Sounds like you’re not in a big rush so I’d keep my eyes open for a used Bogen 3001. It may be just a tad short, although that really depends on the head you use, and isn't intended for heavy gear. However, they’re common on eBay, reasonably sturdy, are frequently offered with a pan head (like a 3030 or 3025) and often in a $50-$100 price range. Sorry but you’ll probably have to buy the bag separately :)

Here’s a link to a discussion on another forum that may be of some interest, especially the post by Steven Tribe http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?105433-Uv-glue-for-lens-repair and a couple of others that touch on the general subject: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?25537-Separating-Lens-Elements-Problem and http://www.apug.org/forums/forum147/39013-seperating-lens-elements-problem.html

Fotodiox markets hood/filter adapters for several different bridge cameras called Digital Tube Kits http://stores.ebay.ca/Fotodiox/Digital-Tube-Kit-/_i.html?_fsub=9&_sid=1157835&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322 .

LOL ... you too?

If you think about it, there’s nothing really to learn. After all, you’re just cutting a uniform window in a piece of cardboard so I think the decision is what and how much you want to invest upfront in the proper tools.

My guess is that a decent freehand cutter like a Dexter and a good, metal T-square -- the minimal gear required for any hope of success -- could well end up costing about as much as a lower priced Logan. Free handing it, however, is a royal pain in the butt so I have no hesitation in joining the chorus of Loganites. I’ve been using a “no frills” (a 301-1 type) Logan for years.

I've used both. Am very satisfied with both. And both have reasonable returns policies. I would simply go with the slightly less expensive copy.

The white dots, especially since they form very obvious concentric rings, is far more suggestive of some sort of (terminal :-( ) delamination problem with one of the internal elements rather fungus. It’s true that the latter can appear as tiny white spots at times but the pattern is invariably random -- the little buggers simply don’t organize themselves such a regular way.

Harvey,

Yes, the cherry blossom festival is a March/April event and the display along the tidal basin can be spectacular (and crowded); however, it’s true that early spring weather in DC, especially March, is always a bit dicey so May or June may be better bet weather-wise if you have some flexibility in scheduling.

Also, see if you can scare up a copy of John Healey’s book (Wiley) in a local library. It contains a lot of practical info about DC and surrounds, including such things as links to relevant web sites, camera use restrictions, if any; as well as recommendations re. gear (e.g. wide angle vs. normal lens), camera settings, best vantage point for shooting -- that sort of thing -- for various specific places of interest.

I have this Wein adapter for using a 283 with my Pentax-K20. It can be mounted directly on the camera’s hot shoe or you could use it remotely with a PC sync cord if that’s what you’re trying to do.

Got this a while back. Gave it quick test and it seems to work fine. I’m sure there are other similar gadgets out there as well.

Sure. (My eponymous avatar :) )

FYI, there is no medical office park around the corner from the Whitehouse. There are some references to a “1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 400, Washington DC 20004” address associated with “Overstock Digital” or “OverstockDigital.com” however, I don’t know where this info itself comes from since there is no mention of it on the OverstockDigital website that I can find.

In any event, even if valid, that PA Ave. address is one of several “virtual offices" in the Willard building that anyone can rent (e.g. http://www.davincivirtual.com/loc/us/district-of-columbia/washington-virtual-offices/facility-410 not this outfit’s physical location, wherever that may be :)

I wouldn’t worry about the “crop-at-the-knees” business that some others have mentioned. It’s not a big deal, and neither is the patch of blown out sky, for that matter.

I do think some enhancements are in order and here are three quickies you might consider (with a brief explanation using the simplest method in CS5.1, for what that may be worth).

(1) The blue cast to the gown and veil has to go :) so after selecting these items, I used Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation to dial back the saturation as well as adjust the hue, but only slightly.

(2) For the tux I used both Image > Adjustments > Exposure and > Brightness/Contrast to bring out some of the detail.

(3) Lastly, I think the tree line in the center far background and some boats have an annoying blue cast as well so once again I used > Hue/Saturation to fiddle with these a bit (see detail below).

Some of the background trees on the left have an “icky green” tint I might tone down, but anyway, I think it’s a pretty nice shot overall.

LOL

Yep, it’s the Chuckster, alright. (Explains a lot …)

:thumbup: check out -- http://tv.adobe.com/watch/the-complete-picture-with-julieanne-kost/quick-tip-how-to-draw-a-circle-around-an-object-in-photoshop/