Identity theft is being massively overhyped by a government that wants to impose ID cards, and by people like shredder-makers who profit from people's largely ungrounded fears.

People have been stealing credit cards for years. Now the crime is termed Identity Theft. It's easy to make a problem seem bigger, or seem to be growing, by changing a few definitions.

And why does the government want ID cards? Seats on the board, that's why. Remember Blunkett?

Spanish ID cards didn't prevent the Madrid bombings. Nor will UK ID cards prevent anything.

G

PS: I'm against ID cards.

Can we choose our own liquid? The ladies will no doubt go for asses' milk, or perhaps Chanel. I will, predictably, plump for being dunked in a barrel of Bowmore's.

But please leave the lenses out of it.

G

Daniel,

May your intelligence and perspicacity never be doubted.

Matt, reach for your hat. I hope you're hungry.

G

Matt,

I think you need to double check the sensor dimensions.

G

The multiplier applies to "digital" lenses, too.

There is no magic about this. A digital sensor is small than a 35mm film frame, so the sensor only captures the central part of the image.

The "multiplier" applies to the angle of view that is recorded. For any given lens, more of the image will be captured on film, so the angle of view will be wider.

To compare the angle of view you will get on a Pentax DSLR to the angle that you would get with the same lens mounted on a 35mm film body, you multiply the focal length by 1.53. So a 50mm lens will give an ange of view equivalent to a 76.5mm lens when it is used on a digital camera.

G

I meant sell the batteries, of course!

Whoever buys the camera will need cards and batteries.

G
(Who hasn't bought a lens since February)

Sell the body, sell the cards and lenses.

G

As I said before, if you want good results from b&w, do it yourself, or pay lots of money to an expert.

You will NEVER get good results from a high street lab.

G

If most of the frames were under-exposed, then presumably some were correctly exposed or over exposed, or both.

Are there any good frames?

G

Kubrick,

OK. But if you are going to shoot black and white film, unless you develop a personal relationship with a very good darkroom technician, you will always be disappointed in the results.

And such a relationship doesn't come cheap.

So unless you are Bailey, Bresson or Croesus, you should either give up black and white, or do your own.

It's as simple as that. And, as I said, it's not difficult, and it IS fun.

G