kja

There've been rumors of a new 100-400 around for a million years. It may or may not happen. And, in fact, May is the rumored 2012 announcement (there's at least one rumor like this every year) so if you can wait, might as well :) But the original is still a cracker and you can't go wrong. Personally, I'd still go the 100-400 over the 70-300. 300 is just not enough but you'll never miss the 30mm on the wide end.

Can you give us more information: - budget - what you are going to take photos of - how willing you are to fiddle with changing lenses - how willing you are to fiddle with changing settings In a nutshell: IF I wanted something that was just take out of the box and use -> Canon SD range or the 300/500 IF I wnated something that was also waterproof/rugged -> Panasonic TS3 IF I wanted something that was just take out of the box and use but had some options -> Canon G series or 95/100 or SX series IF I wanted something that would let me have all the choice in the world, but that meant I had to commit to some learning time and bigger clunker gear -> entry level Canon Rebel

Some screens just can't be adjusted "properly" I have one ips and one non-ips screen and the difference is huge. I was going to buy another ips but can't really justify it since I do just fine with what I have now - i just don't use the non-ips screen for colour or exposure :)

And this is why I always carry my Panasonic TS3 with me underwater, too:

Crazy & Frodo's - thanks so much :) Turtle having a good ol' armpit scratch yesterday Pretty

LOL there's no more work with RAW, really. My workflow is so much faster now and my images are better because I understand how to make the images I want. Shooting jpeg I never really needed to know and just took a punt - usually it worked, sometimes it didn't. The best thing I ever did was switch and still regret that I didn't switch sooner even though the compact camera I was shooting back then offered RAW. I bought into all the scary stories RAW simply means the camera records all the data and does not throw stuff out so if you want to work on any bits, you have more data to work on. It is also lossless when you work in your chosen converter (Lightroom, ACR, DPP etc) Jpeg means that you have chosen to let the camera make certain editing choices for you before you take the photo and it discards data. Sometimes jpeg works just fine but you cannot recover data once it's gone so if you flub or if you feel like tweaking certain things or if you just want to change your mind, you do not have all the data to work with so you will face more limitations. Those who truly use jpeg well know their cameras so well that they absolutely KNOW what result their settings will produce and that is what they want. In effect, they've learned the "tweaks" normally associated with post processing that their camera is capable of and make the camera do those heavy lifting chores! Many small cameras do not even offer RAW so it's not an issue or a choice - you just learn what each mode does to your images and try to choose the best option for what you are shooting. None of my current little cameras have RAW so I have to learn how each deals with different scenes and try to choose the best I can. Works pretty well for my happy snappies! Many dslrs do very well in many situations so shooting jpeg is a viable way to go sometimes - especially in "standard" scenes where there's plenty of light and not a huge range between the really bright and the really dark. Some people know they are never going to do more than hit the button and share online etc and that's why many cameras have RAW & jpeg - the user can choose what is right for herself/himself in that particular moment. Jpegs can be tweaked and manipulated in software, just like RAWs. Their downfall is that they are inherently missing data so you can't recover highlights as well, you can't work shadows as well and sometimes overall the colours are just a bit off because the camera has chucked stuff you actually would have liked to have. Either either or both - choose what works for you and makes you happy, as in all things! But just like this thread is "don't be afraid of post processing" and "post processing is not an evil thing", "jpeg isn't evil, but DON'T be afraid of RAW"!

So many great photos again this week! @butter - I really like "blossom"! 17/52 - teensy ta ta (sorry it's a repeat image from my other thread, cheating, but he's so cute!)

Two nice dives today. Have a few more to get through but here's three to get started :) Panda Butterflyfish Nembrotha kubaryana nudibranch Cleaner wrasse playing dentist with sweetlip Another friendly olive sea snake Canon 40D, Canon 60mm macro, Subal housing & port, Inon strobes

Lol I love the enthusiasm! My happy moments are when my doggies look so free and doggie joyous!

I don't use hard luggage for air travel anymore as the weight restrictions are too severe to sacrifice gear for the case. I always travel with my camera gear in a soft camera bag - or even in my purse if I am really testing the limits of carry-on regulations :D I've never had a problem at all and my carry-on rides in the upper compartment, not under the seat ahead of me coz I like my legroom. On long haul flights I might even take my camera bag down and use it as a foot rest. All fine. I use Canon and Lowepro bags if I'm taking a dedicated camera bag otherwise I simply use a roll-aboard bag and bubble wrap.

I have a trio of tiny ta ta lizards that live on my back patio and often come hang out on the dog ramp but they are super skittish and I haven't been able to get a picture that even starts to show how small they are - and unfortunately, the little guys are growing daily! Today I finally had one let me approach a bit before scurrying away. I went back out to the kitchen about ten minutes later and saw him on the ramp again, so I hit my belly and crept forward. He let me get a few frames and then off he went again. As I stood up I saw a little shadow over to my left. Turned out to be a ta ta that was about 1/3 the size of the tiny one!! Down on my belly again (helpful hint: little dresses with too long straps & no bra/bikini top not so good for scooting along concrete) to see how close I could get, figuring he'd bolt. But he was almost in a trance and let me get WAY up close and personal! It was so cool Of course, there's almost zero depth of field this close and with my aperture wide open, but the fun is in the trying and experimenting! All of these are full frame with no cropping - shooting Canon 40D, Canon 100mm macro 2.8 + Kenko 1.4 TC @f4 I do hope the eensy weensy one comes back to let me play again!

Happy birthday, Ruby!! So gorgeous :)

monet - I can't decide if that one in blue is just so damned happy or truly demented :D

Adding the 2x TC is a compromise. It works, but... I'd personally just get the 100-400 and be done with it.

Please, I beg of you, NO SELECTIVE COLOUR! Learn it to control your brushes and how things interact, but step away from the computer before you use it for real.

Yes, use your brush tool :) Scott Kelby does tutorials as does Lightroom Queen - check you tube and google for their sites. There are about a zillion tutorials out there - can't do more than recommend these authors tho as I can't sit and watch tutorials usually. Playing is more fun :)

Thanks, Crazy - glad someone is looking :D Your boy is gorgeous, too! Harry has decided that, yes, in fact, the patio table is a completely appropriate place to be.

#2 in post 3 and all of post 4 - fab!! They look like such fun little muchkins

Hehehe I use 8 to mark my keepers green :)

I've never seen any presets that I would actually spend money on. They are so very very easy and since every shooter is different tailoring your own is a great way to go. There are a ton of free ones out there if you want some to get started - just google. Google making a preset in LR and there are step by step tutorials - it takes like 5 seconds to make a new one. The best thing about presets is even after you apply one you still have full control over everything so you can tweak images a little or a lot to get the best out of the individual image. Or you can start with one and radically change it and save that as a new preset. Presets rock :)

Funny, I keep my IS on always. Very helpful when I'm hand-holding at nice low shutter speeds. The Sigma 2.8s are very very good - you won't be disappointed, imho.

yay! It's super easy. Biggest tip is don't be afraid of the sliders - just play and move them significantly left and right to get a feel what they each do and how they impact each other. You cannot hurt your image as it does not apply changes to the original data. the new LR4 has the sliders of the main develop area (tint, temp, exposure, contrast, highlights etc) in the order that a lot of people find "correct" - which means start at the top and work your way down. Have fun!!

No, it's not true at all. The whole point of Lightroom is working on RAW files :) I personally import as DNGs but you can set your settings to import your camera's native RAW files.

Boof & Harry on the patio table - very naughty but so cute Lobo snoozing in the sun on my office couch

That's a terrible move by Canon Australia and one I'd be getting pissy with them about if I needed it. What in the world are pro shooters or even those with L lenses meant to do if they are traveling etc? I'll bet if you made a stinky about it with them, they'd honor it. I know they do on overseas bodies, no matter what their official policy is.