Happy New Year

[gstark]

Welcome to 2009.

I hope that each and every one of you celebrated a pleasant and safe passage into this new year.

For a bit of fun (why else are we here?) why not post your predictions for the upcoming year - serious ones are ok, but nonsensical is encouraged - in this thread?

Let's start the ball rolling with a few ...

PP to reach parity with US$ by the end of the year.

PP to reach parity with HK$ by the end of the year.

Nikon announces a new, 85mm f/1.4 AF-S lens.

Sigma announces a new 24-800mm f/2.8 lens. Weight is claimed to be just 150 g.

Sony announces a new 48 MP full frame camera, but it only uses Memory Stick technology, carries a usable ISO range of 100 - 150, and sports a new Sony mount, thus no longer taking Minolta glass.

NSW Premier Rees announces another new Metro rail project, running a loop between RNSH, St Vincents, PoW, RPA, and Westmead. This way we have a new rail system that services nobody but those who are too unwell to use it, but it helps to transport the ill, infirm, and accident victims between prospective hospitals until a bed can be found in one of them. Nursing staff will be co-opted to sell tickets, and doctors will drive the trains.

Go ahead, peoples, do your worst

[Big Red]

happy new year to you as well.

my Predictions

Pentax will bring out a new Full Frame or APSH camera

Big Red will win Lotto and be able to afford one

Big Red will then buy a new camera bag ... a red one with a 4.2 Diesel and 4WD

[ATJ]

PP to reach parity with US$ by the end of the year.

Oh I hope so, and sooner rather than later.

PP to reach parity with HK$ by the end of the year.

I hope not. How bad would that be? Poon's gear would be 5-6 times the current cost.

[sirhc55]

My predictions:

[Yi-P]

Happy New Years


My predictions:

- Getting paid without working much
- Able all the camera, computer and home entertainment stuff I want

I'm being little greedy

[chrisk]

Many happy returns to all and wishing you all a safe and healthy '09.

nikon will release the following:
85/1.4 afs
35/1.4 afs
135 1.8 afs
sb700
d60 replacement with movie mode
16-18mp FX camera with movie mode
the d3x will drop in price by at least 30%...if not more.

if Nikon do this, Rooz will buy an FX Nikon with the 35 and 85mm primes. If Nikon don;t i'll buy some fairy wings, buy a pink tutu and start drinking chardy to fit in with the canon crowd with my new MkII.

sony will release a camera with a proper articualting LCD...knowing sony it will be touch screen, (once you remove it from its dock), and its movie mode will have the best useability around. their market share will double.

canon will release a 24-70/2.8 IS and a 16mp high speed FX 4D.

4/3rds will be well on its way to a slow death when m4/3rd's takes hold.

onto other news...
despite the odds, the NSW LP will make a correct decision.
fernando alonso and hamilton will be the front runers in the F1 WC making thier relationship even more bitter.
Obama will not live up to the hype hamstrung by the ailing US economy

[ozimax]

Happy New Year to all.

South Sydney will win their 21st premiership in 2009.
(It's only been 38 years since the last one)

Italy will win a soccer (OK, football) game with none of their players taking a (well choreographed) dive

The Leyland P76 will make a comeback

I will learn how to successfully use a Canon flash

[gstark]

JoeT will make a post!

[ATJ]

Will Energy Police make a post?

[Reschsmooth]

Let's hope 2009 is better than 2008.

My predictions:

1. The NSW government will be for the people (of NSW, not just the LP).
2. People will read 1 and not laugh.
3. Corporate governance will mean something.
4. All Ords at 5,000 points.
5. Dow Jones at 5,000 points.
6. Rudd government will screw up current super laws (yeah, all work related rubbish...)
7. I will sell a photo.

[Killakoala]

Scientists will discover a cure for Alzhiemers Disease and then forget where they put it.

The Government gives something to the remaining 50,000 people who have NEVER received a baby bonus, pension payment, first homebuyers grant, any welfare or social security payment or a payment of ANY kind from any government EVER. (Yeah, that would be me.)

Global attempts to stave off the world-recession fail and plunge us rapidly into the 'Second Great Depression.'

Fidel Castro dies. His successor heralds a new democracy to Cuba and the USA (POTUS Obama) lifts sanctions, citing them 'An archaic cold war policy of dis-humanity.' The population of Miami is halved as Cubans return to their homeland.

The PM, Kevin Rudd, returns to Australia and appears on 'A Currant Affair' without his stupid smug smile.

Malcolm Turnbull steps down as Opposition Leader and Christopher Pyne takes over. (Don't underestimate this prediction)

We see images of another planet outside our own solar system.

[Greg B]

The Government gives something to the remaining 50,000 people who have NEVER received a baby bonus, pension payment, first homebuyers grant, any welfare or social security payment or a payment of ANY kind from any government EVER. (Yeah, that would be me.)

It would also be me Steve, and I would love this particular prediction to get up.

[gstark]

The Government gives something to the remaining 50,000 people who have NEVER received a baby bonus, pension payment, first homebuyers grant, any welfare or social security payment or a payment of ANY kind from any government EVER. (Yeah, that would be me.)

It would also be me Steve, and I would love this particular prediction to get up.

[Onyx]

<pops head in> Hey folks, happy 2009.

The new guy.

[glamy]

Happy New Year to all
-I will buy a 200-500 f2.8 Sigma with a waterproof housing to get into the surf.
Cheers,
Gerard

[ATJ]

I predict I will finally buy a Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D lens after dreaming about it for some time. I also predict that between the time I order it and when it arrives I will see countless opportunities where the 200mm lens will be perfect.