rubiton

Try walking around the cattle and horse areas of a Royal Show. in 2007 during EI I went had wandered around the other animals at the Royal since there were no horses. The cattle were often tied to a fence surrounding their prejudging area and the families would just wander up go inside and pat these huge cows. Parents would shove their kids in the cows face to pat it and they would also just reach out and touch the flanks, rear, etc. These animals are big and one kick could cause a lot of damage to a little kid. BUt no to the parents they were just big fluffy living toys for their kids to touch (note they didn't ask the handlers who were goin gback and forth prepping the animals). Then of course there are the nightmares around horses at the Royal - they wander through with strollers, walk up to horses without warning to have a photo taken, let their kids run up to horses tied up outside the boxes being made ready to go to the ring - its amazing in a world of OHS there are no restrictions onthe general public wandering around. AT least the dog pavilion gets a break at lunch and at least a small separation area from teh public (though I guess people let their kids go under the bar to 'pat the dogs' before going to pat the cows and horses).

What country was it filmed in?

Are these photos jpeg or raw? You should fit a lot of photos onto a CD even a large jpeg. However try a DVD I prefer DVD +r for my photos but they are getting harder to find. Stick with the big name brands too (some mention for archival storage on the packaging). But then I use DVD-R for video but even these are hard to find with jewel cases (yes I tried the spindle idea but couldnt obtain the jewel cases!).

Try to have the dog NOT looking directly at the lens if using the little flash on the camera (if you are using a big flash in the hot show the eye tends not to happen). If the dog is not looking at the flash/lens its less likely to reflect back (the red/green eyes is the light reflecting from inside the eyeball back to the lens if that makes sense).

Im shocking I was happily using the camera with the diopter out for sometime (fixed by another photographer) I really was just pointing the 40D and pressing the button and they were in focus once on the computer!! Diopter fixed and amazing how much better it looked through the viewfinder. Unless you are using manual focus the cameras will work fine regardless of your eyesight - even with manual if on the one shot setting (canon) it will beep and have the red square come up when in focus.

Id suggest Photoshop Elements - cheaper than the full version and probably got everything you would need as a beginner in editing pics. ANother that have used and seen recommended is Paintshop Pro.

Yes canon repairs take a while - my wonderful camera went 31 March and got the quote last week. Just waiting to pick it up but easily 5 or 6 weeks now.

What about the Canon powershot SX1 or SX20 IS - bit chunkier than the SX210 IS (have seen some good concert pics from a S5 which seems to be this series taken without using the flash )

Can't risk the 350D with little lens (though it would go very well)as its still fairly bulky and looks 'professional' need a small point and shoot (no thinking just turn on and go) as a 'handbag camera (good term). Also needs to be easy as in turn on and press button for flash photo if I ever need to be in a photo and have someone else take it (has happened a couple of times way back with my little film camera - it was a Kodak and had it from around 1989 til Bryan Adams in about 2005/06 whenever he last toured it took wonderful pics for a little film camera). The specs on the Canon above seem good but wondered if any one had actually tried using it - especially as most no longer seem to have a 'viewfinder' you just use the screen which is really weird to those who are used to the DSLRs.

Thanks for the link Huga - was talking to someone at work today who was asking about Lumix cameras but didnt have an example (said Id heard they were pretty good but didn't know mcuh more). My big cameras are canon and the canon point and shoots Ive seen in the past have had glowing reports from non photographer family & friends using them but I assume the one Ive asked about is fairly new on the market.

Try telling that to 3/4 of the audience (have a look at youtube geez I just want a few pics not a documentary that some have done) - anyway you never know when you might need a little point and shoot camera. The tickets now say words like 'may not be permitted' not 'are not' since some bands wouldn't care especially the ones who happily pose anyway for fans. These days they tend to crack down on the 'professional type cameras' at least that was at Bryan Adams from various reports but little ones not so much of a problem

Canon SX 210 IS Need a little point and shoot camera to take to concerts (and anything else where the big cameras would not be appropriate) as I couldn't take anything with me to Spandau Ballet as I would have been too far away to get anything but the group bow at the end and perhaps one of two other shots when the odd band member came up on the edge there (should have got the phone out for that - thought about it but didnt unfortunately) even though I was right at the end of the first raised area. My old one was from 2002 and has issues with battery life now and the other little one would have had the same problems. So having had a quick look at the canon site found the one above that has a good zoom apparently - but does anyone have one and is it easy to just turn on and take pics rather than doing the photographic setting thing?

NOt surprising given the impulse buys from pet shops that never get trained and then get dumped on shelters and are found to have screwed up temperaments. Or the ones that never get trained get treated like breathing soft toys eventually get sick of it and nip then instantly taken to the vet to be put down because they 'turned'.

Dont see 'time out' would work on dogs but sounds like it needs discipline the learn the correct behaviour and what is not acceptable.

BUt the file sizes are also smaller with the older camera (no I dont use raw - from old school where photographers get it right on the day or discard and dont need to print the size of a house so jpeg is fine) . The 2gb card lasted all day at the showjumping but then I got one shot per jump not the usual take off mid air and perhaps landing the bigger cameras handle. The 350D is nearly 5 years old so that way behind even the 1000D technology wise but its all ive got til the 40D returns and the 50D get fixed.

It went 'OMG NO NO TOO MUCH SPACE!!!' - it can only count to 999 images and seems 4gb has space for more with the 350D file size. No matter 2gb suits it fine and I heard back my 40D may be back in few weeks (hopefully). I miss the 60 pic buffer, teh 6.5 fps, the low light capability though the 350D is trying very hard and did go ok at the showjumping last week.

With IS - yes it is in the lens but you can turn it off. At the moment I have mine off since I can hold the camera steady enough for 1/1000th when panning with horses going by (and I dont want to overtax the little 350D - it nearly freaked with the 4gb card I briefly had in it before realising it was too big and quick swtcih back to the 2gb)

Agree with Cordelia - the 1000D or 500/550D would be the way to learn and nowhere near the expense of the professional ones. Due to one defective new camera and one 40D that went for repairs I only have a 350D left for taking pics of horse sports. It got the job done today - didnt have the luxury of the extra features the 40/50D range do but did everything someone learning as a hobby could want (eg are you going to go out in dark stormy weather to take pics? DO you need 6.5 frames per second instead of 3 frames per second? DO you need file sizes that enable you to print jpegs the size of a wall? DO you need a camera that is weatherproofed - ie do you take cameras out in the rain? If not the cheaper cameras are all you really need to learn. Yes the four things mentioned are the main things I have noticed using the 350D instead of the 40D.

I got a Lowerpro one and it has its own rain cover. The rain cover works really well as I was out in the start of the mega storm in Melbourne over the March long weekend (up to the marble hail - they hurt hitting legs - and then had to go through the steady rain). The rain cover got wet but the bag and everythign inside was nice and dry - was great getting to the airport and changing from wet poncho etc to nice dry (and warm) vest that had been in the bag with the second camera. And the rain cover is designed so you can still open the bag as needed with it on.

Thats interesting SSM. Family had lab x died just before 14 from cancer, Afghan that was pts at 14 due to a number of issues - both had dry food meaty bites, pal and table scraps. Golden Retriever lived til 17 when his back legs went fed same as above though as an older dog he also had pasta made up for him. Our dog gets dry food and tinned food. Rarely table scraps, no longer bones and isnt permitted half the stuff that many feed raw due to her gastro a couple of years back (it took many months to get her back on her normal food). Was surprised at some of the things that the vet said not to give her due to the fat content and generally does nothing for them. All dogs were allowed inside and all were exercised most days (well ok the afghan wasnt but had no recall, no roadsense and was happy sleeping on the bean bag as much as possible) and all had yearly vaccination. Agree that there is more to diet to longevity of dogs.

My dog is older now and certainly CANNOT take knocks and being bounced off by a dog of similar size. Our local park is just a park but dogs are permitted offlead if under control. Young dogs are most likely to come bouncing up but dog law says you dont take down another dog and they still stop to sniff (even if its the in your face type of greeting) if the owner knows their dog is too bouncey and doesnt know how to interact they should be puttin git back on the lead when others appear or ensuring a proper introduction. If you turn around and say little dogs can have a park here and big dogs there you will have owners of the opposite sized dogs unhappy as their preferred park is banned for them to use (eg if its empty technically they cannot use it if their dog is the wrong size).

Thank you for the clarification jules P. More than two have died - two vets have died, another bloke was infected and died a year or two later, Vic Rail died after tending his horses way back the first time the disease outbreak was recognised. I think there was another that was infected and died later but cant remember further details. Their droppings end up in feed and eaten by the horse and its believed from that horse gets sick and it trasmits to humans if protocols arent followed (or its not recognised in time). BUt as mentioned they dont know more about it or if it can be transmitted by other animals not just horses or if there is the possiblity for it to mutate so it can come straight from bats to humans (this is where the fear lies in particular). Would cut down any overhanging branches and keep all animals well clear of anywhere bats were currently or had been.

Technically he could be right BUT from what I read its seems there are new vaccinations from the drug companies that are expected to last the 3 years (well the info posted on the email forum at work seemed to be from a drug co rep). So guess it depends on what vaccine is used and of course the individual immune system of the dog but comments either way never seem to add the extra information. Bit like the rspca planned laws of ever dog owner must walk their dog every day - yes true good idea BUT there are exceptions and circumstances that make a law like that just not workable.

Once they work it out dogs understand reflections such as in mirrors. They know two of you dont exist especially when the second one appears on a flat wall - but they do have to learn since mirrors are something they arent going to come across too often.

The Hendra virus is Lyssavirus (cant remember how to spell it) and its linked/related to rabies. If a horse is infected its dead (since if it survives DPI have it destroyed anyway) - if a human exposed to mucus etc from teh horse they are at high risk of dying from it too. JulesP has said it no recorded cases but its worrying when people mention the bats starting to move south. And they wont test colonies for it because they are protected species even the ones that are in built up areas.