I don't want to get too wound up on this subject and I don't want to put people off from posting and asking questions. Here's my beef (or horse if you're in Europe) why, for the love of photography do people buy the most friggin expensive full frame camera with friggin expensive lens and friggin expensive cards and friggin expensive tripod and friggin expensive everything and then, and then, and then set that friggin expensive camera to auto?! It's a rhetorical question, I know the answer. C'mon on people, if you've got too much money then invest some of it in a decent photography course. Better still, get the hell out there and experiment with the different settings until you start to get an understanding. Even mucho better would be to do both! The thing is, I want to help out, I want to spend time discussing different techniques, helping solve problems etc, but when I find out that the person who was needing help hadn't even attempted to move the dial from auto, well then that's when I start to feel a little Dirty Harry coming on and want to hand out some heavy handed justice. You see, I've worked 20 odd years in this industry, it's a great industry and what stands out about it is that people are always happy to give advice, help out and assist. But when someone can't be arsed to even try something for themselves, to experiment with settings, to flip a dial or read the friggin instruction manual, well then I start to feel that someone is taking the mick, pulling a fast one or just plain abusing the experience of others. This is a forum, this is a two way street, this is an equal exchange of ideas, concepts and knowledge. This is not a free school, this is not a free education, there's no such thing as a free lunch. There are people here who have spent long hours getting to the level that they're at, it shouldn't be assumed that it's to be freely tapped into in place of gaining your own experience. So here's the deal, help yourself first, try a couple of things, remember that that "auto" is "evil" and that if you set your camera to "auto" you will most likely spend an eternity in hell with a camera that doesn't focus and a kid that doesn't sit still. When asking for advice, tell us what you've tried to do to remedy the problem. When purchasing your camera don't dare think that the more expensive one you purchase will make you a better photographer, it won't! The moment you get more wrapped up in the gear than you do in the use of it, is the moment you might as well sell it (there is nothing more mind numbing and death inducing than a person who can tell you all the technical facts about the camera and lens but has no creative clue). Finally, if you have the budget for a D800 but have never taken a real photograph then why not consider the D600 or D7000 and use the money you save on a decent photography course? To all those who get out there and mess with settings, click dials and read the instruction manual, then I'm as happy as Barney to help.