We laid one on, or would have, but despite a half page advert in Pentax User, there was not one response.

My experience of seven years of running a camera club syllabus tells me that very often people do not really want what they say they want.

They ask for outings, only a handful turn up (the organisers plus a couple more usually!). They ask for specific items to be covered and then don't turn up for that night. And so on.

I've never minded, but my conclusion is just do the best you can, be imaginative and see what happens. And make sure that the net is cast as wide as possible subject-wise so that everybody gets something of their particular interests.

You can't please all the people all the time.

Your eye is the final arbiter, don't let a gizmo dictate what you are getting if you don't like it.

Marjolaine will be most welcome to join in the fray!

The water resistant compact seems a good idea, but the S7 might appeal more visually.

I use a PC, but it must be said that Macs do have advantages for imaging. My son Michael is an Architect and they use Macs exclusively. He says they are more stable and less prone to attack by viruses.

Having said that, Windows machines are very user-friendly and almost universal in the wider world. Quality can be an issue with some High Street products, but we have been very pleased with our Fujitsu-Siemens machines purchased via Jessops. A local repair shop gave the internal workings a "thumbs up" approval when a recent repair was needed. It seems that good quality components were used throughout, and the machines geared up with imaging in mind.

I've had a look at the thread and if I may say so I find it a very strange one indeed.

:

I can't imagine how anyone changing camera marque could lead to controversy and banning from anywhere, so when I have time I shall be intrigued to find out.

Thanks for the comments offered so far, all of which are very valid.

If I added another light though I would end up with a different sort of image and I really wanted a low key result. As regards the eye contact, that's another decision that was taken to give a sense of looking upwards and outwards, towards something unknown.

This variability and range of possibilities is one of the things that makes portraiture both interesting and difficult. It's worth the effort though.

Thanks, Brian.

Liam, that's fine. If I didn't want honest replies I wouldn't have invited them!