Can almost hear the Lawyers rubbing their hands together. Think best advice is wherever possible stick with SRS, or other reccomendations.

Davex.

If she doesn`t see it she will hear you grunting when you pick it up.

It is an excellent lens, beware it can struggle locking on at 500mm, and to get the best from it some sort of support is handy.
Interestingly i see no difference if i leave the K20 SR on as well as the siggy OS.
It will also work fine with the F1.7x teleconvertor, I beleive the old version didn`t.

Davex.

Hope you have reduced your cash limit, it can get quite expensive in Chester.

The Cathedral welcome photographers as long as your tripod has rubber feet, £5 donation.

If the weather is fine head down to the river from the town side then cross over on the footbridge and walk along the dee, you never know what you will see, Herons, Buzzards, rowers, etc.

Wander around the walls, check out the roman garden, have a few pints in Bar Lounge, then wander up to the cross and watch the street entertainers.
Enjoy,

Would offer to meet up but unfortunately have to go to Cardiff for the next few days.

Davex.

Will try and make this myself, subject to SWMBO aproval.

Davex.

Now £200 inc delivery

Davex.

Perhaps I am missing something, but why not just get a macro focusing teleconvertor from vivitar? usually around £30-40 from ebay.

Davex.

Might be worthwhile considering renting a DA 12-24, just for the trip?
SRS will do the business.

Davex.

Would not bother about that, outside there is so much Neon you will not need it, inside, well try photo`s with a K7 inside a casino, you wont last very long

Something wide is really well worth considering, 17mm for the grand canyon is not enough, not to mention the Bellagio fountains, and hoover dam

Matts suggestion of a macro is also good, you will come across lots of "interesting" critters and flowers.

55-300 TBH i would spend on above rather than 55-300, you probably will not need the zoom end nearly as much as you think.

Davex.

I tried and got it wrong

File,New,Photomerge panarama.

Davex.