PENTAX 645D takes home another award

The PENTAX 645D medium-format digital camera

The PENTAX 645D camera has another feather in its cap.  The medium-format digital camera has been named the Best DSLR Professional Camera for 2011 by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), a group made up of various editors from mostly European photo and imaging magazines, during the recent TIPA European Photo & Imaging Awards. 

The PENTAX 645D offers photographers 40 effective megapixels in a magnesium alloy body that is fully dust-proof and weather-resistant, which according to TIPA makes “it a great choice for outdoor and location photographers.”

The 645D was named Best DSLR Professional camera

The design, build and features were also noted by TIPA, but the lens system impressed them the most. “Perhaps most impressive is lens compatibility, which encompasses both the new D FA autofocus lenses as well as older 645 lenses.”

Previously, the PENTAX 645D won the 2010 Editors Choice Award from American Photo Magazine.  The medium-format digital camera body sells for $9,995.95.  There are two new D FA autofocus lenses available.  The 55mm f2.8 sells for around $1,199.95 and the 25mm f4 sells for around $4,999.95.

The PENTAX 645D

I still own my PENTAX K-1000.  It was my first 35mm camera.  That of course was in the film days and it has the nickname “the Tank.”  I would love to try out the 645D.  If it is anything like the K-1000 or the film medium-format cameras PENTAX was well-known for making for years, the 645D should be a sweet camera and worth the awards it has earned in the short time it has been on the market.

What a difference an hour makes

From the Hickory/Morganton area, Charlotte is only about an hour away.  But oh what difference an hour makes.

Occasionally I write for an online news source, Examiner.com.  Today I learned of two different, yet similar stories that I just had to write on.  They are both about jobs coming to our area.

Electrolux is bringing 200 jobs to Charlotte and Geiger is bringing 64 jobs to Hildebran.  Please take the time to read the articles.  I get paid a little for each time someone clicks on the articles.

Since on Examiner I write about the news, I have to basically just report the news.  While we are on the porch swing, I can give my opinions more freely.

I’ll admit any new jobs coming to North Carolina are a good thing.  And I am very grateful for the new jobs coming to Hildebran; after all our area has been hit really hard with job losses and the economy for a number of years now.  Our rich history of manufacturing has moved to other countries along with the jobs.

So yes, it would be nice to have been able to report that Burke County was getting 200 jobs like Charlotte.  Mecklenburg County has 10.2% unemployment, while Burke has 12.3%. 

In reality, our area is only getting around 40 new jobs.  Geiger is moving from Hickory to Hildebran and bringing their 24 employees from that facility.

It would have even been nicer to have reported that the wages for the new jobs to have been closer to each other.  The new jobs down in Charlotte are around $60,000 a year before benefits more than the new jobs in Hildebran. 

Why can’t our area get those type of jobs in our area? 

Crossing the finish line

A sea of people all walking for one cause.  As we turned the corner to head up the "hill" this was what we saw.  It is one of the most amazing sites I have ever seen.

Just over two weeks ago I completed in my first 5K ever.  As I have written about earlier, the 5K was in honor of my cousin Robin Rockett Bowen.  Robin was killed when she was hit while running last Christmas Eve morning.

When the run was first being planned, we were all hoping for 200 runners/walkers.  As the weeks and days approached the run, it quickly became apparent that the Lord was working in the run.

On the morning of the run it was announced that 602 runners/walkers were registered for either the 1 mile fun run or the 5K.  I am still amazed.  

The weather during the run was perfect.  The fellowship was beyond belief.  I can honestly say that this day was a positive step in the healing process for all that loved Robin.  Plus, $10,000 was raised to be donated to several charities and causes that Robin supported.

The support from the runners and community was unbelievable.  This was just one of many families that was out in their yard cheering us on.  Their sign stood out to me.  Later I learned there was more to their story.

Several of my photography friends, including a new photography friend, came to help me photograph the day.  I am very thankful for them giving their time and love to help support this.  Their images are priceless.

For three months I worked out trying to loose some of this weight I have gained and even more importantly improve my lungs. I lost some weight, but I did make some serious ground on my lungs.

Here I am with my cousin Kathy (right) and her daughter Lauren before the run.  Thanks to my new friend, photographer Denise Moody for this image and many others.

I walk it with my cousin Kathy, Robin’s sister, and we crossed the finish line together.  I know Robin was with us every step of the way too.  In fact, we were both pretty happy with how we felt and our time. 

This was my first 5K, but I have decided it is not going to be my last.  I am still training.  In fact, I have stepped it up some and running most of my workouts now.  Although I will admit when I am done, I feel like Fred Sanford and his famous “This is the big one! Elizabeth, I’m coming” scene.  Of course that requires me to be able to speak and at the end of my workouts I am just trying to get some air.  But, I am working on it.

Here I am after the run with some of mine and Robin's classmates and family members.

I haven’t decided on which one will be my next 5K. There are several I have learned about and I need to decide on which one will be the next one.  I don’t think I’ll be able to run all of it, but maybe a run/walk combination.  Next year, I will run all of Robin’s Run.

I found this quote before doing Robin’s Run and I think it is very fitting in life and running:

“Runners just do it ~ they run for the finish line even if someone else has reached it first.” – Unknown

See you at the finish line.