endlessimage

I will be out there later this week - will pass information on to Justin. He does listen!

Don't bother, we won't be back. If the business relies on him for quality then he had better stay there and ensure it.

We haven't had service for about 2 weeks. All of a sudden we are "too far" from whatever we are "too far" from for a service. Funny how it sort of worked before that. I've put it down to continental drift.....

Please reconsider your pending marriage for a while. There is no rush. Don't let her pressure you. We all just can't wait to fall in love with the first skirt that gives us a boyfriend kiss. Go slow, take your time. Stay together for five years and then marry her,he is still around. Thailand and Thai marriage is not for everyone. Failure rate high as the USA and just as expensive to end. I am on year five with my unmarried Thai wife and all is well. Remember one quote from a friend. "Honey, I not your girlfriend anymore, I your wife" You can add your own interpretation of that.

good luck and drive slooow

bella

And you're qualified to give this advice because..... Let people live their own lives and make their own decisions. The OP didn't ask for counselling on marriage....

I live between Pattaya and Jomtien and many residents in my condo block use 3BBB. In the past two to three months it has been down 50% of the time. Calls to the company are useless. We have been told to check our computers, turn them on and off etc. with no admission that the problem could be with the company.

We're on the Dark Side of Pattaya and they are absolutely useless. Full stop. They simply don't care and don't have the expertise to rectify problems. We have had no internet for more than a week now. Thank goodness for having backup!

Why would I actually bother writing up a bad report?

Err... maybe to give others the heads up?

Hi Folks

Really nowadays as straight up photographers without the need of so many CS4 features, which are mainly aimed at graphical artists, I feel you should be looking towards Adobe Lightroom or Aperture etc for the vast majority of your editing requirements, also saves a few quid.

cheers for now J

As I mentioned in an earlier post. It still doesn't give you all the creative functions of CS4 though. I only use CS4 for individual 'tweaks'

I eat there regularly - still not had a bad one!! Even without the boss around.

Lucky you, but yet I'm still to see you write a bad report about anywhere you eat. Maybe you should inform us all when and where you are going so we can tag along and share the good fortune you have

Or maybe because my wife is such a good cook my standards are too high...

Definitely NOT Just Burgers in Jomtien.

I ate there three times, always great burgers and prompt service. You must have caught her off-guard!

Possibly, but I'm afraid they won't be given the opportunity by me for a second chance. It wasn't even good enough to even think about that.

"We professionals don't even look at the software that comes with the cameras. Get a copy of Adobe Lightroom II if you're bulk editing, or Adobe PhotoShop CS4 if only ocassionally editing".

I could pull your leg and say 'I told you some camera geek would be along soon'!

My second thought was we aren't going to be pro's if we have 500Ds or 5Ds are we (nor am I, except for having sold wedding photos for a few friends weddings)?

My third thought was not to be so negative and get something out of the exchange. The version of Photoshop I looked at in some UK PC superstore cost several hundred pounds I seem to recall. Is CS4 cheaper than that and do you buty in Thialand or in falang land? Of course, I'm not allowed by forum rules to ask about where to buy a cheap knock-off copy but no doubt Phantip would have it if I knew what was worth buying

I didn't realise that having made a living out of photography for almost 40 years disqualified me from having an opinion or offering advice or that I was a 'geek'.

Most pro's I know have a 5D or 5D11 as a back up body as it is full frame.

Yes a genuine copy of Adobe Creative Suite is expensive but you get what you pay for. Don't buy knock off copies - you can download them for a free trial <snip> PM me for details. 

Definitely NOT Just Burgers in Jomtien. Went at 7.30pm on a weekend evening. No staff. Oh, there she is hiding around the back gossiping to her noodle friend from next door while doing make up and talking on the phone. Err... could you possibly drag yourself away to serve me please? No choice of cheese, egg so runny it was just liquid in the bottom of the basket and the beef was tasteless.

Now I'm not fussy as I'll even eat the odd McDog burger, but as far as flavour and value for money forget Just Burgers.

Canon's standard photo enhancement package ('Zoom Browser') - which is probably what you get with a 500D is horribly clunky compared to Nikon's package ('Picture Project') though, based on my ownership of good compacts from both manufacturers I liked both my compacts incidentally, though the Nikon was more intuitive to use. If you plan on buying a photo editing package this is an irrelevant comment, but if you are just a casual editor (re-sizing, brightness, coloration, sharpness) then I would strongly advise against Canon. It will take you 3 minutes to edit a Canon picture against 1 minute for Nikon.

[Yes - before any of you camera geeks comment - I know I can use Canon's digital pro software when shooting in RAW with my 5D; I just haven't had the time to switch over to trying that yet]

We professionals don't even look at the software that comes with the cameras. Get a copy of Adobe Lightroom II if you're bulk editing, or Adobe PhotoShop CS4 if only ocassionally editing.

I can highly recommend this service. I took NCA VIP bus from Chiang Mai to Pattaya in September 760 Baht each way. On board service,meals ,blankets, recline-able seats, movies. About 11 hours each way, by passes Bangkok and only makes about 5 stops.

Never used this service myself but my wife occasionally does if she is travelling alone and doesn't feel like driving. She speaks very highly of the VIP service they offer.

This song comes to mind

A doctor in Manhattan

Saved a dying man for free

It's a miracle

It's a miracle, Roger Waters

The iconic Roger Waters. A poet and musician that may never be surpassed....

Spot On

I just indulged in the pleasure of listening to "Amused To Death". Thanks for jogging my memory

This song comes to mind

A doctor in Manhattan

Saved a dying man for free

It's a miracle

It's a miracle, Roger Waters

The iconic Roger Waters. A poet and musician that may never be surpassed....

Here is a link to a download of the 500D manual in English, I expect other models are there too.

http://ylovephoto.com/en/2009/04/08/downlo...os-500d-manual/

Or straight from the horses mouth (so to speak). All models and firmware updates available for free download.

http://support-th.canon-asia.com/

I bought the 450D 6 months ago and love it! It was a huge step up from my little point and shoot and the difference is apparent in almost every shot, but I doubt I'll ever be ready to step up to the 7D.

You may be surprised at how quickly you learn and the 'bug' takes hold. The 7D is no more difficult to use it's simply a better built camera with a few more features to assist your "creativity".

Happy, you're enjoying your new kit. It's a completely different camera than the 7D though. Can't really compare. One is an entry level body the other is a reasonably featured prosumer body with superior build quality like dust/moisture sealing properties, hence the large difference in price.

If it's your first dslr enjoy the creativity that it offers!

One of my reasons for sticking with nikon is the great flash possibilities. I love being able to use my flashes (sb600's/800's) off camera using the nikon CLS system.

Canon STE2 will fire any flash remotely... I use it for the 580EXII's and studio strobes.

You are dreaming, law and accounting offices where you can buy an ED visa that you can extend? Hm...., can you give us some examples because Im hearing this for the first time. I would be interested to know who is doing that as this would be indeed against the law. I would not call such a firm a law firm.

Err.... and some visa run companies too. And not only ED Visas - ANY type of visa. "you don't have to leave the comfort of your own home" I was informed.

I agree that the testing would need to be planned, designed, and administered carefully. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, and learning Thai as a 2nd (or 3rd, etc) language is much more difficult for some than others. Personally, I attended a Thai class twice a week for 6 months - not for an ED visa, just for "fun." I worked hard, participated in class, and did my homework. After the 6 months, I still had much weaker Thai than some friends who just "picked it up" through daily living. Learning additional languages is just not one of my strengths. As others have said, attendance seems to be a more fair way to check the legitimacy of an ED visa. One guy could walk into immigration and be able to converse semi-fluently in Thai because he spends all his time with bar girls and various Thai girlfriends instead of going to class. Is he more deserving of an ED visa than someone who actually goes to class and puts in the classtime? No, not in my opinion. Of course, I'm not saying it's a bad idea to monitor all these ED visas, I just don't think an on-the-spot, informal conversational test is the best monitoring system.

Exactly!

It's been interesting to see how photography has taken off as a hobby here. The number of Thais I see with more-than point-and-shoot cameras is encouraging.

Noticed the same thing myself. I was out at dawn last Sunday at the hot air balloon festival east of Pattaya and was amazed at the amount of people there as well as the amount of dslrs in the hands of locals. Most were entry level with their kit lens, but nevertheless a step up from the point and shoot.

but on an slr using image stabilization (IS) lens you have to turn the IS off before using a tripod or monopod.

and why would you have to do is

I do not, but get nice photos using a tripod

Because after 40+ years as a professional photographer there are some things you just know... I suggest you read the manual that came with your lens.

Cheers

As well as getting a feel for the camera try and anticipate accessories that you will need to buy as your skills (and needs) improve. What lens will you want, what external flash? What prices? Will they be compatible with the next model up (i.e. when you upgrade from say the 500D to a 7D). Also look at after sales service (locations and costs) for repairs, calibrations or sensor cleans etc.

As a professional photographer I changed from Nikon to Canon at the start of the digital era simply because at that stage Canon were far more advanced but now they are much of a muchness. Once you start investing in a system it's an expensive excercise to change so don't look back!

Yikes!!!!!!!!!

2 Mr. Grinches so far.... anyone else

Yes Me

Can I be No3 Mr. Grinch.

Seeing I have no small ones over here, I welcome not having all the 'ol B@llocks like back in the old country.

Make that 4... Christmas is just not the same since my wife told me that Santa wasn't real....

If you don't get any luck from the post office

then you can try the Nakohn Chair Air bus terminal on Sukhumvit road ( Central Pattaya road Junction )

they will certainly take the Wave to Chaingmai.

Post office will do the smaller bike and can go by bus or train (train only from/to BKK). Just had our 125 delivered from up north by Nakhon Air, cost 1400 baht.