Tanks minniev. Thats exactly what I was looking for.

This is probably a stupid question, but I trust answers from this community much more than Adobe. For years I've used my own archiving system for managing photos and am now finally getting ready to move to Lightroom (still undecided about using the cloud version or the straight download... but that's a topic in itself).

Here's my question: I mostly use a Mac Air which has very limited on-board storage (240GB SSD). When you create a Lightroom catalog, can you designate where it will be stored and can it reside on an external drive? For instance, I keep all of my photos on a 2TB external drive (with dual backups). Can the Lightroom catalog(s) reside there?? Also, on that drive I have 2 primary folders: Work and Personal. I assume I can create a separate catalog for each of those.

Thanks all!

Hi Boney. We always had the same problem with inkjets… dried or clogged cartridges, mostly because our printing is sporadic. We picked up an old Kodak 1400 about 10 years ago. It's been amazing! Every print perfect (unless a speck of dust gets on the paper, which is very rare due to the configuration of the covers). Just power it up and print. At times it would sit for 6 months, but it would always crank up like a champ. As for expense, the printer cost us about $200, and prints are exactly $1 per 8x10. The best part is that this is a fixed cost… you know precisely what each print will cost... because it always works! With our ink jets, I never had the slightest idea because I was always switching cartridges and having to run multiple copies.

The Kodak 1400 that we still use is probably 20+ yrs old. Trying to find drivers for each new OS release can be challenging, but so far hasn't been an issue. They no longer produce print kits for this unit, but film for newer units can be easily adapted, and the paper is the same. Remember too that DS printers lay down a final protective coating over each print, so you can buy either glossy or matt print kits. Newer units are faster and can use larger rolls of film, but are also pricy ($800+ for a used unit). But even at $1,000, I'd probably do it again. Knowing that I can actual produce a print when I need it, without tons of headaches and frustration, is worth considerably more.

Aslo keep in mind the the DS printer itself is a really simple piece of machinery. Other than paper feed issues, there's very little that can go wrong with it. Another huge advantage.

Hope this helps. It's been one of the best decisions that we've made over the years!

Here's an alternative to ink: We went through the same frustrations and finally decided to go a different route. We now have a basic color laser for everyday printing (photo quality sucks, but toner never dries up!) and an old Kodak 1400 dye-sub printer for final output (picked it up for $50 on Craigslist). The 1400 prints 8.5x14 with a fixed page cost of roughly $0.75 and the output is phenomenal. The film never dries up and the mechanics of the printer are amazingly simple. When you need it to print, even after weeks of sitting idle... it does! It's probably a more expensive option per page, and definitely slower, but for us, it alleviated all the frustration of dealing with clogged print heads, dried ink, and unpredictable performance. We simply needed something we could rely on, and for the past 3 years, we haven't had one single issue with the 1400 (previously I was thrilled to go even a month without an issue).

Oops! Sorry about that dhaywood... I was thinking pdf not jpg. A mind is a terrible thing to lose!

For jpg's, when file size is the issue, you may want to try Imagewell (if quality is your main concern, I'd opt for exporting from a photo editor like iPhoto, Photoshop, or Elements). Even though Imagewell doesn't do batch processing, it's a really handy and FAST utility for managing the size of images. You simply drag an image to the application, use a slider to adjust the size, and drag it out to wherever (such as an email or upload screen). It also allows for some simple editing and is great for converting other file types to jpg.

You may want to give PDF Shrink a try. It's the easiest solution I've found and they offer a free trial. I think the full version is around $35... but well worth it.

http://www.apagoinc.com/prod_home.php?prod_id=36

Good luck!

Another thumbs up for the Yongnuo YN-622C. I've been using 4 for over a year without a single misfire. They saved me a lot of money that I was able to put into higher quality glass. :thumbup:

Thanks guys! I completely forgot to search CL beyond my area, and eBay history as well. Great info!

Great point SharpShooter about canon referbs, I hadn't thought of that. Even though they're currently out of stock, they still list the prices which really helps. And both B&H and KEH is where I've been looking, but they seem to range from about $850 all the way up to full price. That's why I really appreciate your input. Thanks!!

PS - I also thought it sounded like a decent deal since the SAC models are so hard to find in the states.

I've already decided on the Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS, but now my challenge is to actually make the leap. I've found one locally (private seller) that looks to be in excellent condition, but I'm not sure if it's a fair price. I've searched the web, but the prices seem to be across the board. I would really appreciate any advice/insight from UH community (you folks have kept me from making some big mistakes over the years). Here are the details:

$950
Canon 70-200 2.8L non-IS
Box, Lens, and Tripod Mount
Date code: uz1025 (Oct 2011 manufacture date I believe)
Serial/UPC #: 2569a004[aa] or [91]2569a004[92]aa00318894

Thanks!!

When shooting from a distance, the bird you want to be in focus is likely a rather small part of the scene, so the camera may have a hard time knowing which part to focus on. Building on Don's point, the auto-focus on my canon point & shoot, which I think is like most, is center weighted. Try placing the bird in the center of the frame, hold the shutter button down half way until it focuses, and then reframe the shot (while still holding the button down half way). This tells the camera what to focus on, and holding the button locks it in until you take the shot. You can also look in your manual to see if you have any options for the auto-focus - typically things like evaluative, center-weighted, off. Center-weighted would probably be best in these situations.

Sounds like you took the same path I'm considering. I'm also thinking about a battery based on the savings when purchased together, but really question how often I would use it. My speedlights travel with me all the time and I love their portability, and I've rarely needed more power in the field. AC shouldn't be an issue in most situations where I'd need the punch of a monolight... but that's only based on what I'm currently shooting. Decisions are never easy.

Thanks... but now you're making my decision even tougher! :)

Hi Wendy2. Have you had any issues with the 320m overheating since it's not fan cooled? And is the build quality between the two models similar?

I've been shooting with speedlights for years now and am looking at adding a monolight or two to my trunk of toys. I am definitely a hobbiest so budget is a huge concern. My main applications would be in the studio (I'm excited about the ease of control and addition of a modeling light), larger venues (larger rooms and open spaces requiring more power), and possibly some outdoor work to overpower strong sunlight (but this one is a very low priority). I've narrowed it down to 3 models and would love to hear any thoughts or experience. These are:

Flashpoint DG600, 300 w/s AC/DC Monolight, $199
http://www.adorama.com/FP600DG.html

Flashpoint II 620M, 300 Watt Second AC / DC Monolight $189
http://www.adorama.com/FP620M.html

AlienBees™ B800 Flash, 320 Watt Second Monolight $279+S&H
http://www.paulcbuff.com/b800.php

Features and reviews seem similar between all 3 models, with the exception that the 620M is larger, and the DG600 has an LED modeling light. I know that Alien Bees have a long standing reputation, but saving a couple hundred dollars on a pair of lights is very appealing. I've also read reviews that say that none of these "budget lights" are worth using due to color temp variation and low quality of build (although their recommendations are definitely out of my price range).

I'm leaning toward the Flashpoint DG600, but have some reservations about the LED modeling light.

Any thoughts or experience would be greatly appreciated.