Vista Vision
I set out below extracts from an exchange of e-mails between David Southern and Len Deeley regarding Vista.

David wrote:
You may be interested in this little tale.......

Having recently upgraded to the latest Windows OS - Vista, I struggled to install the drivers for my Epson 1270 printer and got the following message back from Epson tech support:-

"In reply to your email, on the current list of Windows Vista drivers your product is classed as 'no support'. The product was originally designed for the operating systems available at the time of manufacture. Whilst EPSON do endeavour to provide drivers for new operating systems, this is not always possible. We cannot guarantee the forward-compatibility of the products that have been produced by Epson on all future operating systems. Unfortunately your model is not supported by EPSON under Windows Vista. There are no current plans for a driver for your product".

So beware when upgrading or buying a new PC with Vista OS - your printers and/or scanners may not be compatible. This 'non guarantee' of forward-compatibility is likely to apply to Canon, Nikon and HP products etc. Check with the manufacturer prior to upgrading.

Len put the question to an online forum which provided the following response:

[The writer had] previously installed the driver for my Epson 2100. Suddenly the 1200 appeared as a connected printer in Windows using the software installed with the 2100. Perhaps the solution might be for your friend to try a driver for a newer printer. I'm not sure what the situation is with the 2100 and similar printers in Vista but something like these might be worth a try.

Perfect Exposure Without a Mid-tone
Through the lens light meters, whether fitted to film or digital cameras, are programmed to see everything as a mid-tone - halfway between light and dark. Most general scenes contain a sufficient balance between light and dark objects to satisfy the light meter and to produce an acceptably exposed image. However, occasions arise where the scene you wish to photograph contains a greater number of lighter or darker objects and these can fool the light meter into under or over exposing.

< Page 1

Lighter objects reflect more light and you need to increase exposure, darker objects absorb more light and you need to decrease exposure - yes, I know this sounds back to front!

Simply ensure that the object you are metering from is in the same light as your subject, switch to spot-metering and take your meter reading. So, to meter from the morning sky, point your lens at a nice patch of light blue and depress the shutter button half way to activate the light meter. If the meter gives you a reading of f/250 at f/16, you actually need to set the camera to f/125 at f/16 - meter reading plus one stop exposure.

Switch to manual mode and dial in the readings you obtained (refer to your camera manual). Recompose and take your picture.

I appreciate that the newsletter is monochrome, a colour version of the above chart appears in the web version.

                                     Philippa Davies