DaveS

Lightroom 5 update 5.2 has been released, and is downloadable now. Dave

I guess its all down the personal choice of the end-user Richard, but manufacturers may well force one 'one camera two modes' upon us. In the meantime, my preference is as stated in the 'post' above. Plus the fact my video camera has a 240Gb HDD, and I don't think that capacity Compact Flash card exists yet, although I stand to be corrected. Dave

Not for me they won't. I have a very good Sony HD video camera (cost me £1000, when I bought it, although prices have come down), but I see it as a totally separate entity to my DSLR. The video cam is marginally smaller than my 7D. The video camera with its internal hard-drive, although it can capture stills, is only ever used for video, and then almost exclusively for holidays. I also enjoy video editing, for which I use Sony Vegas. My DSLR, although having the capability to capture video, is only ever used for still photography, which to me, is what it was primarily designed to do. When I bought it, I tested it's video function to make sure that it worked, and it has been used in this mode since. Which do I prefer, still or video photography, with a doubt, it has to be still photography with the DSLR. The family however, prefer to look at the videos. So, I enjoy both modes, but prefer to use the video camera for video work only, and the DSLR for still photography only. I cannot see my view on this changing, unless its forced upon me by manufacturers. Dave

I agree that the information, and more, is all available on the web, but do I enjoy reading a good technical book (I don't read story books), or magazine from the comfort of an armchair (or out in the garden on a relaxer chair in the summer), as opposed the staring at a screen. Each to his/her own I say, and if you prefer to read from the web, then why not. One thing that is apparent from this 'thread', is that that magazine and newspaper publishers, are not going to be getting many customers from TIPF members Dave

I think its a fairly accurate summary to say that, in the publishing, graphic design, and computer aided design (CAD) world, the Mac reigns supreme. However, the business world in general (Offices, Banks, etc, etc), is dominated by Windows based PCs. I would say that IMO, Macs are of better build quality than PCs. There was a time when I would build my own PCs, from component parts (motherboard, hdd, psu, memory etc) to my own spec/requirements, and it was also cheaper to do this. However, it became cheaper to buy 'off the shelf' than build, so I stopped building, and bought. Dave

Computers!!, we didn't even have calculators when I was at school Even when I was at College, we used Log Tables and Slide Rules. By the time I was in my last year at college, calculators had arrived, but were still quite expensive, and they certainly weren't allowed in the exam room. The first computer in our household was the Sinclair ZX81, then the Sinclair ZX Spectum with colour output, whoopee!!. Now the place is running alive with computers, two in the study, one in the observatory, a laptop, and the wife has a Samsung Tablet, and yes, the do all get used. I used a Mac for a while when I was at work, but the company made a global changeover to PCs, and I have to say that I was never that fond of the Mac. Having said that, it was a few years ago now, and technology have moved on at an incredible pace since then. BTW, my little boy is now 45, and my little girl 43 Dave

Although I subscribe to two astronomy magazines, I don't as yet, subscribe to any photo mags. However, I do buy a copy of Photoplus (Canon Edition) each month, and sometimes a copy of Amateur Photographer, if something in the content is of interest to me Dave

Annie, I've not used them myself, but have read a number of good reports for Hahnel batteries. The LP-E5 equivalent is the Hahnel HL-E5. £15 from WEX, and probably cheaper elswhere. Dave

IPA, no not the beer (lol), but Iso-propyl Alcohol is great for cleaning greasy finger marks etc from both electrical contacts and lenses. Undiluted for electrical contacts, and diluted to about 25% strength with de-ionised water for optics. I use this to clean the optics on my telescopes. Never have to clean my camera lenses, as they are all fitted with a UV filter from new, but I do clean the filter glass with it. You should be able to get it from your local chemist, and if not stocked, they can get it for you. Dave

No real reason Annie, another than that particular battery has developed fault, in which case there's now't you can do with it. You could check that the contacts are ok, and clean, but that's about all really. I have always found that genuine Canon batteries, last for years, at least the LR6 as used in the DSLRs do. Not so with the Sony batteries, as used in my Sony Cybershot compact, they only seem to last a couple of years at most. Albeit they still work, but don't run for long. Dave

20 seconds of stardom Dave

Well deserving of the accolade John Dave

Hi Paul, and welcome from a relative newcomer to the forum. A nice bunch of people here. Bugs eh!, you get along just fine with Mr 'bugmeister' Dave

It has already travelled abroad with me two or three times, and has been quite useful. As I said, it is quite light, and with expensive 'kit' sitting on top of it, I don't take any chances of it being knocked or blown over. At just 30cm long (closed), and weighing just 720g, I can slip it into a suitcase without Mrs S noticing However, I usually put in the hand-baggage. Dave

The nice thing about that one Colin, is that its full height, and given the brand name, quite a reasonable price too. The only limitation I can see, is that its load capacity is quoted as 1.5kg, which means that my 7D and a big lens would exceed that. Mind you, the stated 1.5kg is probably quite conservative. Dave