Tax Refund!!! - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/16/2009 03:30:12 PM · #27

I hope Uncle Sam at least buys a good lens for their spy satellite with your loan !

Maybe something like a 70 - 50,000 zoom.

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

I always try to not give the gov't an interest free loan too. I think the best I did was to owe $42 to the Fed and got $35 back from the state.

Unfortunately, the IRS has a mandatory 25% withholding on lump sum payments. I recently was laid off and offered a severance package that included a lump sum payment. There was more withholding from that payment than I have paid in taxes for the last three years combined. So, I've just loaned Uncle Sam several thousand dollars, interest free that I won't get back until I file my 2009 taxes.

Originally posted by kenskid:
Just think...if you would have adjusted your withholding the governement would not have been holding your cash for 0% interest. You could have purchased your items months ago. I perfer to keep all the earnings I can without paying a tax penalty. This sometimes means I may have to pay a few hundred bucks in April...but I like it that way....

.....I purchased a D90 months ago...

Originally posted by ajdelaware:
I bought a house so Obama is sending an additional 8k on top of my already pretty healthy refund.

So far on my list:
Wacom tablet
10.5 Fisheye
2 new lenses in the f/2.8 range
Honeymoon in the carribean.

Message edited by author 2009-04-16 15:39:46.

benfica

Canon EOS-40D

04/16/2009 03:47:08 PM · #28

Originally posted by ajdelaware:

I bought a house so Obama is sending an additional 8k on top of my already pretty healthy refund.

So far on my list:
Wacom tablet
10.5 Fisheye
2 new lenses in the f/2.8 range
Honeymoon in the carribean.

Forget the Wacom Tablet. Go for a Hantech Tablo. A quarter of the price and WAY more features and usability. Only Con its for 15in and under screens only for the time being but a AWESOME product for laptop users. Check it out. I just played with one the other day a AMAZING tool for $80.

Message edited by author 2009-04-16 15:49:27.

Photologist

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

04/17/2009 02:08:02 AM · #29

Originally posted by jdixonsd:

One problem I have with the 2X is the autofocus don't work. I been told it's because there's not enough light.

It should work. f/5.6 should give you enough light, unless you are in a very dark environment. Are you saying that it doesn't autofocus not matter where you are? Are you using the "Canon 2x II Extender EF". (note the emphasis on the II designation).

Message edited by author 2009-04-17 02:08:15.

AndyMac24

Canon EOS-40D

04/19/2009 07:14:05 PM · #30

Another quick question...

How big of a difference does the IS make? Its like 500 extra, but I like my current IS lens, so any opinions?

Photologist

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

04/19/2009 09:16:48 PM · #31

It depends. If you are shooting hand-held at full focal length (200mm) and your shutter speed is 1/250 or faster, then you should have no problem with this lens in non-IS configuration (or with IS turned off). If you have IS (or have it turned on), then you may be able to get a 2 to 3 stop advantage; meaning you can probably shoot at 1/125 sec, 1/60 sec, or possibly even 1/30 sec.

If you are hand-held at 70mm, then you can generally shoot 1/60 sec or faster without IS. With IS at this focal length, you can shoot as slow as 1/30, 1/15, or possibly 1/8 sec.

If you are in bright sunlight or with a well lit composition, you probably won't need IS at all. I'm hooked on IS--not because I always shoot in low light...quite the contrary...I normally shoot in well-lit situations. However, I buy IS because there are times when I am not in well-lit opportunity (without a tripod), so it really comes in handy.

Speaking of tripods, if you are shotting on a tripod, then you really don't need IS at all. Some schools of thought advise turning off IS when using a tripod. I always do.

AndyMac24

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/29/2009 12:34:32 PM · #32

OK, so I just placed the order for the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L USM IS, and I picked up a used 40D for a really good price from my local camera store. It only has 8000 shutter clicks on it. I am also getting the 2x extender today or tomorrow so I have it when the glass arrives. I am so excited!!! Thanks for all the great advice. I decided to go for it because everywhere I read only had 2 bad things to say about the lens.. the price and the weight. I have been getting into doing some more professional shows and shoots lately and I figured that it would be a good investment.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

04/29/2009 01:30:03 PM · #33

Or at least uses it to develop something cool.

I've already benefited from the Soviet spy satellite program, why not the U.S. one as well?

Originally posted by kenskid:

I hope Uncle Sam at least buys a good lens for their spy satellite with your loan !

Maybe something like a 70 - 50,000 zoom.

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I always try to not give the gov't an interest free loan too. I think the best I did was to owe $42 to the Fed and got $35 back from the state.

Unfortunately, the IRS has a mandatory 25% withholding on lump sum payments. I recently was laid off and offered a severance package that included a lump sum payment. There was more withholding from that payment than I have paid in taxes for the last three years combined. So, I've just loaned Uncle Sam several thousand dollars, interest free that I won't get back until I file my 2009 taxes.

Originally posted by kenskid:
Just think...if you would have adjusted your withholding the governement would not have been holding your cash for 0% interest. You could have purchased your items months ago. I perfer to keep all the earnings I can without paying a tax penalty. This sometimes means I may have to pay a few hundred bucks in April...but I like it that way....

.....I purchased a D90 months ago...

Originally posted by ajdelaware:
I bought a house so Obama is sending an additional 8k on top of my already pretty healthy refund.

So far on my list:
Wacom tablet
10.5 Fisheye
2 new lenses in the f/2.8 range
Honeymoon in the carribean.

Message edited by author 2009-04-29 15:04:39.

Mjvaldez

Canon EOS-20D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

04/29/2009 01:36:12 PM · #34

Everybody that I have ever talked to and what I have read is to go with the 1.4 tele converter!

vxpra

Pentax K100D

04/29/2009 02:15:58 PM · #35

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Or at least uses it to develop something cool.

I've already benefited from the Soviet spay satellite program, why not the U.S. one as well?

I understand Bob Barker was a big supporter of the Soviet spay (and neuter) program.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/29/2009 03:04:20 PM · #36

Originally posted by vxpra:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Or at least uses it to develop something cool.

I've already benefited from the Soviet spay satellite program, why not the U.S. one as well?

I understand Bob Barker was a big supporter of the Soviet spay (and neuter) program.

Doh!

kenskid

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

04/29/2009 03:51:02 PM · #37

I must have missed something...when did your "spy" reply become "spay"? LOL.

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by vxpra:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Or at least uses it to develop something cool.

I've already benefited from the Soviet spay satellite program, why not the U.S. one as well?

I understand Bob Barker was a big supporter of the Soviet spay (and neuter) program.

Doh!

vxpra

Pentax K100D

04/29/2009 04:28:30 PM · #38

Originally posted by kenskid:

I must have missed something...when did your "spy" reply become "spay"? LOL.

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by vxpra:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Or at least uses it to develop something cool.

I've already benefited from the Soviet spay satellite program, why not the U.S. one as well?

I understand Bob Barker was a big supporter of the Soviet spay (and neuter) program.

Doh!

It went from spay to spy about here: Message edited by author 2009-04-29 15:04:39

Message edited by author 2009-04-29 16:28:51.

hanserik

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

04/29/2009 06:33:46 PM · #39

Originally posted by benfica:

Originally posted by ajdelaware:
I bought a house so Obama is sending an additional 8k on top of my already pretty healthy refund.

So far on my list:
Wacom tablet
10.5 Fisheye
2 new lenses in the f/2.8 range
Honeymoon in the carribean.

Forget the Wacom Tablet. Go for a Hantech Tablo. A quarter of the price and WAY more features and usability. Only Con its for 15in and under screens only for the time being but a AWESOME product for laptop users. Check it out. I just played with one the other day a AMAZING tool for $80.

I think I will have to disagree with you on that one. I googled and came across a video demoing it at CES 2009. Yes, it transforms your laptop to a tablet-pc, but from what I can see it's still just a fancy mouse emulator. www.hantech.ca appears to be down so I'm basing this on what I saw in the video.

I recently bought the Wacom Intuos 4L, and suddenly that dodge and burn everyone is talking about became useful. With a mouse it's just on and off, with the Wacom you have 2048 steps of pressure sensitivity. And it's tilt sensitive! How cool is that! :)

If you are somewhat serious about photography (or a gadget geek like me) you'll want a graphics tablet.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/29/2009 07:00:39 PM · #40

Originally posted by jdixonsd:

One problem I have with the 2X is the autofocus don't work. I been told it's because there's not enough light.

Auto-focus works just fine with this setup. The 100-400L doesn't auto-focus with a 2x attached.

kenskid

05/01/2009 10:02:06 AM · #41

I knew this was going to happen.

You better adjust or be ready to pay next April if you are affected....I am !

citymars