I have a Sony A99 and never had a problem with sweep panorama. You know, you can set panorama in 4 different directions. (up, down, sweep right, sweep left) All I do is look through the eyepiece in the back and it shows an arrow, this arrow indicates which way to pan the camera when you push the shutter button. After you push the shutter button, you start to sweep your camera like you were in the middle of a round tub and you are taking a picture of the wall of the tub, you have to turn the lens, pivot if you will, not too fast, not too slow. The major difference between the Sony A99 and other Sony's is that you can hear the camera making a series of photo's, you can't stop your panning until you hear the camera stop taking photo's) I guess I am having trouble with your post because I showed this to my charming, beautiful 8 year old grand daughter last month and she did it correctly the first time.

Right now on E-bay Nikon D-7000 bodies are going for around $500.00 in Mint condition in box, you can get a 18-200 VRII Nikon in Mint for under $500.00. The Nikon D-7000 has a built in flash so buy Mint, in the box on both items for less than $1000.00 and you can always build on this or sell it in a year for about the same price. Please make sure camera comes with instruction manual, they made a good one for that camera. On the lens make sure you get a VRII version.

You call your self a professional. Then act like one!!!!!!!!!! A professional does not ask others to help him out. They act, out of experience, dedication and professionalism. They do not run to a web site and hang out their laundry. Sir, you are no professional.

Three out of how many cars???????????

I shoot the Nikon 24-120 off my Nikon D800. My brother used it to photograph my son's wedding last fall. I took over after the wedding. This lens took one of the sharpest pictures I have ever taken of my son and his wife. I could have blown it up to a 16X24 without trouble. I have always used Nikon glass. Owned a sigma once, resale was not good. Nikon used sell higher because the quality is better. Nikon is one of the few companies that grind their own glass. Nikon is first a scientific instrument company and second a photography company. Can sigma say the same. When NASA needed a accurate rangefinder in space, it was a Nikon. First camera in space, Nikon and Hasselblad. Sigma has yet to achieve this distinction. I am not knocking Sigma here, just giving out some useful information. You get what you pay for, go Nikon and you will be happy.

Ditto, meter off a gray card.

Nikon D750 kit including 24-120 lens at a great price from B&H.

The review of this flash is not favorable.

This flash requires an adapter to work on the A77II

I use the Sony HLV-F60M flash. If you want higher shutter speeds look to the manual. It will take you step by step. The flash has an easy power adjustment I use all the time for sunset portraits. Great flash, not cheap, but then again, nothing well made is cheap.

Reminds me of the time I just got my new F2 with 105 2.5 lens. My wife was carrying the camera when she slipped on a rocky surface and fell. She was fine but I made the big mistake of looking at the camera first. Bad move I never repeated again and glad to report we are still happily married 45 years later.

collage

BARD, NYC

I shoot the Sony A77II with quality Minolta glass. Never had the problems you have had. But, as you know, with glass you get what you pay for.

I have this camera, the Sony DSC-HX400V. Very happy with the results. This picture was taken at 1200mm hand held. The Kestrel was about 85 yards away. This was the actual crop.

American Kestrel