The Beast

Where   : In my Lightbox, Turramurra
When    : 9-00am, 28th August, 2008
Weapon : Panasonic Lumix TZ3

Here's my new best pal, a digital SLR.  Courtesy of  my good but distant friend, Jon Snelson.  His family can't spell, very sad, but he is a great photographer.

Here it is, complete with a familiar but new companion, a Nikon 18mm - 200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR lens.   I do not pretend to understand what all this means, but you can find out here at the Nikon Blog

I did a lot of research - driving all the local shopkeepers nuts, reading a lot of material, and listening to advice from many who "know" and some who say they do, but actually don't.

I looked at other specifications and other brands, mainly Tamron and Sigma.  I noticed a huge range in prices and materials (some have plastic mounts).  For example,  the Nikon 18mm-135mm lens is  1/3rd of the price of the one I have bought, but it has a
plastic bayonet mount, lacks a focus scale, yields some fringing and distortion.

On the other hand, the Sigma 17mm-70mm seems to be well regarded - as does (in another category) the Tamron 90mm.

I am endlessly grateful to my Canadian chum, and looking forward to improving on what this beauty-bottler has already achieved.