Love the first shot but as a photograph not the record of a particular delivery. Whether or not you are happy with the foreshortening depends what you want from your photography – to me that first shot is ace, full of the excitement of a match, a pleasure to view but perhaps not suitable for a cricketing journal.

Do not find the second one such a pleasing shot the composition is not so good and the foreshortening does not work as well making you aware of problem, I have no suggestions and can only offer my feeling about the shots and not offer anything constructive, sorry..

Yes, of course, take them all the time technically imperfect photos that is.

If you only use one or two lens then screw on may be the best way but if you have a number of lens the Lee/Hitec/Cokin systems may be the way to go. You are likely to need ND grads perhaps ND solids and polarising filter if you take lots of shots that suffer with reflections. As all good filters cost a lot of money a Lee type system is the only way if you have a lot of lens that require filters.

Think you have made a good effort and number 2 is a cracking shot although as others have said perhaps could be better composed or cropped. I take a lot of flower shots and have taken hundreds like your first shot, it is, as you say, a matter of taste however to focus too tight on a flower will often give you a soft finish particularly if there is the slightest chance on a breeze.

Think if you use a higher f number you will ensure that enough of the flower is sharp without loosing the soft background, use a fill flash if it is otherwise too dark.

My istD is still in regular use and has never given me a moment of concern, still falls into my hand like an old friend despite the fact that I am lucky enough to own a K20 and a K7. By the way I also have a EL2000 and a Z1 both still going strong - the last body I bought myself to sell was a ME and I regretted it so much I have never sold a loved body since and have never been let down by one.

Market live span has nothing to do with life expectation, not for cameras, not for cars and fortunately for me not for people.

If you want to change brands just do it, you don’t need to excuse yourself or are you looking for a good reason to convince yourself to spend all that money on a new system?

It is sad Road Dancer, think we all hold strong opinions and that is fine as long as we remember that others may hold opinions of equal merit and more to the point that I may actually, heaven forbid, be wrong.

At least this is not personal and to date I have only notice one thread where people were replying to the person and not the post and in terms well mannered people just don't do.

Do agree with John about an all purpose name, if you are sure what you want to do then a restrictive name would be ok but calling your self something like 'Womb to Wedding memories' would not work if you decide you wish to do work for industrial pamphlets. Although I suppose you could try some thing like 'In the Pink'

It was indeed, now in the post and I hope soon to be enjoyed by someone who has use for it.

Lens is sold, thanks.

Like both the colour and the B&W - the B&W seems to emphasize the lines and patterns, the colours are surprisingly harmonious and restful which for me kills the pleasing graphic elements of the B&W – my preference being the B&W as the composition and designs out ways the colour.