I finally purchased a Nikon D70s. My thanks to all who have endured my
questions and provided me with very helpful information.
This fine camera and kit lens came with a lens hood. I've never used
one before. What are the advantages and disadvantages to using a hood

I'm getting close to purchasing my first Canon L series lens for portrait
work - every review I've read suggests that the 85mm F1.2 L is a real
honey - but I've also read better reviews of the 135mm F2.0 L series.
Today I've had a bit of a play with an online DOF calculator and if ...

I have been reading this rag on and off for more than 30 years.
Many of their product tests over the years have stunk of advertiser butt
sniffing. I understand  the principle that you should not bite the hand that
feeds you.

"With a zooming range spanning 14-35mm (28-70mm on 35mm cameras), the
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-35mm is set to become the brightest all-round
interchangeable lens available*. Boasting a 1:2.0 aperture across its
entire focal range spectrum, it offers photographers exceptional

Apparently, there is another price drop scheduled for
Aug 1st, according to one source.  This means the E-300
might (incredibly) be even less than it is now for the
body and two zooms.  Also, the E-1 is dropping in price

Heck, the Toronto Star at least gave me $150 for an image awhile
back.  If it benefits their TV broadcasts, why not pay?  After all,
their reporters can't be everywhere all the time?
-Rich

From a marketing standpoint.
They made a cheap kit lens that performs...cheaply.
Your alternative is to spend considerably more to get
something better from them.

I have a Minolta Maxxum 7D digital SLR.
I have 4 lenses from my Minolta Maxxum XTsi 35mm camera that I use with the
7D. Three of these lenses are Minolta brand (24mm, 28-80mm and 100-300mm)
and one is a Sigma lense (28-200mm).

Who cares.
My standard Rebel 18-55mm Canon lens does what I want it to do.
I'm no Pro - but then again, neither is the camera.
So, if your that bothered about quality, spend more money.

I'm slowly coming to grips with photoshop - but one issue in particular has
me stumped ...
The other night I took a photo of my daughter while she was wearing a very
pink top - looking closely I can see where this colour has reflected on to

http://www.pbase.com/andersonrm/canon_versus_olympus_test
3 images each
Equivalent focal lengths
100 ISO

The reason I ask this is that someone on another
forum said that it's impossible to compare two
cameras to each other (even if they are radically
different cameras) by using only JPEG, that you have

Chasseurs De Images is a terrific French photo mag that does
lots of tests. Their most recent issue tested out some inexpensive
zooms, six of them.  Guess which one came out on the bottom?
And Sigma's equivalent (same price or slightly cheaper) beat it

I have two photos going into a show at the end of the month.  One is of a
hybrid cat with absolutely wicked green eyes, and the other is of a sunset
that got a "Wow" from the framer.
I especially want to thank the people in the group who helped me get the

(Talking 350D with kit lens)
The recent discussion on RAW files prompted me to give them a go (and by the
way - having done so I'll NEVER be going back to just High-quality JPEGs if
it's something that has to look top-notch - but I digress).