If you have a lens on the camera that extends either while focusing or zooming, air and dust is sucked into the body. So not changing lenses while outside to prevent dust inside is a bit of a waste of time.

I've changed lenses as and when needed, with the body facing down and my back to the wind, mostly with the camera on. The sensor is electrostatic, but switching it off does not dissipate the charge quickly. The shutter covers the sensor.

Dust getting on the sensor is just what you have to live with. You just need to manage it and blow it off as needed. I've never resorted to a wet clean. Just my experience!

The calibration parameters are stored on the computer, not the monitor. Hence it is the computer you are adjusting to calibrate the monitor. It needs to be re-calibrated with each computer.

There are some parameters that are stored on the monitor, which waters down the absolute assertion a bit, but as the computer can change the colours and intensities, the computer needs to be included in the calibration.

I would suggest that a "pro" camera would have quick access (dedicated buttons)to many of the features that were embedded in the menu of the "entry level" camera. Also the "pro" camera would likely have faster burst rate and a bigger buffer. Having said that, the gap between "pro" and "entry" is getting smaller....

I agree with InFESTation. I thought I had my LBA under control. I have been eyeing the 50-135 for some time but could not justify the cost. With such a glowing report, I NEED one!

Well, with the talk of snow & ice and digging out the driveway: it's autumn here and we have a 30 deg Celcius day to enjoy! Our winter never gets below 10 deg C...

I'm honest...my wife has this ability to detect a lie before it's uttered. However, I point out that my hobby is not as expensive as many other hobbies. It is also a case of buy a lens, pay for something she wants. I'm working hard to get into the good books to get that one last lens. Had to spend a fortune doing the bathroom up! No money left for the last lens....

...is it the photographer that needs adjustment or the camera? (sorry, couldn't resist that!)

Street lighting is quite an exact science. It is more than just lighting levels (as per a building) as most of the time the angle of illumination is not vertical. Glare and uniformity is a huge issue as well.

Quite honestly there are sophisticated programmes (Relux is what we use) to predict the final installation based on the photometrics of the luminaires. It is pointless getting a committee to "look" at a photograph and make a decision. Durability, reliability, resistance to insects and dirt as well as life cycle cost are also key.

Mickyscope - I hope that they are not re-introducing mercury vapour lamps. Those went out with the ark as they are inefficient and hazardous. Perhaps you mean metal halides as used in sport stadia floodlights.

It is debatable if Semi-cutoff and full cutoff is better as much of the light is reflected up from the illuminated roadway, especially when wet.

The beauty of low pressure sodium is that it is monochromatic and can be filtered out by any observatory. However high pressure sodium, metal halide and now LED, while less efficient than low pressure sodium, have higher outputs and are more environmentally friendly.

My colleague is into aerial photography (aircraft to aircraft) and has mentioned this stabilizer to me. I'll see if I can get more information on it.

Perhaps this could help http://www.ken-lab.com/ ?

Personally I believe that Pentax is best value for money for features. However, I concede that Pentax support is below par. I had to advise my daughter, who is to be a professional photographer (when she settles down...) that Pentax is not the best for her. Before I get flamed: it is due to the vast majority of professional users not using Pentax only. If she were to use Pentax she would be a lone wolf. While technically she could do it, there are so many obstacles in the way of making money - why fight it and lose.

Look to the history. The IBM PC was not best technically, but it won. Betamax vs VHS. Microsoft vs everyone else. History is full of the 2nd rate technical solution dominating the market.