Sounds a bit niche that, probably not for a family web site.

ooops, not a typo I'll live down easily!!!!

Standee is Chester doable in one day in your opinion?

depends when you go, we went in August and it was fairly rammed, as it was warm most of the animals were outside in their enclosures so we didn't get that involved with the queues to go inside the pens/buildings etc, I admit to spending an hour just sat watching the cheetah and her cubs, I think I took over 400 shots in that hour alone.

take an extra SD card and a spare battery

and whatever you do, don't believe the hype about Chester town centre, or the Green Bough hotel!!!

We've 36gb of CF cards and eight batteries mate, I don't call her 4 gig for nothing

lol

I really do recommend Chester Zoo, given her apparent love of big cats, she'll love it.

Longleat was OK, but taking photo's though the window is frustrating (we never, ever, put the windows down when we thought we could get away with it, honest!)

The problem wasn't the camera but the lens mate, didn't you hire the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L? While a good all-rounder it just doesn't have the speed an f2.8 lens gives you.

is there a similar but faster lens, any ideas would be welcome fairly sharpish as I was about to order the same lens as a my christmas present?

As I've said, it is a great all round lens with a long reach only trouble is that the long end is f5.6 which for action photography just won't cut the mustard.

We've a 70-200mm f2.8 that while not having the range of the 100-400 holds the F2.8 through its range, add a 1.4x extender and we get f4 which just about does.

"Touch me, I bite!"

So, I've been looking through peoples recommendations and have decided to go for a Canon EOS.

I'm currently debating between the 600D or the 550D. Anyone know the difference?

If you have the budget the 60D is a much better buy.

Thanks, I'll take a look

Chewbacca on the prowl.

Or perhaps a good quality second hand 40d or 50d

Regardless of which make / model you choose it is important to actually hold a camera in your hand before purchasing it.

The ergonomics are of vital importance.

My film cameras were always Canon and so, naturally, Canon was my first choice when making the move to a DSLR.

That is until I held the Canon in my hand and made a direct like-with-like comparison with the Nikon equivalent.

For me (and it's important to stress that - FOR ME) the Nikon was a far more comfortable (and therefore efficient) handful. Others have had exactly the opposite experience.

YMMV, as they say. But you need to be satisfied on that point.

agree with what you say, but I was the opposite, much preferred the Canon, was looking at the 60 but it was just too heavy (even just the body), couldn't imagine it with a big lens on and walking/skiing. 600 was no real advantage (other than a moveable screen that seemed a bit pointless for the extra cash) over the 550.

The best thing I did do was get extra filters for all of my lenses and a jacket with pockets for each of them, new lens to be bought soon but I don't want to have converters/extenders so I am not sure what lens to go for.

or might just get a Go-Pro helmet cam!

Can anyone recommend a good but affordable flash for the Sony alpha series? Thanks

Well I think I'm going to go for the 600D but I'll make sure I check it out in the shops before buying

Some [url=http://bit.ly/upOz7nMetz and Vivitar strobes here[/url, seem yo get decent results for the outlay too.

Cheers Graeme, I know they can get a bit pricy, I just need an angled one for covering gigs and the like.

Gigging with no flash:





Skatoons 26-11-11

Can't avoid camera shake when you're in the middle of a dancefloor with a camera in your hand a fairly long exposures, but flash just takes all the colour detail out of them

Well I went for the Nikon d3100, and I'm suitably impressed so far. Playing about with it at the moment and learning how to use it properly (in the past I've always had point and shoot camera's), so there's a lot of terrible shots but some I am quite happy with for a beginner. Obviously not to the standard of some on here!

I got it with the 18-55 lens so will be saving up for a better one soon hopefully

Went on a night time photography course around Manchester last night.

[urlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/8758261@N02/[/url

Will you have a look if you get half a chance and let me know what you think please guys and gals

Also don't know if anyone is interested but a friend of mine is selling his Nikon D5000 DSLR 12.3 megapixels, SD card, leads, battery and charger, instruction manual, boxed. Body only, for £300-£350.
Or Will consider selling lens as well. Nikon lens 18-55mm VR (kit lens) £350-£400 with body.

It's only a few months old, but his upgraded to another Nikon so is looking to sell this.

Very nice set, I enjoy night photography, light trails, etc, thinking of going out to shoot the Christmas lights this weekend.

I particularly liked the cobbles shot, very 'Corrie'

Well I am from Salford