I'm considering buying the Canon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM lens to use
with my EOS-350D, and also a LowePro "Compudaypack" camera/everything
else day-backpack
(http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/notebook_camera/CompuDaypack.aspx).

So, on a budget, the 50mm 1.8 AF (w/ or w/o D) feels like a great buy,
and will help much with flash intolerant indoor subjects...., (knowing
that on a D50 its more portrait/less "normal")
What is another candidate for a low cost (non-junk) lens, where at least

Can anyone advise me as to the best dedicated Macro lens for my Nikon
D50. Has anyone done a technical/value for money comparison between
Sigma, Tamron and Nikon's own Macro lenses?
Thanks

I'd like to update the group on my first experience using the "Copper
Hill" method.  I have owned a Canon 300D for about 1.5 years.  I
started noticing a couple of specs in f/11 and higher images recently
so I decided it was time to clean the sensor.

How long should one expect a transfer of files from card reader to hdd take.
I poped my 1gb extreme 3 card in my usb2 reader and 461 large fine files of
approx 2.5 megs apeice took around 17 mins. Is this to be expected? Or can I
do better?

O.K., I forwarded these images to Canon and they recommended that I
send my 20d in for inspection. The shots were taken with manual
settings at f/2.8 and 1/1000 with a Canon 70-200 L IS USM at 200mm.
The first three pictures don't look too bad, but the noise is readily

"In a brief statement Adobe has announced that it has purchased the
'technology assets' of Pixmantec, the Danish company behind the
RawShooter raw workflow and conversion application. Adobe states that
this acquisition "strengthens Adobe's leadership position in raw

Hey there,
I am deciding between these two cameras.  I have to say that price
isn't the most important thing here, but value is- and utility.
I have already checked out the pro's and cons that have been discussed

Has anyone connected a USB GPS unit to a Nikon D200 (or D2x, etc.)? If
so, where did you get the USB-DB9 F-F part you need to make the
connection? The USB-DB9 adapters I see are all M-M, and I don't want to
make a Frankencord.

I'm considering purchasing an Olympus E-500 DSLR.
One attraction is that I currently have an OM-4 with several lenses and
understand that is an adapter to convert the OM lenses to the 4/3
E-series.

I'm planning to buy a dslr and I've narrowed my choice between:
- d50+sigma 17-70 macro (it would cost me 840 euro)
- minolta 5d with 18-70 kit lens (for 680 euro)
I've read some reviews and realized that d50 is more responsive, has a

I'd like to be able to soften a portrait, hopefully after the fact.  I'm
using Elements 2.0.
Damn those sharp Nikon lenses. :-)
Sheldon

I'm a relative newbie to digital photography - I used to shoot with a
Pentax 35mm SLR but to my dismay nearly stopped shooting completely
once we purchased a cheapie little Kodak digital point-and-shoot. The
Kodak was so much simpler that it almost seemed like too much work to

Need some help and everyone here has come through for me in the past.
I have no fear that you'l'l help me out again. I recently had someone
email me and express an interest in using several of my photos for a
Power Point presentation.  What is a reasonable price to charge for the

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