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SBN Staff
How Gary Kiedaisch is revolutionizing the cooler industry at Igloo Products Corp.
Consumer Products
Gary Kiedaisch
Chairman and CEO
Igloo Products Corp.
When Gary Kiedaisch and private equity firm J.H. Whitney first targeted Igloo Products Corp., Wal-Mart had successfully driven down cooler prices and had a 60 percent share of the cooler business. In addition, Wal-Mart had been rotating regional sales among the three main cooler suppliers — Rubbermaid, Igloo and Coleman — so that no company would be able to be dominant in the market.
Kiedaisch did not see the "Wal-Mart model" as sustainable, as it did not inspire consumers to buy new coolers. Instead, he saw the situation as an opportunity. Kiedaisch thought he could re-energize the category by giving consumers a reason to update their current coolers. He shared this vision for Igloo and the opportunity he saw and along with J.H. Whitney they purchased Igloo in October 2008 making Kiedaisch chairman and CEO.
Kiedaisch's vision for Igloo Products Corp. faced two primary challenges. First, the economy was in a downturn and oil prices were on the rise, impacting the price of resin and increasing the cost to produce coolers. Secondly, he had to work around Wal-Mart and determine a way to move Igloo away from its buying and pricing practices either by growing sales outside of Wal-Mart or convincing Wal-Mart of a strategy to implement price differentiation.
Kiedaisch started growing the Igloo business outside of Wal-Mart through the use of specialty retailers and introducing features into the coolers that Wal-Mart was not able to offer. By creating an entrepreneurial organization, and empowering his employees, Kiedaisch and his team have been able to successfully implement more than 200 new products to the market. This resulted in Igloo being able to grow the business outside of Wal-Mart by 20 percent.
Kiedaisch met with the Wal-Mart board and presented his strategy and success in growing sales outside of Wal-Mart, ultimately convincing Wal-Mart to get in the game. As a result, Igloo went from having low margins and low profitability and getting beat up by Wal-Mart to developing a strategic partnership.
How to reach: Igloo Products Corp., www.igloocoolers.com
How Stacey Gillman Wimbish led The Gillman Cos. through one of the toughest climates in the automotive industry
Consumer Products
Stacey Gillman Wimbish
The Gillman Cos.
Stacey Gillman Wimbish may have learned a lot from her father, a legend in the Houston automotive dealership business, but there was no playbook for the challenges she has had to face since taking over the family's Texas automotive dealership business, The Gillman Cos., in 2008.
Gillman Wimbish, president, has led her 14-dealership company through the economic impacts of the Great Recession when there were two hurricanes, a Japanese earthquake and tsunami that caused numerous issues and delays from Japanese automakers, and domestic manufacturers were cancelling franchises.
Through all these unforeseen challenges, she developed and executed a strong and consistent plan. The tenet of that plan was to assess the situation honestly no matter how difficult and have the courage to make needed change.
Gillman Wimbish transitioned the organization through all of these crises allowing not only for the company to survive, but come out much stronger. She embodied the famous motto, "Keep calm and carry on." She reduced cost in line with the expected medium to short-term volume declines and made the hard decision to cut employee headcount. She also emphasized to her management team the need to constantly measure performance and press for timely changes whenever they were needed.
While her path to leading The Gillman Cos. was not certain, the automotive retailing business has always been in Gillman Wimbish's blood. During her career, she has worked in almost every function of the dealership operations including accounting, vehicle and parts sales and finance and insurance. Her knowledge of the automotive dealership business and all its many facets has been a key to her success in leading the company.
With her leadership and strategic plan, Gillman Wimbish was able to manage through these adversities and bring the company back to operating and financial success. In 2010, she was named one of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry.
How to reach: The Gillman Cos., www.gillmanauto.com
How Basim Shami follows his plan to take Farouk Systems to even greater heights
Consumer Products
Basim Shami
Farouk Systems Inc.
So what did Basim Shami do to prepare himself to one day take the reins at the business his father, Farouk, launched 27 years ago in the family garage? Well, he started his own business, of course.
The younger Shami took leftover and excess chemicals from his father's company and altered solution formulas to create a salon-inspired line of pet grooming products.
It was a strong hint that Basim Shami had the entrepreneurial genes in his blood, and it's now allowing him to take Farouk Systems Inc. in some new and interesting directions. His goal is to create "a small L'Oreal," though Shami claims he would do a better job of integrating acquisitions. He understands that new and different is a hit in the beauty business and works hard to support a research and development team that can help Farouk Systems on top of its game.
Shami has built a network of more than 1,500 educators that serves as a natural testing place for his company's products, as well as a great source for new ideas and product enhancements.
But as committed as Shami is to his job and to the company that his father built, he understands that he can't do everything by himself. His job is to create a vision that everyone can get behind and then remove obstacles so that employees can make it happen.
Shami is not the same man as his father. He takes a more deliberate approach to decisions and closely studies the markets and consumer trends to validate potential new opportunities. He brings people along for the ride so that everyone who shares in the effort can also share in the great sense of accomplishment when a strategy helps Farouk Systems achieve a goal.
This awareness of others led Shami to launch a partnership with a local community college to start a cosmetology program, where units earned via the partnership can count toward college credit.
How to reach: Farouk Systems Inc., www.farouk.com
How Don Klein took a chance and made people smile with Chesmar Homes Ltd.
Consumer Products
Don Klein
Founder and president
Chesmar Homes Ltd.
Don Klein had spent 27 years working for national homebuilders, and he had an opportunity to move to yet another one when he made a seemingly bold move. He turned down a sizable bonus and chose to invest his own money to create a company he could call his own.
Chesmar Homes Ltd. is the product of Klein's passion for making people happy. This applies to customers, business partners, investors and his employees, who he calls "Chesmarians."
Klein is committed to hard work and dedicated service, but in doing so, he wants to see smiles all around. He wants employees to feel like they are part of a family and bring the passion that comes forth when you work alongside people you truly care about.
As the company grows and evolves, he wants strong personalities to shine through and feel comfortable applying their talents to help Chesmar achieve success.
All this became key when the company faced its greatest obstacle. Chesmar needed to find good locations on which to build. Klein tapped his relationships to find good communities to go to and his employees backed up his reputation by creating a strong product for customers.
As a result, Chesmar ranks at the top of its industry in customer satisfaction.
But it's not all about business for Klein and Chesmar Homes.
Klein's primary philanthropic focus revolves around the Greater Houston Builders Association's Benefit Home Project. He has chaired the committee for the last six years, being extremely successful in recruiting and partnering two or three homebuilders with community developers each year to build a benefit home.
The builders solicit donations from contractors and vendors to construct a project home for about 25 percent of the retail sales price.
The home is then sold with the profits going to Texas Children's Cancer Center, the Alzheimer's Association and Home Aid Houston.
How to reach: Chesmar Homes Ltd., www.chesmar.com
How Jeff Davis believes satisfied customers and employees make The Brock Group successful
Construction & Industrial Services
Jeffrey Gerald Davis
The Brock Group
In his 36 years with The Brock Group, Jeff Davis has worked his way from project manager to CEO — and has taken the company from being a family owned business to a multi-national, multi-craft service provider.
Not only that, but the company has seen 500 percent growth since 2006 after acquisition by a private equity firm and through significant acquisitions and organic growth. This growth was achieved based on Davis's vision and his ability to express that vision to Brock's investor such that it was willing to make significant investments in the company.
Another key to the rapid growth was that Davis and his management team could have access to and build long-standing relationships with the executive management of Brock's customers. It allowed Brock to present itself as a provider of value that senior customer leaderships require — that Brock is not a vendor among vendors relegated to the purchasing/AP department but is a valued partner in achieving lower operating costs.
Davis leads the company through behavioral-based management and behavioral-based safety which has resulted in Brock achieving excellent safety rankings and expanding the employee and customer base to what it is today. Davis believes that by having satisfied employees, it leads to satisfied customers and translates into a successful business.
As an entrepreneurial leader, Davis instills in his employees his core belief that a customer-centric focus is crucial to success. His leadership style revolves around a central theme from advice given to him years ago by Jerry Brock: "Give the customer $1.10 worth of effort/services for $1." Davis has maintained this attitude as a core value in the way he interacts with employees, customers and third parties alike.
Davis also has led efforts with others in the industry to develop and fund schools to train welders/painters to draw them into the profession and to generate enthusiasm into making a career in the industry.
How to reach: The Brock Group, www.brockgroup.com
How Troy Collins and Nathan Granger focus on people and service to keep Quality Cos. USA successful
Construction & Industrial Services
Troy Collins
Co-founder and principal
Quality Cos. USA LLC
Nathan Granger
Co-founder and principal
Quality Cos. USA LLC
Troy Collins and Nathan Granger previously worked for competing oil and gas production manufacturers for years until they met in the early 2000s and discovered a common passion—raising thoroughbreds. A business endeavor developed out of that mutual interest, and in 2001, the pair left their promising and successful careers to found a premier oil and gas service provider.
As co-founders and principals of Quality Cos. USA LLC, Collins and Granger epitomize the company's philosophy of quality people, quality service. Quality Cos. USA, which is a conglomerate of Quality Construction & Production LLC, Quality Production Management LLC, and Traco Production Services Inc., is a one-stop shop for many of the company's independent Gulf Coast clients.
This diversified company provides both onshore and offshore construction, fabrication and maintenance services. Over the years it has grown from 70 employees in 2002 to more than 800 today, working on production platforms along the Gulf Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.
Collins' and Granger's strengths as entrepreneurial leaders are in recognition of their weaknesses and ability to fill those voids with the best managers in the industry. In this industry, the pool of highly skilled employees stays very consistent which puts pressure on companies to retain key employees.
In response, Collins and Granger desire to provide the best working environment in the industry. The two co-founders also have a big focus on service. Quality's family atmosphere, open door policy and lack of big corporate politics have fostered unbridled commitment to excellent customer service and a multitude of repeat customers.
The company's more than 800 employees take pride in the company, indicated by a substantially low turnover rate compared to competitors. In 12 years Quality has never had to lay off an employee. Since Quality's commitment to its customers is dependent on its commitment to attracting and retaining the best employees, Collins and Granger team have devoted many resources to their people.
How to reach: Quality Cos. USA LLC, www.qualitycompanies.com
How James Frischhertz serves as the rock for his family and employees at Frischhertz Electric
Construction & Industrial Services
James Frischhertz
Frischhertz Electric Co. Inc.
It was a moment of professional accomplishment tinged with a deep sense of personal loss. James Frischhertz had been thrust into the role of president at Frischhertz Electric Co. Inc. after the untimely death of his brother, Bernard Jr.
His first thought was to throw himself into his work and be on the job 12 hours a day, seven days a week. In fact, he only took two days off the entire year, one for Christmas and one for Mardi Gras.
He needed to keep the company afloat, protect jobs and maintain everything that was already in motion while he simultaneously tried to develop a new business plan that more closely fit his vision for the company.
Over the next two decades, he presided over tremendous growth with the development of two new business entities: Frischhertz Technologies and Frischhertz Services. He also purchased an audio company called SoundWorks.
In 2005, he dealt with tragedy again when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast. Company operations were paralyzed, but Frischhertz was up to the challenge once again.
Within days, he had set up an office in Baton Rouge and tapped relationships he had built over the years to get his hands on some generators.
Under his strong and empowering leadership, employees began to put their lives back together and as soon as they could relocate back to New Orleans, the company got back on its feet too.
People aren't just a tool that Frischhertz uses to build his business or a group that he touches every once in a while for show. His leadership is truly inclusive, whether it's recovering from a disaster, holding his family together during tough times or helping his employees to do the best they can on the job.
He understands how the smaller touches can make a big difference with people and focuses on those to maintain a healthy corporate culture.
How to reach: Frischhertz Electric Co. Inc., www.frischhertz.com
How Strike sees 65 percent compounded annual growth with Stephen Pate at the helm
Construction & Industrial Services
Stephen V. Pate
CEO and chairman
Strike LLC
Over the past 10 years, Stephen Pate has worked hard to create a company culture around eight pillars that make up the foundation of Strike LLC: safety, excellence, quality, accountability, performance, integrity, passion and long?term relationships.
With his focus that success is not achieved by a single individual but rather by the organization as a whole, Strike has accomplished a 65 percent year-over-year compounded annual growth rate, a testament to Pate's ability to take risks during times of uncertainty.
For instance, in 2009 while many companies were sitting on cash due to market place instability, he invested in significant resources to create a state?of?the?art cost?tracking portal for the pipeline and facilities construction company.
This portal has proven to be a competitive advantage for Strike as it provides transparency to the client's job cost.
Additionally, when companies were strategically eliminating employee benefits due to economic uncertainty, Pate created a fitness program to inspire and motivate employees.
Since its inception in 2003, Strike has created various business units with more than 15 locations throughout North America, which have helped drive Strike to become one of the leading single?source energy services providers.
Pate understands that his is a "people" business, and he passionately cares about not only his customers who pay the bills, but also each of his employees whose safety and happiness is of utmost importance.
Even in times of economic downturns, when other companies cut employee benefits, Pate stayed adamant to "do right by all" and although the easy answer to save money and improve the bottom line would be to take the cost-cutting route, Pate did not. Strike even increased wellness programs to encourage employees when a need was noted. Pate has always believed in Strike's vision and through its growing years, his personal investment and that of the Pate family funded the company.
How to reach: Strike LLC, www.strikeusa.com
How key person life insurance can bolster business continuation plans
There's an adage in business that no one is irreplaceable. But in nearly every company, there's at least one person whose contributions are so essential that their unexpected death would be devastating to the future of the business. Taking out a life insurance policy on those essential employees — what's known as key person life insurance — is a way a company can protect itself from the impact of losing a key employee.
"You never want to think about something terrible happening to anyone, but if it does, this is a way you can be sure your business will continue," says Deb Welsh, a life risk consultant at Clark-Theders Insurance Agency Inc. "It's not just about one person. It's a way of making sure your business as a whole is protected."
Whether it's a founding business owner with years of institutional knowledge or a chief engineer who makes your technology possible, key person insurance can be a lifeline to a business in a time of crisis, she says.
Smart Business spoke with Welsh to learn more about this simple but essential business-protection tool.
When is key person life insurance something to consider?
Key life policies are part of a business continuation or succession planning process, so it's an important component of protecting the ongoing life of a business.
It might be two partner-owners who want insurance on each other so the business can continue if one of them died. But it doesn't have to be an owner. It could be a sales director who's critical to maintaining revenues. Maybe it's a person who maintains your key vendor relationships.
Having a key life insurance policy on that person ensures that you will have the resources to cover lost sales, find someone to take his or her place or pay off debt. You want to avoid any period of time where you're wondering, 'How are we going to replace this person and make up lost revenue?'
How are these policies usually structured?
The policy is written on the life of the key employee. The person is the insured, but the business owns the policy, pays for the policy and is the beneficiary of the policy.
Why don't more companies utilize key person life insurance?
The biggest reason is that it's not a high priority. Business owners have so many things coming across their desks every day that they don't necessarily have the time or realize how important it is to have this in place.
In general, life insurance is often something we don't want to talk about even though we know we need it. Key person insurance policies are one of the biggest things lacking in most companies' insurance profiles.
Also, the perception is that the cost will be more expensive than it actually is. As a hypothetical example, a 40-year-old healthy male covered for $500,000 on a 25-year term would carry a $740 annual premium. That's a small amount of money to pay to cover one of your most important employees.
What do you tell business owners about why key person life insurance is so important?
It gives a sense of security to your employees, your clients and your vendors. If you have a large vendor that you use frequently, you may have a significant amount of debt with them. This policy can help give the vendor security that if something were to happen, they would still get what you owe them.
It's also a way that other employees will know that you're putting things in place to ensure a future for your company. They won't have to worry about waking up and finding out that the sales director is gone, and wondering what that will mean for the business and their jobs.
You've put your life into your business. You never want to think of something terrible happening to anyone, but if it does, this is a way to know the business can continue.
Deb Welsh is a life risk consultant at Clark-Theders Insurance Agency Inc. Reach her at (513) 644-1280 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Insights Business Insurance is brought to you by Clark-Theders Insurance Agency Inc.
How small business owners can use SBA lending to grow their business
The Small Business Administration's (SBA) lending program is a major part of U.S. business growth, and these loans can often be substituted for traditional commercial loans with some benefits to the borrower.
"With SBA loans, a business owner can increase his or her cash flow and sometimes get approved for higher loan amounts than traditional commercial loans," says Steven Valiquette, second vice president and commercial loan officer at First State Bank.
Smart Business spoke with Valiquette about how SBA lending works and what business owners need to know.
What are the advantages of SBA loans versus traditional commercial lending?
The SBA allows for longer amortizations than most typical bank financing, so business owners can utilize extended terms. For instance, real estate can be amortized over 25 years with SBA financing, but the bank may only offer 20 years with traditional bank financing. As another example, equipment can be amortized over seven to 10 years with SBA financing, while traditional bank financing may be limited to five years.
Another advantage to SBA loans is lower out-of-pocket expenses when compared to traditional commercial loans. The SBA also allows the borrower to roll fees into their loan balance, which isn't normally the case.
Lower collateral requirements are another benefit. The SBA has higher loan-to-value ratios compared to traditional commercial loans.
What type of loans will the SBA finance?
The SBA can generally finance the same types of business loans that a bank can, with the major exception of non-owner occupied real estate. Term debt such as real estate or equipment purchases are typically financed with SBA 7(a) or 504 loans, and lines of credit can be financed with a SBA Express loan or SBA CapLines.
How can a borrower increase its chance of being approved for a SBA loan?
First, talk to several financial institutions. Find financial institutions in your market that make loans to businesses similar to yours and work with bankers who understand your industry. Other best practices are:
• Develop a good business plan. Be ready to explain why customers are going to want to do business with you and how your business is going to compete in your market.
• Take the time to understand the risks associated with your business and provide mitigating factors.
• Provide realistic projections with best case, worst case, most likely case and break-even scenarios. Having detailed projections can help mitigate some of the risk associated with the loan request.
• Develop alternative ways the loan can be repaid if business is slower than projected or, in worst-case scenario, fails.
• Maintain a good personal credit history. Many bankers feel if your personal credit isn't handled properly, there's a good chance your commercial loan payments will not be either.
What else do business owners need to consider?
Take your time and develop a well thought out business proposal. For many small businesses, the bank is not only looking at the financial statements or the business projections, but also the person or people behind the company.
Always provide the information your banker is asking for because any information he or she is requiring is a tool used to evaluate your request.
It's also important to put focus on management's experience. If management can demonstrate a strong knowledge of the industry and the ability to handle adversity, this may help ease some of the risk of the loan request.
Finally, try to anticipate your future financing needs. Commercial or SBA loans take some time to close, so you need to plan for it. Remember, it's easier and less stressful to seek financing prior to the actual need.
Steven Valiquette is second vice president, commercial loan officer, at First State Bank. Reach him at (586) 445-1058 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Website: For more about SBA loans, visit www.thefsb.com/sba.


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Well, it's not for me by a long shot but I still dont' get the point of it. I'm sure someone out there will love it but I think it's a waste of the Earth's natural resources.
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Just posted: Hands-on preview of the Canon EOS 100D/SL1
We've just posted a hands-on preview of the Canon EOS 100D/Rebel SL1. Distinguished by its impressively small form factor, the 100D's 18MP CMOS sensor, 3" touchscreen LCD and 1080p30 video resolution will be familiar to followers of the Rebel series. Canon's hybrid phase/contrast detect AF system has been tweaked, however, to provide much greater scene coverage. Has Canon managed to maintain its customary handling experience in the smallest DSLR it has ever made? Click on the link below to read our preview and find out.
Click here to read our hands-on Canon EOS 100D/Rebel SL1 preview
Hands-on preview video
Mar 3, 2014
Dec 18, 2013
Nov 30, 2013
Nov 27, 2013
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR Camera
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR
with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens
Focus Camera Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR
with 18-55mm EF-S IS STM Lens + Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens
|Too low to display
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR Camera
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR
with 18-55mm EF-S IS STM Lens + Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens
|Too low to display
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR Full HD 1080 Video Body
with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens With 58mm 2x Professional Lens +High Definition 58mm Wide Angle Lens + Auto Flash + Uv Filter Kit with 24GB Complete Deluxe Accessory Bundle
Focus Camera Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18MP Digital SLR
with 18-55mm EF-S IS STM Lens and 3-inch Touch Screen + 32GB SDHC + Replacement LP-E12 Battery + Card Reader + Zoom Lens Camera Case + Tiffen UV Filter + Mini HDMI Cable + Remote Control + Accessory Kit
HeroFiber Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens (Import)
for Canon EOS 7D, 60D, EOS Rebel SL1, T1i, T2i, T3, T3i, T4i, T5i, XS, XSi, XT, & XTi Digital SLR Cameras + 10pc Bundle Deluxe Accessory Kit
Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera Body & EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens
with 32GB Card + Backpack + Battery + Tripod + Tele/Wide Lens Kit
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR Camera 9 Lens Outfit
with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens & EF 75-300mm III Telephoto Zoom Lens & 500mm f/8.0 Telephoto Lens & .43x Wide Angle Macro Lens & 2.2x Telephoto Lens & 4 Piece Close-Up Macro Lens Set + 32GB Memory + Battery + Case + Flash + Accessory Kit + 33 Street Camera 3 Year Warranty
Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR
with 18-55mm IS II Lens and EOS HD Movie Mode (Black)
What camera isn't a waste of natural resources? Do you have any reason to believe you aren't a waste of natural resources? What is this, a piano?
Some cameras are more useful than others. I (unlike some) fail to see how this fills an unfilled niche. Am I somehow not allowed to have a personal opinion now on how useful I find a camera? And no, it's not a piano. ??? Go attack someone else who thinks this camera is a waste of time.
Relax howard. No one's allowed to not like this camera? Millions will like it. Some won't. The camera world goes on.
It's smaller, and actually uses(wastes) LESS of the Earth's resources than the larger cameras that you prefer.
Well, as a Nikon user I have a couple of words to say: it will sell a lot. The people writing here don't have a clue about markets. Canon sells 7 million dslrs and gazillions of compacts and they don't have a clue? LOL!
That does not make it a good camera. This is not an economic forum. In the long run I can see this hurt the Canon's government. Too much government spending on craps that will lead to no where.
Well, I am not surprised at all ! The appearance of bizzare, halfcrippled, monstruous creatures like EOS M, 700D and 100D correlates well with general impression left by this interview: http://www.dpreview.com/articles/0336328811/cp-2013-interview-with-canons-masaya-maeda
It all speaks a clear message that boils down to single word: cluelessness.
It's hard to believe it is the same company that designed the 10D-40D line of cameras.
Making a DSLR smaller doesn't make it more usable. Chopping off the grip may appeal to m43 fans, who seem to believe that ALL cameras should be miniature because it's just too hard, too much effort to carry a normal sized camera, but it won't make the camera easier to shoot with, or balance better with telephoto lenses. It is much, much more tiring to shoot with a camera that has no grip. So I'm hoping this trend towards miniaturization ends soon.
As far as the sensor, it's strange that Nikon used the 16 mp Exmor in the D7000/D5100 for one release cycle and it was class leading for DR, color depth and ISO. Canon has this mediocre 18 mp sensor and they are using it over, and over, and over again. Go figure.
All that said, this camera actually looks pretty interesting, and at least it has a nice LCD and an OVF. If it had a slightly better sensor, it would be more compelling.
I've read that's a brand new 18mp sensor...
You seem to fail to see the reason why m43 users get an m43 system, carrying a DSLR is NOT hard, it is LESS descrete & a micro four thirds is BETTER for street photography, as well as it is aimed at those who want to travel LIGHT and yet retain good image quality, beside the fact the OMD E-M5 has got a BETTER sensor than the 550D, 600D AND 650D, this 700D? its the same sensor so guess who will be better? here is a hint: It will NOT be the Canon.
If it really was a new 18 MP sensor, Canon & DPreview would tell us so.
There *are* m43 cameras with a grip.
If by better sensor you mean more pixels, then I have to disagree with you. 18mp are more than enough to do anything that a typical buyer of this class of DSLR might want to do with the files from this camera. Aside from bragging rights, more pixels are of little benefit to the user who rarely prints anything larger than 8x10.
@David Naylor: it's mentioned on Product annoucement... "It features a newly developed 18.0- megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor and high-performance DIGIC 5 Image Processor for exceptional image quality and speed"
Yes...ALL m43 fans are like this which is why no one understand the GH3 I have been told 0 copies are sold currently. Thx for clearing that up for us.
@Donnie G
No I'm talking about sensor technology. The Canon sensors simply have not been competitive with the Sony and Toshiba sensors found in the Nikon, Sony and Pentax DSLRs.
@Donnie G
It is not just megapixels. The sensors in Nikon's cameras have better color depth, and dynamic range as well. In the case of the DR it is by a very significant amount. The sensors in Nikon's current cameras out preform the sensors in Canon's current cameras in every way.
If there is no roadmap for smaller lenses to go along with this "baby DSLR", this brand new camera is USELESS !!
The Sony NEX doesn't have small lenses, and that hasn't stopped people from buying it. Canon has more available lenses, and higher quality lenses.
NEX doesn't have many native large lenses either. Any native primes over 50mm? No. Any zooms over 210mm? No. Any zooms longer than 55mm that don't end with F/6.3?
"The Sony NEX doesn't have small lenses"
You obviously haven't seen their 16-50/3.5-5.6 powerzoom, and 16 and 20 mm primes, right? Compare to the Canon's kit zoom, which is larger and heavier than before, despite not having powerzoom, not having real wide angle (18mm is 29mm eq on Canon, pathetic compared to 24mm) and being all-plastic.
No flippy screen. 30p video only. AF video still way below what the Sony SLTs have offered for years now.
Im not saying that this is a bad camera at all, if not at least because it hasn't been reviewed and I haven't handled it myself,but this is what happens when you rest on your laurels for too long.You run out of steam & ideas and now you have companies which were underdogs coming up with the real innovations (i.e. Sony,Fujifilm,Panasonic,Olympus,etc).There's nothing at first,really enticing to this camera or even their EOS M(I rarely see an EOS M on the street, I see Sony, Olys and Panasonics and increasingly more often lots of Fujifilm X cameras).
Canon should have learned by now, not to rest on their laurels.How many more incarnations of the 18MP sensor are we gonna see. Im not a pixel chaser by any means,but you got to admit that Sony for example has the upper hand with their NEX-7 24MP APS-C sensor and even Fujifilm X-Trans sensor seem to be able to outresolve the results we came to expect from Canon's 18MP sensor which is on it's 2nd (3rd?) incarnation at thie entry level segment.
I can't say anything positive about this so I just won't say anything at all.
To be fair I can say something positive, it has got a built in flash.... but so do 90% of cameras hahaha.
another forgettable gray plastic box from Canon - why do they bother?
because they make money from such gray plastic boxes.
I do not deny that this will be commercially successful product, it's their lowest dSLR. But wouldn't it be nice if Canon actually release something that would make you want it, something that will make you say 'wow, this is really cool'.
So can someone buy a smaller camera bag if they get the SL1 versus the T5i? If not, then what's the point?
I think canon misses the whole point of small cameras with this one: small camera needs small lens. As in "pancake". Not zoom, that outweighs and outsizes the camera itself.
Ok, one might get pancake to put onto that camera, but seriously, how many buyers does canon expect for this super-budget minded camera and a pancake?
Most users will get the camera and kit zoom which already misses the point of buying camera this small, and no additional lenses!
Exactly. Your average consumer will NOT buy a pancake lens. They will want a zoom lens. Either they'll get one with a kit or use one they already own. Suddenly the Canon SL1 is back to bulky.
I really fail to understand some brands, even though we are in 2013. Canon and Nikon gone nuts (or wild but this is not my problem).
Hey tkbslc, you messed up on your lens comparison. I fixed it for you.
Aside from the small improvements in tech features, the point of this seems to be the small size... but it's not that much smaller than other Rebels... you can't make it much smaller than it is without eliminating buttons and the large screen. So why bother? Maybe Asians feel the Rebels are "too big" but my (hammy fully grown Occidental) adult hands find the current T4i on the boarderline too small as it is! So unless there are legions of skinny small-handed photogs clamoring for smaller bodies... I can't see how this is going to bring more market share to Canon. Good luck to them in any case, I'm invested in them rather deeply.
Does no one else think this may be a minor upgrade just to get numbering system lined up for marketing? 700D, 70D, 7DII? Then the 600 gets removed leaving the 100 in its place (7000D being too like the Nikon D7000). From my point of view (an amateur) I always found it strange that the Nikon D7000 series had a numbering system which seems to suggest an earlier generation than the 3000 and 5000 series.
I know its not true but to a amateur who walks into a shop it could put them off buying the more expensive camera in favour of one which appears to be a newer generation if they lack the background knowledge to know better.
Nikon ran out of numbers:
Low end consumer: D40/X
Midrange consumer: D50, D60, D70/s, D80, D90
High end consumer: D100, D200, D300/s
The D90 was the last double digit camera to be released, so the D3000 and D5000 were released after. Add to that a longer than usual D7000 cycle (closer to high end consumer and some full frame) and shorter D3000 cycle (D40 was a better camera), and things get misaligned. With the previous release pace, the D7200 would have been released around the end of this year, but now it's at least 2 years away.
Makes you wonder why they didn't start the low end or midrange with D10. They had a D1 and D100, after all...
I'm seriously not understanding why people are comparing this APS-C camera to m4/3.
m4/3 still has serious bokeh issues: too much depth of field even with large apertures. Unless you go off-piste, you can't get a normal lens with any kind of decent ability to obliterate the background. And no, I don't want t a Nokton 25/.95, or whatever it's called. APS-C isn;t as great as FF of course, but it's still workable.
You also don't get Canon's bokeh king zooms. I looked at other systems and either they have not enough OOF bokeh or like Sony and Nikon they have have poor bokeh zooms.
There is no system out there that does what Canon APS-C cameras do.
Of course, if you don't care for such a thing as very limited bokeh then it's a non-issue, but it's still an issue for the rest of us and so it's not correct to directly compare this system to m4/3. There is no direct comparison (yet).
Sony/Nikon don't have poor bokeh zooms. The Minolta 70-210/4 offers some really nice bokeh for a pretty low price. With Nikon, the 80-200/2.8 or 70-200/2.8 zooms have nine bladed apertures and very nice bokeh too. Within every system, there are zooms with good bokeh, and zooms with poor bokeh.
I also don't see what Canon's APS-C system does that other systems don't. If anything, Canon's APS-C system stands out in having 2009-era sensor technology, while everyone else has moved on.
"There is no system out there that does what Canon APS-C cameras do."
Yes, Canon does hold the record for most consecutive bodies with the same 18 mp sensor.
You don't seem to know what you're talking about.
12mm f/2, 17mm f/1.8, 20mm f/1.7 produce more OOF bokeh than any equivalent lens you can put on an APS-C Nikon or Canon. Canon APS-C is terrible. There's no decent lenses on the wide end at all. On the long end any system will produce decent bokeh. Go educate yourself.
The "too much depth of field " argument died a few years ago when SW like Alien Bokeh 2 came out. Being able to customize bokeh in post and not gambling with PDAF focusing issues is the better way to go.
So you are going to buy one of Canon's big bokeh king zooms and then this cheapo body to mount them on? LOL. People buying this camera are going to use a kit lens. Also, who would someone buy a really small camera and what amounts to a telescope on the front of it? Does Canon give you a Sherpa to carry your bokeh monster?
Those are not very wide lenses (m4/3) and they produce almost no OOF bokeh. Canon's wide lenses produce a lot more even much wider.
Or am I missing some kind of joke here?
A 35mm f1.4 on APS-C is not the 'long end', but rather a normal, and it produces way more bokeh then any normal OEM lens on m4/3.
"So you are going to buy one of Canon's big bokeh king zooms and then this cheapo body to mount them on? LOL. People buying this camera are going to use a kit lens. Also, who would someone buy a really small camera and what amounts to a telescope on the front of it?"
Sure why not. Even mirrorless kit zooms dwarf their cameras. If I were getting this camera (which I'm not) I would definitely be wanting a bigger zoom, but also have a body I can put a small prime on to for other times.
"Sony/Nikon don't have poor bokeh zooms."
Well, bokeh being so subjective all I can say is that I think their bokeh stinks and you don't.
"The "too much depth of field " argument died a few years ago "
It may have died for you but not for the rest of us.
You don't understand what bokeh means. Bokeh is subjective quality, not something there is too much of or too little of.
You're obviously referring to depth of field, which bokeh is NOT inversely related to.
I thought I implied what I meant at the beginning. I mean both. And 'Bokeh' is often used interchangeably for OOF (and not DOF), even if technically it means quality of OOF.
Correct. I neevr understand APS-c users btw with those DOF issues. I only use FF but lately MF because of the same issues btw.
You talked about bokeh and DOF as if they are the only things to choose cameras on. Get out of your room and see the world. There are people with various needs and they will choose whatever they want. Therefore they will compare things differently.
Even in term of bokeh, The problem with many of your Canon " bokeh" king zooms and even primes is that they are soft wide open and therefore have to step down to get the best juice out of them. For MFT, it is certainly easier to make the lens perfect wide open. Certainly 70-200II is the best for its class, but then it is too damn big. Now you see why people compare right?
"There is no system out there that does what Canon APS-C cameras do."
"You talked about bokeh and DOF as if they are the only things to choose cameras on"
I did not.
"Even in term of bokeh, The problem with many of your Canon " bokeh" king zooms and even primes is that they are soft wide open and therefore have to step down to get the best juice out of them. "
Sure, and they still wipe-out the m4/3 competition. In anycase their softness wide-open is not that bad. And the new 24-70 II is not soft.
Canon's logic is small dslr with huge lenses to compete with the mirrorless
I really do not see the point here ... OK I can relay to the traditional OVF + MIRROR BOX layout but even with that, there is numerous form factor and design cue one can try or fashion to made a petit DSLR. Old Focaflex is one way. Minolta Vectis and Olympus Pen-F shown other way to do it, Even Canon itself done the EOS-ix back then and its still way better than this
Just keep trying to scale down the same mold just do not work
Steve Jobs would punch the Canon CEO in the mouth over this camera.
Canon seems content to completely disregard the "technical vectors that are on the upswing", as Jobs used to put it, and instead continue down the road of less innovation.
LOL. Canon CEO's wouldn't finish out the week if they were hired at Apple.
Steve Jobs was incompetent at anything but marketing and there has been NO innovation for YEARS at apple. They have NOT invented anything for over TEN YEARS!
canon sheep will buy
just look at this and tell me that Canon's strategy makes any sense?
A comparison of equivalent lenses (18-36mm equiv):
Olympus E-M5 + Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 -- 555g Filter size 52mm
Canon 100D + Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 - - 1077g Filter size 82mm
And the Olympus lens is slightly faster! but has no hood.
Looks to me like this is just one part of their strategy to gain small ILC market share. They will compete with their brand name recognition & marketing muscle and superior AF for moving subjects. This camera isn't aimed at those who want a 9-18. It is aimed at the average P&S upgrader who will never own more than one or two zoom lenses. I expect them to emphasize the fact that the 18-55 only weighs 7 oz.
Could you have possibly picked a more ridiculous lens comparison? I'm not sure.
How about this one?
Ooh we could all do this all day couldn't we?!
How about this one?
Hey, APS-C cameras do get smaller.
This is exactly same size (13mm less wide, but 17mm more thick) as Olympus E-420, which happened in March 2008.
Probably the E-4x0 series are the reason why they need to subnote it being smallest _APS-C_ sensored camera, as the total volume of Oly competition is actually tiny bit of smaller... :)
While E-4x0 had and still has it's fans, somehow I see this to be targeted against the mirrorless stuff and can't be that sure if it holds the competition much.
What happens to it's size when you mount one of lens thingies on it?
Good points, Cane & Nappel1
But its not just the lens. Some m4/3rds cameras have external battery units, you and I would say handgrips...and some dSLR designed flashguns.
My E-420 is used with an Oly fl-20 flashgun so both are really small and in keeping with miniturisation.
Illogically, the Canon label will sell this camera by the truck load and yes it is targeting mirrorless ILCs.
Pana thinks it could make more money with a camera that is excessively big. Canon thinks the opposite. I think Nikon should be able to do slightly better because the infamous F-mount's throat size is smaller.
Nikon thinks it can make more money with dirt all over the sensor.
Excellent, just what the world needs, another small black camera losing the inherent advantages of its format (ergonomics) whilst still have to mount large lenses on it, way to go Canon, let me guess, it was a friday afternoon and you only had a cigarette packet to write on ?
>small black camera losing the inherent advantages of its format (ergonomics)
Not really, you still get PDAF via a separate autofocus sensor and an optical viewfinder.
PDAF is not a panacea, it's only as accurate as the camera's manufacturing tolerances and only as fast as the lens. CDAF works directly off the sensor, so it's always accurate.
The only advantage they have is with moving subjects, but this advantage is pretty slim with low end SLRs, low spec AF systems and kit lenses. PDAF is also starting to emerge on CSC models now, so this advantage wont last forever either.
Would I buy into an SLR system now? Probably not. I have built up a substantial investment in Nikon gear over the years and use it for gigs, events, sport, airshows etc. But it looks ridiculously clumsy beside any CSC camera. When Fuji make some longer lenses and introduce PDAF on sensor, it's going to be harder to justify owning both a CSC and a D600, and it won't be the SLR I keep. The quality difference in A2 prints is already marginal.
When will people realise the Pixel war is over. 18mp is great on an APS-C size sensor. It's only the consumer lead brands that try to fool the public that you need more holes on your sensor. At least Canon brings out a product that does what it say's on the tin and doesn't do what higher spec toys scream and shout about.
I'll stick to an actual camera brand and not brands who buy, re-brand and license technology names to themselves.
I don't know, the D3200 seems to be ahead of Canon's and has BETTER noise performance with they're 24 megapixel D3200.
Without mini lenses is kind of pointless the effort to make it small.
Would have been nice to have a 22mm pancake to go with this, like the EOS-M has.
The only really small lens, the 40mm pancake, doesn't cut it for the EF-S bodies like this one for general photography.
Too bad Canon decided to remain stagnant with the sensor. I was expecting them to start moving towards larger pixels.
It's a small body because most amateur photogs prefer something small despite it makes no sense for the reason you mentioned.
The same statement is valid for many mirrorless systems as well. Small body + standard size lens = makes no sense.
But if it sells well ... who cares.
It's not practical to have a fast "normal" pancake (approx 40mm-50mm equiv) on a DSLR mount due to the extra flange distance, that's why the only pancakes you see on DSLRs are around 40mm and not that fast.
What Canon needs is an APS-C equivalent of the Panasonic 14-42X. The fact that they haven't come out with one suggest that there are major technical obstacles to the production of lens of this sort for the APS-C sensor size, and, as you point out, a 40mm pancake just doesn't cut it. And once you put something like a 24-105L IS (or a 100-400L IS!) on the camera, any benefits of a Honey-I-Shrunk-the-Rebel body are moot. The 100D will still sell well, but more for the traditional entry-level DSLR (i.e., Rebel) market rather than the m4/3 market, once people realize that there is little benefit to having a small body if you still have to use big/heavy lenses.
It's still an APS-C sensor, so the lenses can't be smaller than EF-S.
A Nikon version of this would be nice though combined with a 35mm f/1.8.
Andy Crowe, Pentax would like a word with you.
@Andy. Pentax has a collection of nice small pancakes including a 21mm one. But yeah, it seems that the longer flange distance is what makes it difficult for small wide or normal lenses for EF-S.
However, EF-S, despite all these years (10yr) still lacks wide prime lenses regardless of size or weight.
the 24mm IS, 28mm IS, 35mm IS, 50mm 1.8, 40mm pancake, 18-55 EF-S and even really the 55-250 EF-S are at the last time i checked .. pretty small lenses.
Robert Deutsch (2 hours ago)
Reason for lack of small collapsable zoom has more to do with lens registration distance than APS-C sensor size. Sony just released the E-mount 16-50mm zoom which is similar to the Panasonic for a APS-C sensor. The longer lens registration distance means that at the 17 or 18mm end of the Canon kit lens it would have to be retro-focus, which makes it hard to make it short.
Larger pixels means less megapixels on the sensor. No company is brave enough to do that.
Cant see peoples reasons for complaint; I never liked the EOS range due to their large hollow like feel - favouring Nikon for a smaller more sturdy build or even the Samsung NX11 touted as the 'smallest' DSLR. A smaller full sized DSLR (as opposed to a mirrorless offering) IMO will do well for its target market .... and if you want something more 'substantial', look at the more pro range!
I feel sorry for Canon ... they bring out a product (as opposed to nothing at all) and all people can do is moan!!!!
> I feel sorry for Canon
I can't think of a camera recently that didn't have at least a few people complaining about it.
Canon are to cameras what GM was to the car business IMO. Very popular, selling a lot of units. But not very exciting. Personally, I find the company deeply frustrating. They have the capability to really move photography forward and take it unimaginable places, yet they seem so conservative when it comes to the stuff they put into main street..
but the problem is they bring out a product that is just like the product of the last 4 years, you would not be happy with for example FORD releasing the same model car each year with the only difference beeing a different paint job would you?
Just been reading through some of the comments below. Canon should thank their stars that the people who are trying their best to find fault with this camera know not what they speak.
Adding a swivel screen would do 2 things... Make it bigger and the screen size would have to be smaller. People this is the nearest thing to Dr Who's Tardis that you'll get. When you can break the laws of Physics please share with the world and brands will buy it from you.
This will beat Sony's and Olympus's try and fail cameras, that promise so much on the box but fail when it comes to the real world.
But a swivel screen is so incredibly useful and convenient! The few mm are nothing compared to what you get.
Yes because the OM-D E-M5 is so much bigger with its rotating screen, oh wait a second! And yes olympus cameras are such a failure that is why one of they're cameras won according to 90% of photographic websites "camera of the year" award. Oh wait! Canon is the one whos sucking HARD right now And I say that as someone who has owned 5 different Canon models and finally gave up on them.
BeanyPic. You really don't need to be dogging Olympus cameras anymore. They are coming out with some damn good cameras as of late. You should check out the EM-5 for example. What a beautiful camera, feels and looks great, has tiny quality primes, and takes beautiful photographs. Looking for something more P&S with outstanding quality, versatility and control? Look at the XZ-2. Olympus is kicking ass as of late. You really should take a few minutes and hit the reviews on the EM-5 and the wonderful glass you can mate it to.
While you're saying that Olympus cameras "try and fail", there are people running around taking fantastic images with them despite their quirks. People also shot great stuff on (gasp) ISO 25 Kodachrome.
This will undoubtedly keep a few potential ILC buyers in the Canon camp, but otherwise isn't much of a game changer. It will probably make it onto store shelves and be more visible to consumers than some of the ILC options. I could also see some Canon owners picking one up as a second body, though it seems a little pricey for that. It will probably
A lot of people still pick DSLRs over ILCs, so a headline feature like "world's smallest" may sway them to this one.
Add a twist & swivel screen to it and it's mine. Otherwise I'll patiently wait until competition learns to instal them and I'll forget the Canon name.
There's the Rebel line, as well as the 60D, if you want a swivel LCD.
I love my OM-D, but I have longed for a smaller Canon SLR. The slow focusing of the OM-D, poor controls and menus, and smaller sensor (DOF) have been things I have had trouble moving past. Looks like the OM-D is going up for sale !
If your E-M5 is focusing slowly, you should send it back to Olympus for repair.
M4/3's lenses are fast focussing, but maybe he is talking about the 4/3's lenses. If not, then get it fixed or .....
Maybe he missed this part of the preview. "The focusing speed of the updated hybrid phase and contrast-detect design remains unchanged, which unfortunately means that it still lags behind current mirrorless cameras from Sony, Olympus and Panasonic."
I mean focusing with moving targets. With my Canon 60D, i never had trouble with moving subjects like my kids. I hated the 60D size so I sold it in favor of the OM-D. The OM-D + 45 1.8 is too slow to capture moving subject matter. I find focus aquisition many times slower than my former 60D, plus I hate the black out time of the EVF. I never had OOF shots with an SLR and while the OM-D is super fast, it still not SLR fast when the moment counts. I bought the OM-D for its size advantage, but unfortunately there are too many limitations that I personally (and this is subjective) cannot live with over a traditional SLR. The Canon 100D gives me those features back in a small package.
Sounds like you don't really love your OM-D. If you weren't aware that CDAF is still inferior to PDAF for moving subjects when you bought the OM-D, you have only yourself to blame. I hope you are happy with the 100D.
DSLR seems the way to go. But AFAIK the hybrid AF system of the Canon (including this one) is worse than the one on your 60D. why weren't you aware of this shortcoming of the OMD btw? It was well known I think...So better to inform yourself well on how good this hybrid AF system is before you buy into another thing that leaves you longing for something better.
@BingoCharlie Slow hybrid AF is only a problem in liveview, while using the OVF you get full PDAF as with any other DSLR.
Ok I will blame myself, are you happy now LOL. Don't care who is to blame, truth is mirrorless is still far far behind - YMMV.
100D doesn't have the same AF as the 60D (only one cross-type sensor vs. 9 on the 60D. You're not going to get the same performance with moving subjects on the 100D.
You apparently don't own an OM-D because if you did, nr1. the controls handle great, the Focus is VERY VERY FAST! (equally as fast as the 650D) and I could go on and on.
OM-D is one of the fastest focusing cameras existing at this moment, so you have issues or are using an old phase detect lens.
The reason I won't buy Canon is because of their woeful dynamic range. Yet they are the only ones who produce zoom lenses with decent bokeh which is also on my prerequisite list.
1080p30 will be familiar to followers of all Canon cameras unlike Panasonic and Sony with 1080p60. You could get the Canon EOS-1D C with 1080p60 but at a $12K price.
Not smaller than Pentax K-x, but lighter.
EOS 100D: 117 x 91 x 69 mm Pentax K-x: 123 x 92 x 68 mm
Just a tiny bit smaller. Looks like the Pentax K-2000 was just 4 years too early? :)
Pentax included AF motor and image stabilizer in body. Canon apply some fireworks on this new cam.
So Canon just invented the E-410. Cool!
Yeah, but with usable ISO 800.
I have shots from my E-510 (same sensor as the 410) at ISO 800 (and even pushed 2/3 stop in post) printed 16x20 that look great. Yeah, the sensor is ancient and not so good, but it's not that bad, either.
Perfect with 40mm STM
Not really, 40mm is a no man's land lens on APS-C.
If there was a 28mm STM, I'd agree with you.
I'm a Canon shooter and this is just dumb. What possible market gap is this filling?
Epic fail. A mirrorless camera will be more coherent.
Smaller lenses, smaller body.
Pointless strategy.
They tried that & failed with very slow AF & no provision for an EVF. I really believe somehow, that it was done on purpose to try (somehow again) to discredit the mirrorless concept, & failed with that too. Now they want to blow their trumpet over features like art filters that Olympus & Pentax started with & combining multiple exposures like Fuji's EXR system cameras have done for several years (well, a few).
Like that. If only they could have squeezed a tilt or vari angle LCD in there.
So this is a Sony SLT-a35 without the big and bright EVF and with a dim and narrow OVF, a lower fps and a touchscreen.
I'll pass.
Perfect street camera
What's with the size obsession? I'm a normal sized adult Caucasian male, and even the grip on the old Rebel was too small.
At least CSC cameras have small, light lenses so the grip is far less important. But being the smallest and lightest DSLR is kind of pointless if practically EVERY CSC is smaller still.
It's like being the lightest person in the slimming club.
I wonder how really small this is, from the looks of it, could be just as small as the old Pentax K-M
Flat black and boring. Canon, the Model T of the 21st century.
flat black like the original stealth fighter F117, bomber B2 and other older stealth tech... SR-71, etc
black is 'low key' stealth. and it works as intended. get it?
No. In this case, its flat black because it's cheaper to make it that way and Canon believe they can get away with it. Now thats fine in a 5D3 or a 1DX, but at the local best buy a NEX or Oly PEN / OMD is a lot sexier.
any other color would show signs of wear pretty quickly. even if you wash your hand every time you want to use the camera, there's still the effect of the hands' perspiration to consider.
Yeah, because the colorful K-01 was such a success that Pentax... killed it. How many people opted for the red Nikon D3200? Canon picks what sells.
Whatever sells is often not what's better got photographers... and I'm not referring to the body colour.
AF MICROADJUSTMENT, CANON??? Or should everyone be sending your FF and BF camera-lens combos to you all the $&@&$& time? Just a thought...
Most people who buy these cheaper cameras only use the kit lens and would only get themselves into trouble trying to use the AF micro adjust.
I don't think such people would even know to go to the corresponding menu and play with it. It's just a marketing dept decision of the stupid kind. Unless Pentax did not do well for including such a feature to its lowly K-r...
Trust Canon to cover all the bases of the "affordability strata" and churn out models with camera prices in increments of $100.
It's all a bit "meh" is'nt it?
Is it just me or is it really hard to get enthusiastic about these shapeless black plastic lumps?
Good IQ is a given. But then you get great IQ with a NEX, or M4/3 or whatever.
Other manufacturers are starting to make cameras which are covetable. They are nice objects to own.
Canon don't seem to get this. All their products are so darn plasticky and dull and generally hard to love. At the leisure end of the market, this matters IMO.
<Other manufacturers are starting to make cameras which are covetable. They are nice objects to own. >
I think what you really want to buy is some Jewellery. :-)
I hope all these people who hate beautiful cameras are driving around in black Toyota Corollas. Because otherwise they're a bunch of hypocrites.
And there was me thinking Liberace was dead.......
Hasselblad designed the Lunar just for you. Enjoy! ;-)
The camera I've got in my backpack has peeling rubber and the writing is wearing off. It's an ugly lump with an an ugly lens on the front (at the moment, the ZD 35/3.5 macro). Yet it takes lovely images, and *those* are what I am enthusiastic about and whose appearance matters to me, not the camera itself.
Like the weight trim and touch screen.
But no articulated screen - shame.
but that's why they could make the mody thinner. I'd drop the flash too, but obviously majority wants it.
I really like the concept.
this camera would be a nice complement to my 5D, shame there are no compact wide angle ef-s prime lenses
In reply to blank_
Wow, someone who actually get's it :-)
People have different sized hands and want to carry around different sized photographic tools. Canon is catering to that variation and immediately a bunch of know-it-all personalities compete in criticizing it ...
This feels like they admit the EOS M did not do it. So they try to fight M43 from different direction.
That assumes that Canon is only capable of going in one direction at a time. I highly doubt that. Canon is a big company with a lot of resources. You can bet that Canon is continuing to develop their mirrorless offerings as we speak. Unlike a company like Olympus, which can't afford to simultaneously support development of both 4/3 DSLRs and m4/3 MILCs, Canon can do both mirrorless and mirrored cameras at the same time because they have much deeper pockets, much greater resources, and they sell a heck of a lot more cameras.
With you on that one.
I'm a Canon boy myself. If Canon wanted there to be a mirrorless pro market there would be one and Canon would be in it, and on all the evidence probably dominating it. That being the case, Canon's response to enthusiast mirrorless is to be nominally represented (EOS-M) and otherwise present an increasing number of competing concepts to it (G1X, 100D.)
Once upon a time I had been hoping that Canon would embrace mirrorless. Pro mirrorless would be a wonderful departure. Sony has proved what many suspected - FF can be delivered in compact size.
It looks to me now that the very conservative Canon is determined to coral the market in technologies in which Canon is well established and in which Canon believes it has advantages. No surprise there in the corporate world.
"If Canon wanted there to be a mirrorless pro market there would be one and Canon would be in it"
...on the contrary, Canon doesn't have as much power to *create* a mirrorless pro market as you seem to think. Pro photogs are notoriously conservative when it comes to their equipment, and they like to stick to what they think works. Right now, what works for them is the tried-and-true OVF and reflex mirror. Sure, more pros will eventually adopt mirrorless, but we're still a long way from that. It's still primarily a consumer product, not one that has been widely adopted by pros. Canon runs a far greater risk of alienating pros by moving too fast with mirrorless "pro" bodies...too much of a departure, too quickly, at least to a lot of working pro photogs. If you've hung around these forums long enough, you've probably seen a lot of serious photographers vehemently and rabidly against mirrorless bodies and their EVFs. I'd say that's pretty typical amongst pro shooters right now.
Canon could have done a great mirrorless camera if they wanted to (maybe), but their concept of dumbing down lower models seems to get in the way & so they obviously weren't too bothered in getting a fast AF happening nor making any provision for expansion with adding an EVF etc.
Actually, I think Canon relies too much on their name sometimes.
uh, as an actual professional photographer, I will say that while I use a 1Dx I also have a GF1, was tempted to buy a NEX7 and/or an XE1 and currently plan on buying the Nikon Coolpix A.
I can only speak for myself but I have no reservations of adding mirrorless cameras to my kit. If Canon made a serious mirrorless camera I would likely buy it.
I used to buy every Canon Gx and Sxx that came out. I definitely don't do that any more. Other than the 1D series Canon no longer exists for me.
cool hope they will find a way to have multi angle screen
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MP3's rule the digital world? Why? The best reason has to be the versatility of what the MP3 file format can bring to the average listeners world, with the explosion of Communication Technology namely the Internet and WWW the ability to and availability of downloading MP3's is common place amongst technology users especially students who are subject to the fastest download rates on the WWW. Also the fact that the MP3 file is one tenth the size of a regular CD or wave file, the ability to carry your whole music collection on a couple of disks has given the MP3 file prominence in the Digital world.
V e r s a t i l i t y.. of the.. M P 3
The future of Music Technology is compact and MP3 is the zenith of Audio compression. The design trend of media players in the last 30 years has been based upon versatility of use and compression. Out have gone the Plastic Records the Bulky HI FI systems that take up half of your living space, the dodgy tape cassette and the CD is now next in line for falling by the wayside of media players. Why? MP3 players give a user versatility that no other method of playing Audio has achieved in previous decades.
(White, R. and White, W. 2001) say that the MP3 player has made the Walkman and the Portable CD player obsolete due to its quality of Sound, Size, Storage and Accessibility to various different music types all stored on one player. A MP3 player can now be bought for as little as 200 Euros that can hold over 2000 Songs. A MP3 player has become so versatile that it can be plugged into a Multimedia PC or into a MP3 Speaker System (replacing the HI FI) that can be stored in your living room and performs all the basic needs that an average music listener requires from a home based music system.
(Moody, G. 2003) adds that the MP3 format is appearing more and more as a component of DVD and CD HI-FI systems.
In conclusion Moody, G. also points to the explosion of the MP3 into the Media player hardware marketplace which has given the effect that the MP3 is invading the other Media players that have been established in popular culture prior to the MP3's release to the public. This highlights the industry?s trend toward MP3 as the industry standard file format.
I n d u s t r y.. T r e n d
A correlating trend is occurring in the Communication Technology and the Music Industry world which highlights the impending dominance of the MP3 as the ruler of the Digital World. As far back as 2000 the trend can be found intelligible, (Jones, S. 2000) applies a comprehensive look at the trend of the Internet and Communication Technology providers merging with big Music companies in a bid to control the illegal copying and production of copyrighted Audio through the numerous computer networks that have sprung up throughout the online community, the focus of the convergence between the two entities is mainly centering on CD to MP3 replication.
(Jones, S. 2000) states that in the period of 1998 to 1999 some of the major Communication Technology companies including IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Apple, Matsushita, AT&T, WorldCom, Motorola plus various other Technology companies have bought or made agreements with big Music companies. (Graham, G. Et al. 2004) explains how the Music Industry is controlled and dominated by the so called ?Big Five? major record companies: EMI, SONY, Universal -Vivendi, Time Warner and BMG. The music industry is worth over 30 billion dollars to the Big Five, piracy is taken very seriously in the music industry and it is fair to say that the MP3 has spawned a revolution in the way music is being produced to the public.
(Jones, S. 2000) states the convergences in the Music Industry, the most notable of them being AT&T and Matsushita teamed with BMG and MTV, Sony teamed up with Digital-on-Demand, AOL?s purchase of Nullsoft Inc. maker of the MP3 and media player Win Amp, this type of trend gives credence to the Music Industries realization of the MP3 as the ruler of the digital world.
S o u n d.. Q u a l i t y
There are a lot of Anti MP3 dissenters in the Music Industry, amongst them the famous heavy metal band Metallica. There are many complaints against the MP3 for many different reasons but it is the demand that MP3's should not rule the digital world and the claim that the MP3 casts away to much data to mimic real life audio that seems to be brought against MP3.
Also the general sound quality of an Mp3 is brought into question being called poor quality and demands that it should not be recognized as the industry standard format for listening to music on the Internet meaning the WWW or in handheld media devices. In the next two paragraphs I will explain that the afore mentioned claims about the MP3 are no more than a hasty generalisation of the MP3 file format.
An MP3 file is an audio file that has undergone a transformation known as file compression. When an MP3 is compressed to one tenth of its original size and original state it is usually compressed into MP3 from the CD DA or wave file formats. Although some sound quality is lost this is minimal and an average listener would have to have the audio senses of an animal to notice this unconsidered loss of sound. (White R. and White W. 2001) explain this invisible loss of sound as Psychoacoustics. Psychoacoustics is the science that verifies that there are certain sound ranges where human perception does not register sounds being transmitted or carried, most humans cannot hear any sounds more than 16Khz, this is the audio range where the majority of sound is cut off in the process of compressing a raw CD DA file to MP3 format.
(Starrett B. & Mc Daniel J. 2000) explain also Psychoacoustics as Filtering, known as Signal Masking, Frequency Masking or Auditory Masking. To imagine this process take the example of a person blowing into a wind instrument a Trumpet, but you can only recognise the sound of the blowing, now imagine that the person is blowing the same sound and now you can also hear the notes being played parallel to the blowing. By splitting the two sounds or filtering out the blowing sound, is a process called audio masking or filtering.
Manipulating this type of Psychoacoustics is also implemented into the compression of CD DA and wave file audio into the MP3 audio file format. Also (Starrett B. & Mc Daniel J. 2000) explain that MP3 also cuts out or eliminates very low sounds from Audio below the range that is called the Minimal Audition Threshold thus maximising the compression of the MP3.
C o n c l u s i o n
Its versatile usability in regard to its size and storage capacity leave the MP3 in good stead under the weight of the bulky and poor quality of the CD Walkman of the 1990's, the MP3 runs away with first place when judging its portability when out and about listening to music or traveling. It is quite transparent that the Major Music Record Labels or companies and the Major Communication Technology or Internet companies are merging together to supply the Music and Technology Industry with the MP3 as the Industry standard file for public consumption,
To gather evidence of the MP3's emerging dominance over the other forms of media replication one only needs to stop at the local Electronics Hardware store or browse through the latest Argos or Shopping catalogue and witness the overwhelming amount of MP3 related products being marketed toward the general populous. This trend of marketing and the evidence that I have displayed in this essay of the MP3's quality is the proof of the pudding that the MP3 rules the digital world.
Academic Essay on the MP3 by Reason User
But the mp3 player technology is much to be desired
I see so many ipods being brought back to the mac store for problems in freezing up or not reading the disks. My i-river, gave up the ghost in only a year, and I hear lots of other players don't live up to the hype either.
It's very discouraging in portability, but great in car cd players that play mp3 or on your computer.
My chapter on mp3 portability issues.
Re: But the mp3 player technology is much to be desired
I don't like the MP3 at all, its just a Gimmick to make money, its the Electronic Cassette tape of the naughties 00's lol.
Re: MP3's rule the digital world!
I have just spent many days doing trailer frame repair, involving extrememly high db levels from air compressor purges, extensive metal grinding, welding, etc, where I have once again no doubt undergone serious hearing loss.
My EARS are no doubt half of what yours are.
And I can still hear the difference.
mp3's suck. Period.
Re: MP3's rule the digital world!
and I know I have once again stewed my ears 'coz I come home and I have to turn everything up even more. But you know how hearing damage, some is really extra bad for a few days, but some is forever.
Re: MP3's rule the digital world!
I agree but the MP3 format does rule the digital world, plus an average listener will not notice the difference akin to the critical ear of a producer or musician, so who cares about the people who listen to music critically, all that matters is what the general populous cares about, cause that is the Nth term to Mass Producers of Music, lots of $$$$$$$$
Re: MP3's rule the digital world!
It used to matter. Else why the decades of advance to better quality? So now we go backwards? Way to go.
I can't disagree with you, and understand it, but it's bass-ass backwards.
Re: MP3's rule the digital world!
the Market place is crowded, the planet is crowded, there ain't no place left to go, its all about consolidation, making the most of what you've got, and thats whats going on, In india and china theres over 2 billion people, y can't they all drive gas guzzlers isn't that techno innovation?
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Corn and Cheddar Polenta Cheesecakes
Author Notes: These savory corn and cheddar cheesecakes have a polenta base and lots of fresh corn in the top cheesecake layer. So perfect with a salad for a light lunch! - Kerstin
Serves 5
- 2 cups fresh corn kernels (my yield from 2 ears of corn)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 18-ounce precooked polenta roll, cut into 12 1/2-inch thick round slices (e.g. from Trader Joe's)
- Heat oven to 350˚F. Place half the corn kernels in a food processor and pulse until mixture is as smooth as possible.
- Combine the cream cheese and cornstarch in the bowl and beat on medium-high speed with a mixer for 3 minutes or until smooth. Beat in the egg, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix in both types of corn (1 cup whole kernels and 1 cup pulsed in the food processor), cheddar cheese, and salt.
- Discard the 2 end pieces of the polenta roll and trim the remaining 10 slices so that each will fit snugly in the bottom of a muffin tin. Place the 10 trimmed round slices in a greased muffin tin. Pour cheesecake mixture evenly on top of each and bake at 350˚F for 23 to 27 minutes or until edges are set and middle is slightly wobbly. Cool to room temperature, about one hour, and then refrigerate until well chilled, about one hour. To remove from the pan, use a knife to cut around the edges of one cheesecake and then flip the pan over and remove the cheesecake. Repeat for remaining 9 cheesecakes. Makes 5 servings of 2 cheesecakes each.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Corn off the Cob
Comments (3) Questions (0)
over 2 years ago sexyLAMBCHOPx
Great recipe!
over 2 years ago lapadia
I love everything about these! Thanks for sharing!!!
over 2 years ago
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
They look really delicious Kerstin, great recipe.


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CMA Flashback: Horizon Award (New Artist)
Sunday, November 9th, 2008
For a look back at the other major categories, visit our CMA Awards page.
- Luke Bryan
- Easton Corbin
- Jerrod Neimann
- Chris Young
- Zac Brown Band
Usually there isn't this much turnover in this race unless most of last year's nominees are ineligible. This year, only one of the four eligible nominees from last year – Zac Brown Band – earns a nomination. With their massive success and their multiple nominations, they've got an excellent shot at winning. Then again, Easton Corbin is elsewhere on the ballot, too. It could be a horse race.
- Randy Houser
- Jamey Johnson
- Jake Owen
- Darius Rucker
- Zac Brown Band
Thirteen years after winning the Best New Artist Grammy as part of Hootie & The Blowfish, Darius Rucker won the country music equivalent, adding an exclamation point to the most successful pop-to-country crossover in a generation.
- Jason Aldean
- Rodney Atkins
- Lady Antebellum
- James Otto
- Kellie Pickler
The industry favorites Lady Antebellum became the fourth band in history to win this award, following Rascal Flatts, Dixie Chicks and Sawyer Brown.
- Jason Aldean
- Rodney Atkins
- Little Big Town
- Kellie Pickler
- Taylor Swift
In the year since winning the Horizon Award, Swift has solidified her position as the genre's most successful rising star. While her debut album hasn't reached the sales heights of the first discs by previous winners Carire Underwood and Gretchen Wilson, Swift is still one of the genre's only significant sellers.
- Miranda Lambert
- Little Big Town
- Sugarland
- Josh Turner
- Carrie Underwood
I had a sneaking suspicion that Josh Turner was going to take this home, but as I've said before, Carrie's got the best pipes since Trisha Yearwood. That she' was acknowledged for that at such an early stage of her career is pretty amazing. Somehow I think the thrill of winning Horizon was short-lived, as winning Female Vocalist the same night left that memory in the dust.
- Dierks Bentley
- Big & Rich
- Miranda Lambert
- Julie Roberts
- Sugarland
Four of these five were nominees again the following year, and all in categories besides just Horizon, though Lambert got another shot at that as well. I think Big & Rich and Sugarland are making the most interesting music, and they're moving more units than Bentley, though he's no slouch himself. The CMA showed good judgment this year.
Category CMA Awards
Tags: Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Big & Rich, Billy Dean, Blake Shelton, Boxcar Willie, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Bryan White, Buddy Jewel, Caroline Dawn Johnson, Carrie Underwod, Chely Wright, Clint Black, Dan Seals, Darryl Worley, David Ball, David Frizell, Deana Carter, Deborah Allen, Desert Rose Band, Dierks Bentley, Dixie Chicks, Doug Stone, Dwight Yoakam, Earl Thomas Conley, Eddy Raven, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Gary Allan, George Strait, Gretchen Wilson, Highway 101, Holly Dunn, James Otto, Jamie O'Neal, Jason Aldean, Jessica Andrews, Jo Dee Messina, Joe Nichols, John Anderson, John Berry, John Michael Montgomery, John Schneider, Josh Turner, Julie Roberts, K.T. Oslin, Kathy Mattea, Keith Urban, Keith Whitley, Kellie Pickler, Kenny Chesney, Kentucky Headhunters, Lady Antebellum, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Ann Womack, Lee Greenwood, Lee Roy Parnell, Little Big Town, Lorrie Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, Martina McBride, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mel McDaniel, Michael Martin Murphey, Michael Peterson, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, Nickel Creek, Pam Tillis, Patty Loveless, Phil Vassar, Randy Travis, Rascal Flatts, Ray Charles, Reba McEntire, Restless Heart, Ricky Skaggs, Ricky Van Shelton, Rodney Atkins, Rosanne Cash, Sammy Kershaw, Sara Evans, Sawyer Brown, Shania Twain, SHeDaisy, Shelly West, Shenandoah, Sugarland, Suzy Boggus, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, T. Graham Brown, T.G. Sheppard, Taylor Swift, Terri Clark, Terri Gibbs, The Forrester Sisters, The Judds, The O'Kanes, The Whites, The Wilkinsons, Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Tracy Lawrence, Travis Tritt, Trisha Yearwood, Vern Gosdin, Wade Hayes


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Main Content
This is Not a Seminar – Creative Research dialogues
Friday, 17 August 2012
CREATEC is hosting 'This is Not a Seminar' which includes Conversation Series with experienced creative researchers designed to cover broad questions relating to their specific practice and process. 'This is Not a Seminar' encompasses critical reading sessions, as well as workshops in journaling, ethics and copyright specific to creative research; and training in developing your presentation skills in the Three-Minute Thesis and the Research Week Colloquium.
Higher Degrees by Research Students and staff are welcome to attend.


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alexson-thanks buddy. About edges you are soo right.Its the thing very important but often i dont care about it so much:P
I am working on them now
Wow i turned 23 now. I has amazing year. I learned many things about myself and, about art and how i feel about it.
I will speed up. I want to be prefessional and get freelance and learn tons in following year.
beware.. i am coming
new piece from me, birthday gift for my friend(yep she was born same date)


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Study online or on campus. Learn more and enroll online ►
The Gratz College Concurrent Enrollment Program allows seniors in high school to enroll in college courses for credit prior to high school graduation. This program is in partnership with the Gratz Jewish Community High School. Credits earned through Concurrent Enrollment can be transferred to other colleges or universities.


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The Get Out More Tour Road Team will visit outdoor retailers and festivals in more than 35 states and 61 cities over a 9-month period to promote the active outdoor lifestyle and teach practical outdoor skills. The tour offers interactive retail workshops and presentations full of trail-tested tips, plus hands-on experiential outdoor excursions to educate consumers about the skills and equipment they need to 'get out more'.
Tour guides Sheri and Randy Propster will bring the pages of Backpacker to life from April through December as they share their passion for wilderness exploration and extensive outdoor expertise.
Don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn firsthand about the newest products out there for backpacking and win free gear! Check out their calendar to see where they are stopping near you, and follow the tour on Facebook and Twitter for updates!
Watch a video on the heritage of Vasque shoes.


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'Shopped around a lot for Moses basket as wanted one that didn't cave in whenever I picked it up. Also...'
Wopple - Peterborough
A classic moses basket brings a lovely traditional touch to the nursery. Choose from natural maize or palm leaf in a range of pretty fabrics. You'll need a stand for your Moses basket– natural, white, antique – take your pick at Kiddicare. Shop 'til 8pm Mon-Thurs for next day delivery and shop confidently with 365 day returns and price match promise.
©Kiddicare 2014


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Dana Kershaw has more burdens to carry than any one person should be asked to bear. Shortly after she and her husband bought a dude ranch in Trueheart, Colorado, her husband was killed in a skiing accident, leaving her pregnant and guardian of her husband's 13-year-old son. Now, one year later, she is struggling with grief, a dude ranch that is too much for one person to run, a mortgage two months in arrears, and a stepson who resents her bitterly.
Besides mourning his father, Sean Kershaw wishes he were back in San Diego with his mother. He doesn't fit into Trueheart at all. His only friend is Zoe Montana, two years older than he is, a senior, the editor of the yearbook, and almost as much of an outcast as Sean. It is Zoe who precipitates a crisis when she decides to do a little scientific investigation into sex.
Zoe's widowed father, Rafe Montana, is a rancher with dreams for his brilliant daughter. Zoe has been accepted into Harvard; she plans to become a doctor. When he discovers a pregnancy test kit in the weekly groceries, he is furious with his daughter and -- especially -- with the sexual predator who has gotten her pregnant. He locks Zoe in her room and storms out to confront Dana and the animal who molested his daughter. He does not expect to come face to face with a gangly 14-year-old who cannot yet trust his voice not to break.
The scene has been set for a drama that explores the characters of the four participants. Of the four, Zoe brings the least baggage to the crisis, yet it is her stubborn determination that directs the course of events. She refuses to have an abortion, she will not give her baby up for adoption unless she can be sure it will go to a loving home, and she never wavers from her plan to attend Harvard. If she gave in a little too easily to the very strict grounding her father imposed, well, I could suspend some disbelief in an otherwise well-drawn character.
Nicholson's greatest strength is in her delineation of the four main characters. In particular, she makes the growing attraction between Rafe and Dana convincing despite their rocky beginning. Nicholson avoids the trap of having either Dana or Rafe slip from disagreement into the sort of spitefulness that makes a romantic future unlikely. Because the two managed to be at loggerheads without descending into the unforgivable, I was able to believe in the chemistry between them.
Besides her expert characterization, Nicholson used her setting to advantage. Dana's sensitivity to the Colorado countryside and Sean's introduction to cowboying placed the action securely in the West, to the benefit of the story.
I have no hesitation in recommending The Baby Bargain to readers of all ages, but I do think that the parents of teenagers will find it especially enjoyable.
--Nancy J. Silberstein


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Haven't heard anything about those releases yet, but the "Two April Nights" release probably will contain both the Vegas shows from April first.
One of them "Rockin' April Fools Day" is in the import section. The second one will follow shortly.
If this new release does feature those two (audience recorded) shows it could be a nice release. The sound is okay, at least on the "Rockin' April Fools Day" title and both shows are really good.


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Latest Videos
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The new CEO is an old hand at Microsoft.
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We count down Facebook's contributions to our lives over the last 10 years -- the good, the bad, and the pokey.
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Ford enlists MIT, Stanford to drive automated cars
MIT is working on developing an algorithm to avoid pedestrians and other cars by figuring out where they will be in the future
Steve Wozniak visits Xiaomi in China, endorses its products
Wozniak was invited on a speaking engagement to help inspire the company's engineers.
Why Google paid $3.2 billion for Nest's smart thermostats
The deal gives Google a stronger footing in the emerging world of the connected home


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BOISE -- Idaho Lottery officials say a group of nine medical workers at Hill Force Air Base in Layton, Utah, has won a $1 million Powerball prize.
The group goes by the nickname "Dream Recalculated." They purchased the winning ticket at Thomas Market in Malad, Idaho for last Saturday night's draw. They started an office pool in March.
"On Monday morning we knew we'd won a big prize when we matched those first five numbers, we just didn't know how much it was at first," said Ju Nare Cope from Ogden, Utah.
"We did a lot of research, made every one of our participants sign contracts, and then everyone put in $10 once every five weeks," explained Michelle Allgaier from South Weber, Utah. "We've only spent $450 on tickets since starting the group around the time of that big Mega Millions jackpot."
Joining Cope and Allgaier in Boise to claim the group's prizes were Paulene Coleman also of Ogden, Candy Davis from Clinton, Utah, Marty Kessler from Clinton, Utah, and Curtis Sanders from Layton, Utah. Three other players, Helen Frazier from Willard, Utah, Joyce Kenney from Mountain Green, Utah, and Christy Snow from Hill AFB, Utah, were also claimants.
Most of the group plan to invest their winnings and pay down debts. Cope, Allgaier, and Candy Davis said they are planning trips to Hawaii.
For their part in selling the winning ticket, Thomas Market will receive a $20,000 bonus from the Idaho Lottery.
The Powerball jackpot for Saturday night's draw is an estimated $80 million.


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8334 Willow Street, Denver, CO | Directions 8012439.565278 -104.887507
Mon. - Sun. 11am - 1am
SLOW SERVICE!!!! SUB PAR SERVICE!!!!! this restaurant (if you can call it that) has gone so down hill. Took us 15 min after being seated to finally order. we ordered the cheese sticks, when they came it felt like they had taken them from the freezer to the microwave over cooked them then brought them to us, they were tough, frozen in the middle, and tasted stale. I ordered a steak with lobster and sauce, the steak was cooked right but TOUGH like it was a very old steak, the lobster in the sauce was UNDER COOKED and smelt like rotting fish. My wife ordered a pasta and when it came it looked like it was cooked in pure oil, as her pasta was swimming in oil. and was slimy and disgusting. My son ordered chicken fingers, they came WAY OVER COOKED AND DRIED out. Management didn't care, and when i voiced my opinion to the company i got a curt "sorry but its not our problem" response. BAD COMPANY, bad food, bad everything. i will call the dept of health on this place on monday when they open. take my advice and stay far far away!
Every night is the weekend at this bistro, where families enjoy American kitsch and cuisine alongside partying singles. – In Short
The much-copied look of hardwood floors, decorative stained glass, checked tablecloths, brass rails and walls filled with knickknacks has been a staple at this restaurant franchise. Originally a hit for its frisky bar scene, Friday's is now known just as much for its kid-friendly entrees. The menu alternates between typical American fare (salads, potato skins, Angus burgers and grilled chicken) and modestly international cuisine like fajitas, wraps and pot stickers.
Nothing Special – It has average prices...the only thing that really stood our for me was the service. The servers were attentive, but the food was average to mediocre.
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Direct Flat Packed Delivery 3-5 Weeks
Direct Delivery 3-5 Weeks
A collection charge of £75.00 + VAT will be applied if the customer changes their mind once delivery has taken place providing the products are unopened, if the product has been unpacked/assembled we are unable to accept it back.
Boori Craftsmanship worthy of any Prince or Princess Based on a classic French design, the elegant Sleigh converts into a child's bed and then a cosy solid-sided sofa.
All our products are made of solid timber - when you buy Boori you can be sure of years of problem free use and the creation of possible antiques of the future. Timber used in the Boori Country Collection comes from the Araucaria tree which is grown on professionally managed plantations to ensure it is preserved for future generations.
From the choice of timber through to timeless techniques such as dovetail joinery instead of glue and staples, the superiority of Boori manufacture shines through.
We use hi-tech polyurethanes for a richer, glossier, stronger and longer lasting finish.
We're so confident in our products that all cot-beds and nursery furniture carry a 5 year Manufacturer's Warranty. See the Manufacturer's Warranty Booklet which comes with each piece of furniture for more details.
Two Base Heights Drop Side easy to do allowing easy access helping minimise back strain. Replaceable "T-Rail allowing you to refurbish the cotbed for your next child. Converts to Junior Bed sleigh design compliments each end . Also converts to Sofa ideal for comforting your child and reading bedtime stories with your child.
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April 25 2014 Latest news:
Partly Cloudy
max temp: 16°C
min temp: 10°C
The cover's green, do you know it?
by Rhiannon Edwards
Friday, December 30, 2011
A Crouch End bookseller has compiled a volume of all the weird things her customers say.
When Crouch-End writer Jen Campbell got a job in a bookshop to help her get by she never expected that it would lead her to writing a book.
The 24-year-old author had already penned poetry books and short stories after her degree.
But the inspiration for her most recent book came from her other task; dealing with the strange requests of customers.
Campbell, who has worked in bookshops for around three years, decided to jot down every strange and comical conversation she had with people who entered her workplace. The result is: Weird things customers say in Bookshops, to be released in April.
The book is a collection of all the strange things customers have said to Campbell during her time working at Celia Mitchell's Kentish Town antiquarian bookshop, Ripping Yarns, and before that at a bookshop in Edinburgh.
It includes such gems as "Excuse me, do you have author-signed copies of William Shakespeare plays?" and "Do you have the sequel for Anne Frank's Diary?".
"We love our customers at the bookshop" says Campbell, who got the book deal after posting some of the weird comments on her blog This is Not the Six Word Novel. "Sometimes though, people say and do the strangest things" Campbell's patience has been tested to the limits "I think the worst thing that has happened was when a drunk man came in and was sick all over the counter," she says.
Campbell was approached by a publisher after posting just two of the strange comments on her blog. The book did not take long to write, with new stimuli coming everyday in the form of strange customers.
Campbell has also recently done a poetry challenge for charity, writing 100 limited edition poems that are available to buy from her site.
Although frustrating at times, Campbell insists she would not swap her bookshop role. "I do love it, I think it is very difficult as a writer to just be a writer. Some days working in a bookshop is the best job ever."
Some of the questions to baffle bookseller Jen:
Customer: "I read a book in the eighties. I don't remember the author, or the title. But it was green, and it made me laugh. Do you know which one I mean?"
Customer: "I'm just going to nip to Tesco to do the weekly shop. I'm just going to leave my sons here, is that ok? They're three and five. They're no bother."
Customer: Is this Hampstead Heath?
Me: No... this is a bookshop.
Customer: Hi, if I buy a book, read it, and bring it back, could I exchange it for another book?
Campbell: No... because then we wouldn't make any money.
Customer: Oh.
Customer: What kind of bookshop is this?
Campbell: We're an antiquarian bookshop.
Customer: Oh, so you sell books about fish.
Taken from Jen Campbell's blog http://jen-campbell.blogspot.com
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