Hey man, happy birthday! I work in tech too, oddly enough. I’ve been shooting more lately and I think I may have gotten something into a German magazine which is cool and totally unexpected. Actually, do you have any good resources for lenses? I’m sure Amazon is great but wanted to ask you too. Anyway, happy birthday. Don’t get too drunk at Jumbo’s. :)

Thats awesome on the magazine. Congrats! 

Haha I do love Jumbos but I actually don’t drink. Im a old left over Straight Edge. Julie does the drinking for the two of us and I throw the $$$. 

As for lens resources, I have some good friends at local camera stores that I trust. I read lots online, dpreview is AMAZING though more body focused than lens focused. Typically, which at this point doesn’t happen anymore, if Im lens shopping, I look up the lens on Flickr, look at as many pictures as possible with the lens. Go rent one if I can. Then read all the reviews. Usually renting answers all the questions I would need to know, but sometimes its good to know niche situations the lens excels or falters. If I don’t buy locally I order from B&H.