Oh, and Nite Tom.

How's your wife's photography coming?

My wife was finally able to get out of the Jeep the other day (after her hip fracture and the scare about a possible heart attack(wasn't, docs not sure what caused the pain/numbness). Well anyway, she SLOWLY chased an Armadillo and got one shot where it is about 8 inches or so from her foot. She was able to get part of her shoe in the pic. but the 75-300 lens don't want to focus down that short a distance very well so she had to "wing it".

She's still not happy (I tell her she expects to much to quickly) but she IS getting to learn her camera a little more. She just has to remember what settings she used to get a certain "exposure" to a picture she likes. Oh and she has said thanks for your encouragement and tips.

I'm glad your wife didn't have a heart attack, and that her hip is healing.

Man, I'd love to get a chance at an armadillo!

I'm guessing your 75-300 probably had a minimum focusing distance of about 5 feet. Most do.

hehe, She took about 350 pictures just the other day While we were cruising through Mingo and Duck Creek (state conservation area adjacent to Mingo). It's, Duck Creek, Mainly a fishing area. The main pool is 1800 acres. The remaining 4000 plus acres are flooded for waterfowl/hunting at certain times of the year.

She's very welcome.

If she shoots manually, and makes her decisions consciously, she'll find that eventually exposure will become second-nature.

Yep, the specs say 4 something ft. And it's a non IS lens. BUT she is getting better all the time. We busted the Window mount again last month and I bought her A Cstar mount. seems sturdy enough, we will just have to see how it holds up.

Yeah, that's what I told her. MANY years ago I worked for a VERY SMALL paper. I took pics using a Pentax 35mm. It got so that I could guess the shutter speed and use the Film speed listed and it had an f stop meter built in. Just hit that with my thumb, turn the knob till the needle was centered and then snap away! Not very "Professional" but worked for our B&W pics.

I found window mounts a hassle. I just pile my jacket up, and rest the camera and/or lens on that, when I shoot through a car window.

Those old, manual Pentaxes rock! I liked my Pentax K100. Simple ... no fuss, just the necessary basics.

My folks bought me mine in 1972 as a graduation present/work tool. The dial only showed a shutter speed of u to 500 but it had a 1000 setting but just wasn't indicated on the dial. I really liked it a lot.