Tell Josh what YOU would have done with his $800....

<p>or ... a baby's arm holding an apple. ;-)</p>

<p>We did the same thing as you did a while back. I think a little working vacation would have been nice instead</p>

<p> </p>

The sun that provides light for your photos could be heating your water at the same time.

<p>My water heater sprung a leak the day I was supposed to go on a first blind date.</p>

<p>Well, that never happened.</p>

<p>Now that new water heater is 7 years old and I'm horrified to think what will happen...</p>

<p>-Mario</p>

<p>Why are you being a responsible adult?</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Think we spent about $300 for a 50/gal and hubby installed it himself saving the $200 installation fee.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I don't mess around with natural gas lines. When you screw up with a saw, you lose a finger or two. When you screw up with natural gas, you die in a fiery explosion and so might everyone else in the house.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>and get a new EF 24-105 f/4 L IS. IMO the 15-85 isn't the right step ahead.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>That would work if I was going to be using it on a full frame camera. But my "every day" camera is the T1i, I don't often carry around the bigger heavier full frame unless I'm doing "work" photography. And then I use the "L" lenses.</p>

<p>I'm not saying the 15-85 is the greatest lens out there. I'm just saying I'm interested in giving it a try for my snapshot photography.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Why are you being a responsible adult?</p>

</blockquote>

<p><a href="../photo/10983635"><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10983635-sm.jpg" alt="" width="199" height="132" /></a> <a href="../photo/11034756"><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11034756-sm.jpg" alt="" width="199" height="133" /></a><br>

<a href="../photo/7939574"><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/7939574-md.jpg" alt="" width="400" /></a></p>

<p>No particular reason I guess.</p>

With $800, I would go for Olympus EP1 plus 14-42 lens kit, or EP1+Panasonic pancake 20mm, or EP1L plus duoble lens kit. Then, travel with it.

<p>Definitely a photography class...either composition and lighting, or maybe post-processing.</p>

<p>Well, I would have bought an EF 100/2 and an EF 28/1.8 for my 5D. For now I just have the 28~135, that's somehow poor on the tele end... and I like existing light, large openings, and bokeh. And I still think that fixed focal lenght lenses rule. Ok, with some 100 bucks more, but it's worth.</p>

<p>I'm afraid a new hot water tank is in my very near future as well. My current one is just over 20 years old. I installed that one when I discovered my bedroom carpet was all warm and squooshy when I got up that morning... The least I should do is move the bulk of my camera gear up off the floor so that if/when disaster strikes (again) I won't be tempted to sit down in the wet and weep.</p>

<p>[Leaving responsibility & reality aside...]</p>

<p>$800? Hmmm... 3-7 days visiting friends in Santa Fe and Taos...or...</p>

<p>A Lumif GF-1, lens + 2nd battery...</p>

<p>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/648490-REG/Panasonic_DMC_GF1K_K_Lumix_DMC_GF1_Digital_Camera.html<br>

or...</p>

<p>A new batch of prints...</p>

<p>For my Nikon Dx cameras...</p>

<p>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/619515-REG/Nikon_2181_10_24mm_f_3_5_4_5G_ED_AF_S.html</p>

<p>The following books are on my must-have list:</p>

<p>http://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/Citation.cfm?Catalog=NT286</p>

<p>http://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation.cfm?catalog=TL048</p>

<p>http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1246321</p>

<p>http://www.steidlville.com/books/889-Looking-In-Robert-Frank-s-The-Americans-Expanded-Edition.html</p>

<p>http://www.abbeville.com/bookpage.asp?isbn=9780789209986</p>

<p>http://www.aperture.org/summer-nights-walking-ltd.html</p>

<p>http://www.press.uchicago.edu/presssite/metadata.epl?mode=synopsis&bookkey=3750596</p>

<p>That should make $800 vanish...</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I would get my head examined for spending $800 for a hotwater heater. Lowe's and Home Depot offer better values than the one you got.</p>

<p>Bob</p>

<p>I would have purchased a WAY cheaper water heater and put the balance on the lens. Then I would have immediately gotten the lens with Pay Me Later. This plan goes along with the advice "Always order your dessert firs because you never know".</p>

<p>Well, since I have to spend the $800 instead of keep it I suppose I'd buy something immaterial like a service. I suppose $800 would get me a decent model for a day...</p>

<p>I would take a solo trip to Niagara Falls...</p>

Aparently I didn't make myself clear enough. I didn't spend $800 on a water heater. I spent $800 for a new water heater,

instalation of that heater (including new gas and water piping), and removal and disposal of my old dead heater all within 24 hours of the old one dying. Despite

common belief, I'm not an idiot. Lowes is less than a mile from me and HD is less than 2 miles. So I know what their prices are. I paid less for the unit

and got better quality than the BORGs could offer.

 

I didn't instal myself because, as I said, the one thing I don't mess with on my house is the nat gas. Saving a few hundred

isn't worth the risk in my book.

You don't live in The South do you, Josh? The question should be - After spending $5 for J-B Weld and duct tape to fix the leak, what would you have spent the other $795 on?

<p>OOOOOO so many choice...a smart women would pay down bills...I am going to say that...I WOULD DO THIS <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/family/?promoid=BPDEK">http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/family/?promoid=BPDEK</a> :^) would love to buy CS5 Extended 64bit full version...anything to make life easier for me :^)</p>

<p>FWIW, IMO hot water, showers, proper sanitation, clean dishes, clean laundry, clean babies, etc. are all important. It's also crucial if you're not comfortable servicing gas appliances to hire that out to a pro. Good show, Josh!</p>

<p>As to your OP, I'm in the market for a new printer.</p>

<p>800 bucks in Powerball tickets. Bound to recoup that and buy a 500 f4L with the profits.</p>

<p>I would take a percentage of the $800.00 and donate it to the American Red Cross or a disaster relief organization. We here in Tennessee had historic floods. My hometown of Nashville (where I live) was under water for many days. Go to my website and view how dealt with it; Bullshotz.com.<br>

Peace, <br />Jamie</p>

<p>You did right! Keep your bride happy! That makes it easier to get the toys later!<br>

Wayne</p>

<p>I saw an ad for a new 7D for only $898. Now it is a bit more than the $800 plus there will be freight. But with that camera, (and some money from housekeeping to pay for it) I would be such a fantastic photographer (not that I am now but the 7D will make me one!) that all I would have to do is take photos and sell them for fortunes to pay back the housekeeping. Trouble is, that with my existing 24-105L IS and the 70 - 200 F4L IS I would rather go for the 5D MkII but that is not just over $800. Hmmmmmm, house keeping would be much thinner for a long time and so would I!. Maybe stick with the 450D for a while.<br>

Hot water!<br>

What is wrong with a dip in the local creek with a bottle of wine, a bar of soap and a friend? You will soon get warm and have the opportunity for some nice photos.</p>