Given that is is an international forum, I think it's important for overseas members to understand that this is not a “British” problem but one that's peculiar to England (and theoretically Wales).

I haven't heard of one similar incident in Scotland, although, from a terrorist's point of view, we host the UK's nuclear submarine fleet, nuclear power stations and the country's busiest RAF fast-jet base. I suspect that the PCSOs at the centre of these incidents would be given short shrift if they approached a photographer in Glasgow in the same way that they apparently do in London.

The message is clear. If you want to come to Britain to take photos, check out the VisitScotland website rather than its equivalent in England. At the end of the day, “they” can take away only the rights we are prepared to surrender to them. It must be said that Scots understand the terrorist threat as well as the English – we've been targeted by them.

To those south of the border involved in one of these incidents, my advice would be to be polite, explain what you are doing and, if necessary, insist on your right to do it. Handled properly, none of these high-profile cases should have progressed as far as it did. Many years ago in Canada, I was confronted by several members of the American Indian Movement pointing Winchester rifles at me. After I explained I was just a journalist doing my job and likening their cause to the lot of the Scots under “hammer” of the English (always a useful ploy), we sat down to some drinks and I got my interview.

Having said that, I don't think I'd take very kindly to some moron asking me why I was doing something I'm perfectly entitled to do. Doubtless I'll find out the next time I venture down to London.

Al

Stefan,

The internet is awash with English dictionaries but their quality is variable. I'd be inclined to stick with the two that are considered the most authoritative in the UK, the Oxford link and Chambers link.

The online versions aren't as complete as the printed ones but they're a good place to start if you want an accurate answer.

All the best

Al

With the GX20, you set the start-up format (raw, raw+ or JPEG) with Menu>Capture Menu 1>File Format. This gives the option of raw, raw+JPEG or JPEG on start-up. If you go to Capture Menu 1>Set Raw Button, you have the option of assigning the raw button to switch from your start-up setting to any of the others. It looks like the menu structure is different on the K20D, but you certainly should have the choice somewhere of which format you use when the camera is switched on.

Best of luck

Al

It's not uncommon for owners of commercial property to be secretive in setting up a sale but in this case it's not a job I would take on for the reasons mentioned by others. We're in the midst of a "trailer park" scandal up here at the moment and it makes scary reading if you're in the market for a residential caravan, as we call them in these parts. link

Al

An extraordinary, well-seen shot that proves a perfectly composed and well-executed image of a mildly arty subject will always come second to a photograph of something interesting.

Al

The DA-L 50-200 is missing this feature as well, so it looks like a common spec in this cut-price range. After buying a 50-200 in the mistaken belief it was the fully featured model (advertisers should make this a lot clearer), I think it's well worth paying the extra for a lens hood and QS. However, as John says, the image quality is fine.

Al

Many thanks for that link, Richard. It's just what I've been looking for.

Al

I'll bet the Queen smiled when Cecil Beaton clipped a clothes peg to her ermine robe.

Al

Whatever they are, Ken talked the government out of a lot of money to develop and market them.

link

link

Hard discs? Ridiculous. Try getting a new battery halfway up K2. I always use the Bludgeon Engineering solution, which was presented to Bolton Enterprises in 1989 but ended up in a car boot sale in Cyprus a few years ago. Trouble is, I've lost the string. Apologies for the quality of the pic. It's late.

Al