SchnauzerBoy

Welcome to DOL and to getting your beagle In answer to your questions, see below, but could have gone on for much longer answering them. 1. Pro Plan and Royal Canine 2. Chicken necks, Chicken Carcasses, Beef Bones, Lamb Offcuts, Lamb Shanks, whatever is going cheap at the supermarket. Eggs, yoghurt, sardines all factor now and again 3. Canex and Revolution 4. Busy Buddy toys, Tennis Balls, Kongs and a few other throw toys 5. Fetch, agility and any training with food. They play fight with each other and do lots of zoomies 6. Make sure you always spend at least 30 minutes a day just with your dog, on top of everything else, for walks, playing, grooming etc. If you don't have the time, don't get a dog.

Aubrey loves going through the tyre jump at Agility training in the evenings.... it is a white tyre and she has no problem. However, take her to the dog park where it is a hole in a black piece of wood at the same height, and she just wont do it. Looks completely different - but same command and same approach and she just wont go through it.

Thanks all... I am off at lunch time to pick up my new Sigma 18-50 EX DC f2.8 HSM. Read many reviews you guys have posted as well as external sites, and it seems that the Sigma and Tamron run quite close. However, the HSM with the Sigma seems to be a little faster than the Tamron system, and the sharpness / CA etc being better, it was an easy decision. Photos will be taken at the weekend The only 55-200 AF-S DX VR IF ED has been sold now... no use for it and I'm sure the 18-55 DX VR IF ED will be up for grabs in the not too distant future The pro lenses are here.... now all I need to do is work on composition and PP!

We own 2 of these little beauties. Tails in Australia tend not to be docked anymore, however this is still common place abroad (USA especially). There is a little bit of terrier in them, and in some classifications are classed with the terrier breed. They originally started out in Germany as ratters so will quite happily hunt around for them, and other little critters. They are also quite quick when they want to be, as well as very confident in their ability. They are quite a little guard dog and will notify you of presence, and are also very happy little things that can bark with excitement, or just to alert. Neither of ours are excessive barkers, but will bark to communicate if the above conditions are met. However, they are companion dogs as per the post, and after play time are quite happy to curl up on your lap or beside you.

Good luck... sounds like a great purchase and the 50mm 1.8 is a great start to your lens collection. You are right though, kit lenses are a good start, but nothing more... I'm sure you'll find yourself getting zoom lenses soon though, but a prime to start... wow!

I've heard mixed things about the 18-250 too, hence why I've gone for the 70-200 to cover that range. The Nikon 18-200 would be the only one I'd go for if I wanted an "all rounder" but that is still pretty slow and soft at the longer end. It is the lower zoom range that I am after now.... then if it I can get it past the OH, maybe a 1.4 50mm, but the SB-800 will probably come before that! Back to the 17-50 debate anyone?

What did you get? Am considering a monopod to go with my cheap(ish) tripod!

Edited as you've already discussed the lens!

I'd go into a camera shop and hand hold a variety of bodies until you find the ones that feel the most comfortable to you, be it Sony, Nikon, Canon etc. You can go anywhere from the D90 to the D300, and the 350D etc etc.... bodies are all over the shop now. However, for the type of photos you have listed, the important thing will be the lenses, so I'd concentrate on those more than the body. As I suggest, get the body that fits your comfort zone first, then read the reviews on those, then save up more and by the better lenses. For the sports / dog type shots, you'll need a fast lens... I just got the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 HSM for my camera, and those shots that I couldnt get with the kit 55-200 are now focused and sharp! This lens will also do great for some portrait work. For landscape you are looking at wider lenses, but as you'll have time to setup the shot, you can get away with a slower lens, and a tripod, so the kit lens can suffice here. For people, you'll also need a good f2.8 lens which is either 17-50 or 28-70 for the zoom. Most people here will also recommend the 50mm in the f1.8 or f1.4 format for good pictures whilst under low light, but as a prime, there is no light. Good luck with the hunt, and welcome to the very complex world of dSLR. Andrew

I have a D80 too.... so here is my advice. Format the card within the D80 so that it sets it up to write to it properly. You can then connect the D80 up to the computer using the USB cable and it should see the camera and access the folders beneath it. The 1.0K means you have over 1000 photos available to you, but less than 1100 photos (otherwise it would show 1.1K) This value won't change until you are down to 999 photos left, then you'll see it change each time you take a photo ;) Unless you plan on doing that many photos in a session, it is best for PP to keep to RAW format for better IQ. As a note, MSY are the best for the HDSC cards and Kingston brands are the best to stick to Enjoy your larger memory stick, and all those photos you can now take!

Have trawled through other forums including DSLRUsers, Nikonians etc, but thought I'd get a little advice from those on here who I know and have seen photos from. I'm upgrading my kit lenses for my D80 and have moved from the 55-200 AF-S kit lens to a fantastic Sigma 70-200 f2.8 HSM MACRO lens, which I love. The difficult decision is the 17-55 kit lens. The choice for my budget seems to be either the Sigma 17-50 EX DC Macro or the Tamron 18-50 XR IF. Does anyone have experience with either / both lenses? Thanks Andrew