Group Buy Suggestions?

Post 'em here - we'll do our best to arrange them!

Obviously, my suggestions are for great discounts on professional photo mats and frames

Bill Hollister

Hey Jim-

How about a group buy on NPN logo ball caps and warm hats.

I've just about worn out the hat I got a few years back, and it continues to be one of the keys for meeting fellow NPNers when I travel. Of course this time of year I'd get lots of use out of warmer versions, too!

Here's a few suggestions.....

Singh-Ray Filters
Gitzo Tripods
Feisol Tripods
ProShow Gold
Photomagico
Photomatix
AutoPano Pro
Some kind of Display Calibration device (like the eye-one)
Topaz DeNoise
Dust-Aid
Really Right Stuff--Quick Release plates, ball heads, etc.
Wimberley Side Kick
Rain Covers for cameras/lenses
Hoodman
Printing Services (Bay Photo, WCI, Aspen Creek, WHCC, etc..)
Collapsible disc reflectors
Hot Shoe levels
Photography Apps for smart phones/tablets
Photography Books (esp. those by NPN members)

Id like to second one of Phillip's for Really Right Stuff gear especially their ball heads.

Too late for me (cuzz we just bought several), but I can really speak up for their quality. Holy cow. The little BH-30 is fully as stable as our Arca Swiss B-1's, and weighs about 1/3 as much. And they're infinitely smoother and trouble free. I wish I had made the plunge years ago.

Feisol does a discount for an order of 6 or more tripods. I seem to recall it is a 20% discount, but it all gets shipped to one location from the Feisol factory in Taiwan. My local camera club did a group buy like that after a couple of us had bought some of their tripods and had great luck with them. Great tripods at a decent price.

Perhaps Kerry Thalmann at Really Big Cameras can do something for us as he is a distributor for them. I do not know him but he is highly regarded on the large format forum.

Thanks to all for these suggestions! I will start investigating them and see if we can get a good deal on any of them in exchnage for our on-site promotion.

How about LensCoat lens covers with a tastefully small NPN logo?

I'll second the one for filters! I could use a new CP.

I would be interested in a Feisol tripod as well. From what I've heard/read they can be used in saltwater without damaging the tripod. I'm afraid to put my Gitzo in saltwater.

I have a feeling that the NPN GB forum will become a busy place.

Thanks for your suggestions!

I'd be up for new tripod, filters, heads or, maybe we could get a group deal on nikon 500mm f4 lenses !

I'd like to see some of the screaming deals on Fstop packs that were available a year or so ago. Need to pick up a Loka or Tilopa but I'm not able to get a second mortgage on the house to buy one.

This might only be of interest to a small group. but I'd love to get a StackShot unit (works with my ZereneStacker) from Cognisys:

StackShot is an electronically controlled macro-rail that coordinates the movement of the rail and the triggering of the camera. StackShot’s simple user-interface automates the entire image capturing process.

Also - a descent, yet affordable film scanner. Something better than the Nikon CoolScan V ED.

Thanks,
Mark

Singh Ray Filters would be a huge plus! Any progress on any new group buys?

a re-run on f-stop gear backpacks, icu's and raincovers - e.g., the loka - would be good!

Yes a re-run of F-Stop back Packs and a Columbia Parker with logo like we did with the fleece jackets.

F-stop Bags.....for the Christmas season?

Group buy closed?

Some of these are great deals, I'd like to see them resume if possible

My biggest expense right now is inks. Would be difficult for a group buy unless Epson or Canon were willing to arrange a group buy that included inks for various printers.

Looks dead :(