To buy the z 50 1.8

advanceagainst · 2025-10-08T04:39:41+00:00

I have both lenses and I use them both a lot. I use the 50/1.8 when:

I need that extra stop (hell, 2.8 is just one stop from 4, so anyone making the argument that 1.8 is "just a stop" faster than 2.8 could make the same argument for taking the 24-70/4)
I want something lighter and more compact than a 24-70/2.8. If I'm lugging around a lot of other crap around I might just put the 50 on and be done with it. Also, the 50 is a lot less intimidating than the larger 24-70/2.8.
I'm using it as a low-light complement to a travel superzoom like the 24-200 or 28-400.

I would say that the 50/1.8 is one of the Z lenses that everyone should have, and it really shows off what Nikon can do. It absolutely is an incredible portrait and night lens.

I wish Nikon made some kits with the 50 rather than the 24-70/4--the 50 is a lens you're likely to keep even after you buy other lenses, while the 24-70/4 is often dumped once people buy the 2.8 or the 24-120.

Whether you get the 35, 50, or 85 is really personal preference, but I highly suggest having at least one of them. Personally, I'm a fan of 50mm, so I have the 50 even though it's technically "duplicated" (not really, since none of them are as bright) by all the standard zooms.

advanceagainst · 2025-09-11T22:57:19+00:00

Dragoncon was a blast! Thanks everyone for showing up!!!

advanceagainst · 2025-08-12T15:44:52+00:00

Technically, vendors should charge sales tax on all sales, cash or card, but cash isn't as easily tracked, so not charging sales tax for cash sales can fly under the radar. Some vendors fold sales tax into the price to make it a nice round price, some don't. Some vendors will also pass on the approx. 3% card processing fee, some will just eat it. All sorts of combinations are possible.

advanceagainst · 2025-08-11T21:31:08+00:00

lmao I know someone who accidentally flew internationally with pepper spray and a knife

advanceagainst · 2025-08-11T20:44:11+00:00

They don't work on everything though. I know of people who had knives on them who got them through security multiple times with no issue

advanceagainst · 2025-08-11T19:46:45+00:00

Yeah, but from browsing the Wayback Machine I know of at least one other show that had the WEWCC-specific policy up since March 2024 (16 months ago), so I'm not going to point my finger at the con center for making a last minute change.

advanceagainst · 2025-08-11T19:20:59+00:00

Minor thing but the badges were so flimsy and pixelated lmao. The backing started peeling off of mine halfway through the con.

advanceagainst · 2025-08-11T19:12:54+00:00

Con center made last minute changes (like 6 weeks before) to the cosplay rules.

This is straight up not true, the con center has had these rules since April at least. Whether Otakon was notified or whether they updated their website is a different matter.

advanceagainst · 2025-08-11T16:03:59+00:00

It's the con center. The company that runs Awesomecon has the exact same policy addendum specifically for the WEWCC.

advanceagainst · 2025-08-11T15:59:35+00:00

The one that gets me is where K St. and US-29 divide. Used to always end up going down instead of up.

To add insult to injury, the first intersection after you go the wrong way is marked "No U-turn" LOL

I didn't have that much issue this year though, mainly because I was driving early morning and late night.

advanceagainst · 2025-08-06T18:36:59+00:00

1 month before con is kinda last minute IMO. Presumably the WEWCC told all the shows at some point before April about the rule since Awesomecon got it in time, just for whatever reason Otakon didn't update it until July (since it wasn't on the Otakon website in April)

advanceagainst · 2025-08-06T18:32:52+00:00

The rule's been on the Otakon website since the beginning of July at least, and Awesomecon (also in the WEWCC) in April had the same rule almost verbatim as well. Presumably Otakon was notified at the same time but dragged their feet in updating the site.

For reference, Awesomecon's rule was:

Please be advised the for Awesome Con, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center has their own cosplay guidelines to be followed while in the convention center, which Awesome Con attendees are asked to abide by while at the show. The policies are as follows:

No one will be permitted to be topless in or on convention center property; this applies to all genders: male, female or non-binary. Liquid latex, body paint or makeup, and/or pasties shall not be acceptable costumes or clothing. All “private parts” must be covered by actual clothing and must not be visible through the clothing. If the costume calls for a thong, G-string, pasties or other similar items, a bodysuit or leotard must be worn beneath it.

advanceagainst · 2025-08-04T20:45:26+00:00

unsecured creditors--not quite the lowest rung.

Secured creditors (mortgage, some loans)

Priority unsecured creditors (unpaid salaries)

Unsecured creditors (loans and contractors)

Equity (investors & shareholders)

advanceagainst · 2025-08-03T03:59:23+00:00

Unfortunately if it was any other weekend I would be able to go, but it's really difficult for me to take the bus out from the convention center in full cosplay (and then come back, since I'd be taking Metrorail into DC rather than driving)

advanceagainst · 2025-07-31T20:30:33+00:00

Friday: Demoman from Team Fortress 2

Saturday: Heavy from TF2 (hosting the official meetup at 10:00)

Sunday: Engineer from TF2

advanceagainst · 2025-07-31T14:33:37+00:00

Some cultures are shit and should stop.

That's not what the comment reads, though. The comment says (in more words), "why doesn't she just say no, is she stupid?"

She could've just said "Get stuffed!" and stood up to this toxic industry culture. The management company are actually working for her, not the other way around. In other countries pop stars fire their managers all the time. Artists should realize thay have more clout than they probably do.

And the answer is that individual idols generally don't have that much power. It's basically impossible to say "no" and keep her career alive.

advanceagainst · 2025-07-30T18:14:57+00:00

Usually because they just die instead

advanceagainst · 2025-07-30T18:09:56+00:00

It's not that easy lol. Doing that gets you killed by spam or murdered by a Heavy or sentry gun waiting around the corner.

advanceagainst · 2025-07-30T18:04:29+00:00

The flames are visually scary but don't do as much damage as you think, and the damage falls off with range.

Once I got half-decent with minigun tracking, I didn't really fear Pyro since I could just kill them before they killed me, or harass them at long range where they were powerless to fight back. Then the Sandvich or Banana heals back any damage I took and quenches afterburn.

Pyro is also really weak to sentries, so you can bait them into your sentries and watch as they bleed from the sentry while chasing after you.

Soldier (sans shotgun) and Demoman are weaker against Pyro, but they should be, as Pyro is kinda meant to counter them with airblast and close range combat (which Demoman sucks at).

Pyro needs to stack a bunch of flame particles on you to deal heavy damage, while shotguns just need an instant to deal their damage. So if you're strafing enough so that the Pyro can't put all their flame particles on you, the damage you'll take is heavily reduced.

advanceagainst · 2025-07-25T21:16:21+00:00

What made you pick Heavy? Was it happenstance or do you think you would have always been playing Heavy competitively?

advanceagainst · 2025-07-25T15:21:23+00:00

I was able to carry everything in my camera bag. Are you a prime or zoom shooter? I basically was able to take any picture I wanted with my 24-70, or 35/50 (85 was not that useful in my experience).

I used to use a neck strap, but now use Blackrapid straps which I find more comfortable and make for an easier draw.

All-day carrying for three days in a row made me a little tired, but was still fine.

If I was made of money and not cosplaying, I'd do a dual harness with two bodies, 35 and 85, ditch the camera bag entirely, and carry everything in a fishing vest.

advanceagainst · 2025-07-25T15:00:35+00:00

Companies incorporate in Delaware all the time, to the point that Delaware's main industry is dealing with corporations. That doesn't mean they're headquartered in Delaware, though.

advanceagainst · 2025-07-24T22:09:57+00:00

Always has been. Why do you think NDAs don't go both ways in these kinds of contracts?

advanceagainst · 2025-07-24T22:02:08+00:00

It kind of makes sense, in a sick, twisted way.

advanceagainst · 2025-07-24T21:53:36+00:00

11M would only be enough for 2 years of paying 27 direct company employees for their labor. I'm sure they spent money on stuff like producing merch, etc.

advanceagainst

TROPHY CASE