First, the Canon has a higher resolution CMOS sensor than the Nikon D50. Since this camera will be for a resolution intensive task, I opted for the higher resolution model. Second, it's smaller and lighter than the Nikon D50. From the reports on Amazon, it may even be too small (which is fine for me). In the end it was these two slight factors that gave the Canon the edge not that the Nikon is a bad camera...it still would have rocked in my opinion.

I also got an AWESOME deal on a rebranded 4GB Hitachi Microdrive. It was only $156 bucks. I know it consumes more power than a flash based card and there is a shock risk, but I need the space since I plan on using the simultaneous Camera RAW/JPG feature quite often (11MB/photo!!). The 4GB flash based CF cards were over $200 and I figure I'll get another when if/when the price goes under $100 (probably mid next year).

To add to my camera bliss, I added the EW-60C lens hood for the stock Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens that comes wit the camera. I also got the RC-1 wireless remote so I can remote trigger the camrera without touching it (vital for sharp photos).

So after dropping the $1100 or so for all of the gizmos, I started looking for other stuff that I would need to setup my own home photo studio. I found this article by CJ Morgan, an artist who works is various materials to create abstract vessels. This is a very cool resource that helps anyone setup a basic home studio. What I was mainly looking for now was recommendations on lighting. I found that a basic kit with stands and umbrellas will run around $250 and that I should probably pay a little more for better stuff. I hunted around craigslist and it seems that every few days a photographer is getting rid of their premium gear for about half of what they paid so this looks like a good way to go. I'll also need to setup some sort of backdrop (I'm thinking white and black sheets) and find window blackout material to block outside light from adding the complexity of properly lighting the paintings. Another consideration is moving the paintings into different positions to photogpraph each part in detail. I think I'm going to have to custom fabricate something to handle this as I haven't seen anything that could help. What I'm thinking of is a typewriter sort of device...I snap a photo, move the painting to the left a little, snap another, etc. then move it back to the right and move the camera down to start the next "row". I was thinking we could use Hongyun's easel for this, but I built it so huge that it'd be difficult to move around. May be I can just build another one specifically for this task...hmmm.

And there you have it...another weekend, another grand blown on gadgetry.