james_de_h

<p>Have those of you that have upgraded software over the years noticed an 'improvement' in how old RAW files render in the current version of LR or am I just imagining it to stop me looking at buying a new camera? </p>

I have a USB 3.0 Lexar card reader that I removed from its flip up cradle and then blu tacked to the back of my iMac adjacent to the in-build SD slot. Keeps it off the desk and is alway plugged and ready to go. My Mac is too old for USB 3.0 but the reader still flies just fine. Good guide slots too. Just tried a CF carb with a massive 256MB in it. Worked instantly despite its 12 year age.

<p>For me the key is to not take as many shots. Shutter diarrhoea has its place for action etc. but do we really need multiple shots of exactly the same static things? The fact that RAW makes me think a bit both when taking and editing a shot is why I have reverted to using it exclusively. Being able to rescue a duff shot is a real plus too. That said, six shots I sent out yesterday had just one correction made, a crop to one image that needed to lose a telegraph pole. In camera processing has its place and I am not suggesting otherwise. But with RAW it is slightly more down to me and a little less down to clever electronics that gets the shot I need.I just think we should bless those who have made these advances in image capture possible although I do miss the frisson of excitement I used to get when picking up a box of transparencies - carefully forgetting the disappointment I also got five minutes later!</p>

<p>Thanks for making comments. I would never suggest JPEG is a no go area. I have a point and squirt Sony Cyber-shot that captures great images in JPEG. My old EOS 5d does a good job when everything is on its side with JPEGs but RAW helps me lift detail from poorly exposed areas. My EOS 7D is a bit more forgiving but still I have found it delivers more if I use RAW. Inside dark buildings, vehicle cab floor pedals, under the carbs of a motorcycle, between the chassis and axles etc. With RAW, I take one shot where in my 'hit the button and shoot' days I would take several. So with me I have fewer large images as opposed to loads of smaller images. Not the right or wrong way. Just how I have evolved - backwards! (Oh, forgot to mention LR5. Really helps).</p>

<p>Those of us that remember the cost of getting a roll of transparency film developed will no doubt also recall the discipline of really thinking before pressing the camera shutter. When I got my first digital camera, a Canon EOS 10D, I treated it like a film body, capturing all my images in RAW and acting as if I had a roll of 36 inside. Then I caught 'digital shutter disease' and over the years got lazy, even switching to JPEG capture to make the most of my CF cards capacity. Now I have gone backwards. I take far fewer shots, only capture in RAW and have reverted to full manual, as opposed to aperture or shutter priority, to get the job done. By acting slower I am now a heck a lot faster as I have far less post processing to do. Am I alone in taking a step back? Even for action pictures I am shooting 'old school' and get far more pleasure as a result.</p>

<p>I would hope your school will home in upon some of the basics of photography and that should mean know how to operate your camera manually. Most on this forum will say - or perhaps claim - that they do not use the auto modes on their cameras which suggests a lot of the features on newer bodies are never used anyway. With this in mind you may find an older body fits your needs initially. When it comes to lenses, however, invest in the best you can and they will outlast any body you buy now. As others have said, see what class mates use and buy accordingly. A well-off kid may have something fancy but most will have more humble kit. If going in blind, I would go old school - 50mm lens and Mk1 5D. Used on manual with careful attention to ISO settings and using RAW you will find you can learn a lot and not rely on more modern focus and automated features. The camera is old but that does not mean it takes images that are out of date. But check software compatibility. The latter can be a problem if you want to use the camera tethered to a PC etc. If your school does not offer kit advice then I would suggest it is not up to the job frankly. Give 'em hell!</p>

<p>I hope an early adopter posts here so we can see how they get on. It may be me.....</p>

<p>I am with Rick M on this. The specification of this camera is staggering. Just take a long hard look. Canon even fit dual card slots. How long have many asked for that? When prices settle, this camera will really raise the bar for Canon shooters. I look forward to reading user reviews once the dust has settled. </p>

<p>Left field suggestion from me. How about a 5D and an old wide angle lens? Add a tripod and cable release and you could end up with a specialist landscape rig for much the same cost as a new wide angle for your 7D. Old manual lenses can have brilliant optical quality and sell for peanuts.</p>

<p>My left hand and forearm will give me pain that lasts several days if I use a mouse for only a few minutes. I taught myself to be right handed and have used a trackball for so long I cannot now remember when I bought it - a Logitech Marble Mouse. I have not given up with my left hand and use a Track Pad ( I use a Mac). This operates with the most gentle of actions and I do not get 'mouse ache' using it. For detail photo work - increasingly little these days - I use a Wacom tablet. </p>