Thanks guys, you've put my mind at rest a little.

I was beginning to think it had been a wasted evening, ( although it was worth going just to watch the cricket; these kids are good ).

Now I just need to spend some time with Silkypics and figure out how to use it properly.

Thanks RR

I'll practice some more.

Here's a case in point.
[IMG]http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i296/Father_Ted/PHOTOS/runout.jpg[/IMG]

I'm still going through the shots, so they may not all be bad, but everyone I opened is soft

I used auto focus to focus on the wicket, then switched to manual focus to lock it on that point. ( Although, this one may have been different as it all happened in a rush ).

Should shots in RAW need more sharpening than shots in JPEG?
Or, have I messed up?

I went back to photograph the cricket in the park and decided to shoot in RAW as everyone tells me that's the way to go. But, I've noticed they are less sharp than the shots I took a week ago.

I used the same method of focusing, but the light wasn't as good and I had to use a wide open aperture and a higher ISO (800) to get reasonable shutter speed.

So, did I just not get them focused as well, or is this normal for RAW and will a little work bring them out?

Doesn't this just show why the rule of thirds came about. I love number one.

Ah! You were talking about brand.

I think it was made by a UK company. Bought it at the Woodvale Rally (http://www.woodvale-rally.org.uk/ ), about 4 years ago.

But as I was googling those makes, I googled "bush hat" and none of them look like mine...so maybe it isn't after all

Erm...dunno

I only found out recently it was a bush hat. I just bought it because I liked it.

I'll get a close up pic and you can tell me

Ah! And there is the good side to having a very limited budget..I can't afford to upgrade, so don't have any of these concerns

I do like my istDL and think it was worth the upgrade from the MESuper, but only because I can afford to take more shots, make more mistakes and learn what I'm doing.
If I'd stuck to film I'd have been conscious of processing costs and not taken so many shots.

Proper hat???? I suppose they mean an American hat

That is a proper hat, I have one just like it, but I find it too warm to wear in the summer.

That one in my pic is an Australian "Bush Hat", and, although it's black, it's realy cool in the sun and, ideal for British summers; it's waterproof too!

Self portrait was a recent competition theme
I didn't enter

Unfortunately ( or so my wife would say ), I always wear hats like that, especially the one in my pic, it's hardly ever off my head