A VERY NICE GALLERY OF PHOTOS FROM INDIA: Taken by Maciej Dakowicz with a Canon Digital Rebel.

Meanwhile, in response to my earlier post, reader Lawrence Kaplan emails: “I’m putting together a wish list that starts with the Nikon D70 a 28 to 200 zoom and a good flash unit. What do you use and/or what would you recommend as the best choice for a flash?”

Unfortunately, I can’t help from firsthand experience (I buy the stuff I write about — manufacturers unaccountably don’t send me freebies). I’m still using my ancient Vivitar 283 when I use a flash at all, which is seldom as I prefer natural light. But reader P.J. Swenson, who sent the link to the India photos above, also sent a link to this review of the Nikon SB-600 flash, which is cheaper than the SB-800 and, according to the review, probably better in many ways. I can’t comment from firsthand experience, though.

UPDATE: A reader emails:

I have been using a Cannon S110 (2.1MP) for the last three, almost four years. It takes great photos and the small size makes it so easy to carry, that I’ve almost completely given up using my 35mm SLR(Minolta XG-1) that has been my trusty companion since 1982.

Just last month, I upgraded to a Cannon S500 (5MP). I have been too busy to get out and use it lately, but will as soon as time permits.

Anyway, please keep the links to digital photography and photos going on the weekends. It’s a refreshing break, kind of like Friday cat blogging.

That’s kind of my feeling. It can’t all be war and politics. And the small-camera point is a good one. The camera that you carry with you is always better than the one that’s in a drawer at home! Meanwhile, reader Rick Lee disagrees with one aspect of the review I link above:

I use the SB-80DX which predates the 800/600 flashes.

The reviewer dismisses the built-in white card and the inclusion of the dome diffuser… it’s true you can get replacements, but I fear that many buyers won’t get around to it. As a professional, I take MOST of my (on-camera) flash pictures using either the dome (mostly) or the white card with bounce. The difference in the lighting quality from using the dome vs straight flash is HUGE and one shouldn’t ignore that. Bouncing from a ceiling while using a white index card rubber banded to the flash gives a very similar look but is, of course, a little messy.

I don’t do a lot of “on-camera-flash” type shooting. Mostly I’m setting up elaborate lighting setups… but I do a little bit of “event-coverage” stuff which requires on-camera flash and I prefer that it doesn’t LOOK like on-camera flash.

I don’t like flash either. And I don’t like flash that’s right above the lens, because the flat, shadowless lighting it produces looks lifeless and dead to me.