I'm on my fourth and fifth Nikon batteries for my D 200. I still have the original (still working) batteries from my D 100 & D 70, but the newer version that works with the power gauge on the D 200 quit working after a few years. (I suspect it is the power gauge capability that is the culprit.) When shooting for clients (I now only shoot for myself) I always have at least three batteries ready to go! Going back to the original question, whether to use OE batteries, I would be very reluctant to use third party batteries if I was carrying any less than three fully charged batteries (i.e., at least two spares)!

Been shooting Nikons for a quarter century. Before that Olympus. Sent in an Olympus body and they were extremely nice, but the camera was beyond repair. Sent in two Nikon bodies, a lens and flash for repair. Excellent work but I paid for excellent work. Also had two non-manufacturer shop repairs with mixed results. I use my equipment hard and I need to be able to get the best possible service on it. Therefor, I buy only from authorized dealers - NO Grey Market.

I have shot any number of high school and college stage productions! If possible, shoot the dress rehearsal. You will be able to move around, maybe use flash (stage lighting can be near impossible), get close, in the wings, et al!

Gene51, you are a bore sir! You have stolen all the joy out of participating in this forum.

Well done, Rongnongno!

Correct! But Mr. Cooper does not have the right to use that photo in an advertisement without the permission of all identifiable persons in that photo. Reproduction as a news item falls under the First Amendment.

Regarding Warranty Service, nearly all high end complex products and all camera manufacturers have a similar policy regarding warranties and if purchased "Grey Market", the US subsidiary will not honor the warranty. Many, noteably Nikon, will not provide any manufacturers repair service on Grey Market equipment. Nikon also often requires proof of purchase from an authorized dealer (save warranty cards and store receipts) before performing any repairs. I have had a number of cameras, lenses and flashes repaired by Nikon, all done excellently, but only on official US purchased equipment with documentation.

I have been told that there was a federal court case ruling that required Nikon USA to honor International Warranties, but that you had to threaten legal action and cite the exact ruling. I have not been able to find any reference to that ruling. I only buy non-grey market equipment from authorized dealers because I need to be able to get my equipment serviced.

I did rename the images to retain order. As I remember, that didn't work either! Finally solved my dilemma by retiring as WebMaster - let somebody else struggle with it.

I had a problem uploading a slide show to a website (on the GoDaddy platform). I could not get the slides to display on the website in the order I wanted them - the software, one of the software packages, reordered them in a manner unintelligible to me. Very disconcerting when you are trying to tell a story. I assumed it was the GoDaddy import software (they redo it regularly without notice or explanation, requiring the webmaster to figure it out on the fly). But maybe it was Picasa as I had just replaced my computer and this was a new download of the Picasa software.

We must remember that tripods can cause damage. Most tripod feet have spikes which can be extended or retracted which may harm the surface they are on. The photographer should always get permission to set up his tripod anywhere indoors or on private property, and any other time where it might appear it could do damage or be in anyone's way. In the case of oft photographed spaces, think in terms of thousands of photographers and their tripods. In many cases, because you were nice enough to ask, and you explained that the destructive spikes are retracted, they will allow you to use it. If not, put it away.

Shooting Ektachrome, I would guess you haven't been spending hours & hours in a darkroom making prints, dodging & burning, et al. Then you probably don't want to spend hours and hours hunched over a computer doing post processing! If my assumptions are correct, go simple - you need something to be able to do your own adjustments, particularly if you'll be shooting raw (which you will at least try out), but you don't want to get all bogged down in a computer program with a steep learning curve (read Photoshop). On the other hand, if you do enjoy long hours in a darkroom, jump right in, loads of fun, and it doesn't smell nearly as bad!

I shot with and without a ballhead. As, while shooting, I always had hold of the camera so it couldn't flop over, shooting with the monoball not snugged up was never a problem (but you have to remember to tighten it down before tossing the monopod over your shoulder, and walking away). I preferred attaching the tripod collar directly and rigidly to the top of the monopod (Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 particularly adopted to this method). Shooting sports this way, everything is very nearly on a level plane, so tilting up or down is seldom an issue.

Your dancers are in motion so it could be shutter lag (I have no experience with your particular camera - today's DSLR's are much better than when I made the jump to digital), but it could be focus. If the dancers are moving faster than the auto focus can react, then it can prevent the shutter from releasing. Check your manual and settings, it's probably very easy to get around this.

Shot many many sports events with my 70-200 lens mounted directly on my monopod via its rotating lens mount. By not tightening the ring all the way down, I could go from landscape to portrait instantly. Unlike a tripod, I found I never made a completely rigid connection to the monopod, even with a ball head, your hand is always in contact with the support and the camera - you, the ballhead or lens ring, and the monopod act as a complimentary support system!

I also used my monopod for support shooting weddings with my RB67 (dubbed by a friend as my "Boat Anchor" - trust me you don't want carry that system around all day without a support). Here the connection between the pod and camera was rigid. The RB's back carrying the film rotates from horizontal to vertical, so you don't need that adjustment in your support system.

It's a Vignetter! Quite popular with wedding & portrait photographers eons ago. I seem to remember it being pronounced Vi-Nay-er or Vee-nay-er (I am totally unable to speak French). They're used to create a darkened "frame" as a part of the photo. Many shapes were used, but hearts were popular around Valentines.