taken at 10:41 New Zealand time

10:30 NZ time just coming on to the disc at 5:30 on a clock dial

Sugar, just started raining and the sun has come out at the same time. Still 20mins until it starts. Here in New Zealand transition will take all day so maybe we will get a break in the clouds some time during the day. Just 10am at present and will take almost 6 hours

just smoked my UV filter, got about 70% cloud cover at the moment but transition will not start at least for another half hour but am setting up the camera and a TV monitor. will also put the card into my laptop and view the pics on a HD monitor shooting with a D5100 will post if I get anything half decent

Found a cable to connect D5100 to a standard definition TV which works OK when liveview selected on camera. Needs a mini-pin HDMI cable to connect to an HD TV. I think to use the USB computer cable some extra programe called Camera Control Pro 2 is required

How can I set up liveview to be viewed on a laptop or a TV instead of the screen on a D5100?

Just click on it

For a top-of-the-line battery grip go to:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OSTVSA/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=1278548962&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B004S958VU&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0ZZ80RF4PN93596FTP90
Copy and paste this into your browser

I have a D5100 and it has has front and rear infra-red sensors I also bought a battery grip with a remote control which works via the camera's sensors as well as the grip sensor, so no need to install the lead that connects the grip to the camera to use the remote control. The cable is needed to make use of the shutter button on the grip. I personally don't bother with it. The big advantage of the grip is extra battery power and being able to change batteries without removing the camera from a tripod

Buy a battery grip which also incorporates an infra-red remote control. The only limitation is that the single sensor is situated on the front of the grip. Still better than none at all.

Try taking a photo of the sun's reflection in a bowl-full of water.

The last time I viewed an eclipse I made a viewer using smoked glass. Not the commercial stuff as found in cars etc but by using the smoke from a candle to deposit a layer of carbon on a sheet of glass and sealing it in with another piece of glass. For my camera I have got a cheap UV filter which I am going to smoke. Will test it out before the day.

Editing without Photoshop is easy. It gets difficult and complicated editing with Photoshop I would imagine, certainly for me. I still use the software that came with my Nikon Coolpix 4500. There is also Picasa3. Haven't tried the software that came with my D5100 yet

get a D5100, set on tripod, swivel screen to face where you will be, get a remote control (get a cheap battery grip with its own remote which should also operate the camera sensors). Set the shutter release to 2sec remote. Set camera to live view. Compose your shot by looking at the screen. Operate the remote control and smile and wait. No probs.

Just purchased a D5100 as an upgrade from a D40X so a big improvement. The swivel screen is brilliant for self-portaits, better than the more expensive D7000 as its screen does not swivel. And who wants 39 focal points on the D7000 as apposed to the 11 on the D5100. For moving objects like birds set the mode dial to sport and the focus to single point, set the shutter release to continuous. Track a bird with the shutter half depressed and the camera will keep it in focus. Press the shutter button and keep tracking the bird. With practice you should get good shots. You may also be able to set the metering to centre spot or centre-weighted. To further highlight and enhance the subject make use of the in-camera D-lighting. All of this may not be perfect as I am still learning but practice helps. Talking to your local photography shop expert also helps.

I have a D5100 and am trying to decide what fps to shoot at and why.
I have shot only at 25fps so far and it looks as if it is running too fast on playback. 25 I understand is for PAL TV systems that run on 50Hz frequency electricity supply and 30fps is for NTSC which runs on 60Hz electricity supply such as USA. However, so far I have only viewed my videos on my laptop which although runs on 50HZ supply should have mo bearing as the actual voltage is DC. The only thing I can think of is that the refresh rate of the laptop is 60 HZ only, could this be the problem? If so should I film at 30fps.