DMA

If you want to go macro, & you're on a tight budget, get the Olympus extention tube EX-25. And immedately all your lenses are macro! Combine that with the 12-60 SWD (or the cheaper 14-54 Mark II) & you can get some great images without having to spend a huge sum of money (well under $900 for both the tude & a 14-54 II brand new). However, even your kit lenses should be fine with the extention tude. You should be able to pick up the EX-25 brand new on eBay for under $200. As for the flash. I hate flashwork, so I hardly use even the built-in flash. More to the point, what are you going to photograph that requires a good flash?

Actually, just to give you an idea of the size of the 70-300, here's two quick shots of it attached to my E-420 (excuse the photo quality )

Yes it is a very underrated, yet very good lens. I wish I used it a lot more than I do

And they say there's few choices for Olympus lenses... Actually you'd be surprised with the 70-300. It's not that big. As always Zuiko have done a great job keeping it rather compact. Yes I use it with the E-30, so I've got IS, but even so I've had no trouble using it. So I don't think it'd be too hard for an E-420. Here's a couple of test shots, where I was mucking around, taking the Moon one morning... And here's a couple of test photos, using the same lens, of my dingo Alice...

Ah yes, the mystery of glass! Again the 40-150 is a very good kit lens. The good thing, though, with the 18-180 Zuiko is it replaces both kit lenses whilst being somewhat better than either (not a huge difference but an improvement nonetheless). Having said that, the 14mm end of the 14-42 can get some really nice wide angle effects, if you're into that kind of thing, which the 18mm end of the 18-180 won't give you. Needless to say the 12-60 is even better at the lower end (actually it's superior everywhere by a long shot). Then there's the 50-200 Zuiko which again is superior everywhere, but there's only so much one can afford & I don't really need it. I've got the 70-300 Zuiko which, for such a budget price, is a really nice lens. Alas I hardly ever use it Also don't forget the other Fourthirds suppliers. Panasonic put out (under their Lumix & Leica lables) some really nice glass, whilst the Sigma lenses (which I've got 2 - 24mm & 30mm) are very good & well priced as well.

Oh I'm sure he will. I'd dare say Dog Rescue Newcastle will likely grab him if he isn't adopted first. Fingers crossed that Santa is good this year

Yes he went home. And he was such a fantastic old fella too. We had such a huge response with the rescue groups. Everyone wanted to take him. Great camera the E-420. I still use it from time to time. Plus it can use all those fantastic Zuiko lenses which the E-30 uses also. I thoroughly endorse the 12-60 BTW :D In many respects, though, just getting a better lens can greatly improve results - even with the E-420. Having said that, it also depends what you're going to take photos of & the environment you're in. I do pound photography, so I did found the E-420 wanting at times, as the environment is very demanding. For example, lighting varies from bright to very dull, the subject can be jumping all over the place, to being very calm, whilst about a hundred other variables are out of my control. Hence I got the E-30. But all you may need is a new lens. If so, I'd recommend the 18-180mm Zuiko. I use it as my workhorse lens, especially at Kurri pound, & I'm rather satisfied with the results. It is an improvement on the kit 14-42 (which is a rather good lens itself as kit lenses go). Yes the 12-60 is far better, but it is also a lot more expensive. Also if you want to upgrade, but budget is an issue, you may want to think about the E-620. It's probably the best one in the Olympus dslr range as value goes overall compared to features etc & picture quality. The E-30 is better, but costs more.

In comparision, though, to the E-30 (with the 12-60), here's a series from Muswellbrook Pound of a gorgeous pup taken last Tuesday... As a footnote I must mention that this pup is still available... hint, hint...

Brilliant photo I've also got the E-420. I got that about 18 months ago (I got the E-30 about a year ago). The E-420 doesn't have much, such as IS etc, but it's a fantastic little slr all the same. So it's kind of like yours, so I know where you're coming from. The E-420 actually reminds me of my very old Canon AE1 in respect to the basics. And you can ring the life out of it & get some fantasic shots. To me, as a photographer, it makes for much satisfaction, in doing so, without the aid of all the u-beaut technology Having said that, I love the E-30 for making my job a lot easier given what I do... Here's a series I took, with the E-420 (14-42mm kit lens), at Kurri pound in June 2009 of an old boxer (who finally went home)...

valleyCBR your not alone here at DOL being an Olympus user I'm an Olympus DSLR user & very proud one too. I wouldn't use anything else. My E-30 has served me very well, given all the pounds I visit, meaning I shoot under extreme conditions with no or little control over what I'm shooting. And although I have my fair share of average photos, I get a whole lot of good ones too. Plus you've just got to love those Zuiko lenses. My 12-60 is simply brilliant

So sorry to hear Di as I know you try so hard for the working dogs - especially the ones like Gabrielle Run free Gabrielle & know that there were people who loved & cared for you

Welll I've passed the petition onto the people who have been doing long term negotiations with the council, so hopefully it will be presented before council somewhere over the next fortnight. After that, well it's then up to council to either take it seriously & the implement reforms... or not...

One day left to sign the petition, so please do so if you haven't already.

One day left. So please sign if you haven't already.

less than 3 days left...

bump

4 days left...

rebound

bounce

bump

a week left to go...

bounce

bump

Thanks ILK There's still about a week to go, so hopefully we'll get a few more signatures.

Oh you should also place the petition link somewhere in this thread too