I know, I am a bad girl for staying away for so long

That's why I am hoping you will forgive me because, in a way, I come bearing gifts.  I am so excited.  Corel is running a great promotion now on its photo editing software - see here:   http://store1.corel.com/corel/?storeKey=us&trkid=NASEMGglBR  You can save 30% on Paint Shop Pro X3 - the latest version.  Instead of paying $99.99 for it, you pay $69.99 for a full version, or like me, $59.99 for an upgrade.  But, wait, like the Ronco commercials say, there's more - you get a $40.00 Photo Restoration and Retouching book for free, and, if you wish, with any purchase, you can add Corel Paint It! to your order for only $10.00 (normally $39.99).  that's what I did yesterday.    But, they also gave me free shipping (saving me another $9.99 - if you don't get it automatically, sign up for their emails - you may need that link).  The piece de resistance I am giving you, however, is the code I used to get $20.00 off my order  BONUSBUCKS20. 

So, instead of paying almost $200 full price when you add in shipping, I am paying $49.99 total for all of the above.  Hurry, though, the sale, I believe, only runs through August 15.

Have fun!

Wedding photos

Remember I told you that a while back I won a Sony DSC-W22012.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization in silver?  Well, after playing around with it, we took it to a family wedding a few weeks ago. As promised, though, I gave it to my hubby to use.  I gave him a short, 10 minute primer on how to use it just before the wedding and he took some really nice shots.  

Instead of bringing my Sony alpha (DSLR) with me as it was going to be very hot and I am still recovering from back surgery, I brought my Sony DSC-H20 with me, and, in addition to taking pictures, I video-ed the entire 14 minute wedding ceremony.  Now, I managed to do this from the front row seat and without a tripod.  The Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization worked great - without a tripod, the image was nice and steady, and even when I panned around to get the dog walking down the aisle (unexpectedly, of course) and then sitting on my feet, everything was super steady.


Don't get me wrong - I still LOVE my Sony alpha.  It's just that after surgery, these two cameras were the perfect cameras to have with us to take pictures given the conditions of our backs (did I happen to mention hubby's back went out the day before the wedding?  No surgery required, but poor guy couldn't move that day!  So the nice, light DSC-W220 really came in handy, and was his first real use of a digital camera - yes, hubby rarely used digital and was still in the *gasp* film age!  Not that there is anything wrong with that, as I still sometimes use my Minolta SLR.).

New Sony DSLR

Have you all seen the new Sony alpha series cameras?  They look like a cross between a point and shoot and a DSLR, with the ability to attach multiple lenses to it.  It's the Sony a-NEX camera line.  I find them interesting because, in addition to taking interchangeable lenses, they can also take HD movies.  Check out the Sony website here for more info:  http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644718498&N=4294952674&Name=%26alpha%3b+NEX+Digital+Cameras#/nex5Section , or take a look at them through the Amazon links here.

I have yet to have a chance to see or try these out in person.  Drawbacks I can see, at least for my use, include the following:
1) The cameras take an "E mount" lens.  If you wish to use your Sony alpha or Minolta "A mount" lenses, you need to purchase an optional adapter sold separately Sony LA-EA1 - Lens adapter Minolta A-type - Sony E-mount.  Check out this link, which shows the present lowest price for this as about $154.95  http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=LA-EA1+lens+adapter&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6843298615254164316&ei=-NRBTPzKMoP58Ab74dEO&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCsQ8wIwAg#  (Amazon does not seem to have it in stock as of today http://www.amazon.com/Sony-EA1-adapter-Minolta-type/dp/B003QK1VK4 )
2) Even after the adapter (yes, I'd have to get one, after investing hundreds if not thousands of dollars in Minolta and Sony A-Mount Lenses, I am not buying a slew of E-Mount lenses), I can't imagine how balanced, or unbalanced the a-NEX would be with my larger telephoto lenses on it. 

The above said, I do think it's a very cool idea - sometimes I don't like lugging my Sony alpha DSLR around, and I have taken to bringing my Sony DSC-H20 and/or my Sony Cybershot W-220 with me.  The Sony a-NEX sound like it just might bridge the gap (IF they lower the price on the lens adapter!).

Update to the memory card debacle

Just so you know, Amazon came through.  After arguing with the original Amazon Marketplace seller, Chitek/CTCStore that yes, the "Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX 8 GB Flash Memory Card with USB Reader MSHX8G" did indeed come with a USB adapter/reader as indicated in the item name and product description (they actually argued with me that what I ordered was a "promotional item that did not come with an adapter/reader"), I filed a claim through Amazon's A to z guaranty service and they found in my favor and refunded my money to me.  In the meantime, I ordered the MSHX8G from another Amazon seller, Dependable Resources, and which was "fulfilled by Amazon", and lo and behold, I actually received what I ordered today.  Excellent - just in time for a family wedding.

Now we have to see if Chitek/CTS Store actually refunds my return postage as they promised.  I am waiting to see - if they refund it I will not leave awful feedback - if they fail to, well, they can just wait and see what I leave.

Kudos to Amazon, though, for stepping up and doing the right thing.

Have a happy Fourth of July all, and take lots of photos!

Buzz kill!

Well, I had been looking forward to receiving a product I ordered from Amazon, A Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo HX 8 GB Flash Memory Card with USB Reader, MSHX8G.  Note, how the description says "With USB Reader".  Well, the whole point of getting this high speed card is because the USB reader allows faster transfers (ever sit around using your memory card slot to transfer pictures from a full memory card? Can you say forever?).

Now, let me also preface this with saying I have been a long-time Amazon purchaser, and have bought from many Amazon Marketplace vendors without a problem. . . . until now. . . .

So, I bought it from an Amazon Marketplace seller ChiTek (also known as CTCStore, apparently from their emails to me), who ended up sending me only a Sony Memory Card MS-HX8A//K which does not come with the USB reader.  Despite my order and receipt clearly saying "Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo HX 8 GB Flash Memory Card with USB Reader, MSHX8G", ChiTek, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to tell me that it sent me what I ordered and that it is a promotional item that does not come with a USB reader.  HUH?  Will someone kindly explain to me (because ChiTek can't and refuses to do so) how something described as (and if you click on the link, there's another picture showing the entire package with the USB reader) having a USB Reader and a manufacturer ID number MSHX8G magically becomes an MS-HX8A//K (which, by the way, ChiTek does not even list as an item for sale, and, which, by the way, if you Google the manufacturer's number, is only available for sale in the United Kingdom and Japan, and thus may not work with US products) without a USB reader?  And, they charged me the same price for a lesser item (of course its a lesser item if it's missing one of its main components - never mind the fact that I have to buy an adapter card in lieu of the USB reader. . . .) and they don't understand why I am upset.  Here's images of what I actually received from them: 

Notice, no USB reader, and the manufacturer above the SKU does not match what I ordered:  MSHX8G.
This is what the MSHX8G is supposed to look like:  

  In my opinion, I am the victim of a bait and switch, and for the first time ever, I have filed a claim with Amazon.  I'll let you know how this works out, but so far, I feel victimized and feel I am unlikely to do business with an Amazon Marketplace vendor again.

New product

Just ordered the

Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX 8 GB Flash Memory Card with USB Reader MSHX8G for my family of Sony cameras.  It's supposed to be compatible with all three and, from what I read, the USB adapter makes the upload time to the computer much faster.  I also understand that it's supposed to record at a higher speed in your camera(s), although it's not guaranteed.  With a family wedding coming up, I wanted to be able to shoot still pictures with one of the cameras and video (available on my Sony DSC-H20 - I purchased -  and Sony DSC-W220 - I won) on a second camera, so the 8 GB size should be very handy.  I'll let you know how it works out.  The price was definitely right for me as I had accumulated $30.00 in Amazon gift codes from survey sites.

Will power!

I told you every so often we'll stray from photography topics.  We are sort of on-topic as I am, as I said before, a Sony girl with my cameras.  I have been really wanting a Sony- Reader Daily Edition Digital Book - Black.   

It has now come down in price from a whopping $399.00 which I just could not justify to  $299.00 at Best Buy http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=EDE85F30715C23ACB577D65E4773674A.bbolsp-app05-51?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_dynSessConf=-4573336614787235750&id=pcat17071&type=page&st=sony+e-reader&sc=Global&cp=1&nrp=15&sp=&qp=&list=n&iht=y&usc=All+Categories&ks=960  which I am considering because I have a $75.00 Best Buy gift card or $298.47 at Amazon as you can see from the link.  Choices, choices.

I need will power because hubby has wisely suggested that I wait until HP comes out with the Slate, which is its answer to the i-Pad.  For just a hundred or so dollars more, he feels, I can get the best of a notebook and an e-reader in one.  So, who has a Kindle, Sony Reader, or Nook, or other reader?  What do you think of it.  Do you agree with my hubby that I should hold fast for a slate or an iPad (I hate that name!).  Let me know!