5-Dogs, I agree with you and I agree with myself. What I was saying regarding knowing where the controls are makes sense, we do not have to fumble for the shots. My first shots were ugh out of focus, lens defective ???? no, the manual/auto focus switch was in manual. aaah, sharp after that.

BUT, I agree with you, setting on Auto can be good to get the ooos and aaaas of the cameras power quickly...

ALSO, I agree with you that the masters are good training, if we analyze the light patterns, camera angles, and composition. Old b/w movies were fantastic learning tools of lighting and the emotional effects of light. Tracy in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, from angelic to demonic with the change of light and no change of expression or camera position. Also the angles of shooting the individual is often masterful. Indeed these were the masters of their art-form both the directors and very much so the innovative camera men who did many mechanical and lens/filter modifications. The history is fascinating. Moving pictures or stills, both great teaching tools.

Just ordered a book 360 pages on the Sony alpha 55/33/35. ( an effective sleep medication I expect, zzzz ) Several revelations today, went thru EBay listing of Thousands of lenses for Minolta AF. I have what I need except for perhaps a wide angle, but for now $ say no. Wrist was already tired from the computer and then I was showing a neighbor the camera after using the macro portion of the 28-85mm (x 1.5 factor for sensor size vs 35mm film size) Taking macro is not easy like my Panasonic TZ-3 P&S ,,, Auto focus?

After chatting with the interested (?) lady, I discovered just how heavy the camera and lens system was feeling !!! 497 g lens and 544 g camera body. That is a total of 2.29 pounds!! That is a lot of weight!! to carry for a long period as our mature joints mature further, sad to say!

The Panasonic TZ3 weights 262 grams a little over half pound - - small and always with me. I am at this moment rethinking SLR. Perhaps in the morning I will go a-shooten and feel different. I'll put on the 50mm (75mm).

Comments? Please? Don d/p

Hello PokerInsider. I just got my Canon T2i which was a big move up from my Sony point and shot. I've only had it for several days, so I googled Canon Rebel EOS T2i tutorials and some good tutorials came up and you can watch them over and over. Its much better than trying to read the manual. It seem like with the Canon manual the more you read the more you have to read. So the tutorials are helping me to get up and running a little faster, but there is still going to be a long learning cruve. Good luck and happy photograhy.