Hi jmd: Welcome to the forum. The lens is considered a kit lens and I'd say $195 is to much to pay I purchased mine used for $100 on Amazon. I rarely use it, let me recommend this website which covers almost every Canon lens. It is easy to follow and understand and breaks lenses down to quality and usage. Hope this helps. http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html

Hi hangman45: Oh Lordy does this scenario bring back memories. Many years ago when the ex wife and I were first married and she was pregnant with our first so. We were living in a small duplex the bathroom was so tiny she had to lift her tummy to get over the sink to get to either the toilet or the shower. I heard this screaming coming from the bathroom. I rushed to the door as she was trying to get away from the huge spider. Yelling at me to kill the thing. Me being young and a bit of a smart a** I decided to shoot the thing not with a camera but with my air pistol. . I proceeded it crawl under the sink and corner the spider, with the wife looking over my shoulder I shot the thing. Well spiders don't like being shot with air pistols. The pressure of the air launched the spider into the air over my back to land.... Yep right on the wife.... I kinda wonder from time to time if things like that might not be one of the reasons why we aren't still together... I'll have to ask when I see her if a week or so....lol. Yeah were still friends.... Not married for years now, but still friends.

Hi Bosik: It's been over 40 years since I drove that stretch of Hwy and was pulling from memory. Thanks for refreshing things forgotten. I was pretty certain 101 made it all the way to Santa Barbara but wasn't certain where State Hwy 1 came in. Just like I said 29 mile drive in Monterey when it should have been 17 mile drive at Pebble Beach... I don't exactly remember where Monterey and Pebble Beach are in relation to one another. Let alone how many miles the drive is/was. Again 40 years leaves a lot of holes in the memory banks.

Hi rsnoeylink: WOW!! Where to start... I would try driving the entire length of Hwy 101. The road is full of amazing photo opportunities. There are just to many to even begin to cover them all. Starting at the north end of the Olympic Peninsula there is the wild life refuge outside Squiem, The Sole Duc Hot springs, If you're into Twilight the series the town of Forks, and one of my favorite spots Kalaloch, also Ruby beach, these are all on the west side of the 101 Olympic peninsula loop. Then there is Aberdeen and Hoquiam and lots of things before them along the road. A side trip might include West Port, Continuing south on 101 There are dozens of coastal towns, lighthouses, commercial gardens, Cannon Beach in OR and the Tillamook cheese factory. There is an old fortification left over from WWII the Sand Dunes in Florence OR. On a side trip the Winchester House and in San Francisco Fisherman's Warf could include a trip to Alcatraz. Further south is Big Sur and in Monterey catch the 29 mile drive. Some where below Santa Barbara Hwy 101 becomes Hwy 1. So much to do Alavera St and the mission, China Town, La Brea Tar Pits, Long Beach has the Queen Mary a boat trip to Catalina Island, Not to mention Knott's Berry Farm, There are old missions all along the Camino Real hwy. I know I haven't even scratched the surface of what there is to do along with the many opportunities for photography. Do some research and enjoy your road trip.

Hi zuzanne: Besides Amazon,Adorama is one of the top three on line camera stores I learned about through the forum. The other two are B&H and KEH. I have also seen Cameta mentioned more than a few times. All of them seem to offer quality service and reasonable pricing. Personally I have purchased used lenses through both Amazon and KEH. When I mistakenly ordered the wrong lens shade for my 70-200 mm "L" series lens KEH quickly sent my the correct one, and took back the wrong one for a credit. I would investigate all of them for the best price then go with the best valued one you can afford. I know KEH offers a wide range and rating on their used lenses. Hope this helps some.

Hi Hangtowngal: Welcome to the forum. I do believe many of us here at the HOG are photography nuts, so you'll fit in well. You speak of genealogy and how many family in your tree. My sister has the passion in our family, probably because of the family stories told by our mother when we were kids. On her side of the family we have a very rich heritage in the California area. My great, great grand father on her mothers side was a wagon master, that was actually part of the wagon train that broke off from the Donner party, a surveyor, my great grandfather was a teacher and state legislator. On my fathers side, my first ancestor was banished to America by the crown because of his religion. He and his close friend were granted the area we now call New Jersey, and settled in Somerset. She has had a great time separating truth from fiction. More power to you both.

Correction on this post should read 5D Mark II.. Asleep at the shutter button, I suppose.

Hi larrycumba: Sorry about that I didn't catch my error until you mentioned it, that should read 5D Mark II . I must have been more tired than I thought.

Hi again murm: You got some really great pictures posted there. I loved the ghost bat eating the chick and the python just finishing lunch. I think the timing for those two photos is nothing short of amazing.

Hi again murm: I actually prefer manual focus especially when it comes to macro photography.

Hi robartphoto: I believe the most highly recommended tripod I have read about here at the UHH is the Bogen/ Manfrotto tripod with a ball head. As mentioned before it needs to be heavy duty enough to hold your camera and lens. I would also add a graphite model is preferred, yes they aren't cheap. Hope this helps.

Hi murm: I have the Yongnuo MR-58 LED Macro ring flash. To a point I like it, there are some interesting features with this unit beside the seven levels of lighting it is also capable of a right side left side flash and continuous light mode as well. Note that the sync speed of some combinations of camera and flash may be lower. I've not tried to use nor do I believe it has TTL capabilities. One other point is the manual for this unit is actually written in understandable English. I'd recommend the Yougnuo MR-58 Macro ring flash. Enjoy !!

Hi Horseart: You always post such interesting photos. In answer to your question frogs raised in captivity tend to live four to fifteen years and there are some European toads that live up to forty years. Because they are so difficult track in the wild they aren't certain of how long their life span lasts.

Hi olcoach: I don't know if this applies to 7D & 40D's but on my 7D Mark II in order for auto focus to engage the shutter button had to be pressed half way down. Only then will auto focus work. I'm looking forward, to seeing macro posts taken with a 100 mm "L" series lens.

Hi again tainkc: Point well made and taken... Good for practice as long as something is learned, and improvements made. Thanks for your thoughtful in put.