky institution right now) and recession can easily surface again. Whilst I sincerely hope that it doesn't happen, just a few small increases in interest rates could be enough to tip many vulnerable people over the financial precipice !
Best regards
Richard
You are being too optimistic. The situation is actually rether worse, and the fact that Gordon Brown (the architect of it all) has absolutely no idea of how serious things are is very worrying.Hi RG
When you said:
"My wife was in the UK last March and could not believe the cost of just about everything. Her comment to me when she got back was, "quote"
My god how do those people live over there" ?
Having lived in England for well over 50 years, I often ask myself the same depressing question !! Under the current Labour administration, taxation by 'stealth' has risen out of all proportion, currently making us one of the most heavily burdened countries in the world. This doubtless explains the steady stream of Brits seeking out alternative livelihoods elsewhere, where the overall cost of living is more affordable. In fact the ridiculous inflation particularly in house price values seems totally unsustainable and IMHO I fear things will deteriorate badly in the near future. The current generation of young people cannot afford to get their first foot on the 'rung of the property ladder' in England without virtually bankrupting themselves in the process. Many financial institutions are still prepared to loan buyers up to 6 or 7-times their combined annual earnings, which IMHO is totally unsustainable in the long-term. It almost seems inevitable that this teetering pyramid may collapse due to borrowers defaulting on sub-prime mortgages, rather like it has done in certain parts of the USA. Remember that Banks have gone bust before (Northern Rock is a pretty shaky institution right now) and recession can easily surface again. Whilst I sincerely hope that it doesn't happen, just a few small increases in interest rates could be enough to tip many vulnerable people over the financial precipice !
Best regards
Richard
Unlike other housing bubbles, this one is caused in part, and has been greatly exacerbated, by the arrival in London and other places of a couple of million Poles. They are what has sustained the buy-to-let market in the last three years. Prior to that, it was starting to collapse.
When things turn down, as they must, the Poles will decamp, and the collapse of house prices will make the 1989 crash look like a quiet hiccup.
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on K10 and K100 Super Rebates in the US at 22/10/2007 - 09:40
Quote:
GL.
According 2005 UN Stats the UK is in 35th place.
One just can't pick out England, it is part of Britain (The UK includes Ireland.)
One can, and I did. And the UK does not include Ireland, only Northern Ireland.GL.
According 2005 UN Stats the UK is in 35th place.
One just can't pick out England, it is part of Britain (The UK includes Ireland.)
Quote:
Yes over 80% of the population lives in England and yes it is very crowded. Does that mean a Pentax costs less in Wales, Scotland or Ireland. I think not.
The other countries take their prices from England. They are very sparsely populated by comparison, and not large enough to warrant separate marketing. Yes over 80% of the population lives in England and yes it is very crowded. Does that mean a Pentax costs less in Wales, Scotland or Ireland. I think not.
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on K10 and K100 Super Rebates in the US at 22/10/2007 - 08:10
Quote:
Hellterskelter.
However how long will the dollar be down ?
With the size of our market it doesn't matter. I can assure you there is plenty of buying power here and manufacturers know it.
Another problem is you guys only seem to gripe amongst yourselves. You need to vote with your pocketbook. I agree Europeans have to take some blame. I don't believe a mostly Socialist run EU helps either.
We don't have any of that EU BS to put up with here.
The average American has a totally different attitude, most want it yesterday at the lowest cost, If a company can't deliver, it's "screw them" we will go somewhere else. Competition and Service is the name of the game here. Plus the biggest market is going to get treated the best in every area.
My wife was in the UK last March and could not believe the cost of just about everything. Her comment to me when she got back was, "quote" My god how do those people live over there, but then they appear to be doing ok. "unquote"
So, with all due respect, get of your duffs and start yelling to the right people.
RG.
One of the problems over here is the population density. England is the fourth most densely populated country* in the world (much more so than India or China), and this makes land very expensive. And when land is expensive, lots of other things are expensive.Hellterskelter.
However how long will the dollar be down ?
With the size of our market it doesn't matter. I can assure you there is plenty of buying power here and manufacturers know it.
Another problem is you guys only seem to gripe amongst yourselves. You need to vote with your pocketbook. I agree Europeans have to take some blame. I don't believe a mostly Socialist run EU helps either.
We don't have any of that EU BS to put up with here.
The average American has a totally different attitude, most want it yesterday at the lowest cost, If a company can't deliver, it's "screw them" we will go somewhere else. Competition and Service is the name of the game here. Plus the biggest market is going to get treated the best in every area.
My wife was in the UK last March and could not believe the cost of just about everything. Her comment to me when she got back was, "quote" My god how do those people live over there, but then they appear to be doing ok. "unquote"
So, with all due respect, get of your duffs and start yelling to the right people.
RG.
G
* excluding city-states and small islands.
Comment by George Lazarette posted on K10 and K100 Super Rebates in the US at 21/10/2007 - 22:39
Quote:
Hi everyone
I cannot dispute the fact that the sheer scale of the US economy is many times greater than that of the entire EEC.
Perhaps you cannot, but I can. The GDP of the USA is less than 1% higher than that of the European Union. (The EEC has not been so called since 1992.)Hi everyone
I cannot dispute the fact that the sheer scale of the US economy is many times greater than that of the entire EEC.
GDP per capita is about 50% higher in the USA, though, partly because the recent accession countries lowered the EU average significantly.
G
Comment by George Lazarette posted on K10 and K100 Super Rebates in the US at 21/10/2007 - 21:32
However, it looks a little greeny-yellowy on my screen.
G