nickwhite

Michael, I was quoting 'High st" prices here in the UK converted to AUD.

To quote someone else (Axel Bruch if I remember correctly) "There is no such thing as bad weather for photography, there are only hydrophobic photographers"<div></div>

Should have said a set of tubes would come as 12mm, 20mm + 36mm usually.

Nick.

Hi Martin.

The two tubes mentioned by Adam Maas will do the job admirably - provided you are willing to pay about 650AUD!! for the two( i'm presuming you are ia Aus from your photos).

For about 200-240AUD you can get a set of three independent auto tubes which will do the job just as well; eg the Kenko DG AF tubes see - http://www.intro2020.co.uk/pages/kenko2.htm and be far more versatile, since you can use the tubes in any combination. Also if you buy the DG tubes they will be foreward compatible should you wish to go digital and/or AF.

I have happily used the older Teleplus (now Kenko) auto tubes on just the set up you suggest for many years; ie F4, 55mm micro, Tamron 90mm macro, 105 micro - also with FE, FM etc. I'm about to put these up on ebay and update to the DG version myself, having gone fully digital now.

Just two BTW:1) you may not be able to get Exact 1/1 reproduction - but you will be very close either over or under. 2) The other thing would be to avoid cheap tubes which are not designated as 'auto', these would just be straight tubes with no linkage.

Regards, Nick.

I updated from D70+18-70, to the D80+18-135. Within a week I sold on the 18-135 on ebay!! The 18-135 was a bit of plastic junk in my humble opinion! As others have said go with the 18-70 which is a far better quality lens, especially if it also fits your lens line-up better. The D80 is freely available in kit form with the 18-70 in the UK at about ?60 ($115) less than the 135 version; can you shop around?

Thanks guys, wow you folks get spoiled on that side of the pond - high street price on Duracel/Panasonic etc here is 6.99gbp each - thats $27 for two! I can get a charger and 2 rechargables on ebay for the same price; but I need to know if i'd be courting trouble using them in the speedlights.

I'd still appreciate input from anyone who has tried the rechargables.

Does anyone know if it is OK to use rechargeable (RCR123) batteries in the

SB-R200s as opposed to the throwaway CR123s?

Also any info about battery life would be useful; eg how many full power flashes

can one expect from a new CR123.

I'm waiting on delivery of the R1 kit, hopefully in the next few days, Nikon UK

allowing! and will be using with a D80 + Micro 105VR.

Thanks.<div></div>

I have had this lens for a year or so. (used on D70 and D80)

Optically I have found it just fine.

Focus can be slow ie it searches. I tend to shoot drab birds against drab mudflats in poor UK light!! Fine under better conditions.

One thing to be aware of - this lens suffers from 'zoom creep' if you carry it over your shoulder on a monopod/tripod as I do it will extend itself with a fair old 'clunk'! I've made a gismo to stop this with a hook and elastic band attached to the tripod collar - but not ideal.

For the price I'd say it is a great lens though.

But I'm saving up for the Nikon VR version!.

Hope this helps.

Nick.

I'm using the SanDisc Extreem111 on a D80 - so fast it never fills the buffer shooting JPEG L,F. Recommended.

Check out the prices at Amazon (1 gig about ?17 last time I looked).

Simon.

Thanks for this info - I am on the verge of buying the Nikon R1 flash kit. Checked the 2U site and incredibly they do it for less than the cheapest Hong Kong price, and without the risk of getting caught for import duty/VAT!

A word of warning to other UK buyers about a Jessops competitor - I purchased a D80 kit from Cecil Jacobs just before Xmas. It was clearly advertised on-line as including a 'free 512mb sd card' - arrived with no card; despite many emails and sending them a copy of their ad, I've had no reply at all - totally blanked. I'm now referring it to trading standards.

Uk buyers - AVOID CECIL JACOBS!!

Re High Street/internet price matching, my local independent photo store (yes there are one or two left) always do their best to match genuine prices - if they can get close I would always buy from them.

Guess I'm biased -'cos I choose to live here - but North Devon has it all! From the wilds of Exmoor's bleak tops and magical coombes (Lorna Doone country), rocky coves/beaches of all descriptions, sheer cliffs falling straight into the sea, the Sahara landscape of Braunton Burrows sand-dunes, great sandy beaches (Saunton Sands, Croyde, Woolacombe), to the Taw and Torridge estuaries etc. We also have the traffic chaos of Barnstaple - ah well!!

Here are a few of my favourites which would fit with your "Rockscape" requirements.

North of Croyde (mentioned by someone else) is Woolacombe, renowned for it's sandy beach - but walk northwards towards Mortehoe/Morte Point and you will find all sorts of formations - best avoided mid-summer unless you like crowds though.

To the other extreme, and if you are fighting fit, try parking at County Gate NT car park - on the A39 coast road - and take the path down through the Glenthorne estate; eventually you get to a very private boulder strewn beach - usually totally deserted.

Also check out Ilfracombe - access the rocky beaches from 'The Torrs'.

From Clovelly to Hartland Point (best at low tide).

And that then leads you down the rocky North Cornish coast.

If all this is not enough, then there is always the magic of Lundy Island; but that's another story.

N. Devon may be out of your 'day-trip' reach - but well worth it if you have some time to spend.

Cheers, Nick.

Thanks for your help folks - esp link to kenrockwell - very informative.

Can anyone please explain the difference(s) between A1 and A1S lenses.

I have a 105mm f2.8 micro, also a 55mm f2.8 micro - I think the 55mm is A1S but

not sure about the 105mm?

Many thanks.