I'll see if I can unscrew the head, good idea.

I think I need to get down to Jessops to try out some different types of tripod. If I'm tempted by the more upmarket type of tripod, it might be an idea to get a really cheap and nasty tripod for now and save up for a Redsnapper...

I quite like the new layout, and I am really, really happy that my old uploads are BACK, and that there are effectively no restrictions on uploading.... this is awesome! Free online backup... how could anyone complain ;-P

OK, I have lost my quick release plate to my tripod... It's a Quantaray QSX 9011, given to me by an American visitor who broke my previous tripod... There doesn't seem much chance of replacing the plate of this obscure model so I am thinking of replacing with something similar (the Velbon DF models look about the same - aluminium, pan and tilt head, braced legs).

But I've seen a few comments re Redsnapper tripods, and wonder if I should consider upgrading rather than getting something similar? My concerns are

I never had any stability issues with the Quantaray.
Redsnappers are expensive.
How can the Redsnapper's unbraced legs be as rigid as a braced model surely its more likely to be rickety?
Are there any models between the Velbon (20 quid) and the Redsnapper (80 quid) worth looking at?

I trust your shutter speed was set to 1/180 or lower? Other than that if your problems persist I'd be tempted to try another model. Legacy flashes with a manual setting are two a penny or you could try a yongnuo for more creative control.

I'm sure they need to be printed large to see the increase in detail. Would be interested to see some 645d portrait work, I wonder if the difference would be more noticeable.

As always it's the photographer that makes the biggest difference. I recall a new 645d user who joined here once, and seemed horrified by the lacklustre reception his 'snaps' got...

A digital MX would be alright in my book! No newfangled features there, just 35mm of DOF enhancing loveliness. But I think most users would require a screen, AF, and a shutter button....

Funnily enough I found myself using the inbuilt flash recently (on my K10D) - I was photographing from beneath some metal steps onto a sunlit garden, and wanted some detail in the underside of the steps to come through.

In general though, I agree the inbuilt flash is expendable. If I want flash, generally I want it off camera. My solution would be an inbuilt radio controller and some matching off camera flashes with built in receivers.

I'm not sure how vitally important SR is for a FF camera either, to be honest... a lot of third party lenses have inbuilt OS anyway these days, but the higher ISO offsets the need for SR anyway.

I don't understand this. Are you talking about if you crop your FF sensor to APSC size, and hope to maintain the same resolution as the K5? Otherwise maintaining the pixel density but enlarging the sensor seems like a big resolution 'win' to me.

Congrats, she's lovely! A couple of things to mention - you could use some more light on baby's face, perhaps using a reflector (could be as simple as a sheet of white or foil covered card) or simply move the baby to get light from the window. Secondly, I like to either see hands out of the shot, or attached to the person they belong to (by which I mean, include the mother/grandmother, smiling down).

This may help a little - whatever colour filter you pick will lighten that colour and those either side of it, and darken the ones on the opposite side of the colour wheel.