Nevada Jack

Great stuff triggca! They look fine!

triggca

Thanks Jack

JimBarnhart

First, thank you all for the wealth of information and fun on this website. I recently bought my 2nd MB - a 2007 GL in Verde Brook with Macadamia leather interior. So far I love it! It's got a ton of gadgets (I admit it, I'm a gadget guy).

The ride is better than my previous 2003 ML500. The ML had more get up and go with the 5.0L, but I'll learn to live without that. The integration of Sirius, cellphone, nav, audio, etc is much nicer than my old system. I'm having a little 'getting used to' on the shifter. I like that the center console is much less cluttered and has decent cupholders.

I thought I'd post a picture. I see Nevada Jack's pictures in the warmth of Nevada, and while I'm planning a trip to Vegas soon, I thought you might like a cooler perspective. The heated steering wheel, and the heated front/back seats are getting their use on this GL.

Thanks for all the information

triggca

Congrats on your new ride! I've had mine for 2 weeks and I still take a peek in the garage several times a day!

patsy1099

Welome JimB. That GL looks loaded and fine. Enjoy it!

Triggca, your wings look great. The lighting makes the entire mesh grill look chrome but it's black right?

Stumblefoot

Welcome to the forum Jim and I love your GL color... albeit a bit biased since I have the exact same color scheme. Thanks for showing pictures from the land of the frozen tundra!

Newbie_2_MB

Welcome to the forum, Jim! Beautiful GL you have.

oknish

Welcome aboard, Jim. I concur that you do have a nice looking color combo. After seeing Stumble's in person, I am a fan of VB now.

Chicky Monkey

Hi, Jim!

Congratulations on your decision to buy the GL! Enjoy!

JimBarnhart

Thanks everyone, has anyone seen the chrome window switch covers on Mac Leather? How do they look? I think I want them from Santa, but wanted to get your opinions.

Chicky Monkey

Here's a link to a thread that has a few pics of the covers in a Mac interior. I think it looks sharp!

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...=218725&page=2

Nevada Jack

Very nice Jim and welcome. Having taken delivery with Stumblefoot at the same time at the same dealer, I also think the color combo is great. Join the crowd and enjoy the company here...:-)

StevethePilot

Well I screwed up my FTP software settings when I did a fresh install of the OS here so you're only getting attached file quality, but here's some shots from the new camera - a Sony DSC-H9. I'm mildly disappointed (mostly because there's no RAW mode) but I can return it and probably will after this UK trip. I needed something to take some decent shots with, as my E-10 has gone nipples skyward and my only other camera right now is an old C-5050 Zoom with questionable focus decisions (always seems to focus on the background more than the subject in anything but great light). So here goes;

StevethePilot

A few more. Notice on the last one, I tried bumping the yellow a tiny bit so you could see the difference between the stock (high beam) and PIAA replacement (low beam) bulbs (I haven't replaced the high beams just yet). To the naked eye, they PIAAs are noticeably whiter and brighter (did one, turned on the lights for comparison, was suitably impressed). Worthwhile.

STP

oknish

Very nice, STP.

Nevada Jack

Pics look fine Steve. That Phoenix area sun makes any pic taking tough, but with a black GL in the scene the proper exposure if a tough one. I love cloudy days so the scene contrast is low and you can get some good sharp definition.

If you want RAW take a look at the Canon G9...nice compact camera with lots of features and I am pretty sure it shoots RAW.

Stumblefoot

Love the picture of the lights.

Have a great time in the UK.

StevethePilot

Thanks for the kind comments, guys, I appreciate it. I'm actually jonesin' for a Nikon D80 or a Canon EOS-40D. The Canon has better picture quality and is faster than the Nikon, but also considerably more expensive. What I like most about them both, however, is an ISO that goes up to 3200, something the G9 doesn't have. In fact, even in the digital SLR range nobody goes to 3200 except the D40 and D80, the EOS-30D and EOS-40D, and the Pentax K100D (which is 6 megapixels, very low in this day-n-age).

Ahh, decisions, decisions. I'll snap some shots of MBs in the UK for you guys, GLs if I can find 'em!

STP

scottybdiving

Hey STP. What on earth would you do with ISO 3200? My criteria requires the other direction and is the reason I chose the Fuji S2 Pro (Nikon body) over the Nikon D100, because it has ISO 100 and the Nikon only went down to ISO 200. Pre digital, I shot ISO 50 film, looking for the best color saturation possible. Plus, the Fuji was the only DSLR at the time (2002), that was compatible with underwater strobes. I was definitely going the Nikon direction since I already possessd several expensive lenses from my Nikon film cameras.

BTW, they seem to be comparing the 40D with the D300 instead of the D80. The D80 is more consumer oriented. DPReview used the D200 because the D300 was not available at the time.

Nevada Jack

I can highly recommend the 40D Steve...I have one and an assortment of EF-S lenses. 3200 ISO and less noise than most that offer that speed. Along with the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS lens as your regular lens you can cover most anything.

The thing I like most about the 40D is the new menu system...very intuitive and 3 custom settings to quickly set up the camera for shots. Knew more about the settings on the 40D in 30 minutes that I never knew about the 20D I sold. The AEB feature for HDR shooting is also great now that I am playing with that mode.

Solid choice...I know very little about the Nikon but do know that many of the features on the D300 will never be used by the average amateurs using DSLR's. Many pros are now using the D40 as a backup because of the IQ and color saturation being obtained with it.

You won't go wrong with either a Canon or Nikon DSLR...both do a great job but I can certainly vouch for the 40D as shown in many of my latest images. I bought it the day it was releases and not one second thought.

scottybdiving

I agree that both Nikon and Canon are excellent choices. Unfortunately, you can't easily switch back and forth like you can with cars, because most serious photographers have a sizable investment in their respective lenses.

If you are looking for a consumer grade DSLR, the D40x is a good choice, in the Nikon line. However, at 3 fps it will not perform well for any sports photography and must be used with AFS lenses for auto focus. It has no on-board autofocus drive.

If you want a serious amateur / semi-pro camera in the Nikon line with aluminum body, state of the art auto focus, and up to 8 fps, you have to go to the D200 or the new D300. The D300 also syncs with older A-I lenses (good for me), where previously they could only be used in manual exposure on DSLR's. It is built closely to the standard of Nikon's top of the line professional model, the D3. Although Nikon makes no claims of it being waterproof, it is very water resistant with o-rings and rubber seals on the compartment doors. A little pricey at $1800.

Nevada Jack

Sounds like the dpreview forum...LOL If he wants a good DSLR and is ready to learn how to us it, either the Canon40D or Nikon200D (or 300D if he wants all those extra bells and whistles for $1800) will do nicely. The glass makes the image so commit on what glass you want and then decide on the body because what scotty says is true...once invested in good lenses that kind of sets the direction in the future.

If however he is going to buy the DSLR and set it on auto all the time, he should buy a good consumer grade P&S like the G9 or some equivalent model.

Nevada Jack

Unless you are going to print 16x20's or crop very small areas in a image and print it large, forget about the pixel war and anything 5 megapixels or above will do you fine. Don't over buy Steve or buy a DSLR unless you intend to use all the features...it is money down the drain. Look for a good P&S.

RAW is another feature not needed in most instances unless you do a lot of PS and special processing. Again, Super Fine (or whatever the maker calls it) jpg will provide excellent web images and 4x6 prints.

scottybdiving

Hey Jack, just remember this topic is about photos of GL's and the tools used to obtain them. LOL

I agree with everything you said. Using a DLSR is a commitment and shooting RAW adds time to the workflow. I always shoot RAW for underwater and about 25% of the time above water. When I go diving on a live-aboard, I may do up to 5 dives a day or 25 dives in a week, and shoot around 1200 - 1500 shots. While everyone else is warming up on the sun deck, sitting in the hot tub, or enjoying a good book, I am at the camera table uploading images or prepping my camera rig for the next dive. It's not for everyone.

The P&S cameras have came a long ways and will do everything most people require. They are gradually improving the horrible shutter lag that was so bothersome in past years.

BTW, I will be on one of thos live-aboard dive boats the week of Christmas. It's name is the Belize Aggressor III.

BETO

First weekend I had it, it's changed a little since then.