Living up here in Canada, I can tell you that any tripod that Black's sold as their "house brand" would not have been a high end unit.

It is likely a fairly entry level unit that is not overly sturdy for a heavier camera.

I think you linked to the wrong article Jerry.

That link is to a guy who is turning the iTunes terms of service into a graphic novel.

The reason for wanting the warranty card is to confirm that this is a North American version of the 5D Mark II. You want to make sure that you aren't buying a grey market version that may be difficult to get serviced by Canon.

The last comment about reversing your ABM pin # to alert police is quite laughable.

What if your pin is "3003" - try reversing that number and see what you get.

Hello all,

Had a full moon and a clear night last night that let me take this shot.

My first real attempt at a moon photo.

I have two systems: personal and work
I use Canon's Zoom Browser software to offload and rename files.
Work files get named by subject, date shot and a shot number
Personal files I file by year and month and then within the month I file by event (i.e. 07_July Family BBQ).
File names end up looking like "BBQ_20150705_0001"

Having a meal at the revolving restaurant at the CN Tower - is the best way to see the full panoramic view of the city and includes access to the observation level as well.
Casa Loma is a real life castle in the middle of Toronto that is well worth a visit.
The Toronto Zoo has a pair of Giant Pandas visiting from China - obviously something that is not readily available to see in most cities.
Obviously the falls themselves in Niagara are fantastic.
In Ottawa - if you visit the Parliament buildings at I believe they run a sound and light show every night - we quite enjoyed it when we were there.
The war museum in Ottawa is quite well done - a bit of a somber visit but very interesting to see - particularly Memorial Hall.

What you have to keep in mind is that the reported numbers are the Average Mean Time Before Failure - meaning approximately 1/2 of the shutters will crap out before 100,000 in this case and 1/2 of them will last longer.
Under any normal distribution you will have a select few that are at the extreme ranges of failing extremely early or continuing to work after well over double those exposures (like a car that runs for 600,000km).
I shoot dance competitions that are very shot intensive. I have used:
Canon 40D - rated for 100,000 shots replaced it at 105,000 and my daughter continues to use it (and get great shots with it)
Canon 7D - rated for 150,000 shots - currently sits at around 200,000 and is in my bag as my backup
Canon 7DII - rated for 200,000. I think I'm somewhere around 30-40,000 shots on it.

Even at my heavy shooting load, I find myself looking to upgrade for features rather than equipment failure.

As a casual shooter - don't worry about it and keep shooting.

Cheers

I've shot a variety of dance recital/showcases and I can tell you that the lighting on most stages varies considerably as you move around it.

If you're working with a set ISO, you will need to be adjusting one of the other numbers to get proper exposure.

I further the comments about learning photography in addition to considering good glass.

You certainly cannot go wrong with the 70-200 F/2.8 II from Canon - it is probably the best manufactured lens that Canon makes and you will use it for more than sports.

Keep in mind though - "the most important tool in taking great pictures is located 6" directly behind the viewfinder" - improve your shots by improving your knowledge.

Jerry,

Having owned both the original 7D and now using the 7D2, I can tell you that there is a world of difference in the available settings for the cameras.

Yes the basic layout is very similar but controls have moved and there are a wealth of more focusing options on the Mark II.

I shoot a lot of dance competitions in a similar situation. I use the 70-200, F2.8.
One thing to keep in mind - unless everyone is wearing white, you will want to underexpose by at least 1 stop to avoid blowing out faces.

I'm not sure if it applies when tethered but that would be a time when you could want to shoot without a card in as well. (Although I would still keep one in myself).

Another vote for the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island. The absolutely most picturesque part of the trail is the stretch between Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay. If you drive from the east side of the island to the west, you will have the water on your left and get a better ongoing view.
There are many marked spots to stop and take photos.

Also, a great area is to stop and hike the skyline trail in the Capel Breton Highlands National Park. The view at the end of the trail is well worth the hike.

My family is from Cheticamp and it is a very beautiful area. Try to give yourself a few days in the area - it is often cloudy and you really want to do the drive on a clear day.

I do agree with the previous posts about Peggy's Cove. The lighthouse and rocky shore are beautiful but it is very overrun with tourists.

If you go to Halifax, you may be lucky if the Bluenose II is at harbour.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I was saying "lower the boquet" all through the photos.
They were ecstatic with the photos. I actually stayed most of the night and got a lot of candids both during the receiving line and the dancing.
I was using two off camera speedlites with 36" umbrellas.