Thanks everyone. Stefan that Dutch site looks interesting.
I shall have a go at my project when the weather dries out a bit and see how it goes. I may abandon it after a couple of tries anyway. I have a couple of other ideas to try out too.
It is for a project I'm doing, at the local cultural centre, along with others who were on my photo course. We have a title - Kijk op Soest (Look at Soest) and we have to put our own interpretation on it, which sounds easy at first but in fact is proving quite difficult. Tourist office brochure photos are not the intention needless to say - not that Soest has much to attract a tourist any way.

I can't answer your question I'm afraid Peter, but I have no problems with Vista. Now I'm used to it I actually prefer it to XP.
Windows 7 is in beta testing at the moment and will be released who know when?

What would you say is the best ratio for panorama photos? Is there a standard that photo labs use for instance?
I am thinking of doing a project which involves a series of panoramas, which I ultimately would want to get professionally printed.
Also I don't have a panorama head for my tripod, just a good ball head. How essential is a panorama head?

I'm not sure it would be possible to do so.
Firefox has one, you can get one for IE via the Google toolbar I believe. No doubt other browser also have them available.

I would recommend the Missing Manual by Barbara Brundage, and the
The Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski. The first is what it says, the Manual that should have been in the box, the second is by two Photoshop experts. You have to like their style to get on with it, but it is full of useful tips and shortcuts.

Edit: welcome to the forum too!

Michal, that always happens! Just after I got my K20D the price dropped dramatically, and the rumours began. But if you always wait for the next best thing you never buy a camera and miss out on so much fun. Enjoy your K20D and don't worry to much about the next model.

No specifics yet.
Not sure how reliable the rumours are, so take them with a huge pinch of salt.

Yet more rumours

No DA 15 Limited Pancake
No DA*30
K300D and K30D announced on 23rd and 30 January.

Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger.

How would you ensure that the plate is level then Stefan?
Having spent a lot on a new Arca QR plate for the K20d (the one for the Ds didn't fit :roll I shall probably forego a hand strap at the moment. There are other things I'd like before that, though the one Richard linked to is very tempting.

Good Luck Don! I think you are insane , but it's great you will do this for your kids

I thought it was cold here -in Limburg in the south of the Netherlands it was -20C the other night, here it was -14C, and I found it hard enough walking the dogs in -10C this morning, but that seems tropical compared to Winterpeg!