Photography is about Compromises

[Sketcher]

Photography is about compromises.

Usually, that statement is in regards to shutter speed, film/ISO speed, aperture etc. But in this case the "compromise" involves a relationship. My foremost obsession is digital photography (not really good at any of it; just obsessed with it). All other fun interests take a back seat... until

Begin Long Story (Cliff's at bottom):
Whatever I want to spend, there has to be an equal amount in the account for my wife to spend (Wife and my income is equally earned so our 'fun money' is equally divided). So I'm writing up a "all the things I can do with $$$" list; cuz I'm just a few months shy of my goal. Each item on the list would tap out my fun money. It starts out:

1) A really big white super telephoto camera lens
2) 1 Series Canon & accessories
3) A couple round trip flights to somewhere or one really nice trip
4) Start building home theater
5) ...

Wife looks over shoulder and see's #4 Home theater and uses it as leverage to interest me in going with her on a "Parade of Homes" outting (I find root canals more exciting. And we're already building a home, I see's no point in going). She mentions that it just so happens that one of the model homes in the area is actually marketed with a professional home theater installation. So what the heck, I take one for the team and 'happily' go along.


Token pseudo conversation:
Me: See hon, that's cool. That's what I'm going to do to part of our basement.
Her: I didn't know you could do something like that. That is really impressive!
Her: How long will it take to do it?
Me: Well, a couple years. I have something else I want to buy first.
Her: How about if I we pool our money...

Goodbye lens, goodbye new camera or trip anywhere. Wife's onboard with this one so we'll go with that team effort


Hello Home Theater!
We're building a new home, closing in a couple months so it's not quite 'instant gratification' but there's light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. Should be able to ring in the new year with a HT project well in progress. \crosses fingers

Here's the HT gear I'm stalking so far:
Axiom Audio Epic GrandMaster 500
Infocus ScreenPlay 5700
Carada 114" Screen
Harman Kardon AVR 435 HT Receiver
Harman Kardon DVD 31


[CLIFF'S]
Camera Gear vs Home Theater = HT Wins (this round)



*So when it comes to your particular obsession that spanks your pocket book and drives you to spend hours stalking, err, researching; what have your "compromises" been?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You have chosen.... wisely.

My photo equipment has taken a back seat to HT as well.

My compromises thus far have been I try to keep the majority of the money I make during my summers in my savings account and it's working so far.

Oh yeah... sacrifice = I'm 22 and I don't have a drivers license = haven't had to pay thousands of dollars in insurance money, gas, repairs, a car

 

[sharkeeper]

Sleep with a photographer and see what develops.

 

[FrustratedUser]

This is what I have to sacrifice:

I like to take pics of b00bs but nobody will model. So I just have to whack off.

 

[OdiN]

Personally I would go with the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II. I already have a 20D, 17-40L, 24-70L and 28-135 IS and 50mm 1.4 prime. I would probably get the 1Ds MkII and the 85mm L and maybe a 70-200L or something. But then again...photography makes me money (I do weddings and such...just getting started doing that so in time that will afford me my toys). Home theather...meh I have a 50" Projection TV and a Kenwood HTB system so...meh it's okay. Klipsch 5.1's for my computer. Don't need anything else really.

Oh...and why compromise in photoraphy? Make the lighting conditions meet what you want them to. This either requires great timing and good weather or lots of expensive lighting equipment. *sigh* too much money for what I want.

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You have chosen.... wisely.

My photo equipment has taken a back seat to HT as well.

Thanks YOyoYOhowsDAjello.

Nice Rack, err, HT setup you've got there! How are you liking your 4805? That is actually my original choice but with the wife throwin' in her share I figured I'd go for a few more lumens.

I'm partial to SVS Subs from the reviews I've read. I may go with a PCI+ Cylinder instead of the Axiom 500. Better performance and lower cost. I just might have to tinker with it more to have it blend with the Axiom gear.

I enjoyed viewing your setup. We have some similar tastes in gear (I have that same Sony TV).

What's with the "house next year"?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Sketcher

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You have chosen.... wisely.

My photo equipment has taken a back seat to HT as well.

Thanks YOyoYOhowsDAjello.

Nice Rack, err, HT setup you've got there! How are you liking your 4805? That is actually my original choice but with the wife throwin' in her share I figured I'd go for a few more lumens.

I'm partial to SVS Subs from the reviews I've read. I may go with a PCI+ Cylinder instead of the Axiom 500. Better performance and lower cost. I just might have to tinker with it more to have it blend with the Axiom gear.

I enjoyed viewing your setup. We have some similar tastes in gear (I have that same Sony TV).

What's with the "house next year"?

thanks.

I like the 4805 a lot. I use the projector for 95% DVD watching, so the resolution is all I need really.
Once more media is HD (and I'm out of college) I'll get something nicer.

I was going to mention SVS or HSU for a sub instead of Axiom based on everything I've read as well as my own experience with SVS's "baby sub".
I had a couple guys come over to demo the rockets and they didn't believe me that the PB10 was the smallest one they made

I didn't see you were still stalking so I thought you already got the stuff and didn't want to cause second guessing and general unpleasantness

Have you checked out Ascend Acoustics at all? I've read they match with HK stuff very nicely and might be a good thing to look at vs Axiom.

Axiom m22ti's were high on my list of possible choices for my own speakers this summer.
my thread if you missed it

Rocket 550s aren't on sale anymore, but 750s sure are.

House next year is pics I took last school year before we moved in this year. I should update that... along with my broken pics link once bbzzdd.com hopefully does a rollback.

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: OdiN
Personally I would go with the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II. I already have a 20D, 17-40L, 24-70L and 28-135 IS and 50mm 1.4 prime. I would probably get the 1Ds MkII and the 85mm L and maybe a 70-200L or something. But then again...photography makes me money (I do weddings and such...just getting started doing that so in time that will afford me my toys). Home theather...meh I have a 50" Projection TV and a Kenwood HTB system so...meh it's okay. Klipsch 5.1's for my computer. Don't need anything else really.

Oh...and why compromise in photoraphy? Make the lighting conditions meet what you want them to. This either requires great timing and good weather or lots of expensive lighting equipment. *sigh* too much money for what I want.

Oh, I'll be in the new 1D market in the coming years . My 10D still has a lot of life in it. And the wife is getting an XT for Christmas. Have a 24-70L, 28-135 IS, 70-200L IS and some other stuff so I get around alright. I don't make money with it (though I've had some good fortune) so it's a life long hobby sort of thing that has to take a back seat once in a while. If I did spend it all on a camera body though I'd likely hold off 'till a 1D MKII replacement hits the streets. Then I'd work hard at getting more lenses in the f/2.8 flavor. My real photography obsession though is a 400mm DO IS; which Wallydraigle keeps reminding me I can't have...

Who knows, if I had a 50" projection TV and a HTIB like you do I might still want to have a full fledged HT some day but I'd wager that I'd be buying more camera gear in the near future instead

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Fixed the House folder

I've seen the 7200 and my own 4805 for Infocus DLPs but not the 5700.

It's kind of funny... I got a 36" sony before I knew any better and liked that quite a bit. Then I made the mistake of hanging around AVSforum too much and I got upgradeitis and really wanted to check out a projector.

My gf agreed to take me (no car afterall ) and we agreed that if we weren't blown away then I wouldn't do it.

In the car after we demo-ed a 7200 I asked what my gf thought and she said "I hate you" :evil:

Now her parents have my entire original HT set except for my Dayton 10" sub and I kept my speaker wire :laugh:

Best of all, my very understanding and awesome gf (ladybuggy here on AT) is ok with having her "rack" shown off over here too :Q

(you probably could have given me some pointers with that one, but it wasn't one we planned out the lighting for or anything)

I'm a lucky bastard.

 

[Anubis]

my compromise is time

i take soo many damn pictures i never have time for anything else
and my back, lugging round the 4x5 is a pain in the ass

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I was going to mention SVS or HSU for a sub instead of Axiom based on everything I've read as well as my own experience with SVS's "baby sub". I had a couple guys come over to demo the rockets and they didn't believe me that the PB10 was the smallest one they made

I didn't see you were still stalking so I thought you already got the stuff and didn't want to cause second guessing and general unpleasantness

No unpleasantness at all! I still haven't decided if I'm going to start buying in stages or just wait 'till I have the room ready for the install and then have a euphoric experience opening gads of boxes in one fell swoop. I talk myself out of both discussions.

If I don't get the Axiom sub I'll almost certainly go with the SVS PCI-Plus. My ONLY reservation is that the Axiom 500 soundstage blends perfectly with the M22ti's. I haven't seen a single review that doesn't rave the SVS cylinders. I'm solid on having the rest of the audio by Axiom. Really looking forward to playing with the QS8's.

BTW, how'd you like moving that 36" Sony!?
I misjudged, my Sony is a lowly 32" (and that thing nearly broke our backs moving it !$%#^).

\Honest dear, this guy in the forum posted this "RACK" pic. I thought he was referring to an equipment rack!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Sketcher

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I was going to mention SVS or HSU for a sub instead of Axiom based on everything I've read as well as my own experience with SVS's "baby sub". I had a couple guys come over to demo the rockets and they didn't believe me that the PB10 was the smallest one they made

I didn't see you were still stalking so I thought you already got the stuff and didn't want to cause second guessing and general unpleasantness

No unpleasantness at all! I still haven't decided if I'm going to start buying in stages or just wait 'till I have the room ready for the install and then have a euphoric experience opening gads of boxes in one fell swoop. I talk myself out of both discussions.

If I don't get the Axiom sub I'll almost certainly go with the SVS PCI-Plus. My ONLY reservation is that the Axiom 500 soundstage blends perfectly with the M22ti's. I haven't seen a single review that doesn't rave the SVS cylinders. I'm solid on having the rest of the audio by Axiom. Really looking forward to playing with the QS8's.

BTW, how'd you like moving that 36" Sony!?
I misjudged, my Sony is a lowly 32" (and that thing nearly broke our backs moving it !$%#^).

\Honest dear, this guy in the forum posted this "RACK" pic. I thought he was referring to an equipment rack!

The sony was a heavy fvcker.

I'm like 5'8" 160 pounds in pretty good shape and I'm glad I'm never going to have to move that thing again. I think my dad is happier too. It was actually his idea to have me think about getting something instead of keeping the 36" that was going to need to be moved a few more times at least. The 8? pound projector is a lot easier to move than the 212 pound monster. And as you know you pretty much have to lift your half with one arm and use the other one to balance the front so it doesn't flip right over due to half the weight being the huge plate of glass in front.

My dad said he'd buy my 36" just so he'd never have to move it again

If you're worried about my rack pic, don't go into LolaWiz's thread.

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
And as you know you pretty much have to lift your half with one arm and use the other one to balance the front so it doesn't flip right over due to half the weight being the huge plate of glass in front.

LOL! Roger that . Almost dumped it the 1st time because of that glass! And my Father-in-Law said he'd have paid the extra few hundred for a projection TV if he'd have known it was that friggin' heavy.

BTW, bass shakers & similar. I've seen'em but hadn't seriously thought of doing them. Worthwhile yes/no?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Sketcher

BTW, bass shakers & similar. I've seen'em but hadn't seriously thought of doing them. Worthwhile yes/no?

I think they're pretty fun.

I should probably get some low pass filters in the 50hz range or something though, as sometimes there's a little bit more vibration in the upper bass region than I'd like.

If you have a PCI+ you probably wont need them though

I mainly got them because after getting my PB10 I felt a little restrained in my dorm environment. I cranked the system a couple times and got addicted to low rumbly moves your hair and pants legs bass in my 10'x12' room. I got a couple of requests to turn it down naturally as I was shaking display cases in the study area through concrete walls.

So, in a quest to get back the rumble without shaking adjacent rooms I came across the bass shakers. I got the whole project including cables and a secondary receiver with 4 shakers going for just a little over $100. I think they're a lot of fun for action movies. I try to keep is subtle to just add a little bit more edge to the explosions. It's more like I miss it when it's not there than anything else.

When I went to see Star Wars EP III in the theaters and more recently Batman Begins, the action scenes felt very flat and hollow compared to what I'm used to.

Naturally the video looked a lot more detailed, but I'm pretty confident that I've surpassed my local theaters in sound experience. Even my gf commented during Batman saying "This sounds really bad".

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Sketcher

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
And as you know you pretty much have to lift your half with one arm and use the other one to balance the front so it doesn't flip right over due to half the weight being the huge plate of glass in front.

LOL! Roger that . Almost dumped it the 1st time because of that glass! And my Father-in-Law said he'd have paid the extra few hundred for a projection TV if he'd have known it was that friggin' heavy.

BTW, bass shakers & similar. I've seen'em but hadn't seriously thought of doing them. Worthwhile yes/no?

My first indication of how heavy the sucker was going to be was watching two huge 200 pound guys break into a sweat in the 2 minutes it took them to take it off a rolling cart at waist height into the back of the van we brought.

They only had to move it like a foot sideways and then slide it back but it looked like both of them were going to have heart attacks lol.

 

[Paul Ma]

You can pick up the Infocus 5700 from woot.com today for 1500. They will probably sell it again in the future though so you can wait.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Paul Ma
You can pick up the Infocus 5700 from woot.com today for 1500. They will probably sell it again in the future though so you can wait.

Well isn't that convenient :thumbsup:

link for the lazy

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Naturally the video looked a lot more detailed, but I'm pretty confident that I've surpassed my local theaters in sound experience. Even my gf commented during Batman saying "This sounds really bad".

That's what impressed my wife. Video looked really good in the Model Home HT but the sound was incredible. She was surprised that movie theaters didn't sound that good. Hmm, might try the bass shakers even if the sub does the job. Small price for a cool effect. They might have to come after the popcorn maker and sconce lighting though.

I'm out for the night, err; morning.

Cheers

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: Paul Ma
You can pick up the Infocus 5700 from woot.com today for 1500. They will probably sell it again in the future though so you can wait.

Holy CrapWeazel! Projector and Screen for $1500!!! Damn good thing I'm sworn off my CC until after we close on the house. Ahh, Refurb; and screen is smaller than what I'm going to order. But at THAT price... must, not, give, in...

aight. I'm sleeping now.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Sketcher

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Naturally the video looked a lot more detailed, but I'm pretty confident that I've surpassed my local theaters in sound experience. Even my gf commented during Batman saying "This sounds really bad".

That's what impressed my wife. Video looked really good in the Model Home HT but the sound was incredible. She was surprised that movie theaters didn't sound that good. Hmm, might try the bass shakers even if the sub does the job. Small price for a cool effect. They might have to come after the popcorn maker and sconce lighting though.

I'm out for the night, err; morning.

Cheers

Their Model HT when we saw the 7200 they had Vandersteen 5As doing the audio ($14,700/pair) and my gf said they sounded nice too

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Sketcher

Originally posted by: Paul Ma
You can pick up the Infocus 5700 from woot.com today for 1500. They will probably sell it again in the future though so you can wait.

Holy CrapWeazel! Projector and Screen for $1500!!! Damn good thing I'm sworn off my CC until after we close on the house. Ahh, Refurb; and screen is smaller than what I'm going to order. But at THAT price... must, not, give, in...

aight. I'm sleeping now.

I considered going for a 7205 when they had them for $2000 was it? refub.

I'm basically thinking assume the bulb is on its last legs and then figure out the total cost includind a new bulb and see what the savings are.

If I do upgrade eventually I might jump on one of those deals.

Oh, random 4805 thread I made that might be something to look at eventually for your DLP projector purchase: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1651536&enterthread=y

 

[virtuamike]

But I don't get to meet people through home theater

 

[thomsbrain]

my compromise was i bought a $700 SLR-style Sony back when everyone was still using the floppy-disc models, and loved it, but now you can buy a camera with 5 times the resolution for $200, and i can't afford to upgrade.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Compromise?

Let's see...

1) I spend hours in front of the computer doing photoshop
2) 4MP cameras aren't good enough for prints anymore, I can barely squeak by making 16x20 prints with fat borders
3) I hold up tours everytime I go on vacation because I take forever to take a bunch of pictures
4) I hold up my friends or parents everytime we go out somewhere and I have my camera on me
5) I carry a fat backpack when I go out on vacation while other people slip their camera in their pockets =(.

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Oh, random 4805 thread I made that might be something to look at eventually for your DLP projector purchase: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1651536&enterthread=y

Good stuff to know! Thanks for linking it.

Originally posted by: virtuamike
But I don't get to meet people through home theater

Nice people. But I'm anti-social (j/k). My photography interest though portrait inclusive mainly centers on a long throw (telephoto/super telephoto) with a little bit of close up stuff on the side (I won't call it macro cuz that'd be a sorry use of the word). That criteria ain't so much on the social side anyway

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
my compromise was i bought a $700 SLR-style Sony back when everyone was still using the floppy-disc models, and loved it, but now you can buy a camera with 5 times the resolution for $200, and i can't afford to upgrade.

I hear ya, but at least you're IN the game!

Originally posted by: DLeRium
1) I spend hours in front of the computer doing photoshop
2) 4MP cameras aren't good enough for prints anymore, I can barely squeak by making 16x20 prints with fat borders
3) I hold up tours everytime I go on vacation because I take forever to take a bunch of pictures
4) I hold up my friends or parents everytime we go out somewhere and I have my camera on me
5) I carry a fat backpack when I go out on vacation while other people slip their camera in their pockets =(.

Sooo true. Believe me though, the effort/obsession pays off when you have pictures of the trip that everyone else can only talk about. I went on a Fly-in fishing trip to Canada a few weeks ago with a group of guys who'd been making the trip for years. I brought my DSLR and MiniDV along and will be presenting them a picture book and video of the trip. The wives and family members are really going to like seeing what they've only heard about in fishing stories all these years.

Originally posted by: Anubis
i take soo many damn pictures i never have time for anything else
and my back, lugging round the 4x5 is a pain in the ass

You're doing what you like to do. I'd say it's a worthwhile compromise. Have any scans of your 4x5 work to share?

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Sleep with a photographer and see what develops.

That's actually kind funnay

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
This is what I have to sacrifice:

I like to take pics of b00bs but nobody will model. So I just have to whack off.

That's actually kinda sick