Another thing to consider is the space you'll need. The Bigma (or it's near cousin the 150-500) really needs support in the form of a good monopod, which means you'll be less crowd tolerant than if you are using the DA60-250 or Mike's suggested combo, both of which are OK unsupported.

Part of the reason for choosing one lens rather than another is the amount of use you'll get out of it. The DA60-250 fits well with the DA16-50 and will, as a combo, meet a good chunk of the range of uses most of us will have for our kit.

Ultimately, it depends on your budget and how much it matters to you to have capital tied up in lenses you don't use regularly


Steve

Another vote for 1st proposal - for same reasons as others have noted. My broadband speed isn't special, so the long pause whilst the main image loaded was a turn off.


Steve

Only place I've found which does budget A3 heavy gloss photopaper is 7dayshop.com. Similar weight m2 and £15.00 for 40 sheet pack.

I use either Fotospeed or HP branded paper - neither of which are particularly cheap.

HTH


Steve

TT - another idea for your trout

dust in seasoned flour, pan fry in butter until skin golden; set aside whilst you fry off some mushrooms in the butter residue (may have to add a bit more), add a splash of Pernod, allow to reduce then stir in some double cream, bring up to near boiling to thicken, then plate the trout, pour over the source & serve with rice.

Receipe orginally French I think but can be adapted to use any spirit with a bit of flavour (NOT malt whisky - that would be a hanging offence [option to add quartering and drawing depending on whether offender used Highland, Island or Lowland malt])


Steve

Sigma 135-400 is good lens IMHO - forms part of my overseas travelling lens combo if I'm also taking a film body such as an MZ-S. I've previously posted example images in my portfolio.

They don't come up that often - but you should get a decent copy for yr budget. Elvisboy has only just sold a 170-500 - and that went for a smidge under £300. That option's quite a lot heavier than the 135-400.


Steve

Another like Clarky & Unlocker

Find that leaving the grip switched on depletes the batteries - and that's not just the K7.

Not withstanding it's an Adobe product, you'll get everything you want with Lightroom. Comes with a number of templates, including a 5 row/4 column contact sheet type option which you can switch on the option for text below each image - including file name. I use it to generate contact sheets for all my old slides I've scanned - sometimes it's easier to flick through a hard copy archive than folders on a hard drive.

As you select the printer, you can set the output size - so if you wanted an A3 sized contact sheet, no problem. Find it best to save the template with a printer option in built - lot simpler and quicker to use thereafter.

HTH


Steve

May be worth taking a look at xrite's Eye-One Display LT. I've bought a copy after being temped with their Colourchecker Passport. Easy to set up and use.


Steve

Only found it useful once so far - wife had forgotten to recharge her video camera battery and had no spare, so used it for 4 short sequences at a thermal site in North Island New Zealand.

So for me it's a function I don't use - bit like all the various programme options. And as she's now got a spare battery, chances of using it again are somewhat reduced....


Steve

JohnX - the later versions of the Coolscan were USB. Same for the Minolta Dimage.

Setting up wasn't a problem with my Coolscan V.

Coolscans and Dimages only available second hand (unless you want to shell out big bucks for the Coolscan 9000 ED). Tend to hold their value on E-bay, so expect to spend £300+ for a good copy - if you can find one. Quick check and not much about at present.

Others have had good results with the cheaper sub £100 makes I beleive.


HTH


Steve