Happy New Year to you too! Hope you are packing up for Venice soon. . . ?! This year it will be Scandanavia for me...so have a Bellini for me in Harry's!

quote:

Do these monopods have a shutter button somewhere on the end of it?

Mine certainly doesn't but fortunately my camera comes with a small remote control which I often use with my monopod. Great for getting the photo that no one else can get!

Hi Roxy,

Scandinavia! How fantastic!!! I've looked at the TTs that go there and think one day...That would definitely be a part of the world that I would do on a tour vs independently.

Harry's here I come...so glad to have an excuse to drink Bellini's, thanks for the request

Hope 2008 is a great year for you!
travellor

Ok, I have gone ahead and taken the plunge to get me a 17-85 IS lens. Unfortunately, its not all I wanted to be, maybe I was expecting toooooooooo much, but its a good lens nonetheless.

2 follow-up questions:

a) How useful (out of 10 - 10 being highest) is a polarizer for Egypt? My reasoning make its a "must-have". Am I correct?

b) Is carrying a tripod essential? I really want to get good shots of the light shows. I don't mind carrying a cheapo and disposing it off there after I'm done (I've heard people on other forums do that, but many of those posts are dated 2003).

Thanks in advance.

Never used one in Egypt and never had a problem.

For closure sake...

a) I carried a Canon 17-85 IS lens and found the IS to be indispensable in most situations.

b) Today, I would suggest (also) carrying a 20mm f/2.8 or wider lens for most indoor places where lighting can become an issue.

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quote:

Ok, I have gone ahead and taken the plunge to get me a 17-85 IS lens. Unfortunately, its not all I wanted to be, maybe I was expecting toooooooooo much, but its a good lens nonetheless.

In what way do you find it to be lacking, as a matter of interest? I have that same lens and find it to be truly excellent.

Chris, I don't think the lens is lacking in any way.

As I mentioned (somewhere) before, it was my expectation of IS that was unreal. I was expecting it to compensate too much whereas the reality is different.

Understood. Yes, IS is good, but it's not "magic" .