My cap vs. hood issue was solved above (by Nesster). I do not have to worry about the cap with the Spot II because the meter is on only when the meter button is engaged.
For the most part, I enjoy winter/cold-weather shooting. There is a certain feeling of calm that seems to come only in winter. The snow also muffles sounds--except when a train is coming...there--I gave away my one of my main subjects, freight trains. They are especially interesting in winter scenes. Photographing them when snow is falling is also quite a challenge (i.e. a moving subject amid the obstacle of snow). I do shoot other outdoor subjects in winter, mostly common things.
Unfortunately, I cannot post any shots, as I refuse to buy a digital camera. While the image quality and color rendition issues are relevant, I have remained in the film realm also because I do not wish to have to calculate for a different lens system (i.e. 1.5x, 1.6x, 2.0x). I know my f-stops, and like to use them--and hyperfocal distance--the way they are intended to be used. With regard to hyperfocal distance and depth-of-field scales, they seem to be non-existent in digital. Thus, I find it absurd that one must spend about $3,000 in order to obtain a DSLR that functions correctly (and even then, where are the DOF scales on those plastic super lenses?). Likewise, I do not want my images to be cropped, as would be the case if I bought a 4:3 camera. A 4x6 print is full-frame in analogue, and it is the perfectly decent and economical result of what I have photographed.
Last edited by zx-m; 02-17-2010 at 09:18 AM.