Peter,
The trouble is, when does a single question become an FAQ?

My feeling is that the difficult signal-to-noise ratio at the moment is caused by users not appending to a thread, but starting a new one on exactly the same topic with a slightly different title (Drives me mad!)

Perhaps they don't realise that adding to a thread puts the thread at the top of the topic automatically!!! (Which reminds me - there should be a "Guidelines for posting" sticky thread).

But, it's true that questions can disappear into the forums after a relatively short time... but that's what the SEARCH is there for

Matt

The Manfrottos have standard threads so any head will fit.
But with the Bigma, don't scrimp on the head - I suspect you'll need to pay as much, if not more for the head than the legs

Matt

I still like the Pentax 12-24

(Got mine from Technikdirekt in Germany )
Matt

There's load of ways of converting

Some suggestions are linked on my website

Easiest black and white "nobrainer":
* Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer
* Set Saturation to -100
* Change the layer blend mode to "Color" (you'll get nearly a L of Lab if you're technically minded)

Now tweak:
* Add a "Selective Color" adjustment layer
* Select the whites from the drop down box and adjust the black content (usually decrease)
* Select the blacks from the drop down box and adjust the black content (usually increase)
* Select the grays and possibly do a very minor tweak on the black.

That should get you a really "punchy" B&W.
Some will add a Gradient Map adjustment layer on top of that... but generally I don't find I need to

HTH!
Matt

and
Should do well on ebay then! LOL!
Matt

Quality

Thanks for sharing, Ben
Matt

If it stays switched on in the "Microphone" mode, then it's not batteries, but the focus mechanism that has gone out-of-bounds

You should always use rechargeable NiMH batteries, not Alkaline. (Though you can use a Lithium CR-V3 in emergency).

If it is the focus issue, then it's probably had a small knock - there are a few threads on this issue on this forum (and I've had experience of one that we managed to bring back to life - but it's not for the faint hearted :shock

Matt

Some more info is available here:

http://www.pbase.com/parr/pfringe - an interesting test. Suggests that it's largely down to lens (George may be absolutely right )

Another Photoshop method:
http://creativebits.org/photography/how_to_get_rid_of_purple_fringing

Matt

LOL! With my family At the weekends I generally only have time to surf with a Pocket PC and it's pants at replying And it's getting a bit of a bind to skip over all the "does my image look ok" threads... (I find it much easier to answer technical questions when there aren't these threads, but then I don't mind them per-se, just I'd rather see them on ePhotozine....)

It's purple fringing (which is a form of CA). AFAIK, what we know and hate as "regular CA" occurs when different wavelengths of light aren't controlled within the lens and they bend at different rates. You'll usually get a colour on one side of the highlight. This type can be corrected by Silkypix and other CA adjustment tools (such as PTLens).

I'm not sure whether purple fringing is down to sensor and/or lens - but it's usually with very bright backlighting. It is probably down to the photosite "filling up" with photons. (Just looked at Wikipedia and it's obviously unclear exactly what forms PF!)

Now, I'm sure that Silkypix and other RAW convertors can and do detect and reduce the PF...

However, if you've tried other RAW convertors, and you're still stuck with it, try this "recipe":

* Add a blank layer in Photoshop
* Change the layer blend mode to "Color"
* Pick a soft, small brush
* Now Alt-click near the PF to sample "real" colour
* And Paint away over the PF to bring its colour in line.
* Repeat as necessary

Shouldn't take more than 5 minutes

HTH!
Matt

(Off to do some paid-for work now )

Pahrens - you have two options:
1) Get Photoshop Elements. Many methods work fine on this too.
2) Get GimpShop. www.gimpshop.net - free. It's the GIMP with a Photoshop-like exterior.

Have fun
Matt