Hey Dan,

Great pictures - I'm glad WE get to benefit from your new toy!

Although the damsel fly is striking, I love the simplicity (again!) of the marsh marigold shot; the depth of field is perfect - the bokeh has just enough detail to add interest, but blurred enough to let the flower stand out. I expect it will make your 2009 calendar?

Keep it up! ''

Really stunning, Simon! ''

Keep making these - my vicarious winter holiday!

Is this several pictures from a tripod, stitched together?

The MZ-5n was my first SLR, which I've only stopped using since going digital this year, and that chiefly because of the cost of film processing. The MZ-5n was a fantastic hands-on camera, basic dials instead of a complex LCD screen, but with AF lenses. I used 50 and 100 manual primes on it, besides the 27-70 AF kit. Sturdy construction, but light (hadn't realized how light until after using K100 D Super). 3 metering modes, too. Really enjoyed it!

Hmm. Getting the urge to finish that roll of B/W film . ''

Hee hee hee!! ''''

My checklist:

- as Gartmore already said, big and sturdy
- can extend to a height that allows you to take photos without bending over, without using the centre pole
- ball head
- clips rather than screws for the leg releases
- (and here's where it gets tricky): light and slender enough that you'll actually carry it around.

My manfroto has taken lots of use and abuse and is still fantastic, if a little big for lugging.

I understand that the Pentax Photo Browser software that came with the K100D super is based on Silkypix. Can anyone speak to the differences between these, and the benefits of trying the "real" Silkypix? Thanks!

Love that hoverfly, too, Clarky! ''

Spring is finally making its appearance here this week. An uppermost branch of a 6 year old oak in our front yard. Taken for the comp., and for the heck of it! ''




Lens: M 100 4 macro. f4 @ 1/180 sec, handheld.

Me too: the composition and color on # 2, but the face OOF.

G'day folks!

Thanks, George! ''

And, I think I tend to agree with you about the color on the boats pic. I like the b&w, until I look at the color again - it was a beautiful evening!
And yep, lobster traps they are.

As for the pictures of the fishing shack, the bottom line is that I'm going to have to go back when the sky is a little more interesting!

AJ, thanks for the work on the sky - much more interesting. I've just downloaded the Photomatix trial version, and very quickly tried to blend two different exposure settings (probably took too many shortcuts), but perhaps the result is a little more interesting? (or too under-exposed now?)




I think I prefer the landscape orientation, following the line from the shacks to the rocks on the breakwater. Unfortunately that means the (unpolarized!) water takes up too much photo space. ... ''