<<chemicals cost a helluva lot less than inks. Mechanical cameras cost a helluve lot less than continual upgrades to newer digital models. software upgrades? only this week we were talking about the cost of PS CS2!>> It's consumerism gone mad karl: Shopping really IS the new religion. The pros on the list may well be making a rational decision to upgrade: offsetting the costs against the benefits on the tiny - but important - increases in functionality. But the majority of software consumers I come across are simply Musthave's. They've always got the latest - Microsoft and Adobe version - yet strangely thier pictures look embarrasingly poor against my PS5 versions :o) In PS I'm waiting for one and only one major advance: FULL funtionality for 16 bit-per channel image handling (ok, I'll even settle for Adobe PS's 15-bit internal workings). That is, a seamless operation: for layers and all the filters and tools. Does CS2 have that? I only shot 50-rolls of film last year. That's 300 quid all in, total (oh, ignoring a few batteries). By going digital I could have, err, saved myself ... errr ..... << I classify myself as an enthusiast these day. I don't want to be a pro in the ultra-competitive market that exists here in my home town, where folks will sell images (and surrender the copyright) that end up as billboard advertising for less than $350 USD. no way.. competing against every fool with a digital camera who'll undercut you at the drop of a hat. >> Karl, it's not undercut, it's giving the images for free for the "glory" of seeing thier images in print. I saw that on a list only 2 days ago: a request from a commercial site for donations of images. No "holy-crap" indignant responses at all. Not like we would see if they tried it on PF. And people are happy to let thier images be used for free. i sort of understand that: better than just letting them rot unseen. Bob -- Whatever you Wanadoo: http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/time/ This email has been checked for most known viruses - find out more at: http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/help/id/7098.htm
