Hi, I've been in Nuclear QA for some 38 years. Records storage has been one of our key cornerstones. Our records centers need dual storage in areas not affected by a single phenoma and a media that lasts 50 years. As we have transistioned from paper (been around 1000's of years) to electronic the most favored is the CD. Generally these are rated for 50 years. Hard drives have a 5 year warrantee, but the media may last 10 years (generally needs to be read to keep it fresh). But keep in mind that the ability to read them is part of storage. CD's (at 25 cents) have gone to DVD (50 cents) and now Blu-Ray ($1.00). Remember, you need both hardware and software to read them 50 years from now.

Been a user on Hedgehog for a while. I've owned a Canon L 85mm F1.2 lense on my Canon F1 - excellent lense, great for portraits as it almost has a plane of focus so things are blurred right behind what you focused on. I like to take pictures without using a flash, this let's you do that. One of the fastest lenses out there. Sharp as a tack as well. As for the II model, Canon says the autofocus alogrithim is updated for a faster, sharper focus. The L is used to describe the use of better, cleaner glass (Flouride) which let's more light through - to be faster. That is what my research has helped me understand. All things can be made better (and hopefully less expensive).