colinb

I'm Nikon biased but not sure I would recommend the 3100, nothing wrong with it but it will only take the new G series lens which are expensive and it does have its limitations for anyone other than a beginner. 2nd hand value - take a look at LCE, I put together a used Nikon D80 with a good working lens for under £300. I still have and use my D80, it maybe getting on but it still takes great pictures and is capable of using older cheaper D series lens http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Secondhand-Search/ For new cameras I would also search Portus Digitals' site, I know this D5100 is £50 over your budget but is a better camera than the D3100 - worth a look around their site for other brands and do a match with ebay sellers. http://www.portusdigital.com/cameras/dslr-cameras/nikon-d5100-dslr-camera-18-55mm-vr-lens.html If you are going 'bridge' don't forget Fujis' reconditioned cameras all sold by Fuji with their guarantee http://shop.fujifilm.co.uk/refurbished-digital-cameras?cat=48 * bit of a footnote... if you get confused by Nikons D, G,etc lens numbering and not sure about what and where just shout I'm sure we can help. hope this helps Colin

Sorry Phil I've only just seen this (should have gone to...) as you probably know bugs are not my thing but I think the colours are really wonderful and the focus on the eye makes it a little scary creature

I too can understand the need to budget and £40 sounds like a bargain

never bought a camera but 2 x lens and other stuff, never had a problem but I do try to get one close to where In live so I can go and pick it up myself, giving it a good look over. Only negative (ish) comment I would make Leon, is if you wish to go forward with your photography wouldn't a used dslr be better?

now you tell me

not related but I gave up trying to log-on this morning, no idea why but every time it just hung. No problems else where and it seems fine now

that's a hard one Fuji, personally I think there is a fine line between addiction and stubbornness. it is, after all, his life and whilst you make sense in what you say it may be difficult for him to see that.

agreed ...a well deserved POTW well seen and thought out

this has been posted before ( I think by Annie) there was some talk about you not being able to use as Adobe has stop the serial number activation ? I downloaded CS2 and Indesign a few weeks back which both work fine, might be worth still trying and seeing if you can activate the software, if not you can soon 'remove' it.

Phil - I'm always happy to change and upgrade learning 'how' but I find a lot of Win 8 design for designs sake - I don't like having to faff about around the edges of the screen to shut a program down there was nothing wrong with the bar along the bottom of the screen and why should we just abandon pop3 email when I would suspect most of the world is still using it. The email is my BIG bug about win 8, I don't wish to use web mail all the time or a different system to 1x home pc 1x laptop (win7) and my Blackberry all which work fine on pop3?

you wait until you get Windows 8 - I still can't get email on our other laptop and are seriously considering removing 8 and replacing it with 7.

John this is how our screen looks using windows7 and live mail on my wifes laptop, how does yours compare? on the tool bar / view tab we have 'calendar pane' selected

very nice, a lot of post processing going on on most, but very good.

Hello Chris, welcome to TIPF

I think this sort of thing is done much better by BBc/Top Gear and of course the RAF although some countries do try... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EsoWpTO2qg but don't always get it right

nice link Heather- and something I'm sure many of us will be keen to see.

cheers John, I did watch the 'one show' but this link is well worth a read.

Oy ....... L E S S O F IT!

I do understand what you mean Dave, we recently had a WH Smith open up in town and the local bookshop further along the main street gave up and closed within two weeks of it opening. I do think Cost will survive better than lesser more 'local' shops but at least their products are quite good, far beter than Subway.

great POTW choice BP. Bill, I had a look at the colour version but prefer this b/w edit - superb

Kobione - we had one on our last house but seldom used it and as we have a south facing garden I can't see us bothering with another.

now there's a good idea, I'll have to remember that one Phil

oh well,obviously not the most interesting topic ever posted

Not sure if this is of interest to you Guys n/ Gals, I read at least one other member has/uses in-design and this is an advert I knocked up last week for the chap who owns the owl. Tomorrow I go over to Lincoln to try and sort his web site out ,depending on the weather I might even get a few 'town' shots in. Oh and if you have a smart phone the bar code does work, I found a free programme on the net to create that. can be viewed large

Thank You all, not sure I deserve it but thank you all. The owl (and it is a Barn Owl) belongs to someone I do some graphic design work for. He has always had a thing about owls and uses one on his company vans and as I'm doing some work for him I took my D7000 along to take a few shots. He used to have a parrot called 'Robbie' who was really fun and very intelligent along with a big pink coloured bird that I can't remember the breed of, he got into trouble with the local police trying to sell it. A local pet shop owner complained about him, the shop owner wanted to buy it my friend wanted to make sure the bird would go to a good home and refused the shop owners offer so the pet shop called the police. Apparently you are not allowed to sell exotic birds even if it has been part of your family for quite a few years and wish to vet the 'buyer'. anyway... Thanks all and I'm glad you like the photos