I had an aluminium 190 for a while and really rated it. Tough and reliable, nothing went wrong. Only got rid when I found a carbon fibre Giottos at a price to good to miss. I still use a small Manfrotto ball head on the Giottos. Choice of head is equally important as choice of tripod. Ball heads with QR plates work best for me, your mileage may vary...

Paul

Yes, just checked it out. No mistake, that's a fabulous image.

Paul

4 does it for me also. Lovely location, isn't it?
Also good as a sunset location in winter.
I've had low lying mist on the water at that location too.
And swans on the river..

Paul

Great shots and an interesting comparison. I presume this required days of scouting out locations and many hours of sitting patiently in a hide?

Paul

Hesitate to mention other makes, but there is a thriving "hack" community for Canon - CHDK. It allows people with cheap Canon compacts to do all sorts of things, like for example getting them to save images as RAW / DNG, implementing a full intervalometer etc etc. People with basic Canon DSLRs can implement more advanced functions in them. You can also write your own code (in LUA) which can get the camera to do things which were certainly not intended by the manufacturer. You do have to deliberately overwrite the firmware, so it would be difficult to imagine it being done steathily, but it is certainly possible. This isn't a virus - this is implementing modified firmware. Once you have modified firmware and a camera with a wifi connection, uploading images does not sound too difficult.
Interesting idea, John.

Paul

Oh and if anyone else fancies a trip, landline is 0161 336 4603, not 4803. That's why I was getting the odd message. Cosina is very nice. Vivitar not bad for £10.

Paul

OK they are now open, said the late opening was due to a problem at the warehouse. To be fair the prices quoted were as advertised in AP. Came away with a Cosina 100mm f3.5 which gets very good reviews on the other forum, and a vivitar 28/2.8. No complaints on prices, especially as they knocked me £5 off for my earlier wasted journey.
Took a few test shots in the shop and seemed OK - now going to process some more detailed test shots in LR.
I do like the fact that there is so much legacy glass for pentax. Was using my K55/1.8 yesterday - a lovely lens. Especially as I rescued it from a forgotten corner of my in-laws shed....

Paul

In case anyone else is thinking of having a look, this place says it opens M-F 11-3:30.
Between 11:00 and 11:50 today it was firmly shut.
Fortunately I don't live too far away.
And the landline is currently producing a message "this number does not receive incoming call".

Ho hum....

Paul

Another one using Manfrotto PL-14s. Work fine for me.

Paul

kp remained at 3 or below through yesterday. Pity - would have been great to see UK aurora, and it has happened (in 2012 I think).
We live in hope....

Paul