Canon EOS 5D Mark III any comments?

Tell Ms Woko, I can carry my one camera and lens that takes ALL my photos under my arm for hours, all my photos are taken hand held, I don't need a trypod, (or any pod), not enhanced (only cropped from time to time), using my beautiful (superior) SONY SLT-A 77V, and my SONY 70-400mm F4.0-5.6G (gold) lens.
(eat your heart out all you "Canon and Nikon people", game on!) :-)

Yes, but I don't carry any other gear, no trypods or anything else. I'm that kind of girl, (as if you didn't know?) What you see is what you get!

Sony - they make microwave ovens don't they

but seriously I have always had the opinion that so long as someone is happy with their equipment that is great
my previous obsession was LD motorcycling - I rode a Triumph Sprint ST (<$20K) whilst others rode Kawasaki and Yamaha sports/tourers (about $25k) and others Honda Goldwings (about $40K)
I have also done >1000 klms in 24 hours on a CBR125R (<$5k), great fun on the day but I wouldn't want to have used that bike on evry LD ride that I did

back to cameras
Araminta I regularly admire your photography where you have been able to get close to your subject
most of my photography is done in the field not in my backyard (however I think that Australia is my backyard), often during my 1st visit to the place
eg Sat morn I was at the beachline near Buckley's Hole, Bribie Is looking at at number of waders on a sandbar about 25 metres from shore, I could not get closer due to the water, further if I walked out to the sandbar the birds would have flown
at the lagoon itslef the closest I coulld get to a Comb-creasted Jacana was about 15 metres

Pacman, Ms Woko says thanks. She's had big trouble tracking down an 11" laptop in SA.

yes, I found mine on eBay but from a store in Ettalong near erina where I am currently working

I used a borrowed 5DIII a few times and it is very impressive for bird photography. The AF system is the same as the 1Dx, of course overall the 1Dx is a much better camera.

The files out of the 5DIII needed very minimal if any processing, which is what I like personally. I hate spending time on my Mac adjusting things the camera was not quite getting right. While it is sometimes the case that I need to tweak an image, it is far less frequent with the high-end Canons than with the prosumer cameras. Cannot comment on the xxxxD or xxxD range as I have never even looked at one.

My only gripe with the 5DIII is that there is no way it could withstand the harsh treatment it would get in my hands. I mean I've dropped my 1D3 twice already in seven months (the camera just deattached itself from the lens in the field) yet the cam still works as good as new, albeit with a slight scratch on top of the viewfinder.

Nothing is built like a 1D series (except a Nikon D3 or D4)

BTW if you wonder who this is, it's the same guy who was called Windhover and deleted his account some months ago. I will only participate from time to time in the photography related stuff.

Just to clarify, I often walk around with the 500/4 + 1.4x strapped over my left shoulder. The strap is attached to the lens, since it weighs almost 4x what my 1D body does. I did note the 1.4x sometimes does not click into position, and I have to push the little pin into place. However, the last time, the converter stayed on the lens and it was only the camera that worked itself off the converter. God knows how. I am glad it's all insured though.

Don't know Darin. I saw a couple of things to do with photography, so I wanted to contribute. I don't have to stay though and I can go if you like.   Just say so.

I am new to bird watching and photography since retirement. How fortunate this year to have lots of small honeyeaters and other new birds visit my largely native garden. I have a Lumix 12x AVCHD lite and would like to invest in a SLR to get better images. I am keen to have a camera which is fairly easy to use, manageable (light weight), takes good shots and is less than $1,000 with lens/es.

I like to birdwatch in my backyard which is in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, along the coast and further inland. I would appreciate any suggestions as I don't want to have the wool pulled over my eyes by sales people. I have checked Ted's website so I'm starting to pick up some names and as I see here, Sony, Canon and Nikon seem to feature. I would be willing to buy on ebay. Thanks. Di

Hi, Di. With a budget of less than $1000 i would forget about getting a DSLR. You will need to spend more than that just to get a good birding lens and they will be heavy. Take a look at the Fuji Finepix X-S1, it looks and feels like an DSLR with focus and zoom control on the lens barrel, good telephoto length and many good features.