The spreadsheet formula experts at the Productivity Portfolio blog offer an introduction to Excel’s crazy-useful IF function. In short, IF sets the contents of a spreadsheet cell conditionally, based on a test. A formula like =IF(A1>90, “A”, “Less than an A”) would set the cell to equal A if A1’s value was greater than 90, and Less than an A if A1’s value was 90 or lower. If you haven’t used IF, go check out the tutorial which has an example sheet to download and try it yourself.

Excel IF Function Tutorial [Productivity Portfolio]

I have been meaning to post this for a long time:

Hopefully, this will save someone from making an awful mistake when purchasing new professional camera equipment.

In my continuing series on my return to photography, I wanted to post my opinions on where to purchase your equipment and my personal findings on this subject.

Rule number #1 “If the price seems too good to be true.” It truly is too good to be true!

One example are ads in Newsday (a local newspaper) by Labelle camera. They define the term - “Bait and Switch”

Upon my return to photography before purchasing my Canon EOS30D, over a year and a half ago, I was eager to purchase the camera. Labelle’s Ad caught my eye! A savings of approximately $200.00 compared to the going rate.

Upon entering the store, the strong aroma of someones 1/2 eaten meal hung in the air. I was immediately approached by a headstrong employee, most likely the very one eating the meal! He rushed me from start to finish. I asked to demo the EOS30d, the one advertised in the paper. Wouldn’t you know it, but they only had one left!! It probably had been handled by more customers then I care to mention. The employee quickly surmised my disappointment and quickly changed gears by claiming this camera wasn’t in “my league” and was total overkill. He even went as far as quizzing my photography intelligence by throwing a lens equation at me. Well, I failed! this catapulted him into a selling frenzy!

Being a salesman myself, I was happy knowing my style of selling wasn’t remotely close to his. I figured I’d have some fun with this turd! Knowing I wouldn’t purchase the last remaining flask of snake bite anti-venom from him after being bit by a cobra, I would catch him in his own game. I accused him of false advertising! He seemed slightly offended. I remembered seeing a lens in the newspaper ad and promptly asked to purchase it. He became surprisingly quiet, then disappeared to the back room. Wouldn’t you know that after about 5 minutes he returned with every lens but, the one I asked for. We parted our ways.

Lesson Learned.

I ended up purchasing my camera from Amazon.com which happens to be a trustworthy online retailer when it comes to all kinds of camera equipment, both professional and amateur alike. Another noteworthy retailer both online and located in Manhattan, is B&H photo. Depending on what your looking for they seem to have some nice bargains at times but overall are on the pricey side, reliable nonetheless.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

The fence is too tall to reach over.

If you scrunch down and slip your head under the bottom rail….

Almost, but no cigar, damn!.

Oh no, you not only can’t reach the greener grass, now you’ve got your head stuck under the fence.

Damn, things couldn’t be any worse…

or could they?