Message posted by lone wolf on September 22, 2006 at 1:14:42 PST:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/
is the website I use most often regarding camera gear.
I use what he calls the "forgoten" 400mm:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/forgotten-400.shtml

I shoot film because you can good enough (but not great) images of planes that are maybe 1/8th a frame. [Remember, snooping on the base or Red Flag is not an airshow.] We are talking good enough to ID something interesting, be is SU-27, Kfir, etc. Of course, if it fills the frame, so much the better.

I prefer craigslist over ebay. Each has it's pluses and minuses. With craigslist, you get to see the item before you buy it. On the other hand, occasionally somebody gets robbed when they show up with cash in hand. However, the situation there is somebody offers something they really don't have, just to get you to show up with cash. If you ask enough questions about the item, you can tell if the person is on the level or not.

With ebay, I occasionally get sent crap. I have managed to get my money back, but what a hassle. Another problem with ebay is the poor packing done by some sellers. With Craigslist, you pick it up, so there is no chance of shipping damage. For some items, you can do the Craigslist deal in a public place (Peets coffee for instance). If you need AC power, then you take your chances and do the deal at the sellers house.

The prices on Craigslist are generally much better than ebay, easily 1/3 less. Of course, you should check completed ebay deals to get a handle on the value of the item on Craigslist. Remember to factor in shipping, as often shipping costs on ebay are inflated.

FYI, Ebay owns a percentage of Craigslist.

In Reply to: Camera equipment posted by Chuck (CA) on September 20, 2006 at 1:23:25 PST:

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