This may seem like an odd question. Can anyone tell me about the durablilty of the LCD glass on the D3s (D4). I was considering the D4 but am concerned about the screen. The D800 looks like it will have the protective cover. I can be rough on the camera so really want some protection for the screen.

I'd like to do Star Trails, Telescopic shots of astrological objects, architectural, and more dusk and dawn photos. I'd like to do a fashion shoot, I'm just not at that level yet, I'd like a mentor to help me with that first.

ANother thing id like to get into is 4x5-8x10 portraiture. Im doing a project later on in the year of taking portraits of the vis comm department on 4x5 B+W and printing them on 11x14 water color paper with liquid light

Like most others... nude/burlesque type. My wife did a session for me (that one of her gf's shot) last year for a birthday present, but I'd like to do my own when the D7000 arrives.

I'm so new to photography that I'm still learning the basics of capturing the photo I intend to shoot. There's so much on my 'to do' list.

I want to try underwater photography but I'd have to learn to swim better and dive first.

I once took snapshots from a low flying helicopter of some wild buffalo and thought, man, it would be awesome to do more of that kind of thing with better gear.

People and portraiture - I've stayed away from shooting people because I feel an outstanding human face can, to a certain degree, cover up problems with basic composition, etc... and I want to master the basics first.

Like every heterosexual male that's picked up a camera, I want to shoot naked chicks. ;) A naked model wouldn't distract me too much, but I'm such a gear spazz that she'd probably sigh a lot, get bored and not enjoy it very much.

I'm using macro, landscape and pet portraiture to learn and it's been working out. The more I read about photography and talk to other photographers, the more I think photography is a great hobby because there's always something else to try.

This one was up for a little over a month. I took it down so early as a leaf dominating in the shot, started whithering.

Took down another solargraphy test. With this one I wanted to see is water would penetrate the camera through the pinhole that is facing up. It survived the torrential rains of this summer and the can was dry.

I don't know that it's necessarily a matter of thinking something is or isn't a "real" camera. I look at it more from the standpoint that I'm buying a camera, not a flippin' Swiss Army knife. I don't need it to take video, fry an omelette, or open my garage door. :) I just want it to take the best possible picture. Ditching video and all that goes with it should, at least in theory, not only bring the price point on the camera down, but also leave room for other photo-related features. Just a thought.

Welcome to the forum slightdelay.

Like it or not video is going to be in just about every future camera. Just like autofocus and electronic controls in film cameras. I remember the argument back in the early 80s that if you need a battery to power the shutter then it wasn't a "real" camera and that autofocus was cheating. Same argument now with video. Same argument now with electronic viewfinders etc.

Long-time lurker, first-time poster. :)

My short list:
--Video: Strictly optional. I don't have the same enthusiasm for video on a photo camera that a lot of you seem to have, HD or no HD.
--Appearance: I'd like something that doesn't scream, "Look at my expensive camera!" Something that, unlike a DSLR, doesn't draw attention to itself or to me; in short, a camera that's good for street shooting pretty much anywhere, without being thief bait.
--EVF? Nope. I'd prefer a rangefinder, actually. Assume that the rear LCD would function both as control screen and for Live View shooting for those of us who occasionally find that sort of thing useful. Said screen would, hopefully, be an articulating screen of good resolution.
--Format: 4/3, though I have the sneaking suspicion that Nikon, like Canon (and Leica) will turn their backs on the format.
--Finally, as for the aesthetics of the thing: Something suitably retro, with plenty of manual controls. As Olympus has done with the PEN line, Nikon could look back to its own past (say, the Model S Nikkor rangefinder camera) for design inspiration.

Good times, hearty!

Okay, okay, I admit it! Nudes! Or, what are we calling it again? Human-form? Also, bikini shoots in the Bahamas with smokin' hot fashion models. There, I said it.

Sound like a fun shoot JorPet.. and it wont only be about the pictures only (Though I am sure you will get some good shots!) sometimes photography is like fishing.. you dont need to catch a fish to have fun fishing.

I did get one item off my list .. Fashion shoot.. Been meaning to organise a Nude shoot.. Have lined up 3 other photographers who are keen to collaborate but I am procrastinating.

Funny, I was going to jokingly post nude photography as my goal and the first 20 posts are all over that idea. In reality, I could never be comfortable doing that, so scratch that from my list.

The top two on my lists would be Portrait photography (would love to work with someone in their studio to see the "how" and then try it on my own). Not sure how comfortable I would be doing portraits either, as working with people is not my forte.

Second would be more horse track photography. A friend does the "Longacres Mile" day each year for the promoter and I have asked if I can caddy for him some time. So far no luck, but since we own a percentage of one of the horses this year and I now have my own WA state owners license, maybe this will be the year. You need the license to be able to get into a lot of parts of the grounds that general public is not allowed (including on the rail in the south turn, the paddock, etc.)

jonnyapple said:
While we're making requests, I'd also like an AFM. They're cheap and easier to use than SEM (or MRI, I presume).

What's that?

While we're at it, I'd raid the engineering department and steal a CNC machine and a 3D scanner.

I'd love to do the type of photography that makes me rich and famous. Any ideas how I can do that? Of course, I want it to be quick and easy, and with little effort on my part. Maybe I could have assistants that actually do all the work?

NSXType-R said:
Throw in a MRI would be nice too, Johnny Apple. :D

While we're making requests, I'd also like an AFM. They're cheap and easier to use than SEM (or MRI, I presume).

I'd love to just raid the equipment of my school just to get at all that nice stuff. I've always wanted free microscopes and dissecting scopes. :D

Throw in a MRI would be nice too, Johnny Apple. :D

Once I save up for that 105mm micro, I'd love to do a crapload of macro or portrait photography.

I took an electron microscopy class a couple of years ago, studio. It was awesome. I think you can get a used SEM for less than $10,000 these days. Just checked ebay and you can, although it would be best to get a '90s model that has a more modern computer interface.

Here's an image of a fly eye that I took.

Electron Microscopy:

I did some of this when I was working as a marketing director for a high tech company in the early 1990s. I remember flying to a special lab in San Jose to take the images on an electron beam microscope. I believe it was an SEM (scanning-electron microscope). The fee per image was very expensive, I recall. Although I don't have any copies of any of the images, one was published in the Los Angeles Times in an article about the company. Photo credit was given to the company.

Monty that last one is fantastic!

As for me there are a few things I'd really love to try.

-Painted emulsions is the main thing I'd like to do right now. I first read about it from Greg Mettler's work ( http://gregmettler.com/canvaswood.html ) and looks like it's pretty doable. Hopefully this summer I might still have the chance to try it out on some different mediums.

-I'd like to continue trying some star trails as each time I've tried i've gotten better and figured out what I was doing wrong.

-Underwater would be fantastic, but I don't have the money for any sort of housing.

Buy.Dog.Treats said:
Hello I like to spend my most of time in the sea and my hobby is fishing. I want to do photography while swimming. Is there any Camera which mark upto depth of the Sea

Hi Doggy, rather off topic! but welcome. Look into the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1 and FT2. They do very good video too!. Almost Perfect for your fishing/swimming hobby! If you want to go really deep, you can get a housing for it.

Awesome pictures, Monty. I don't know how I missed them earlier.

Hello I like to spend my most of time in the sea and my hobby is fishing. I want to do photography while swimming. Is there any Camera which mark upto depth of the Sea

Got one more that has been up for 6 months

TH's original post is here:
http://www.bythom.com/2009%20Nikon%20News.htm
It's near the top, entitled "The Inverted Razor Blade" (Dec 24th).