I have the iPhone 6 plus and love the larger screen for my viewing pleasure. I suggest quick snaps before they know what hit them!

Socialist, Marxist ... Social Security, Medicare, free education, health care, rules for wall street. There are things that make sense to do collectively because they are good. I don't care what label you want to put on it, these things are good. Do you remember stories of your parents and how hard life in America was before WWII and there were no safety net programs like social security? The majority of the population were subsistence farmers that did not have enough to eat. I don't want to go back to that lifestyle so that Mitt Romney can offshore his money and pay taxes only on what he decides to tell the IRS he has. He paid only 15%, while my husband and I pay closer to 25% to the IRS. I want to live in America where everyone has the opportunity to work and live a modest life. I am a liberal and proud of it.

After reading only a few of the comments here, I am really scared for the future. Did you ever watch the move 12 Angry Men? I suggest you turn off all media for awhile and decompress. You all seem to have lost all sense of common sense. While you wallow in hate for other Americans who don't believe the same as you, the rich have changed the laws to benefit only big industry, and politicians no longer care what's best for working people because they can control the masses by keeping them really angry at a diversion. What you are screaming about is nonsense. I understand you are angry at the working folks middle class slipping away, but you are not really seeing the whole picture. You are dupes in a rich man's scheme to not pay taxes. Why are you not concerned about General Electric paying less taxes than you? Why are you not concerned wages have not risen to keep up with the cost of living? Have you noticed all mom and pop stores are gone? Where is the love for your fellow man. Turn off your media and start living a positive life.

I think the answer is obvious, 1.4. But remember lower f number is wider aperture. I am no expert here, just trying to explain my understanding.

Yes, always. Lower f number equals better bokeh and greater flexibility in shutter speed. It is always better.

It took me awhile to get my head around why one lens will be better than another. I now have the opinion that a lower f number on a lens is better, not only for clarity, but for mechanics. Price is an indication of quality too, and usually corresponds to lower f number. A lower f number means larger opening-more light. More light, better clearer pictures. These are prime lenses and do not open or close. Am I wrong?

I am on the verge of moving from the D5100 to a Df full frame, once my husband gets used to the idea. I have spent the last two years reading and listening here to everyone's comments. I am no expert, but I hear loud and clear better photography is all about the light. Go with the best you can afford at the time. We have the same conversation here over and over. If there is a choice for the better lens and you can afford it, go for it. If a few hundred dollars does not matter too much to you, pay more now and hopefully you won't want to upgrade later. I have found Ken Rockwell's lens reviews and DP Review are helpful to compare lenses.

Is anyone using Lightroom mobile?

I am interested in hearing about your experience replacing a laptop with an iPad for photography. I currently connect my laptop to a monitor for photo editing. Can an iPad do everything the laptop does photo wise? I use Lightroom and have photoshop but rarely use it. Thanks for your input.

If you purchase a new camera today, chances are in six months there will be something else you may wish you had. If you are unhappy with the D3100, buy something new. I feel I was in the same situation as you a year ago. I heard about all these cool better camera and started feeling my camera was not up to snuff. I held off upgrading, and feel I now know more about what will make me happy. I know I am committed to learning photography. I have enough camera knowledge to make a more informed purchase and I am also okay with spending more money than I might have. I love my camera and will one day upgrade to a full-frame. In six months you will be more informed to make the right choice for you.
I am hearing two arguments, if you have the means go ahead and upgrade now. Learn on better equipment. The other argument is learn more first so you make a more informed decision on what fits your needs. You can upgrade every year if you want. There will always be something bigger and better, or learn the craft a little and upgrade to equipment that you will be happy with for a longer period of time. Do you buy a new car every year or every 10 years?

I suggest your local bookstore or amazon.com for a book specific to your camera. A book allows you to master a chapter at a time. When your are done you will have a good knowledge of your camera. You won't be an expert until you get out and take pictures and experimenting with it. I have a Nikon D5100 and used Rob Sylvan's book, Nikon D5100 From Snapshots to Great Shots. This book gave me a foundation to build on and the author most likely has one for your camera. I now google specific things I want to learn for more details. Also the search function here at Ugly Hedgehog is valuable too. Learn your camera one step at a time and have fun.

I have a D5100 and continually wonder if I should upgrade. I am slowly learning about what I can do with the camera. I am getting closer to mastering the beast. I see people at the camera shows and hear about what others have here and think I should upgrade body and lens, but can't decide what I want. I keep taking pictures and improving. I am still aquiring some of the basic equipment such as a tripod, bag, vest, strap, etc. Once I get everything for this camera and learn it thoroughly, I may be ready to buy something new and start over again. Right now I would be throwing money around on things I really don't know enough about. I decided to wait to see where I am going as a photographer, how much time I will invest, and where my travels take me. Right now I am taking amazing pictures I never thought I could do. My biggest challenge is having the time to get out and shoot.

I used a 50mm lens at a birthday party this weekend, which worked nicely for close up and group shots on a Nikon D5100.

Am I the only one who likes pictures of kids showing a little personality? The father is going to like the pictures, because this is their family. Expecting a perfect picture with everyone lined up liked robots may not be the right format. Is there an activity they could do together, then show off what they accomplished? A more natural format for kids.

A few years ago I moved from a Minolta film camera to a D5100. It has been a fun learning experience that I have still not fully mastered. Learning photography is fun, but is a time commitment I never anticipated. There is also learning lightroom/photoshop. Until you play around a bit, you may not know what will be in your comfort zone. Go to the bookstore and find a book on the camera you are considering. Read it. My suggestion is to rent a few cameras to see what feels right to you. Until you play around a bit, you can make expensive mistakes. I purchased a 50mm lens influenced by a great review. The lens is great for small group shots, but not the best for closeups. A different lens would have been better for me. You will know what you want once you do more research. Jumping in at the top sounds fun, but may not be a good fit for you.