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About Me
- Norm Rutkowske
- Photography isn't a hobby- it's a lifestyle. Bought my first 35mm Camera at the age of 15, and haven't put in down since. Have shot over 200 weddings. http://normthephotoguy.com
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Monday, July 25, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
GRAY MARKET WARNING! You’ll pay for that “great” deal… eventually
You’ll pay for that “great” deal… eventually: "READ THIS- before buying any camera on the internet!
You’ll pay for that “great” deal… eventually.
Almost all of the “amazing deals” found on the internet are gray market products. These are products that are made by a popular, reputable manufacturer, and intended for and shipped to a foreign market. They are purchased by a dealer that accepts gray market products, and then resold in the US, usually at a discount. While it may seem like a bargain to buy the “same” name brand at a lower cost, the risks and headaches that come with it usually far outweigh the few dollars saved, and you could end up with a camera you can’t even use.
Warranty? What warranty?
Aside from manuals and menus that may not be in a language you even recognize, and cords that won’t plug in to American systems without some adapter, these purchases maintain one overriding risk. They do not come with a US warranty from the manufacturer. This means that if something, anything, goes wrong with that camera, you may be completely out of luck. In fact, some manufacturers will not service gray market cameras in the US at all, even if you are willing to pay for it yourself. So if you want to get that camera fixed, it may require shipping it to a foreign country and hoping for the best. To learn more about the problems of gray market products click here for FAQ’s.
How can I spot Gray Market deals?
* US Manufacturer’s Warranty- This is the first tip off. If the product advertised does not come with its manufacturer’s US warranty (make sure it actually says it’s both a US warranty and a manufacturer’s warranty), chances are you are getting gray market.
* Authorized Dealer- If the site is not an authorized dealer for that brand, you don’t know what you are getting. Authorized dealers usually stay away from gray market products, as this tends to hurt the manufacturer, jeopardize the camera retailer’s dealership, and most importantly, hurts the consumer.
* Fine print- Many websites will attempt to cover themselves by burying details about the nature of their products in the fine print descriptions. Any site that mentions “May be missing original packaging, cables, manuals etc.” should be avoided, unless you want to risk buying an incomplete camera.
* Ask- Not many people bother to ask about gray market products. If you see a deal that seems “too good to be true” take the time to call them and ask. Most sites will be up front about it, if asked directly, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
MyCamera.com’s gray market policy."
You’ll pay for that “great” deal… eventually.
Almost all of the “amazing deals” found on the internet are gray market products. These are products that are made by a popular, reputable manufacturer, and intended for and shipped to a foreign market. They are purchased by a dealer that accepts gray market products, and then resold in the US, usually at a discount. While it may seem like a bargain to buy the “same” name brand at a lower cost, the risks and headaches that come with it usually far outweigh the few dollars saved, and you could end up with a camera you can’t even use.
Warranty? What warranty?
Aside from manuals and menus that may not be in a language you even recognize, and cords that won’t plug in to American systems without some adapter, these purchases maintain one overriding risk. They do not come with a US warranty from the manufacturer. This means that if something, anything, goes wrong with that camera, you may be completely out of luck. In fact, some manufacturers will not service gray market cameras in the US at all, even if you are willing to pay for it yourself. So if you want to get that camera fixed, it may require shipping it to a foreign country and hoping for the best. To learn more about the problems of gray market products click here for FAQ’s.
How can I spot Gray Market deals?
* US Manufacturer’s Warranty- This is the first tip off. If the product advertised does not come with its manufacturer’s US warranty (make sure it actually says it’s both a US warranty and a manufacturer’s warranty), chances are you are getting gray market.
* Authorized Dealer- If the site is not an authorized dealer for that brand, you don’t know what you are getting. Authorized dealers usually stay away from gray market products, as this tends to hurt the manufacturer, jeopardize the camera retailer’s dealership, and most importantly, hurts the consumer.
* Fine print- Many websites will attempt to cover themselves by burying details about the nature of their products in the fine print descriptions. Any site that mentions “May be missing original packaging, cables, manuals etc.” should be avoided, unless you want to risk buying an incomplete camera.
* Ask- Not many people bother to ask about gray market products. If you see a deal that seems “too good to be true” take the time to call them and ask. Most sites will be up front about it, if asked directly, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
MyCamera.com’s gray market policy."
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Norman Koren photography: images and tutorials
Norman Koren photography: images and tutorials: "Making fine prints in your digital darkroom
Light & color | Pixels, images, & files | Getting started | Scanners | Digital cameras | Printers | Papers and inks | Monitor calibration and gamma | Printer calibration | Scanning | Image editing | B&W printing | Matting and framing | Tonal quality and dynamic range in digital cameras
Image editing with Picture Window Pro
Introduction | Making and using masks | Contrast masking | Tinting and hand coloring B&W images | Example: Sunset, Providence
Understanding image sharpness and MTF
Introduction | Film and lenses | Scanners and sharpening | Printers | Lens testing | Depth of Field | Digital cameras vs. film | Grain
Color management
Introduction to Color science and Color management | Implemention part 1: Setup, working color space, profile anatomy | Implemention part 2: Monitor profiling, workflow details | Obtaining ICC profiles and using MonacoEZcolor | Evaluating color in printers and ICC profiles
Digital cameras vs. film | Part 2 | Canon EOS 10D Digital SLR | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Workshops Pt. Lobos/Big Sur Jan. 2004 | Monument Valley/Hunt's Mesa April 2004 | Part 2
A simplified zone system for making good exposures
Photographic technique Part 1: equipment, mostly | Part 2: vision, panoramic, travel
Canon FS4000US 4000 dpi scanner | Epson 2450/3200 Flatbed scanners
Eliminating color fringing (lateral chromatic aberration)"
Light & color | Pixels, images, & files | Getting started | Scanners | Digital cameras | Printers | Papers and inks | Monitor calibration and gamma | Printer calibration | Scanning | Image editing | B&W printing | Matting and framing | Tonal quality and dynamic range in digital cameras
Image editing with Picture Window Pro
Introduction | Making and using masks | Contrast masking | Tinting and hand coloring B&W images | Example: Sunset, Providence
Understanding image sharpness and MTF
Introduction | Film and lenses | Scanners and sharpening | Printers | Lens testing | Depth of Field | Digital cameras vs. film | Grain
Color management
Introduction to Color science and Color management | Implemention part 1: Setup, working color space, profile anatomy | Implemention part 2: Monitor profiling, workflow details | Obtaining ICC profiles and using MonacoEZcolor | Evaluating color in printers and ICC profiles
Digital cameras vs. film | Part 2 | Canon EOS 10D Digital SLR | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Workshops Pt. Lobos/Big Sur Jan. 2004 | Monument Valley/Hunt's Mesa April 2004 | Part 2
A simplified zone system for making good exposures
Photographic technique Part 1: equipment, mostly | Part 2: vision, panoramic, travel
Canon FS4000US 4000 dpi scanner | Epson 2450/3200 Flatbed scanners
Eliminating color fringing (lateral chromatic aberration)"
Norman Koren photography: images and tutorials
Great web site check it out! Norman Koren photography: images and tutorials
Sunday, July 10, 2005
The Bush 1/2 penny
The Bush 1/2 penny
Originally uploaded by Normthephotoguy.
Coin Collectors Divided over New Bush Half-Penny
Enthusiasm for the Thomas Jefferson buffalo tail nickel has not carried over to the George W. Bush horse's ass half-cent.
The majority of numismatists quickly gave a big thumbs up to the new five-cent piece. But the half-penny, dubbed simply "The Bush" by hobbyists, has sparked a bitter debate.
"Each half-cent will cost about 0.81 of a cent to mint, creating an unnecessary deficit every year, detractors of The Bush complain. And it looks so much like a penny, The Bush will facilitate widespread dishonesty. The Bush is doomed to be a miserable failure.
These will come in very handy when the President's Social Security reforms pass," insist supporters of The Bush. "Once the program is forced into bankruptcy, each retiree will get one in the mail every month. Or they can just feel around under the sofa cushion.
The traditional slogan "In God We Trust" is replaced by "Trust Me" on The Bush, which will make it highly sought after by collectors of U.S. coins with oxymorons.
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