kja

Lobo kitty is a bit of a brat some days -> Linky to photos sorry for the link instead of photos, I hope you do look & enjoy - i'm having trouble uploading again!

Thank you!

That first one is fabulous!! Looks like you're enjoying them already!

Have fun!

Where do you buy it from? Dora is starting to suffer more from her arthritis lately and I'd like to do whatever I can for her.

If you buy from the store that offers them (there are lots) the rebate is automatically applied. Nothing to send in or mess around with. think of them as a discount instead of a rebate if it helps.

Just got a reminder from Adorama that the holiday season instant rebates will end soon. Industry rumors are that camera gear is set to rise in the new year. The dollar is high and it's the shopping season so it's a good time to buy

I haven't used this lens, so can't help more than saying two things: - every one of my sigma lenses is fantastic - if it's a colour issue you can make an import preset or a lens calibration thingo in LR to counteract it so you'll never know it's there. You'll have to googly to find out how as I haven't needed/wanted to do it yet!

OMG OMG OMG! I know non-divers won't care but yesterday I found a cleaning station for grey reef sharks at one of our dive sites! There aren't many of these around the traps and we're so excited to go back and see if it's only a seasonal thing or a year round thing. Nothing like watching big sharks stand on their tails, mouth & gills open and goofy grins on their faces while little cleaner wrasse dart around with impunity. I don't have photos of the tail-walking this time as I didn't realise what was going on until too late and I was keeping one eye on one shark and one eye on the one coming in behind me when the third was busy getting a wash (I saw it, but didn't get the camera around in time). But I know where it is now and will be prepared next time!

I'm available to test it out for you You know, just to make sure it will live up to expectations

I'd be very interested to hear how you like that cutie for snorkeling!

There's a glitch or a conflict somewhere coz that doesn't sound like nearly enough to make it lock up! you should see all the little tabs and crap I have open and then try to do something tricksy in LR and wonder why it freezes LOL I'm used to it now and know when I'm dancing on the edge :D Good luck - i hope the move works coz it is supremely annoying.

More glass is always good :D 24mm is good

I can crash LR if I'm trying to do too much too fast on my computer. My computer isn't a dinosaur but I do ask it to do things that a faster/bigger machine really should be doing :D What were you doing? How much did you have open - not only in LR but other things?

I adore my 24mm 1.4 L II - it's a fantastic bit of glass. Honestly, my group shots are almost all done with my 17-55 - it's just perfect for getting the job done. Adore my 30mm 1.4 Sigma, too. As to what is a better choice really comes down to where you shoot and how you like to shoot. If you are going to have the room, go with a longer lens as you can always back up and you don't need to worry about people on the edges of your frame. If you know you're going to be shooting a lot of big groups in tight spaces then go wider and pay lots of attention to the edges. For Nik, I'd say probably the 35mm - though if I could, I'd stick with the 50 and back up a couple of steps.

Congrats! What did you get?

No problem - just remember YMMV If the sigma is lighter, you might find you can go even lower, too. Lola - nice giftie

IS helps you hand hold your lens. So when you need to use a slower shutter speed to let in more light you're good to go with IS. Without IS, rule of thumb, hand holding this lens at less than 1/200 is going to be a bear. For me, that speed is actually closer to 1/320 without IS and that's just not feasible in many situations. With IS on, I can handhold this lens down to about 1/100 at the 200mm end. If you can always use a fast shutter, then IS is of limited use to you - although it will still help with nailing focus .

The image quality of all the Canon 70-200 range - both the f4 and f2.8 - is awesome. But that IS sure does come in handy when you need it. For me, buying this particular lens without would just be frustrating in the long run and I'd end up changing to IS anyway. I'd rather save and buy the right one the first time than poke around with one that was going to drive me nuts when I most needed it to do its thing.

1) check reseller ratings 2) it could be version I not II bec - I'd probably just go the sigma and save the money towards another bit of glass - or a nice night out or clothes or something The Sigma suffers only from the stigma of not being a white lens

I shop mostly at B&H Photo, but I'll use a variety of other US places, too. Even with shipping they have almost always smacked the snot out of Aussie prices. And I'd definitely spring for the IS version of the 70-200 if you can afford it - if you can't really stretch the budget that far I'd find a second hand original 70-200 2.8 IS. I've used both side by side and although the new one is super awesomeness, there is nothing wrong with the original version. I haven't bothered to move to the newer one as it just doesn't give me enough benefit over my existing lens. Sigma's version with OS is also a fabulous lens - and nicer to the budget. I don't have one myself, but have used one for a very short time and it did everything I needed it to do and my friends who have it love it.

have fun!!

So far behind on getting photos up from all this time in the water but had to pop the link to today's awesome find up while I'm still excited! I apologise for a link only, my net is being s-l-o-w and trying to upload a photo is a PITA tonight so I appreciate you clicking! Super squeee!

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those choices. I would probably buy the least expensive body on your list and use the money towards new lenses a bit later. There seem to be good twin kit lens deals at the moment. Just go with your gut and choose - you seriously can't mess it up no matter which way you go. They will all do what you need them to do :rolleyes:

I'm very happy to see that isn't it (tho it is kinda cool). I had such terrible, horrendous service from Genius that I've never gone back and have no real interest in trying again. They were, by far, the worst company I've ever dealt with. Thanks for the linkies - I'll check them out!