I have never used the 70-300, but have used the 100-400 and its a great lens, but it is expensive. It does have its limitations though, 1) you can not add a TC onto it and still Auto focus 2) its a slow lens so its not the best performer in low light and will require the ISO to be bumped up or tripod shooting for still life.

I will be picking up a 300mm f4L and the 1.4 TC for my wildlife shots in a couple weeks giving me 420@F5.6, just at slow as the 100-400 so during low light situations ISO will have to be bumped up. A friend let me borrow it and I was very impressed, again though it is L glass and L glass isnt cheap but IMO is worht every penny.

Quote - No 5D successor means disappointed Canon fans. It looks like this new camera comes with a new kit lens.

Agreed, many are upset on some of the other forums I am part of. Thouhg is Canon's defence they havent even hinted a replacement was coming. I think much of the 5D replacement centers around the D300 release. If canon is planning on upgrading a near perfect camera I am banking that they are putting a ton of effort in the R&D as they really can't afford another 1DM3 situation again.

Quote - Very bad business.

Thats putting it lightly, this story tops many that I have seen on Day Time Court shows.

I think I may have to get one of those much easier to bring out and about than my laptop

Seen it been all over several forums I am part of, interesting camera. I am looking forward to seeing what IQ will be like.

Manipulation is my like beauty its in the eye of the beholder. You have those people who consider themselves "purists" which would mean ANYTHING done to the photo other than sizing/cropping would be a manipulation. To me a photo becomes a manipulation once it steps outside the relm of reality.

oh Tom, the other thing O forgot to mention is the bigest factore on what size tablet to gt will be how you like to work, in small strokes or long strokes. The larger the tablet the longer your strokes will need to be to cover the same distance on the image as if you were using a smaller tablet. for me I use a 4x6 as it is perfect for me my hands were not steady enough for the larger tablets.

Quote - It requires only a free usb port. That's all. ( for intuos, bamboo series, cintiq ones need extra power of course )
With some models you will receive a extra wireless mouse ( no batteries needed ).

If you take the trick, you won't use a mouse anymore. ( you will find it too "slow"  ). It's faster to point and click with a stylus in your hand.

Aegy.

Agreed I havent used a "real" mouse since getting my tablet so much faster, once you get used to it.

I wouldnt want to have to edit with out one, I have a wacom intuos3 and love it. Like Aegy said I would try one out first as they can be frustrating at first and cost alot to find out you dont like it. Also while wacom does fully support their tablets with vista I still have issues from time to time with the driver failing to load and needing to be reloaded, other than that I love my pad and dream of the day I can afford to work with a CintiQ.

Photography is about the only thing in my life that I keep in order,

Here is an example of what my folders look like

2008_Jan_05_Jen&DonPortraits_01

This folder will contain all the raw files from whatever I happend to be shooting

My workflow goes like this

lightroom>>>Photoshop/Portrait Proffessional>>>Printsupload folder_(NAME)>>>upload to zenfolio

ISO is raised when there is not enough light to keep proper exposure but higher iso means more noise. I always use the lowest ISO setting possible when shooting.

it also has the 3.5m and the 8.5 m ... which is ????????

those options are for changing the lens min focusing distance on a 400mm lens you will find yourself shooting over 8.5m most times so by setting it there the lens is supposed to AF faster.

I looked at the exif data and the bird shot is

800mm, ISO 400, F/11, shutter speed 30th sec

I am going to guess that your lens is having a very tough time trying to auto focus as most lens cant over F/5.6 with the extenders on. Also unless you were shooting off a tripod a 30th of a sec is way to slow for that focal length should be closer to 800th of a sec to reduce camera shake. Your auto focus mode should be on one shot as the camera is haivng a hard time trying to focus with that lens. When shooting wildlife you can turn off redeye also as all those preflashs will do it potentially scare your subject.

Try this and see how it works for you

1.set the camera to Tv (shutter priority) set the shutter speed to atleast a 600th of a sec on a monopod.
2.usless its a very sunny day you are most likely going to have to push the ISO up to 800 or higher to get proper exposure

1. set focus to one shot us AF, but be prepared to MF.

Hope this helps

I have no experiance with the tamron lens but I have used the Canon version of the sigma lens and was pleased with the results its a very capable lens but you will most likely need a tripod/monopod when shooting with it.

This would be another option also
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/401636-REG/Sigma_727306_Zoom_Telephoto_135_400mm_f_4_5_5_6.html

What Nikon do you have? That would help in picking your lens as if you have a D40 or D40x they use a different lens type If memory serves.

$700 for a portrait is it a rip off? well we cant say we have no idea how many prints she ordered, my last client rang up just over $500 on their engagment portraits (they had a very large family). As for touching up the photo and removing moles and such I myself always find out what the client wants some just want the achne issues removed others want to looking 100% flawless. Changing the eye color is just plan weird unless the client asks for it (why they would I dont know). I can also understand why the photographer removed the "stubble" it would have made him look much older than a senior in HS though I think the method he used leaves a little somthing to be desired. The shoot is a little overexpossed. Is it worth the $700 like I said depends on how many prints she wanted and how much she likes the shot. I his mom wanted a untouch/standard portrait of her son I am pretty sure she knows where her local wal-mart type portrait studio is. She could have gotten his portrait there for 9.99.

I was a Oly user who made the switch to Canon and let me tell you while I am very happy with my 30D and Mark3 it was a huge investment and you wont come even close to recovering half of what you spent on the Oly system. The E3 is a solid camera I had a chance to shoot with one about  2 weeks ago and let me say that Live view is very overated in most cases but not with the E3's flip out screen it made getting some insane angle's on a old mission church possible.  I would stick with the olympus system.