Luminous Landscape Forum
Site & Board Matters => About This Site => Topic started by: Ben Rubinstein on February 10, 2010, 06:30:51 am
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From 'What's New'
More announcements are due over the next few days, leading up to the PMA show later this month.
Tease. It's annoying actually as I want to buy a 1Ds mkIII now in the 2nd hand market but if there's to be a mk4 announced in the next few days then I don't want to close on a deal just to see the price drop like a stone on an announcement. I thought the Feb 8th annnouncement was it from Canon but now with MR teasing us with the above comment, I don't know what to think!
To hold off on the WTB posts for another week or so or not, that is the question, oh well, sigh...
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From 'What's New'
More announcements are due over the next few days, leading up to the PMA show later this month.
Tease. It's annoying actually as I want to buy a 1Ds mkIII now in the 2nd hand market but if there's to be a mk4 announced in the next few days then I don't want to close on a deal just to see the price drop like a stone on an announcement. I thought the Feb 8th annnouncement was it from Canon but now with MR teasing us with the above comment, I don't know what to think!
To hold off on the WTB posts for another week or so or not, that is the question, oh well, sigh...
Do you want Michael to make the decision for you? I believe he charges 10% of any deal.
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From 'What's New'
More announcements are due over the next few days, leading up to the PMA show later this month.
Tease. It's annoying actually as I want to buy a 1Ds mkIII now in the 2nd hand market but if there's to be a mk4 announced in the next few days then I don't want to close on a deal just to see the price drop like a stone on an announcement. I thought the Feb 8th annnouncement was it from Canon but now with MR teasing us with the above comment, I don't know what to think!
To hold off on the WTB posts for another week or so or not, that is the question, oh well, sigh...
Hi Ben,
I assume, with Canon not attending the PMA, that the 1Ds4 is going to be an August announcement for the Photokina 2010 in late September with November/December availability, exactly on time for a 3 year cycle (1Ds Mark II in 2004, Mark III in 2007).
I also expect the Mark IV to be an evolutionary development, with just enough new features to sell some more units to existing 1 series users. The second hand Mark II & III market will be good for their lens sales. It wouldn't surprise me if the pixel count is going to be 27MP instead of 30+, and it will probably have 1/3rd stop less dynamic range, more loss if they do increase the pixel count without revolutionary advances in the technology that's used. Color accuracy will probably suffer from more transparent CFA dyes. I'll be waiting for the prices to come down, and the quality to be proven this time. The Mark III is serving my needs just fine, no need to rush.
Cheers,
Bart
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I ordered a new car in December, a 2010 model, just a few months after they were introduced. It's scheduled for delivery in a few weeks.
But last week I learned that the company has just announced the 2011 models, with a couple of significant enhancements. This announcement is 5 months earlier than anticipated, with deliveries starting in April.
This means that their 2010 model year was chopped to about 7 months in length. More importantly it means that I'll likely lose about $10,000 on depreciation eventually as my car will appear to be one year older that it should when it comes time to trade.
Oh well. At some point one just has to make the best decision one can with the information available and live with the consequences.
Michael
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Oh well. At some point one just has to make the best decision one can with the information available and live with the consequences.
True, although that's a stunt that doesn't help brand loyalty, but then these are dire times for the car industry and there is a lot of competition to stay ahead of.
Anyway, for most people it's easier to switch car brand than camera brand + lenses. Changing from one model to the next evolutionary version of a camera body is unlikely to make one a better photographer either, it just might make life a bit easier getting certain shots. The question then becomes, is it worth ones money (e.g. competitive advantage) to be one of the early birds ... ?
Cheers,
Bart
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The post was tounge in cheek, I can wait a few more days, having to take a loan to buy the camera hence the penny pinching I need a dual card camera now for my weddings since a catastrophic card failure took all the family formals with it from a wedding. The data recovery people gave up after 7 weeks and sending it to the big boys in the US. I'll put up a WTB at the beginning of next week if I've not heard anything sooner...
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I ordered a new car in December, a 2010 model, just a few months after they were introduced. It's scheduled for delivery in a few weeks.
But last week I learned that the company has just announced the 2011 models, with a couple of significant enhancements. This announcement is 5 months earlier than anticipated, with deliveries starting in April.
This means that their 2010 model year was chopped to about 7 months in length. More importantly it means that I'll likely lose about $10,000 on depreciation eventually as my car will appear to be one year older that it should when it comes time to trade.
Oh well. At some point one just has to make the best decision one can with the information available and live with the consequences.
Michael
Did you go with the Rolls-Royce Phantom or the new Ghost?
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Lamborghini, but modesty prevents me from mentioning it.
Michael
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Lamborghini, but modesty prevents me from mentioning it.
Michael
A perfect car for those snowy winter roads in the Great White North.
Paul
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Lamborghini, but modesty prevents me from mentioning it.
Michael
Come on, Michael, you are far too sensible, pragmatic and realistic.
Rob C
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Come on, Michael, you are far too sensible, pragmatic and realistic.
Rob C
He chose the Lamborghini because it has a mirror lock-up button.
Eric
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Snow tires on a Lambo. What could be more pragmatic than that?
In any event, whatever it is (and I'm not saying yet), it isn't here yet. Delivery is scheduled for March 1, when I get back from a trip to Mexico, which I leave on this weekend. Then, all will be revealed.
Michael
Ps: There's a Mercedes model called an SLR. (Just kidding).
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Snow tires on a Lambo. What could be more pragmatic than that?
If you ever write a piece called "the limits of adherence in high performance cars", we'll call you "Warren" (Warren Mars for those who didn't follow). ;-)
Besides, past the age of 40, assuming you still fit in a Gallardo, getting out of it in style is impossible. And last but not least, as our mentor Ken Rockwell would say...
The car doesn't matter: it's the driver!
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Preview of Michael's next fall color shoot:
[attachment=20221:lambo_9519.jpg]
Naw, Michael is an Audi man! Q5? Q7? Then again I'm not aware of the early model change with those models. Next to my Canons, love my A8 best!
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Naw, Michael is an Audi man! Q5? Q7? Then again I'm not aware of the early model change with those models. Next to my Canons, love my A8 best!
And I heard the recently announced new A8 is a major improvement. With the differences in model years and availability between Europe and US/Canada, the hint about the depreciation amount... you could be close.
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Nope, not an Audi, though I've owned three in the past dozen years.
A brand I've never had before.
Michael
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Couldn't resist...
[attachment=20229:michael_lambo.jpg]
Snow tires works!
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Isn't Photoshop wonderful?
M
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Careful with that new Prius.
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Preview of Michael's next fall color shoot:
[attachment=20221:lambo_9519.jpg]
Naw, Michael is an Audi man! Q5? Q7? Then again I'm not aware of the early model change with those models. Next to my Canons, love my A8 best!
Horses do better than Bulls in snow/ice.
[attachment=20231:__1_of_1__18.jpg]
Steve
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Isn't Photoshop wonderful?
M
Subaru and Cosworth have joined forces to build a 500+ HP Impreza STI! Excellent for beating traffic in Yellowknife!
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Isn't Photoshop wonderful?
M
He even managed to get rid of the wrinkles
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Snow tires on a Lambo. What could be more pragmatic than that?
In any event, whatever it is (and I'm not saying yet), it isn't here yet. Delivery is scheduled for March 1, when I get back from a trip to Mexico, which I leave on this weekend. Then, all will be revealed.
Michael
Ps: There's a Mercedes model called an SLR. (Just kidding).
This it? <http://jalopnik.com/279128/rambos-lambo-the-lamborghini-lm002>
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Perhaps we should have a poll on 'Guess Michael's new car'
BMW X6?
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Nope, not an Audi, though I've owned three in the past dozen years.
A brand I've never had before.
A Tata perhaps?
Cheers,
Bernard
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No need for a poll.
Josh wins the prize. Good guess!
Am I that transparent?
Michael
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No need for a poll.
Josh wins the prize. Good guess!
Am I that transparent?
Michael
No just transported.
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Yea, but does it have four wheel drive?
Six would be even better.
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Actually, there is a Lamborghini quite capable of driving in snow:
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/lamborghini/2...uv-ar44571.html (http://www.topspeed.com/cars/lamborghini/2009-lamborghini-suv-ar44571.html)
Christopher
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Yea, but does it have four wheel drive?
Six would be even better
All wheel drive..good choice...no more air-port frustration...Beemer + audiobooks and 2 1/2 days later your are in AZ.
Steve
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I never realized the X6 had a dedicated mirror lockup button.
Eric
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No need for a poll.
Josh wins the prize. Good guess!
Am I that transparent?
Michael
Nah.. transparent is to negative a word...
Call it photographers intuition
I bought an X5 a little while ago for that combination on-road / off road plenty of room for camera gear type vehicle and its been great.
An X6 seemed a logical progression - a lovely ride. Enjoy.
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I hadn't seen the X6 before this thread. It looks like the Porsche Panamera's mother. I'm considering the Panamera 4S (the four-wheel drive version) but haven't been able to pull the trigger yet. It's a little...ugly. But I think it may get better looking over the next few years.
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&...mp;oq=&aqi= (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=porsche+panamera&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=)
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What a relief to have passed the age of car-pride; yep, I'd like to replace the rusting old Escort at some time, but it is nice to be able to park anywhere (legal) and no longer giver a fig if anyone opens their doors onto it... that's one of the problems of living in a tourist are: rental cars don't care.
;-)
Rob C
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What a relief to have passed the age of car-pride; yep, I'd like to replace the rusting old Escort at some time, but it is nice to be able to park anywhere (legal) and no longer giver a fig if anyone opens their doors onto it... that's one of the problems of living in a tourist are: rental cars don't care.
;-)
Rob C
Me too. My beat up '99 Camry was built back when Toyota still knew how to build gas pedals and brakes.
Eric
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We all have been dupes.
Michael is hiding his cards. Don't you see?
And he's enjoying our speculations
No boring BMW,
No New-rich Lamborghini
No snow tires eithers.
Here is the ultimate!
My bet is
A LULA F1 team.
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I hadn't seen the X6 before this thread. It looks like the Porsche Panamera's mother. I'm considering the Panamera 4S (the four-wheel drive version) but haven't been able to pull the trigger yet. It's a little...ugly. But I think it may get better looking over the next few years.
The Panamera is a fascinating car, but I'm not crazy about the styling, and it's a bit rich for my blood, especially in 4WD configuration.
I've been driving an SUV for the past 10 years because I need 4WD and high ground clearance to get to my country place in the winter, and I also need the space for camera gear and dogs.
But, since I've decided not to fly to the US any more from Toronto because of our dysfunctional airport (as I wrote about recently) I wanted something a bit more fun to drive on long trips, and the X6 is uncanny in its handling. A SUV that actually handles like a sports sedan.
In any event, it seems to meet my needs, and I'll be taking delivery in a couple of weeks. It's somewhere on a train at the moment between the factory in South Carolina and Toronto.
Michael
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Michael - I drive a V8 VW Touareg. Wanna race (in the snow, of course)?
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Me too. My beat up '99 Camry was built back when Toyota still knew how to build gas pedals and brakes.
Eric
I ran black cars for a long time for one simple reason: they were the easiest colour to spot - just like a real photograph - and it also seemed that black paint was tougher than other colours. I base that observation on the fact that when I would attack a new, differently coloured dent, the donated colour would generally come off and leave the original black unbroken, if remodelled.
Then, I bought the current one, a blue one, and on the second or third day of living in the car park (it, not I) somebody decided to remove the Ford oval. I know, how desperate is that for a collector of trophies? They tried the one on the boot/trunk and failed, leaving marks, and so they went for the one on the bonnet/hood and got it off. From that early baptism of hatred I lost interest in cleaning, washing, polishing or any of the suburban sophistries of ownership. It's all bullshit and self-deception. But fun until the penny drops. I know this having dropped many pennies until the moment of truth hit me. But you know what? - you lose something along with that realization.
Rob C
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In any event, it seems to meet my needs, and I'll be taking delivery in a couple of weeks. It's somewhere on a train at the moment between the factory in South Carolina and Toronto.
Not quite as much fun as in the "old days" when one would fly to Germany to pick up one's new BMW, Mercedes, etc, at the factory and try it out on the autobahn during a European holiday. But considering the current snow storms on the eastern seaboard, probably a wiser delivery choice.
Paul
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My bet is
[attachment=20298:lula_team.jpg]
A LULA F1 team.
+1!
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Not quite as much fun as in the "old days" when one would fly to Germany to pick up one's new BMW, Mercedes, etc, at the factory and try it out on the autobahn during a European holiday. But considering the current snow storms on the eastern seaboard, probably a wiser delivery choice.
Paul
Apparently BMW is building a plant in Russia to make X5s and X6s, along with the Spartansville plant in SC. That would be an interesting pick-up option.
I had a Toureg for a few years when they first came out. Now there's a real off-road 4WD!
Michael
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Apparently BMW is building a plant in Russia to make X5s and X6s, along with the Spartansville plant in SC. That would be an interesting pick-up option.
I had a Toureg for a few years when they first came out. Now there's a real off-road 4WD!
Michael
When I was banging around in the back country a lot, I drove a Lexus GX450, which is essentially a more comfortable Toyota 4Runner; I actually dipped the front wheels in the Arctic Ocean at Prudhoe Bay. As much as Lexus tried to disguise it, the GX is a truck. Now I'm driving back and forth from Minnesota to California a couple times a year, and I wanted something quicker and more comfortable. I got a Mercedes R class, which is a big, powerful, comfortable, four-wheel-drive pig, at a price point considerably lower than an X6. It's functional but just doesn't do much for me -- doesn't carry as much as an SUV, and isn't as good off-road, and though much more comfortable, is otherwise fairly bland: think Mercedes minivan. (Though I think it looks more like a hearse than a minivan.)
The X6 seems to me not really an SUV, but more of a grand touring car, with some SUV-like function thrown in. The Panamera is also a GT, with less SUV function, and probably no off-road capability -- I'm not completely sure that it would clear an upright Coke can.
JC
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The X6 definitely isn't a classic SUV. It's what's now called a "crossover", offering characteristics of several different types of vehicles in one. While it isn't the master of any one category it offers a mix of capabilities that I think I'll find appealing.
Ask me again in 12 months and I'll let you know how it works out.
Michael
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The X6 definitely isn't a classic SUV. It's what's now called a "crossover", offering characteristics of several different types of vehicles in one.
Perfect ride for a combo-cam enthusiast. Prepare for "the jack of all trades, master of none" comments.
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Real 4wd = Toyota 80/100 series Landcruiser, Nissan Patrol (/don's flame suit and ducks incomming missiles from Landrover owners.)
We don't have the snow really, but we have some serious 4wdcountry to get around in in Aus. Can be pretty harsh on vehicles.
(Warning, gratuitous 4wd Shot [attachment=20306:4WD_Road.jpg] Outback Australia, somewhere NW South Australia)
X6 looks very nice for touring + what my 4wd club calls 'soft road' as opposed to 'off road'.
Although I bet it would go quite nicley in many situations !.
Regards
Mark.
PS: Definition of a 4WD, something off which to hang accessories !. (sounds like a camera)
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I had a Toureg for a few years when they first came out. Now there's a real off-road 4WD!
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First cousin (1/2 brother) to the Porsche Cayenne. The Cayenne is an excellent off-road/on road SUV. I bought an S a few years ago on a whim and have put 60k miles on it; a lot in the Southwest US. Unlike the Merc. SUV that I had, the Cayenne corners like a Porsche. I will be interested in an X6, Touareg comparison.
Steve
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The 2011 models is DSLR? Does it mean Diesel?
Erik ;-)
Snow tires on a Lambo. What could be more pragmatic than that?
In any event, whatever it is (and I'm not saying yet), it isn't here yet. Delivery is scheduled for March 1, when I get back from a trip to Mexico, which I leave on this weekend. Then, all will be revealed.
Michael
Ps: There's a Mercedes model called an SLR. (Just kidding).
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I had a Toureg for a few years when they first came out. Now there's a real off-road 4WD!
***********
First cousin (1/2 brother) to the Porsche Cayenne. The Cayenne is an excellent off-road/on road SUV. I bought an S a few years ago on a whim and have put 60k miles on it; a lot in the Southwest US. Unlike the Merc. SUV that I had, the Cayenne corners like a Porsche. I will be interested in an X6, Touareg comparison.
Steve
I got a ride in one of the first Cayennes to make it to the US, and it was pretty awesome. We never got off the freeway, but I've never had that neck-jerk reaction in an SUV before. My reservation about the Cayenne is that if you use one in the Northern Plains, where I live, you might have to have it towed two states away if anything breaks down -- Porsche dealers being fairly thin on the ground outide the major metro areas. As far as I know, there are no Porsche dealers in North or South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Nebraska or Wyoming, except in Fargo, N.D., which is right on the Minnesota line, and Omaha, Ne., which is right on the Iowa line...if you broke down in Montana, the closest Porsche dealer might be Denver, or maybe Calgary. If you broke down in Saskatchewan, the closest dealers would be in Winnepeg, Calgary or Edmonton, a *long* way away.
A lot of reviewers suggest that these new crossover vehicles, like the X6 (there are several Japanese models that would fall into the category, but I don't know what they are) are ugly, because of the humpy back -- but I think as people get used to them, there'll be a perceptual change and they will become more attractive. When the BMW design changed eight or ten years ago, with the "Bangle back," a lot of people thought they were ugly, but now that look is all over the place.
If you were not especially looking for comfort, I think the ideal photography vehicle might be a Chevy Avalanche, the short-bed pickup with crew cab (four seats.) They're an SUV-pickup crossover. That would give you plenty of space to carry stuff in the cab (the back seats lay flat) and you could shoot out of the truck bed. I've noticed sometimes when I'm out looking at landscapes that it would be very useful to get the camera lens up four or five feet higher than eye-height.
What I'd *really* like to see is something like an Avalanche hybrid. It's really hard to justify driving around town at ten miles a gallon. Even if you don't care about the price of fuel, just the use of that much gas is becoming problematic.
JC
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Looks like a very nice machine. And the new tripod mount that replaces the sunroof is a great option. Sunroofs are overrated anyway.
[attachment=20309:X6.jpg]
Everyone should own a BMW once. And for some, once is enough!
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Everyone should own a BMW once. And for some, once is enough!
I had a BMW once -- an R26 motorcycle (1-cylinder). Probably the most reliable motor vehicle I've ever owned. Could never figure out how to mount the zoom lens though.
Eric
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Looks like a very nice machine. And the new tripod mount that replaces the sunroof is a great option. Sunroofs are overrated anyway.
[attachment=20309:X6.jpg]
Everyone should own a BMW once. And for some, once is enough!
I'll look for the 1/4-20 tripod thread in the roof when the X6 gets here. I don't see it listed in the BMW brochure. My preference though would be an RRS mounting plate. I really don't understand why auto makers don't make it a standard accessory, especially with SUVs so being conducive to using larger lenses.
Michael
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My preference though would be an RRS mounting plate. I really don't understand why auto makers don't make it a standard accessory, especially with SUVs so being conducive to using larger lenses.
Michael
I was passing through San Luis Obispo, CA the other week, and dropped in to visit Really Right Stuff's office. Funny you should mention that; I saw some interesting stuff, although the NDA I signed forbids me from commenting further.
Well, at least the first sentence is true.
Paul
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Michael,
Spartansville? That BMW plant in South Carolina is located between Spartanburg and Greenville.
Columbia, SC based photographer Jeff Amberg has produced a nice series of portraits of workers at the BMW plant. You can see some of the good folks who built your SUV on Jeff's Blog (http://jeffamberg.com/wordpress/2009/01/26/ppp-and-my-visit-to-bmw-manufacturing/).
John
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Looks like a very nice machine. And the new tripod mount that replaces the sunroof is a great option. Sunroofs are overrated anyway.
[attachment=20309:X6.jpg]
I'm sure the image stabilization will come in handy for photography on the move.
Paul
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I'm thinking that with Michael being a Leica man again, he has ordered the special edition BMW X6M9 version:
[attachment=20313:x9_leica.jpg]
Remote pointing with the iDrive knob, just press to take the image. Remote display of image on Nav screen (thank God someone finally listened to him!). Hotshoe attachment to synch with fog/strobe lights. No changing of lenses while driving is available, however a center mounted spray washer is optionally available.
Kind of adds new meaning to "street photography," doesn't it?
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Michael,
It's be 12 months on the X6. How's it doing?
Eric