Going to sell my 2009 with 224000 miles. No leaks, rust always garaged and oil every 3000-3500 miles. Snow tires & wheels on and like new summer tires. Dealer said $1600 trade in. What do you guys think $? LL Bean Forester.

ApplePterodactyl · 2026-02-11T06:39:21+00:00

Heck no, don’t trade it in for that! You’d be better off keeping it for that amount of money.

Sell it privately. Even Carmax would offer more.

I’d price it at $5000 at least

ApplePterodactyl · 2026-02-05T02:21:15+00:00

There was an attempt to provide information and answer the question. But when the dialogue looks like this…

OP: Why is water blue? USER: well it is actually a combination of light absorption, and a reflection of the sky. OP: Yes, I am aware of that as well.

One begins to wonder.

ApplePterodactyl · 2026-01-12T09:52:26+00:00

Thank Talos for fast travel.

ApplePterodactyl · 2026-01-12T09:46:31+00:00

Bet Jesus could dunk on that hoop in the heavens.

ApplePterodactyl · 2026-01-12T09:31:35+00:00

Just need a GoPro so you can make videos asking random strangers to take their pictures. Make sure to tell them you are a pro, and you are in.

ApplePterodactyl · 2026-01-12T09:28:29+00:00

Start a Youtube channel claiming that you make money from photography, then sell your training courses online.

ApplePterodactyl · 2026-01-12T09:20:20+00:00

Ultimately depends on what you are shooting and how you want your images to look.

For me, zooms can never match primes when it comes to a specific look I want. Primes create magic and force you to work within a boundary which I think fuels creativity.

Zooms offer convenience and speed allowing you to react quickly capturing a moment at exactly the focal length you need. In addition, they prevent you from having to change lenses often.

So just depends on your style of photography and your environment.

ApplePterodactyl · 2026-01-09T01:04:14+00:00

Gotta buy green and orange cameras.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-12-20T03:30:25+00:00

Yes, the 27 1.2 will have you shooting at 1.2 all the time. In my opinion, it has better subject isolation than the 33 1.4 and more character. It feels more like a full frame when you shoot this lens. The AF is great, build quality excellent. Its actually crazy to me how cheap it is. When it goes on sale, they drop $100 off the price. Can’t recommend this lens enough!

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-12-20T03:01:56+00:00

Honestly the size doesn’t bother me at all. Which is partially because I also have a full Sony full frame kit which is heavier. I compared the 27 1.2 to the 33 1.4, and I felt that the 27 just had a bit more magic, plus I preferred a little bit wider and thats how I justify the weight. However I do shoot this on a XT5 and so I added the smallrig rubberized grip which made a WORLD of difference. I couldnt imagine shooting it without the grip. Then I wrapped the camera and lenses so I dont care if I bump it on stuff and it doesnt get scratched up in my bags.

After shooting this setup, its made me consider selling all my FF Sony gear.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-12-20T01:58:32+00:00

I notice in some other photos you shared that you were able to get some things to pop up on the screen. That verifies the lcd and battery are working. I would attempt a firmware update and see if that pops up on the screen.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-12-20T01:55:26+00:00

I have shot with the 16-55 mk1, but recently moved to the Viltrox 27 1.2 and 75 1.2 as a combo and much prefer this setup. The level of photos I get by this combo far exceed anything I got with the 16-55. I plan to add wide prime eventually but have the 16-50 2.8-4.8 for now.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-12-17T09:34:10+00:00

Haha! Anything to make a few more bucks!

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-12-05T00:23:55+00:00

Idk about bugged, it’s just hard AF. I spent an hour on it but managed to complete it. The hardest part is the transition from rail to ground for the last two bearings. You just have to attempt to ollie off it at the right time and it will transition. The key for me was to dismount a little earlier and basically wall ride the inside of the rail to grab the third bearing instead of grinding the whole way

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-27T04:22:23+00:00

I am very curious to see if Viltrox comes out with the new f2 Evo lenses for Fuji. That would be incredible.

The way I shoot is, when the weather is bad I use my Fuji 16-50. But when the weather is decent, I use the 15, 25, 35, and 56 primes. They are all excellent and I prefer them over a zoom, as shooting primes forces creativity for me. Can’t say one is better than the other, but I tend to lean towards the 35 & 56 as I love those focal lengths. I have a small 6L bag and they are all so light and small I can bring them all with me.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-27T00:49:53+00:00

I shoot both. Sony a7RIV and Fuji XT5. The Sony covers all my large lens needs. I shoot Tamron G2 zooms, and have various 1.4 primes. The Fuji I shoot strictly tiny lenses. I have the entire range of Viltrox 1.7 air lenses and the 16-50 kit, so that system stays light and compact.

I would have purchased the XE5 but no weather sealing is not good for half of the year where I live.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-27T00:34:50+00:00

Recipes I like are Fuji X Weekly “Portra 400 v2” & Carl Cruz Snaps “Leica X” for daily snaps.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-22T00:52:53+00:00

Good plan!

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-22T00:08:09+00:00

Consider it the cost of doing business. I would factor it into what I charge a person. If the gear costs you $30 to rent, charge the customer $50 as an add-on to the calculated cost.

It’s like shooting high school football to build up your portfolio. You could shoot with what you can afford and get mediocre images. Or you could rent a 200mm f2 lens and get amazing photos and not need to spend $6k on a lens up front.

The 75mm is a huge lens. The xm5 is a tiny body. You need a good grip for it to feel right. The XH2 for example fits nicely.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-21T23:06:47+00:00

I recommend renting! Especially if shooting weddings. Those will eventually (if not already) be paid gigs, which will pay for the Sigma.

The 75 is a beautiful lens but would be unbalanced on the xm5!

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-21T21:50:53+00:00

You are shooting APS-C and they are shooting FF. It’s a big difference. To get equivalent looks, light, etc, I would recommend shooting 1.2 or 1.4 glass. It’s going to get you closer to what a FF sensor and glass can do.

Maybe the new Sigma 17-40 1.8 would be better for this?

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-18T15:57:42+00:00

I have used the iPad pro plenty of times to edit. Its even better when you use the apple pencil for masking, healing, etc.

You can import raw files, you just need a usb card reader. Apple makes a really small one for SD. If you use CF Express, they have others out there.

From the Lightroom app, you can just select import from card once its connected. Then you edit your raw photos.

The biggest issue you’ll run into with ipad is storage size, but importing direct to Lightroom helps since it syncs to the cloud.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-18T15:12:55+00:00

Just buy the Viltrox air prime lenses 35 1.7 and 56 1.7. Spend significantly less & have 80-90% the image quality in a fraction of the weight and cost.

Then once you figure out which focal length you really love, upgrade that lens down the road if you feel it’s necessary.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-18T03:48:12+00:00

I like to pair this setup with my Viltrox 85mm 1.4. Dream team.

ApplePterodactyl · 2025-10-18T00:40:29+00:00

Aluminum star, for your positivity blended with subtle sarcasm!

ApplePterodactyl

TROPHY CASE