Lesson one for Sue

You are right Peter, once we get comfortable with our equipment then we fall into what works best for us. It's the same with bird watching, each has their best way of doing it, their best books. binoculars, scopes, gear.

I will be playing with several different flash cards, picking the brains of several people including you lot, and next week I am in the big city and that doesn't happen more than three or four times a year, so I need to take advantage of it by going to a good camera shop.

Do you store your camera in a case or just a specialized back pack (I bought one at the same time I bought my camera)?

So many questions.

I stuff my camera and all the lenses and flash gun in a camera bag. There are so many controlls on the outside of my camera, 32 on the outside alone, that a camera case would only get in the way. I very rarely use the camera strap arround my neck, the camera is too heavy. I wrap the neck strap 3 times arround my wrist, and hold the camera by the moulded hand grip. Not so easy for anyone to snatch.

I usually go out in combat trousers, the army type with big leg pockets. The long lense in one pocket, and a waterproof rolled up in the other. An army combat jacket with big pockets to hold all the bits and pieces. I must look a bit silly, but I dont care. In the summer, I change the jacket for a photographers waistcoat. Looks like a waistcoat, or body warmer,but has large pockets for spare camera bodies and lenses. It is a lot quicker to change lenses when they are at hand, rather than in a case or backpack. But that is my way, you may find something that you like better. I also carry a lense cleaning kit in the breast pocket ( can I say breast?)  so that if the lense gets grubby, it is close to hand ready for use.

You think you look silly, you wait until you see me all geared up with camera stuff plus my binoculars, tripod, scope. I think I'll sink three feet into the ground with the weight of it all, I mean, I'm only 5 foot 2.

Actually I don't have a scope yet, but it's on my list.

I  put the neck strap on my camera last night. I don't know who much I'll use it, especially as my bins will take pride of place around my neck.

Sue,

(Disclaimer - All prices are US dollars, since both Sue and I are in the US :-) 

There has been a mention or two of a longer zoom lens on this thread. If you're considering a Canon zoom lens in the 70-300 range, there are two you'll see mentioned quite a bit - The 75-300 (older) and the 70-300 (its replacement). The 75-300 can be found for $150, while the 70-300 is about $550, but if you're considering one or the other, read this review :  http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/ef_70_300is_review.html There's also a 70-300 "DO" (diffractive optics) model from Canon that is very compact, but it's also much more expensive ($1300).

There's also a 70-200 zoom from Canon in the same $550 price range with better glass, but as with all things there are trade-offs. I just bought a 70-300 and had to decide between it and the 70-200. If you're interested, here's what I see as their relative points (i.e., take this with a grain of salt since I'm no expert, but I've done a bit of research on it for myself) :

EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Pros - Low price, Decent optically, but not great

Cons - It's been superceded; it's not bad, per se, but there are better lenses out there. Personally, I'd give it a pass. From what I understand, the "Cons" of the 70-300 also apply here.

EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Pros - Compared to the 75-300, better optically; a tad lighter; better IS

Cons - The end rotates when focusing, which can make using a polarzing filter a bit problemmatic; can't use a tripod collar if you want that; the end extends quite a bit when zooming.

EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

Pros - Compared to the 70-300, still better optically ("L" glass is good); better construction ;can use a tripod collar (allows you to attach the camera/lens to the tripod at the balance point rather than at the camera) ;good resale value; nothing moves or extends when zooming, IIRC; I think it also has a "true" ring-type USM focus motor, which means if you want to focus manually, there's no need to switch it between AF/MF modes.

Cons - Makes you want to buy more of those expensive white "L" Canon lenses! Also, you have 100mm less focal length to play with, but it's all f/4 and doesn't change as you zoom.

By the way --

USM : Ultrasonic Motor; a better type of Canon autofocus technology

IS : Image Stabilization; Canon's anti-shake technology

Anyway, now you can tell me you're not considering a zoom lens after all! 

Oh believe me Len, I'm considering it and plan to buy one next week when I go up to Oregon. I appreciate all your help, though right now I am not familiar with most of the techno talk. Me, I look at the price, figure if it's more expensive it's got to be better, and buy it. (Just got an small inheritance and this is my treat)

I'm not too sure what you mean by a tripod collar, I do plan on a tripod one day in the future (when I've spent all my inheritance and saved up more pennies).

 I am also thinking of filters..

Sue.

I'm sorry, I have this picture in my mind, and i can't get rid of it. Its of you in the camera shop, and you are behaving just like a little child who has been given free run of the candy store.

I would just love to see you as you get the chance to play with the new gear there. Enjoy!!

Regards Roy J.

And I fear your right on the mark. My husband is shaking in his boots.

A tripod collar is a clamp ring that has a hole in it threaded to fit a tripod. It clamps around a long heavy lens so that the whole camera/lens combo sits on the tripod more or less at the center of gravity rather than under the camera, with all the weight of the long lens hanging out there, off-balanced. Take a look:

http://www.adorama.com/CATMRA2W.html

For filters, my preference would be a circular polarizer as well as a UV (or haze or skylight, etc., basically clear) filter to just protect the lens. Make sure you get a circular (not conventional) polarizer for use with a digital camera. They look no different - They just polarize the light via a different means that won't affect the accuracy of your camera's built in light meter.

Now that looks very interesting indeed. And wow, $134.95 for that tiny thing, it must be popular.

I've bookmarked the site, thanks.

I've bought virtually all of my (few) items from Adorama. B&H and Amazon both also have pretty good reputations, which certainly can't be said about all online photo merchants!! :-)