Hi,
This forum is public domain. All text and pictures submitted should be done with this in mind. Yes?

Make no assumptions and then all will be well....

Hi PeterMac,

I have similar requirements and have narrowed my search down to the Lowepro Fastpack 250 or 350. The 350 has sternum and waist belts (not on the 250) to keep the backpack tight against your body, ideal when cycling and walking long distance. The Fastpack can be unstrapped and then rotated to the front for easy access to camera. See the Lowepro website for the video. Current price is about £52 for the Fastpack 250 and £62 for the 350.

Amin,

Brilliant question! Why didn't I think of it. I have the same problem.


MattMatic,

You can always be relied on to come up with the answer!



Shim, thanks as well.

Now I know what I'm going to do for the weekend!!

Hi all,

Just noticed that Amazon are selling the Lowepro Slingshot 200 for only £29.99. Got to be a bargain!!

Its Amazon Marketplace, product sold by Jacob's digital, the URL is http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000B9O83A?ie=UTF8&seller=A8WUIV48DI8WG&sn=ja...

Only 10 left!

Hi Beakynet,

Cannot see any technical reason why a device that uses AA batteries cannot use Lithium AA batteries. As long as the voltage output is within expectations then the chemistry of the battery should have little to do with it.

Obviously some batteries perform better than others and this is where the Lithium batteries excel. Have you seen the current advert by Energizer plugging their Lithium AA batteries for high drain devices like digital cameras? Perhaps we should tell Samsung that Energizer have got it all wrong.

Hi Kacsoisti,

The Eneloop batteries are Nickel Metal Hydride batteries and will charge up in any charger. BUT you must be aware of whether the charger is a timed charger, one that charges for a set amount of time and then switches off, or an 'intelligent' charger.

Most of the older chargers are timed chargers that were sold with specific capacity batteries and so will charge the batteries they were sold with to perfection. Lower capacity or higher capacity batteries in those chargers would either get cooked or not receive enough charge.

An 'intelligent' or smart charger will monitor the batteries being charged and switch to trickle mode when the batteries show a tiny dip in the monitored voltage output, usually when they are about 95% charged.

This is the ideal charger for the Eneloops, making sure they are not overcharged/undercharged.

Look to see if the charger you have is microprocessor controlled as this means it will be an 'intelligent' charger, able to assess the capacity of the batteries inserted and also show whether they are faulty cells.

Hope this helps and makes sense. (Peter, just adding to your advice!)

Coriander.

Perhaps we should do a roll call

I'm here!

How much does Pentax charge for cleaning the sensor? I seem to remember reading that you should send in your camera every year or so to get it 'professionally' cleaned.

If sending it off to Pentax equates to extortion then I can understand why the DIY methods outlined are used. But if not, then surely cloning out the marks in PS ought to be enough until they get too legion and become a real nuisance?

I'm just really hesitant about cleaning my camera's sensor using sticky pads and cleaning fluid and vacuum cleaners/blowers and dog's breath. (not all at the same time!)

#3, I found the sheep on the distant hill to the right rather distracting

I don't know where you guys get the time to do all this image manipulation. I hardly get the time to take the photo in the first place. And anyway, my teenage daughter is welded to the house PC and I'd be lucky to sneak 5mins without hearing a plaintive 'Daaad...'

So I like to think about the shot and try and get it right first time because I know I won't have the time afterwards to iron out the imperfections or to enhance the good bits.

Good example from SteveT on how to tweak a photo to make it more 'pleasing to the eye'. (is that the right phrase?)