I recently purchased my first dSLR, a Sony A100K. This is not my first
SLR, but it is my first digital SLR.
My question has to do with this camera and compatibility with
components manuafactured by other companies.

I hope someone here can point me in the right direction.  I'm looking
for an on-line service that will poster-size canvas prints for me.  I
have found many sites on the Internet, but I have no way to evaluate
the quality of each.

   I'd like to know how the same sensor can be two very different speeds. I
know that higher speeds are noisier, but what is the camera doing
differently?
Dealing with a very steep learning curve,

Hola,
I'm still learning the many possibilities of my recently purchased D200.
One of them is the possibility of using compressed NEF (RAW). The main
advantage I see on using it is that file sizes are basically 50% of

As mentioned by madhobbit, a fine fellow, to be sure, many people keep daily
photo diaries. They take a picture every day, usually with the goal of doing
it every day for a year. We see this called Project 365, Photo 365, Photo A
Day, etc.

My budget doesn't allow me to go much >200$.
I'm considering to buy one of the following
Sigma APO MACRO SUPER II 70-300mm f/4-5.6
Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM EF

In case anyone is interested I have posted a new gallery of pictures
from Ireland.  Most of them were taken with a Nikon D50 and Nikon
18-200 VR.  Here is the link.  
http://www.pbase.com/frank_b/ireland

I have now purchased my D80, and am quite happy with it so far and I
want to get a zoom/telephoto lens to go with it.  I just got off the
phone with the camera store here and got a totally useless answer to my
question, so I figured that maybe you guys could help.  I am looking at

<http://www.fourmilab.ch/images/lignieres_then_and_now/>
Above is interesting and informative site regarding before and after-
then and now- images.

This is a test

Okay, this is a bit OT as it's really an energy savings article.
An odd hero has come to light in the form of Wal*Merde.
They're pushing compact flourescent lights real hard as CF sales are not
doing well in the US.  Yet the energy impact of this form of lighting is

I saw a basket of about a dozen of them, used, about to be put on sale
at Henry's Toronto Outlet store.  They may go for as little (guessing)
$350-400.00 a pop for anyone looking for a second body.
If they put them on display at $500 or so, knowing their "pedigree"

Every time I look into light stands, umbrellas and the like, I am seriously
intimidated by my IGNORANCE!!  ARGH!!
I thought I would purchase a second Canon Speedlite 580EX
<http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=14

I'm sniffing around Sigma's 100-300 f4 APO for my D80.
Anyone have first-hand experience with it?
Photozone likes it a lot, as do others I've read.
TIA, George