Category Archives: Deals

Deal: Nikon D3100 DSLR Camera w/ 18-55mm and 55-200mm Lenses

Note: Lens pictured is the VR lens, which is different than the one in this deal.

If you are looking for a low-cost entry-level DSLR, Adorama has a great deal via Ebay on the Nikon D3100 digital camera. It’s a few generations old, but will still be more than enough for the beginner or casual hobbyist. It is lightweight and perfect for recreational shooting or travel. It also shoots video in 1080p! Not even my D90 can do that.

This is a refurbished model (I buy all my cameras refurbished) and comes with a full kit of two lenses: an 18-55mm for everyday shooting, and a 55-200mm for those long shots. They aren’t VR lenses, meaning they don’t have optical stabilization, but at under 300 bucks total for a Nikon body and two lenses, this is a still a smoking deal.

You can always sell off the lenses (which is what I always do when I buy a new body that comes with a kit lens) and then buy the lens you really want (the 35mm f/1.8G prime is a good place to start).

Basically, you could walk away with a Nikon DSLR body for around 200 bucks. Hard to beat that.

Check out the Nikon D3100 deal at the Ebay link here.

Deal: More Miyazaki / Ghibli Blu-rays on Amazon

In case you missed the last deal, Amazon has a good price on some more Blu-rays from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. The selection of sale items is a little different this time.

I’ve mentioned this before, but if you aren’t familiar with Miyazaki’s work, you need to start catching up. I recommend starting with a feel-good classic – My Neighbor Totoro! If this movie doesn’t make you happy, you are not a human being…

Others on sale:

I’m embarrassed to admit I still haven’t seen a few of these. Might have to pick up a couple. For some reason, it is hard to get sale prices on these videos, so jump on the deal if you’re missing any from your library!

New Mattress Decisions – Tuft and Needle, Casper, or Leesa?

EDIT: Settled on the Tuft and Needle. See my review here, or watch my video review below.

In preparation for my upcoming marriage to Yoselin from 6 Mono Media, one of the projects I am working on is the construction of a new bed. That’s right, I am designing and building my own bed. (Instructions and/or progress on the project will be posted on this site soon.)




Most exciting for me is the fact that I’ll be able to toss the old innerspring mattress that I’ve been using since childhood. I want our future mattress to be awesome, so I’ve been doing a lot of research on the subject, especially foam mattresses, since I am tired of the creakiness and unevenness of springs.

I’ve come across a few different online mattress startups that have captured my interest: Tuft and Needle, Casper, and Leesa. All three feature American-made foam mattresses, generous risk-free trial periods, and what appear to be high-end materials and construction.

There is plenty of info about the different layers of proprietary foam that each mattress uses. You can check out the links to get more details, but the main takeaway I get from the research I’ve done is: Tuft and Needle is the firmest (which I like) and least expensive (which I also like); Leesa is the best “all-around” mattress, and also the most expensive; and Casper is the softest (not sure I like that) and priced somewhere between the other two.

You might have noticed from this site that I am all about value and saving money, but at the same time I am willing to invest in certain products that are worthwhile. People spend a third of their lives in bed, and the previous night’s sleep can greatly affect the rest of your day! All three options seem good, but if I’m going to be stuck with a mattress for 10 or more years, I want it to be INCREDIBLE!

I’ll most likely make my decision in a few weeks, when I finish building the bed frame, and I’ll be sure to post a review and photos here! In the meantime, if you have experience yourself with any of these products, leave a comment below!

EDIT: Settled on the Tuft and Needle. See my review here.

UDPATE: Also have a new review for the Liberty Bed mattress from Amerisleep – check it out here!

Also – if you want to build your own hardwood bed like I did, check out our step-by-step tutorial here!

Deal: Opteka 6.5mm f/3.5 Aspherical Wide-Angle Fisheye Lens

Amazon has a smoking deal right now on a 6.5mm f/3.5 wide-angle lens from Opteka. This wide-angle lens lets you capture almost 180 degrees of image into your frame! This is sometimes also called the “fisheye” effect.

You can get this cool lens for Nikon, Canon, or Sony mounts. All three on priced the same, on sale for $150 from Amazon with free shipping.

Note that this is a manual focus lens. Time to get your camera skills on!

Opteka 6.5mm f/3.5 HD Aspherical Fisheye Lens

Deal: Studio Ghibli + Miyazaki Blu-rays on Amazon

Amazon has a smoking deal right now on a bunch of Blu-rays from Studio Ghibli and master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. If you haven’t seen any of Miyazaki’s movies, this is the perfect opportunity to catch up on some of the greatest animated films in history. Or, if you’re already a fan, now is a good time to pick up some of his films that you’ve missed, since they rarely go on sale. They are definitely worth keeping.

A few of my favorites:

My Neighbor Totoro (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Princess Mononoke [Blu-ray]

The Wind Rises (2-Disc Blu-ray +DVD Combo Pack)

What is your favorite Miyazaki movie?

Deal: DREDD 3D on Blu-ray

This gun gets fired several times throughout the film.

If you haven’t seen DREDD 3D: it’s a wildly entertaining action movie that is extra fun in 3D. Amazon has it on sale for $6, a smoking deal. Free shipping with Amazon Prime.

DREDD 3D stars Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, and Lena Heady, and is directed by Pete Travis.

Now I kind of want to watch this again tonight.

Dredd [3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet] (Amazon)

Shark Attack in Morro Bay

I picked up a 35mm f/1.8 prime from the deal that I posted a couple weeks ago (I already had this lens, but it was stolen) and took it for a spin in Morro Bay, CA. Turns out there was a shark attack yesterday; we just missed it.

Apparently the birds don’t care.

EDIT: This lens, and the 50mm f/1.8 prime I mentioned in a previous post, are both on sale again. Don’t miss out!

Good deal on Nikon lenses + Lightroom 5

Buydig has some great deals on Nikkor lenses right now for Nikon mounts. Both the 35mm ($197) and 50mm ($217) AF-S f/1.8G lenses are quality, fast lenses for photographers on a budget. I have both, and I use them often and recommend them. And right now they come with a free copy of Adobe Lightroom 5! Buydig also offers free shipping and no tax in most states.

A few other lenses are also included in the sale, but these two are the highlights.

Grab them before they’re gone!

Beckett Simonon Caine Oxford Dress Shoe Review

UPDATE: Beckett Simonon’s new line of shoes are in! Check out my new review here!

I recently picked up a pair of kicks from Beckett Simonon in my quest to find higher quality dress shoes at a price that didn’t make me want to cry myself to sleep at night on an empty stomach. I settled on the Caine oxford cap-toes. This is my experience so far.

EDIT: Now, take 20% off your order with our exclusive promo code PRAKTICALA20!

EDIT: Beckett Simonon is launching a somewhat new, pre-order based business model, so the Caine oxfords are no longer available. You can read about the relaunched business here, or visit here to see Beckett Simonon’s current lineup of products.

Continue reading Beckett Simonon Caine Oxford Dress Shoe Review

Point and Shoot: Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS

I’m putting my Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS up for sale. It is a fantastic camera, in excellent condition. It features 3x optical zoom, 10MP resolution, face detection, optical image stabilization, and video recording capability. You can find the Craigslist posting here.

Although point-and-shoot digital cameras have been largely supplanted by the rapid advance of smartphone technology, there is still much to be said for having a dedicated device for taking photos.

Continue reading Point and Shoot: Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS