Ripley

What ISO setting are you using for these photos? I think I have a review of that camera in an old UK camera mag. I'll have a look for you, but I think it good very good reviews from memory.

But I get sea sick, chezzyr. Which is why on boat dives they have to be short trips offshore. You have reminded me now, don't forget to pack sea sickness wrist bands! That gannett colony off the coast of Edinburgh is looking pretty good for some practise though

Thanks Luke, that's what I thought. Wanted to check with the experts though. I haven't had cause to use it yet so I'll just pack it.

I have a Canon L 1.4 teleconverter that I bought for my 70-200 L f/4 lens, which I think will give me a 280mm lens. Haven't taken a shot with it affixed yet but am packing it for our big trip in 7 weeks. You lose a stop or so of light with it on, but does the camera sense that stop of light and set the exposure accordingy or do I have to dial in some type of exposure compensation myself manually? I have a Canon 30D camera. Sorry, that sounds a bit confusing - will my camera's sensor detect the loss of light with the teleconverted affixed to it and rectify it or do I have to do it manually?

I've just been converting some RAW shots using the Canon RAW software. I have v 12.1 that came with my 30D I ordered from New York a couple of months back (they still make the 30D in the US). I think I prefer Canon's RAW conversion software (this version anyway) than Photosop's CS2's RAW conversion that I have. I am just editing some dog shots I took of monelite's Dobes and find I just have to tweak the RAW files slightly to get photos I'm happy with. I like the b/w conversions, you can add a photo filter to them and tone them in sepia and other tones. A lot of other features too. Does anyone else use their's?

Just do a google and make sure you do an Aussie google. I got mine last year for $115. You might be able to get even cheaper.

Yep, I have a UV filter on my lenses. Well not the 50mm 1.8 as it's a cheap lens but on my other 2 I do. I read on the Canon forum some guy saying it degrades your shots by making them softer but I'd rather protect my lens and I'm very happy with my purchases. I leave the filters on them all the time.

Not sure what model. It fits a DSLR and my lenses 70-200, 17-70, 50 and 1.4 teleconverter plus filters plus cables plus battery and manual in it though. It's a average size backpack. Also has straps on the front you can even attach a mini tripod or water bottle into.

PossumCorner, I'll even go in and have a drink for you. We only had one day in Edinburgh last time so I saw Greyfriars' Bobby from the top of a double decker bus for about 5 seconds only. Pretty pub though with Bobby monument out the front. That's what I love about the UK - the pubs! Or do you mean the gravesite where he went to lay down next to his master? Hopefully I can get a nice shot of the city on sunset after I've hiked up Arthur's Seat (tripod over shoulder). I think I'm going to be stuffed after this trip. I subscribe to 2 UK photo mags as they feature travel and wildlife and I love the photos. One is Outdoor Photographer, the other is Digital Photographer - this one did a feature on the 50mm 1.8 lens that I have and they took it around London. She got some great shots from market stalls, to people, to the inside of Paddington station but you are right, the 'tester' said she did have to work hard to find a good composition.

Agree. I took a sunset shot when I ran from the car to grab it and had to bump up the ISO so there is noise in the shot, unfortunately. I have a heat pack full of wheat that I've used once by propping it on a lookout fence.

What about hand holding a long lens in bad light? Forget taking a shot? Might just pack the compact too on a long hike - it has IS on it. I climbed Bald Rock up around Tenterfield with a tripod and that was a pain in the proverbial so I know what you mean. Then up the top it was so windy it wasn't much use as it was so flimsy, hence why I need to buy a new one. The one we have won't support the weight of a 30D alone and it's OH's father's tripod from the 80s. An old Hanimex!

OH is convinced we need a monopod as the teacher in this 2 day intro course I packed him off to told him. I had to stop him from going out and buying one until we had 'discussed' it further. I'm pretty convinced now to buy a tripod in Edinburgh, they have several camera stores there. Baggage restrictions into Heathrow are a nightmare due to security and weight limits. Will practise the hand holding this weekend but I tell you, I'm pretty bad!

Thanks guys. I'd love a sigma 10-20, kja but those airfares costs a bomb and this little black duck is now broke. I'll buy a monopod, was thinking of that. I'll need a tripod for night shots so I'll pick one up in Edinburgh. There is a well known camera store in the UK called Jessops and they have a store there. Good exchange rate to the pound now too. I'm taking the 70-200mm out on Sunday so I'll see how it handles being hand held. I don't have the steadiest of hands, maybe I can lean against OH to take a shot. OH and I joke that we don't ever want to become those hikers who use a pole, seems we just might on this trip! I'll make sure I have the shutter speed high enough, it's a heavy lens. My little compact is great. It's a Panasonic with a Leica lens and the photos from it are pretty good, it has exposure compensation too.

We are going to Scotland in September and I want to travel as light as I can as a lot of my suitcase will be taken up with hiking boots and warm weather clothing. I'm wondering what lenses and camera(s) we should take. OH has an Olympus DSLR he uses through work so he can take that. I have (well it's both of ours) a Canon 30D so definitely taking that. But I think I should also take my Panasonic compact for those times I don't want to lug a heavy camera around with me, such as on long hikes. But then I miss out on taking good photos with a longer lens if I stumble across some magnificent site. Will take 2 memory cards and OH is taking his laptop to download the photos each night and back them up on a CD. We are driving around and staying in hotels so the gear should be safe when we are out. Scotland is a pretty safe place. We have a Lowerpro camera backpack so in it I am thinking of taking: Canon 30D Sigma 17-70 for landscapes Canon 70-200mm L with 1.4 teleconverter (also a Canon L series) which put that lens then to a 280mm lens. The 70-200mm is not the IS one as I couldn't afford that. It's also the f/4 version. Should I leave the 50mm 1.8 I have at home? Maybe I'll just keep that lens affixed to the camera body permanently. I don't have a macro lens and it would be nice to have a longer telephoto but can't afford to buy anything else now we are committed to this trip. Also, I need to buy a tripod. I was thinking of buying one over there and shipping it home at the end of the trip due to baggage constrictions. Or should I just buy a monopod? Argh, decisions decisions. Basically photos will consist of cities, towns, lots and lots of landscapes and if I'm lucky, some wildlife who get close enough. I also haven't tried out the teleconverter on the 70-200mm yet as to be honest, I only like taking photos when I'm out at pretty places. I have screwed it in to the 70-200m gone, "Ok that's how it works" and it's now back in its box.

Why do you want two DSLRs? The Olympus is a pretty good DSLR. My husband has one for his work but it belongs to his work, he just gets to take it home every night. I have a Canon but I've used the Olympus and I think it's fine, it's more noisy at higher ISOs than my Canon but it's still a good DSLR.

I think I've found a Christmas present for my husband now, thanks. He'd love the above and a dive shop near us runs underwater photography courses for him.We borrowed my BIL's Nikon Coolpix with strobe back in 2005 and took it to Fiji. He wrote down what settings to use for things so we copied that, both of us not knowing a thing back then. Photos turned out great, even at 30 metres.

OH has a far steadier hand than I do, I'm hopeless and have to hold my breath and find a tree to lean on if I'm hand holding with a lens - or OH's broad shoulders. I texted him while the wedding was on and he rang me not long ago and said the photos look fine on his camera screen and he used ISO 400 and 800 and P mode as I said in my text message. The Olympus has a setting called 'indoor lighting' or something, so he chose that. I haven't looked at his camera, he got it through work and I haven't had time to study it.

I couldn't afford to buy the gear I have brand new from Australia. The weak USD has made it possible for me to upgrade to some great quality gear to take travelling. Can't believe that during the Olympics in Sydney 2000 the USD was 51 cents and now it's around, what? 95 cents? Ashanali, is your equipment insured? I'm going to check mine is covered under travel insurance. I get free travel insurance through work so I'm going to read the fine print. kja, offtopic, but I'm curious as to where you saw these grey nurse sharks you speak of. I didn't know WA had a colony? I go diving to see a colony near Wedding Cake Island, Maroubra - haven't been for a year as last time it was so damn cold at 22 metres I gave myself a migraine. I've also seen some at Forster and seen a few at Julian Rocks off Byron Bay (where that diver was taken by a Great White in '93). Now, if only I could afford some underwater housing, ports and a strobe for the 30D. In my dreams! Most point and shoot compacts won't go past 10-15 metres so we don't bother taking one under.

Thanks! I've told him to put the camera on P and ISO 800 and I'll try and remove noise later in PS. If that fails he can pop up the flash manually but I think the photos will look nicer with no on camera flash.

Well the wedding is in an hour WA time, if someone here can help, I'll call OH quick smart.

It's a BIG shop in New York and well known here too. Here you go http://www.bhphoto.com I bought my mum a digital compact there for her birthday - prices are fantastic.

My husband is in WA at his brother's wedding (not his first marriage so just having it at someone's house). It's raining and gloomy. He will be taking photos indoors at night. He has an Olympus E400 DSLR. No idea how to use it as he has no idea about photography. I don't think they have even hired a photographer He also doesn't have a tripod. I've told him to up the ISO to 400 (the Olympus is noisy past that point) and put it on P mode and shoot in Raw so I can remove the ugly flash colour cast in PS later. However, that can still give blur. What can you suggest? He doesn't have a tripod. He has no idea about M AV or TV either. I have a feeling these photos are going to be an absolute disaster.

Camera bodies don't have international warranties I think? My lens did but a warranty wasn't offered for the camera body.

My 70-200mm has a 3 year international warranty and that was an extra USD$60. Canon Australia will service it.

I haven't used it yet. Haven't used my new L 70-200mm either. Bought a 1.4 Canon teleconverter for that too - all from the US. I can't believe the service. I ordered a 30D on a Thursday and it arrived on the Monday! I just chose normal delivery as well. The teleconverter arrived in 3 days as well. The 70-200mm I had to wait for as my boss got it for me on his New York trip. Looking forward to trying them all out. When I don't know. I bought them as I want great gear to take to Scotland in September and for travel photos generally. That's all I'm interested in really. I've had a play around so I know how they all work though. Just need to get a tripod that will support all the weight - heavy stuff the above gear.