MtnMan, I caught your last comment about "when CS6 no longer works (due to Adobe or Microsoft marketing strategies)". It would be my understanding that once any of us would have purchased CS5 or CS6, for example, we own the CD/DVD with the program on it, and it will continue to work (for a very long time) on our own computers. I'm much aware of Microsoft wanting future customers to "rent" OFFICE by making monthly payments for ""Cloud"" access. And Adobe seems well on its way to that marketing model.

Are you suggesting that Adobe will have the future (or current) ability to block us CS5 and CS6 users from continuing to use what is already on our machines?

I'm reading with great interest the comments about PS vs. LR. Kymarto, I think your use of PS is very similar to mine. I'm an avid user of PS, and have been for many years. Here's what I'd like to learn from all of you during this discussion: I will gladly spend hours on a single image, building layers to achieve that perfect capture. To work on a single image, what would I NOT be able to do in LR that I currently doing in PS?

Here's another "flash-back" thought. People are somewhat slow to accept change. Hanging onto "flash bulb" being one of them. But have you also noticed that the news media still use the phrase "caught on video tape", when virtually no one captures news reports on video tape anymore Maybe in five to ten years from now, people/news media will simply say "caught on video". But that day is not today.

I enjoy my 24-105 L on my Canon 5DII. With the full size sensor, I can always crop to a small area of the image with virtually no loss.

I have another thought to offer. In my world of photography, be it ever so small, I function on three Canon L-series lenses and one Canon non-L series (for macro). Only one of the three L-series lenses were brand new, my 24-105. I also wanted a 100-400 and also a 17-40, and I wanted them in the Canon L-series. But I'm a teacher and you know us teachers don't have deep pockets. So I talked to my favorite salesman at a local camera shop, one that has been in business for many years. I asked if he would keep an eye out for either and call me when one came in. Their store policy is (a) "no questions asked" if returned in 7 days, (b) full store credit if returned in 30 days.

My salesman told me that in his 97 years of business, far fewer problems show up in lenses when compared to camera bodies. So when I got the call about the 100-400, I bought it and then shot many many shots with it, to be sure it was good, It was. When I get his call about the 11-40, the lens was still in the box, and looked like it hadn't even be touched. Again I used it a great deal in the first 7 and 30 days. They are perfect.

I love buying online, and don't forget Amazon offers a lot too. But when it comes to a major purchase, I like my local brick-and-mortar, especially for buying a used lens.

Another consideration, call them, quiz them, and ask what ELSE they will insist you to purchase. I explored this only once, it was for an upper end camera body, and their price was about 40% lower than anyone. I called this "discount" dealer, and the story began with "oh, we don't have them in stock at this time", and it went downhill from there, to include that I must buy their camera batteries and more. Call them, quiz them.

Are you serious? I've been to Europe several times and will be going back each summer. I take my Canon 5DII, along with three L series lenses, and would never consider anything less. Sorry, no light-weight camera/lens combo is going to provide you what the 5Dii with L lenses.

I love the image of the 5D11 on the walker.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the responses about the L series lenses. I have two perspectives to add here.

First, with a friend I went to our St Louis Zoo. We stood side by side shooting exactly the same subject. Now, ignore the friend idea other than she had an L lens and I did not. So, every time I took a shot with my non-L lens, I took the next shot with her L Series Lens, framing the same shot. We did that for about ten shots around the zoo. Then I viewed these shots, side by side, on my iMac 27" screen. Saying absolutely nothing, I asked my best friend to look over my shoulder and tell me what difference he saw. In every single case, we pointed to the L Series shots and said they are definitely sharper. I already thought so, but I already knew which was shot with which lens. He had no idea why I was asking, so he was very objective about it. The L Series lens simply was markedly sharper. That was my convincing test that L Series lens are better.

Second. "Two Foot-itis". I'm told that in the buying-a-boat world, it seems that each year, boat owners decide the want a new boat, one that is two feet longer. "Men and boys, the price of their toys"! Maybe so, but I have replaced my share of lenses for ""better"" lenses. Not any more. I have three L Series lenses, ranging from 17mm up to 200mm. I also bought Canon's L Series 2x multiplier (about $300 I think), so I'm good to 4,000mm. My "Two Foot-itis" is now put to rest. I have no need or desire to buy another lens. I'm confident these three lenses will be with me for the rest of my life. So, it gives me peace of mind knowing I have Canon's best. I plan to shoot for the next 20 to 30 years. Spending zero dollars for new lenses makes this an very economical activity.

Thats my take on L Series lenses. On, two of these were purchased used from my local camera store. I love Amazon and their prices. But I have a wonderful rapport with the sales men. For two of the three lenses, the watched for the "trade up" deals with their customers. My newest 17 - 40 had every piece of paper and accessory with it and not a single mark of wear. Neither the salesman nor I could even detect it was not brand new, yet I saved big dollars.

So brick-and-morter camera stores for me, and L Series too.

A professor of physics, to include a course in physics of light, sound, and electricity. A number of my students are photography majors. It's nice seeing the physics "alive and doing well" in the world of photography.

That said, i'm a down to earth photographer when not in the classroom, and the St. Louis Zoo is a favorite place to shoot.

I look forward to dialoguing with many of you.

Bill