So I bought a camera. People know about this but I never took a picture of the camera that I bought (how reflexively ironic). So here it is. All the picutres I've been taking since the end of August have been with the F717. I'm very happy with it so far. It's big and awkward to lug around but does everything I could ask of it right now. Its biggest assest, excuse the pun, is the lens. Nice and fast. The build is also very sturdy. This I can say after having dropped the camera lens first on to hard rock, causing the UV filter to shatter, the entire zoom ring to tilt and pop out of the casing, and the casing itself bent because of the ordeal. Got back home, took out the screws, popped the zoom ring and associated electronics back into the shell and reattached all screws: works like a charm.

The night shots on this camera (and I hear many Sony cameras) are particularly good. Noise reduction kicks in on any shot slower than 1/25" but it is suprisingly good. Have taken 7" shots of the sky in fairly low lighting and the noise level is very low. Go Sony.

Now I want a tripod, a UV lens, a polarizer, and a pack of neutral density balancers, a telephoto conversion lens, a wide angle conversion lens, and a bag to carry all of them...to start. Who wants to contribute to my fund?