New Equipment on the way

[BillGrant]

I've been tempted on the 12MP dlsr cameras, but I think I'll hold out for 15MP

This is the phrase I was contesting as if to say 12MP makes a camera less than a 15MP. My point was that you cannot judge a camera based on number of pixels. All peripherals aside, Chip size, processing, and quality is much more important than pixel count. And we made many 20 x 24 prints with the venerable Fuji S2 back in the day which was a 6Mp. Numbers and charts are for people that shoot numbers and charts. Point being that once you get to about 6-8Mp it just doesn't matter much anymore. But then again, people are constantly telling me I can't use my 5dMkII for event work. Well, I do.
Bill

[HankCastello]

I guess what has me skeptical is that I bought a Nikon 8.2 MP back when it was one of the best cameras you could get.  It does not qualify as a camera for 16x20 prints.  8x10 are fine.  11x14, sometimes so.  16x20 - maybe under ideal conditions with absolutely no cropping - if you're not afraid of showing a little "grain".

I really like the looks of that Panny dslr, (and the price!), but don't want to make another purchase that is incapable of 16x20 prints.

[BillGrant]

See, that's what confuses me You talk about cameras BY the megapixel. I'm not sure what Nikon 8.2Mp you're talking about. I think the D200 was 10 so what is that? the D100 was 6? If it was a point and shoot, then forget it. But I promise you ALOT of real photographers that don't worry about charts in magazines made and still make MANY 16 x20s and up with far less MP. Better sensors mind you, but far fewer mP.
Bill

[ampsonic]

Hank,

What are you hoping to print? I'd be happy to take a few shots for you and send them over full resolution for you to play with.

As for the video....

Also, I got an adapter that allows me to use my Nikon Prime lenses with this bad boy, heres a quick video I shot and edited in under an hour (please excuse the terrible focus, I've never shot with manual focus before, so i was riding it the whole time)

http://vimeo.com/10274874

[HankCastello]

That's a good-looking young fellow - going to be a real screen star, I'll bet! 

I was thinking I'd like to be able to print 16x20, but haven't even shopped printers yet.  It's going to take me another year to finish paying off the six rental properties we bought and all the work we did on them, and I doubt my wife is going to approve many $1500 toy purchases before then.    

So there's no rush.  But the wedding business has picked up, so I might get to dip into the cookie jar a bit early, we'll see.  That camera looks promising and would leave more money to spend on our new sailboat as compared to the 5d mark II or whatever.  I just want to be sure it can do the big prints alright.  Maybe I'll sell a couple of VX2100s and a Panny C7 to buy one.