I second the Manfrotto suggestion. On a 1999 trip to B.C. and Washington State I decided against taking my old Velbon with me as I deemed it too light. I has just purchased a Sigma 170-500mm and was using it with an MZ50 which was the interim replacement for my old SP500 when it bit the dust after a faithfull 28 years.

Handheld was a pain, if not impossible, and I slipped out of Stanley Park in Vancouver to buy a Manfrotto with a three-handle head. Plenty heavy enough to handle the big zoom and allowed me to take some treasured memories. The head has now been replaced by a Manfrotto ball head. This tropd has been used intensively with my scope and the camera on many birding outings and all weather with no problems. The only concession I made was to purchase the foam leg sleeves for winter use.

Mike

Matt,

Many thanks, I have all the correct accessories, 5P cable, hot shoe adapter and off camera tripod mount. I used to use them with my original 330 and luckily kept them. I will try it out this weekend and let you know. Forecast is for 2 days of 40Deg + C with humidex.

Cheers,

Mike

Matt,

Can you please clarify for me the use of HS mode on flash and camera for outdoors fill flash. I have DS2 and 360 & 500 flashes. Presumably I can do this with the DS2 and the 360. Does the flash have to be off the camera - I have a bracket plus the necessary cabling. Somewhere my ancient brain is missing something.

Mike

John,

The two photographs are awesome. I'm really impressed with the edge to edge quality. Excellent composition as well.

Hmm, maybe I'll have to consider one for the next acquisition. Hope Mrs. P. doesn't read this.

Mike

John,

Congrats! - I'm jealous.

Mike

I have a *ist DS2 and big hands, no problems. In fact I find it a dream to use. Easy to use controls that seem to be second nature. My film camera is a MZ6 with a battery pack which I am also very comfortable with. Friends have D70's and Canon 350's and I wouldn't trade at all. Oh and all my lenses from the MZ6 work perfectly.

Mike

I just attended a digital nature photography course where the instructor was using Rawshooter Pro. I was already trying Essentials and after spending some time with him, one-on-one, I decided to upgrade and did so.

Not sure what Adobe will incorporate and into what except Lightroom which looks like it is going to be highly priced. Another excellent stand alone product swallowed up by one of the giants.

Made sure I burned my dowload to a CD.

Mike

Brian,

I also have the Sigma 170-500 which although it is big is a good lens. I do better with it on my DS2 than I did on my MZ6 - I need to find out if the Sigma converters will work on it, I don't think so. Also have the Sigma 105 Macro which is superb on either camera.

I am going to give the Sigma 70-300 a good testing tomorrow at a major league baseball game, I will let you know.

Have a great vacation.

Mike

Brian,

I have the 50-200, 80-320 and Sigma 70-300 APO Macro in addition to other lenses for my DS2. I am thrilled with the Sigma 70-300 but last night I used the 50-200 with the AF360FGZ to photograph my grand daughter's school closing ceremonies (closing, tearing down and rebuilding). Working from the 2nd row of the audience I was able to get good pictures of the speakers, etc. from around 60' - I was surprised at the flash coverage as well - what was nice was the weight and portability of the 50-200.

I have used the 80-320 many times on my MZ6 and DS2 with consistently good results. I am trying the 70-300 Macro as I like the macro feature between 200-300. A little heavier than the 80-320 but so far excellent. I will either keep the 80-320 or it will go to one of my daughters who already has my MZ7.

Mike

Daniel,

Thanks for the information and pictures. Makes me think of also trying my Stofen Diffuser with Sigma 105 Macro. So far I have only used it on portraits - I have one for the AF360FGZ and one for the AF500FTZ.

Mike