What are you hoping for for Chistmas

[Scooterb]

Made my list last Saturday.
New scanner. http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0170.html
Looks like it could be good read some good reviews on it. Cost not much more than a Radio shack scanner. Plus new Diamond antennas for it and the truck.

I will probably get grief from you guys on this one butttttttttttt.............
A new camera.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse500/

[~Z~]

couple things scott...

that's be great if you got the VX-170. I was looking into buying the VX-150...err...getting it for a christmas present...definately put that on my list of things to get. If you have a link on a good antenna for the truck, let me know..i'd like to get a taller antenna for when i have my scanner connected in my car. Not sure if the price difference between the 170 and the 150 is worth it to me, but your milage may vary

Now as for the Olympus.... please don't get that. I know it says it's 8 megapixel, but no.... it's $699 without the lens..and the lens isn't exactly the best quality...as far as i know, no other lens makers make lenses for olympus SLR's.... If you have to, go for Nikon, or please use Canon...canon=awesome.
I definately think the jump up to a dSLR for you will be great for you...just be forwarned that you'll take more pictures of each train..you'll end up like me and spend 2-3 minutes just looking to see which frame of each train you want to turn into your editted photo. Be prepared to also spend more time in photoshop...dSLR's just don't postprocess the photo like point and shoots like you currently have.
if you get a canon, i promise i'll let you use the 70-200 a few times
heck, a 300D rebel like mine is less than that $699 price..the 350XT might even be a good buy for you. email back or respond..ask away before you lock yourself into that olympus, alright? This is speaking from tons of research on many camera bodies and lenses.

[Scooterb]

For $700.00 - $800 I can get it with both these lenses
14-45mm & 40-150mm

The one I have now is $500 - $600 when I bought it it was like $300 several years ago.

I am pretty happy with the camera I have now just looking for a step up maybe?
Also just found this maybe this is more what I am looking for
http://google5-cnet.com.com/Olympus_C_7 ... 23898.html

[Scooterb]

I have read good things on diamond antennas so will probably try one with the new scanner.
Remember it not the length of the antenna that counts, it the frequency it tuned to by length.

The following is what I copied from another site.

I think the de facto replacment antenna for railhams is the Diamond RH77CA. I have used one for years and know many others with them and it will easily triple the range over the stock "duck" antenna. I'm afraid that over the years I've managed to mangle mine beyond working condition, so I set out to find a replacment for it. Flipping through my catalogs I found a lightweight whip from Comet, the SMA-24, which looked to be a reasonable alternative. It's definately much lighter and has a more sturdy connection to my handheld. (You guys with Uniden or Radio Schmack scanners would want to look at the model BNC-24 antenna.) This an excellent antenna for railscanning; it is only about a half-inch short for being a quarter wave.

External antennas can help extend your recieve range exponentially. The easiest way to do this is with a Larsen magmount for your duck antenna. I don't have a stock number for these handy, but by roof mounting your duck, especially the Diamond RH77CA, you can greatly improve your reception over keeping it in the car. If you're looking for the ultimate in radio rage in an external antenna, the Diamond NR770HA is a great antenna for railroad scanning. It's probably the best magmount antenna you can find and is available for not much more than the already mentioned Radio Schmack model. If you're using a car or van with a smooth roof the Diamond K702M magnet mount base is the best one available, but if you have a vehicle with ridges on the roof you may want a SPM35 which has a narrower base and can fit between the ridges.


Antennas

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ ... /2368.html

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ ... /2568.html


Magmount bases
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ ... /3092.html

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ ... /0811.html

[CAT345C]

For people with pick up trucks:
I find that its best to get a whip antena and place it in a tie down hole on the side of the bed, it works better than a magnet mount if you run into some rough terrain, and it won't slide. My dad recently put a cap on his truck so we just made a bracket for the front of the cap between it and the cab, works well.

[Eric Berger]

Only things I'd like for Christmas are for my DX hobby.

One thing I'd really like, though, is an APS-13 Yagi antenna; I've heard that it's a very directional antenna, and does a great job nulling locals.

[~Z~]

For $700.00 - $800 I can get it with both these lenses
14-45mm & 40-150mm

The one I have now is $500 - $600 when I bought it it was like $300 several years ago.

I am pretty happy with the camera I have now just looking for a step up maybe?
Also just found this maybe this is more what I am looking for
http://google5-cnet.com.com/Olympus_C_7 ... 23898.html

thanks for all the info on the antennas...need to pick up a new one myself. While maybe a small step up would be ok to get that C770, i just don't want to see you get stuck with your investment in Olympus SLR's.. When you are buying lenses, you'll want to stick with them made for a certain mount...as far as i can tell, olympus is the only maker of olympus mounted lenses. If you decide to go with a different body style like canon or nikon, your lenses will not transfer. Just from a few reviews, the focusing and focus points are quite bad on the Evolt E-500. 3 focus points, all close together, and slow focus times on the lenses... while this may be ok if the train is stationary, it won't be the case on the NS line With my camera, i made sure to get something with very fast autofocus, so almost all the pics i take have very sharp looking pictures. I just think you'll end up disappointed with a SLR from olympus down the road a bit. Hope this helps your holiday shopping.

[RailCanon]

I'd have to agree with Zack about Canon.
I think you'd be much better off with THIS.

[BNSF 1088]

Just come back to Michigan and Railfan with my friends that i only get to see once a year.

[~Z~]

forgot to really post what i wanted...got sidetracked trying to convince scott out of buying olympus SLRs

VX-150 scanner
new diamond antenna...might need a new mag mount also
larger hard drive
DVD burner
blank DVD media
new boots
jeans
socks

[patrick]

We're not having x-mas here this year... noone can afford it, so although i wanted a digi cam this year, i'm gonna save that wish for my birthday a few months after x-mas

[GreatLakesRailfan]

Heh, one of the three things I wanted this year was a larger hard drive too...the others being a digital camera whose shots aren't single video frames, and- shoot! forgot the other one. Maybe I can just say three weeks without school. Heh, that one's free (more or less) and one of the best 'presents' a person can get, sometimes.

[~Z~]

scott, if you are still planning to get the VX-170 and haven't bought it yet, found a better price than the universal-radio site:
http://www.gigaparts.com/parts/profile. ... ZYS-VX-170