I've taken those last two comments out, Google indexes all these things and this can bring unwanted posters back to the site. We'll remove all spam as we spot it, but please resist the temptation to discuss it.

Many thanks.

My problem is that, photographically, I'm very busy and shoot a large number of images that have an immediate purpose. So modern zooms deliver the results, quickly and efficiently. There's no time for messing about.

When out and about for myself I'm happy to use my favourite lens, the 18-135mm WR. It gives me the balance of qualities I like, even though, as we know, and as I said when I reviewed it for EPZ, it has technical limitations.

I have lots of older manual lenses available to me from time to time. At the moment I have quite a few of them. Time precludes playing with them I'm afraid.

You could use A3 paper, but I quite like the wood effect background.

Shadows add modelling, if you want to reduce them a reflector can throw some of the light back. For most purposes, a large enough window is enough, it's a brilliant, enormous softbox.

I just use a large window and a table top for my eBay images - it gives them a nice, natural, homely look. K20D with 18-55mm lens is also more than fine for the purpose.

Unfortunately, Kodak don't make film any more.

How about Tarn Hows? Long or short walks as required and the scenery starts at the National Trust car park.

Clients are only interested in results.

The competition ending time is automated, so it will allow entries up to midnight here in the UK and will only give the judge the option to select a winner at that point as well.

Clearly for some the subject matter chosen this time might be sensitive, so I would ask that we make sure that we all do remain sensitive and considerate about it.

Giorgio, I don't think I quite said what you think I said as I was referring to two different things there.

The main thrust of the argument though was that makers leapfrog each other constantly, so changing marque just because something new comes out can be a bit futile, because next month the boot will be on the other foot.