Wow, I almost forgot I started this thread, way back when.

If anyone's interested...I ended up getting a ProMediaGear Katana. I tried a Wimberley Sidekick, but it really wasn't adequate for the bigger lenses I use (600mm f/4, Sigmonster).

The ProMediaGear is very robust, beautiful, and simple. Screw it on the tripod, then put your camera on and you're ready to go. Probably the sturdiest gimbal I have ever seen.

Drawbacks: it's big, heavy, and expensive. Not the one you want to bring if you're hiking up Mt. Everest to photograph yeti.

I considered the RRS and Custom Brackets gimbals. They are more versatile, since you can assemble them in different ways for different uses. They also break down into small pieces for easier packing.

But I am not likely to use my really big lenses on long hiking trips. Basically, when using lenses that long, I go places where I can drive up to the spot. And I like the simplicity of the katana. No worries about whether I assembled it incorrectly. With the RRS and CB gimbals, I was worried I'd forget something, and $10,000 worth of glass would crash to the ground.

I didn't find it hard to adapt at all.

I did change which button was used for back button focusing. I have relatively small hands, and it was uncomfortable to reach the default button. So I swapped it with one that was closer.

I usually shoot with my thumb on the BBF button at all times, so I don't have to worry about finding the right button.

Thanks for all the advice.

Seems like you can do more with Smugmug, but it's not as easy to set up. I'm lazy, so I'm leaning toward Zenfolio.

I think Zenfolio looks more professional, at least right out of the box. I don't want to spend a lot of time customizing or setting up my own domain name right now, and to me the Smugmug name and logo are kinda silly looking. :-)

I guess I'll sign up for a free trial at Zenfolio and see how I like it. If it doesn't do what I want, I'll give Smugmug a try.

Actually, what I want is a site where right-click download IS possible.

That script disabling right-clicks is lame, as far as copy protection goes. It doesn't work; anyone who has scripting blocked (Firefox or Chrome users) doesn't even notice it. And it's a big pain in the butt to other customers, who cannot navigate the site as they are probably used to. (With tabbed browsing and all, who doesn't right click to open in a new tab?)

I gather SmugMug lets you turn it on or off. What about Zenfolio? Can I allow right-clicking there?

Also...do either SmugMug or Zenfolio give you the option to do a site without Flash and without "no right click"? I hate those...

One more question...is there a site that allows users to tag the photos? I often photograph events where I don't know the names of the participants (but they know each other). It would be a lot easier if they could tag the photos themselves.

Thanks for the replies. What are the major differences between Zenfolio and SmugMug?

And do they allow you to have multiple private galleries - so clients don't necessarily have access to all photos marked "private," just the ones from their event?

I know there have been other threads about this, but I couldn't find one that addressed my situation.

At this point, I don't particularly want to sell fine art prints or make a profit. I don't care about search engine rankings. I just want people to be able to buy prints without my having to handle the transaction.

I want a site that produces good quality prints and treats their customers right, that allows me to make some shoots private (visible only to those who are invited to see them), and that isn't too expensive (if grandma wants a few pics from junior's little league game, I don't want to gouge her).

I've had very good experiences with Zazzle, but their art emphasis doesn't seem to fit event photography, etc. Any other suggestions?

I tend to use back-button autofocus for wildlife, too, but I've noticed that a lot of the hardcore birders prefer the shutter button. Like this guy.

I think it's because they are trying so hard for the perfect shot.

With sports, you need to get the big moment, whether conditions are ideal or not.

A lot of people shooting birds in flight prefer using the shutter button.

Back-button AF was meant for sports. In particular, if you're tracking the player with the ball, and some other player, or the referee, crosses in front of him, you'll end up focused on the wrong target. If you're using back-button AF, you just release the * button when you see the referee coming into the frame, and keep shooting. The player with the ball will stay in focus until the ref is clear of your focus point.

That's kinda funny. Back-button AF was originally invented for sports. Sports photographers asked Canon for it. The idea is to be able to keep the focus on a player even if another player or the ref crosses in front of him.

I love back-button autofocus and use it a lot. But not always. In some situations, the shutter button works better. I use both.

I still want one. Not to replace my DSLR, but for fun. I think it would be cool take interactive photos of busy city streets on vacation, or a ballpark full of fans during a baseball game, or room full of people at a party. I'm not expecting to frame the photos or sell them. I just want to post them to my blog and let people play with them.

As I understand it, you'll be able to post them to Facebook and Twitter, too.

I don't think they're trying to replace conventional photography, at least not yet. It's a toy. That's why it comes in bright colors like red and turquouise. :-)

If you're in the stands...try shooting without your flash. You're probably too far away for the flash to do much good. You might get better exposures without it.

I want one, but it's Mac-only for now.