Does anyone have current experience with this utility/supplier? ActiveX is risky and there is a charge (less than $2) for retrieving the shutter count.
Trip of a lifetime.
We saved up and went with Lindblad/National Geographic. Outstanding naturalists and accommodations. We went on the smaller ship - the Islander, which is a catamaran and has a little rougher ride. By Ecuadorean law a tour group must have 1 certified naturalist for each 16 tourists. Lindblad has two itineraries, which go roughly to the Eastern and Western islands. We went to the Eastern Islands. Very physically demanding, with all the hiking and kayaking, but worthwhile. I don't believe there is another place like the Galapagos in the world. The animals do not fear humans - even nesting birds. You have to keep a distance, but not very much and they don't run and hide.
By the way, you have to keep your distance, but the seals, and various birds (mockingbirds) aren't under any such rule and they are curious.
Thanks, I'll give 1 a try. I may have overdone it trying to back out changes that made autofocus work in ways I didn't intend. I've been shooting birds in flight over open water so the refocus issue may not have come up (or I assumed I made a mistake if it did).
Just started using BBF a few months ago as a result of advice in a Canon seminar.
The thumb positioning is pretty natural; it is taking me a while to remember to do it. The ability to recompose makes it worthwhile, but I discovered (the hard way) that here are a couple of settings in C.FN III on my 7D that can wreak havoc with autofocus:
#1 "AI Servo Tracking Sensitivity" [I set to between 0 and Fast]
#2 "AI Servo 1st/2nd img Priority" [I set it to zero]
#3 "AI Servo AF Tracking Priority" [I set it to zero]
Good advice above - check out bags at store. See which feel comfortable. And take your equipment to be sure it fits.
Most important: consider how fast you need to get to your camera. I shoot wildlife with an EOS 7D and a 100-400 lens and will frequently have a surprise opportunity while hiking (I prefer to stow my camera to keep my hands free). I have found that the top opening Tamrac 5770 Velocity10x Pro Sling Bag best meets my needs. In fact, none of the other bags I checked did. (Tamrac has smaller versions if you carry less equipment).
A few thoughts.
If you will be using the laptop for PP, RAM, main processor, and integrated graphics processor are the most important considerations. If you are like me, you will plug in a full-sized keyboard and (eventually) add a large, high resolution monitor ... so ensure the laptop can add both peripherals (most can). I'd buy the highest end Intel main processor I could (I5 or I7). Even if your software cannot take full advantage of it now, it eventually will. As far as graphics processing is concerned, you'll need to check out the laptop and display with your software.
Consider a solid state disk drive - for speed. Capacity is not as critical, assuming the laptop can also handle an external hard drive, which most can.
By the way, I carry an 11 inch Acer Aspire One laptop for backup storage and previewing on trips (compact, light, etc.). I still use a desktop for PP. The laptop plus the desktop cost less than the high end laptop, and I don't have to worry (too much) about damage or theft, and I can (theoretically) upgrade the desktop (graphics card, memory, motherboard, etc.).