Question:

Hello Everyone, I am going to start taxation & bookkeeping business here in British Columbia, Canada. What software would you recommend for bookkeeping? For tax T1 & T2, I decided to use Profile from Intuit Canada. Thanks for any feedback.

Response:

In my opinion, that depends to some degree upon what type of clientele you are after and the type of professional services you want to provide in addition to bookkeeping (write-up), if any. The type of clientele may also depend upon where you are located (I spent the first years of my professional life in the East Kootenays and a brother (also a CGA) practiced in Burnaby – both of us had a totally different client mix.). If you are interested in talking about it in more detail, contact me via email with your phone number and I’ll call you. Wolfgang Rochow, CGA Calgary, AB, Canada

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Everyone, I am going to start taxation & bookkeeping business here in British Columbia, Canada. What software would you recommend for bookkeeping? For tax T1 & T2, I decided to use Profile from Intuit Canada. Thanks for any feedback.

Response:

Hello, you may use quickbooks, myob,accpac and for tax you may use quicktax or may download form from this site www.ccra.gc.ca or if you have any question you may visit www.simplyaccounting.ca

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Everyone, I am going to start taxation & bookkeeping business here in British Columbia, Canada. What software would you recommend for bookkeeping? For tax T1 & T2, I decided to use Profile from Intuit Canada. Thanks for any feedback.

Response:

If you choose to specialize in only QuickBooks master it frontwards and backwards.  too many accountants don’t know it well enough to do the proper job their clients need.  Keep multiple versions on hand.  Conisder adding QB set up to your biz services offered.  I did quite well with it, when I was working as a QB consultant.  I preferred the teaching and set up to write up bookkeeping.  I did both, with most of my income coming from set ups, cleanups and updating the books and training office bookkeepers to use it. I didn’t advertise as a tax preparer, a luctravie business in and of itself. Ultimately closed my biz do to health problems and can’t face starting up with no capital, long hours and roping the family into helping me put mailings together. KG

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Everyone, I am going to start taxation & bookkeeping business here in British Columbia, Canada. What software would you recommend for bookkeeping? For tax T1 & T2, I decided to use Profile from Intuit Canada. Thanks for any feedback.

Response:

Question:

 Actually, not all of them charge for drinks.  CO’s Presidents Club  doesn’t. When I used to use CO they did charge at EWR, perhaps they have changed.

  The P Club at EWR (the one near gate 110) didn’t charge me for drinks   this past Sunday.  Maybe they used to, but not for the past couple of   years.  Anyhow, it’s true that overseas clubs are probably a much   better value.

Response:

One of the great minuses of the US carriers. Charge for membership and then charge for drinks in the lounges.   Actually, not all of them charge for drinks.  CO’s Presidents Club   doesn’t.

     Nor does Delta’s (well at least as of late July).

Response:

The last thing the airlines need is a reason for a good customer to no longer fly with them.   The airlines may need to cut cost.  But having a frequent flyer program may mean the difference between an airline with a future and bankruptcy! They need the programs now more than ever. The Gyppo Man

Response:

The last thing the airlines need is a reason for a good customer to no longer fly with them. The airlines may need to cut cost.  But having a frequent flyer program may mean the difference between an airline with a future and bankruptcy! They need the programs now more than ever.

Why if none of them have a FF program.

Response:

One of the great minuses of the US carriers. Charge for membership and then charge for drinks in the lounges.

  Actually, not all of them charge for drinks.  CO’s Presidents Club   doesn’t.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One of the great minuses of the US carriers. Charge for membership and then charge for drinks in the lounges.   Actually, not all of them charge for drinks.  CO’s Presidents Club   doesn’t. NW WorldClub doesn’t either. — you know, if Jesus comes back to Earth, I bet the last thing he’ll want to see again is another cross.

The biggest cost the clubs have is the rental of the space for the clubs at the various airports.   Wayne

Response:

Agree.  Most airline lounges are supported by business travelers flying F or C class, or by travelers buying a membership.  Companies are belt-tightening and travel policies of companies here in the US require cheapest available fares and prohibit memberships in lounges.  That leaves only independently wealthy individuals, who are probably too small a number to justify lounges.

One MAJOR correction here.  Lounge membership and access, especially (or limited to) for domestic flights, in the U.S. cost money.  They’re very rarely given as a perk of elite membership. Free access in general is only given for international flights.  They can be seen as a profit centre.

Response:

One of the great minuses of the US carriers. Charge for membership and then charge for drinks in the lounges.   Actually, not all of them charge for drinks.  CO’s Presidents Club   doesn’t.

NW’s WorldClubs didn’t either. —

Question:

Stop Bush from Drilling in the Arctic Refuge! May 17, 2001 I think this is a serious question we all need to be asking ourselves…is the ever increasing prices of petroleum really worth drilling in our nation’s wildlife refuges? Before you answer the question, think about how many wildlife refuges exist currently in the United States. The National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) is made up of 521 sanctuaries and is managed within the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). In fact, Alaska’s national wildlife refuges represent the most remarkable vestiges of America’s wilderness and wildlife heritage. Under federal law, more than 76 million acres of Alaska are protected as national wildlife refuges, accounting for more than 83% of the nation’s wildlife refuge lands. The vastness and ecological diversity of these refuges is difficult to imagine and impossible to replace. They provide essential habitat to millions of animals and protect valuable wetlands. Each of the 16 Alaskan refuges is home to a unique assortment of plant and animal life. So, exactly why are these refuges so important? The refuges provide critical habitat for endangered species, a haven for migrating waterfowl and irreplaceable laboratories for the study of wildlife. In the past decade Congress has added 80 refuges to the system, but the refuges

Question:

I don’t mean to be "funny", but it depends on what you mean by "computerized accounting system." – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All, I remember reading a little while ago (about a year ago) about how Access can be used as a computerized accounting system. If anyone has any information or a URL, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you, Marija

Response:

I don’t mean to be "funny", but it depends on what you mean by "computerized accounting system."

Like PeachTree, ACCPAC, Simply, MYOB…an accounting software package type thingy. M

Response:

Then no. Several mid to low range accounting software packages use the ‘jet’ database engine of MS Access, BUT they all have a couple of man years of code on top of the database engine.

Response:

Group: We’ve just got to get out of One Write Plus. We’ve used it from back in the "peg Strip" days, 15 years or so up the now Windows version. It does what we need–Payables( cash after the fact) holding data for CB recon, Payroll( no calcs other than taxes) Ledger,well sticks the payments into the shoe boxes. As you can see we’re not useless data output dazzled but it is now over a 4 Million business in which the average sale is over $1000. As you know One Write hangs and locks on latest Windows systems. Pain in the a–. Suggestions as to solid low level install yourself programs? I have a demo copy of QuickBooks but its too Moron oriented and therefore slow input. Thanks Jack

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Then no. Several mid to low range accounting software packages use the ‘jet’ database engine of MS Access, BUT they all have a couple of man years of code on top of the database engine.

Response:

Group: We’ve just got to get out of One Write Plus. We’ve used it from back in the "peg Strip" days, 15 years or so up the now Windows version. It does what we need–Payables( cash after the fact) holding data for CB recon, Payroll( no calcs other than taxes) Ledger,well sticks the payments into the shoe boxes. As you can see we’re not useless data output dazzled but it is now over a 4 Million business in which the average sale is over $1000. As you know One Write hangs and locks on latest Windows systems. Pain in the a–. Suggestions as to solid low level install yourself programs? I have a demo copy of QuickBooks but its too Moron oriented and therefore slow input. Thanks Jack

<snip I am giving serious consideration to SAGE and Business Works (I don’t think I’d pursue BW Gold for about 6-12 months AFTER release — it is said to be shipping w/in the next 45 days). I too was a OWPW user.  We had to go to NT w/ NTFS to get it to behave.  Upon crossing over into 2000 we tried to close 1999 and found that we could not do it.  We had the "Y2K" release and had tested to make sure it would cross over correctly.  However, 1999 could not be closed once we got into 2000.  I have also looked at QBPro.  It can’t handle things that we need to do, and as you say, it is too slow. You can contact SAGE via http://www.sota.com/businessworks/ and get a demo CD so you can try it. — Steve Thompson OSP LLC 330/335-9907 office 330/334-2097 fax Remove "_" in email address to contact me — anti-spam measures in use

Response:

I have been writting an Access Based accounting program for a Videographer that services Weddings and Corporate accounts.  Access is the most flexible system and can be customized for your business.  It does require programming and customization which is at times expensive depending on your needs.  On average the customized systems that I have created run around $800 though can run as high as $4000 depending on the level of customization.  However, I have customized systems for people for around $400.   These systems though are more a sales and receivables management systems they don’t process expenses nor do they include a chart of accounts or financial statement function yet. You can also download shareware systems from www.cnet.com or other shareware boards. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I don’t mean to be "funny", but it depends on what you mean by "computerized accounting system." Hello All, I remember reading a little while ago (about a year ago) about how Access can be used as a computerized accounting system. If anyone has any information or a URL, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you, Marija

Response:

Take a look at Peachtree.  It is not as "moronic" as QuickBooks.  It is an actual accounting package, with some very nice features.  Sage has acquired them and now there is a nice upward migration if you outgrow the software.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Group: We’ve just got to get out of One Write Plus. We’ve used it from back in the "peg Strip" days, 15 years or so up the now Windows version. It does what we need–Payables( cash after the fact) holding data for CB recon, Payroll( no calcs other than taxes) Ledger,well sticks the payments into the shoe boxes. As you can see we’re not useless data output dazzled but it is now over a 4 Million business in which the average sale is over $1000. As you know One Write hangs and locks on latest Windows systems. Pain in the a–. Suggestions as to solid low level install yourself programs? I have a demo copy of QuickBooks but its too Moron oriented and therefore slow input. Thanks Jack Then no. Several mid to low range accounting software packages use the ‘jet’ database engine of MS Access, BUT they all have a couple of man years of code on top of the database engine.

Response:

Neither is Simply Accounting, which also has an upward migration to AccPac BPI to AccPac Plus for Windows.  Uses actual debits and credits, and has some really nice features.  Can be set up to use accounting or non accounting terms, with A/R, A/P, payroll, and job costing functions. Barb – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Take a look at Peachtree.  It is not as "moronic" as QuickBooks.  It is an actual accounting package, with some very nice features.  Sage has acquired them and now there is a nice upward migration if you outgrow the software. Group: We’ve just got to get out of One Write Plus. We’ve used it from back in the "peg Strip" days, 15 years or so up the now Windows version. It does what we need–Payables( cash after the fact) holding data for CB recon, Payroll( no calcs other than taxes) Ledger,well sticks the payments into the shoe boxes. As you can see we’re not useless data output dazzled but it is now over a 4 Million business in which the average sale is over $1000. As you know One Write hangs and locks on latest Windows systems. Pain in the a–. Suggestions as to solid low level install yourself programs? I have a demo copy of QuickBooks but its too Moron oriented and therefore slow input. Thanks Jack Then no. Several mid to low range accounting software packages use the ‘jet’ database engine of MS Access, BUT they all have a couple of man years of code on top of the database engine.

Response:

… Since Sage has acquired Peachtree, they have a data migration tool for Peachtree to MAS90.  To read more about this, see http://www.us.sage.com/mas90/pdf/updated800/DataMig.pdf Thankyou.  That kind of confirms what I was told,

You mean, that the "upgrades" were, difficult, stressful, and costly? although since Sage went to the expense of coding a conversion program for the VAR’s, it appears they have made a support commitment.

" HELP!   lemme outa here.. the VARS are coming! " " Batten down the hatches!  Hold onto your wallet! " In other words, the migration in is so smooooooth and painless, after all that’s why Sage bought Peachtree, to find lots of new customers and ease them into a MAS90 relationship.  Which then can potentially cost lots of money on a recurring basis. Just having fun with this, Todd

Response:

Since Sage has acquired Peachtree, they have a data migration tool for Peachtree to MAS90.  To read more about this, see http://www.us.sage.com/mas90/pdf/updated800/DataMig.pdf Thank you. That kind of confirms what I was told, although since Sage went to the expense of coding a conversion program for the VAR’s, it appears they have made a support commitment.

Sage wants you to migrate up to Business Works or MAS90, but has not updated a QuickBooks to PT conversion product. It killed the in- process impressive PT Office SQL in favor of an $8,000 MAS90 product. It also killed or appears about to kill PT2000, which is the basis for a rather unsuccessful ePeactree webledger. In short, it seems interested in heavier products than PT and uses it only as a feeder.      Mike Block – Tax Cut CPA   World’s #1 QuickBooks Top Tester     FREE  NetLedger accounting   FREE 462p QB books/error codes 100+ QB add-ons http://blocktax.com/

Response:

… Since Sage has acquired Peachtree, they have a data migration tool for Peachtree to MAS90.  To read more about this, see http://www.us.sage.com/mas90/pdf/updated800/DataMig.pdf

Thankyou.  That kind of confirms what I was told, although since Sage went to the expense of coding a conversion program for the VAR’s, it appears they have made a support commitment. — *             Ronald Lee Todd M.B.A., C.P.A.                  * *                                                             * *  Unemployed five years, and really beginning to enjoy it.   * *                                                             * *                   Ayn Rand was right                        *

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Neither is Simply Accounting, which also has an upward migration to AccPac BPI to AccPac Plus for Windows.  … I’m just curious.  What are you folks defining as an upgrade path?  I’ve always thought it meant direct data file acceptance by the successor application.  Last time I heard anything on this, I recall, neither Peachtree or SA files data files were directly imported by anything.  I was told that the "upgrades" were, difficult, stressful, and costly. What is the situation now?

Since Sage has acquired Peachtree, they have a data migration tool for Peachtree to MAS90.  To read more about this, see http://www.us.sage.com/mas90/pdf/updated800/DataMig.pdf

Response:

Neither is Simply Accounting, which also has an upward migration to AccPac BPI to AccPac Plus for Windows.  …

I’m just curious.  What are you folks defining as an upgrade path?  I’ve always thought it meant direct data file acceptance by the successor application.  Last time I heard anything on this, I recall, neither Peachtree or SA files data files were directly imported by anything.  I was told that the "upgrades" were, difficult, stressful, and costly. What is the situation now? — *             Ronald Lee Todd M.B.A., C.P.A.                  * *                                                             * *  Unemployed five years, and really beginning to enjoy it.   * *                                                             * *                   Ayn Rand was right                        *

Response:

Hello All, I remember reading a little while ago (about a year ago) about how Access can be used as a computerized accounting system. If anyone has any information or a URL, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you, Marija

Response:

Question:

So, it’s easy.  Change the policy of paying out before the revenue is received.  Informs your customers that they now have 15 days in which to pay and informs your employees that they will be paid only when all paper work is received and processed.  Charge late fees and finance charges and follow up!  Offer a 3% discount to those who pay upon job completion.  Work to GET your cash and KEEP it.  Always work from the position that you will be using someone else’s money.  Cut expenses! I know you will be told that these are all necessary expenses…  hehe Offer bonuses on NET income.  Budget certain expenses and require proper authorization (and accountability) for expenditures. It’s called cash management.

 By golly I have been looking for some good advice from farmers…Thank you for posting that…Do you get your government check once per month or — Cody & Helen Hart The Laughing Cantalope Inc. Osceola, IA. http://www.laughingcantalope.com http://www.myshipmodels.com

Response:

So, it’s easy.  Change the policy of paying out before the revenue is received.  Informs your customers that they now have 15 days in which to pay and informs your employees that they will be paid only when all paper work is received and processed.  Charge late fees and finance charges and follow up!  Offer a 3% discount to those who pay upon job completion.  Work to GET your cash and KEEP it.  Always work from the position that you will be using someone else’s money.  Cut expenses! I know you will be told that these are all necessary expenses…  hehe Offer bonuses on NET income.  Budget certain expenses and require proper authorization (and accountability) for expenditures.   It’s called cash management.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all! Can anyone give me any advice on how to properly manage my cash flow. I take take care of the entire Accounting department where I work and the volume of transactions is increasing and I must admit that I lack the proper experience in this aspect. Can anyone help me?

Response:

Urk… I’m no accountant and no CPA but I did run a company of a similar nature and run into similar situations.  The biggest problem was cash-flow and the biggest solution to that problem was to (a) be VERY specific about precision in any thing the company committed itself to … task-orders, lengthy but common-sense contracts … and (b) always get 25% to 50% down.  Any prospect that could not do that was not a prospect at all.  We discarded a fair number of unprofitable customers, and suffered through quite a few more, before grasping the essentials of how to make THAT determination.  Plus, we also discovered that a business like this requires an amazing amount of liquid cash…  so much so, in fact, that we eventually shifted our core-business completely. "Cash flow" and "simply having too many promises and not enough cash" and "being drastically mistaken whether we should have taken on this project or not" turned out to be very different, non-accounting(!) problems!  :-{ It is an Intenet Training and Web Developing Company.   We also do a bit of Consulting. Can anyone give me any advice on how to properly manage my cash flow. Yann Brisebois Senior Bookkeeper/Commis Comptable Principal Internet Institute/Institut de l’Internet — http://www.net-inst.com Tel.:(613) 233-5751 ext./poste:314 – Fax/Telec.: (613) 233-5767

Sundial Services :: Scottsdale, AZ (USA) :: (480) 946-8259 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Why =shouldn’t= it be quick and easy to keep your database online? ChimneySweep(R):  "Click click, it’s fixed!" {tm} http://www.sundialservices.com/cs3web.htm

Response:

You need a computerised bookkeeping system, prepare a proper cash flow forecast & discuss it with your bank manager.  If you are desperate, phone your company’s auditors for help Best wishes Stephen Cowley

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all! Can anyone give me any advice on how to properly manage my cash flow. I take take care of the entire Accounting department where I work and the volume of transactions is increasing and I must admit that I lack the proper experience in this aspect. Can anyone help me? — Yann Brisebois Senior Bookkeeper/Commis Comptable Principal Internet Institute/Institut de l’Internet — http://www.net-inst.com Tel.:(613) 233-5751 ext./poste:314 – Fax/Telec.: (613) 233-5767

Response:

Because his A/R turn is slower than A/P turn, this is a serious problem, sales predictability notwithstanding Without funding outside of operations, this is a very difficult situation to sustain.

Basically, as you note, unless you increase the investment in the business (whether through debt or capital), there is a maximum level of sales you can sustain.  In a case like this, you should be able to find the level of growth at which you would "grow broke" and be a victim of your own success unless additional resources can be found. It’s very important that your marketing people understand this dynamic and that part of groundwork for enabling growth is to find the funds to make it happen.  It’s also important to remember that as important as *making* the sale is *collecting* the sale–and that may influence who you want to market to.

Response:

budget and predict sales, no one could validate my sales forecast (I’m not in a position to make sales forecasts which is why validation is essential)…Without a sound sales forecast, it is very hard to predict cash inflows…

Or to predict expenses! Sounds like growth is especially hard on your cash flow, even without inventory! Is there some way that you can track sales leads? If your salespeople are closing a certain percentage of their contacts, perhaps you can predict sales that way somehow. Without a good handle on expected sales, I’m afraid that it’s going to be pretty hard for you to predict your cash flow. You might even want to limit your sales because of it if you are not able to finance your expansion properly — many profitable businesses have failed because they grew too fast. — Brad Crockett Duncan BC Canada members.home.net/canbooks

Response:

Because his A/R turn is slower than A/P turn, this is a serious problem, sales predictability notwithstanding Without funding outside of operations, this is a very difficult situation to sustain. Yann, first I would try to get a handle on your fixed costs as this has to be paid regrdless of sales. I used to do a schedule, per week, that projected out one month, on a spreadsheet, both fixed and variable costs and inflows. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – budget and predict sales, no one could validate my sales forecast (I’m not in a position to make sales forecasts which is why validation is essential)…Without a sound sales forecast, it is very hard to predict cash inflows… Or to predict expenses! Sounds like growth is especially hard on your cash flow, even without inventory! Is there some way that you can track sales leads? If your salespeople are closing a certain percentage of their contacts, perhaps you can predict sales that way somehow. Without a good handle on expected sales, I’m afraid that it’s going to be pretty hard for you to predict your cash flow. You might even want to limit your sales because of it if you are not able to finance your expansion properly — many profitable businesses have failed because they grew too fast. — Brad Crockett Duncan BC Canada members.home.net/canbooks

Response:

Yann, first I would try to get a handle on your fixed costs as this has to be paid regrdless of sales. I used to

Yes, that should be done too, Yann! — Brad Crockett Duncan BC Canada members.home.net/canbooks

Response:

Thanks for the good advice…Many of these things I am doing, except I will definately need to refine them…Three things that are particular about our situation a) We are a fast growing company with alot of expenditures, that are unavoidable…We find ourselves paying consultants for their work done way before we are ready to invoice our client…I lost this fight… b) Before I started working there, they had a very basic accounting system with no real way of keeping track of sales…Therefore, when it came time to make the budget and predict sales, no one could validate my sales forecast (I’m not in a position to make sales forecasts which is why validation is essential)…Without a sound sales forecast, it is very hard to predict cash inflows… c) 80% of our clients are government which usually pay 40 to 45 days after the service in rendered in full, we pay our trainers net 30 days…This is another problem… Any additional advice would be greatly appreciated… Yann – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It is an Intenet Training and Web Developing Company.   We also do a bit of Consulting. OK. The first thing to do is to get a handle on how quickly you are collecting on your receivables. If you have a few customers that make up a big chunk of your revenue, see if you can nail down exactly when you expect to deposit their payments to the bank. Otherwise, see if you can figure out what percentage of your month’s sales will be collected the same month, after 30 days, after 60 days, etc. (You may want to break that and everything else that follows all down to semi-monthly or bi-weekly periods depending on your payroll.) Then try and project what your sales are going to be in the coming periods. (You might want to do an ‘optimistic’ and a ‘worst case’ forcast.) Take your projected sales multiplied by the percentage that you expect to collect that month to get an expected cash inflow from current month’s sales. Do the same for the previous 30, 60, 90, etc. (or you can use current, 15 day, 30 day, 45 day periods – whatever you feel is more appropriate for you…) Do you have a spreadsheet set up yet? That’s probably the best place to work all this out…. Do all of these calculations to try and come up with an expected cash inflow for the period. Now set up what your expected cash outflows will be. Your payroll is probably the first outflow that you want to project. Do you plan on expanding/hiring more staff? Are there any big projects coming up? Include the full amount that you expect to pay for any capital purchases. Are you going to be purchasing/upgrading any equipment? Will you be buying, leasing? If you’re leasing, put the lease payments into the appropriate periods. If you will be making any payment on loans, a line of credit, mortgages, etc., add them in to your outflows for the appropriate periods. If you plan on taking out any loans, add them into your inflows. You get the idea. Anything that goes into or out of your bank account, account for it! Plan as far ahead as you feel is useful. Give us some more details about your situation – perhaps there are some specifics that you would like to know how to handle? — Brad Crockett Duncan BC Canada members.home.net/canbooks

Response:

It is an Intenet Training and Web Developing Company.   We also do a bit of Consulting. Can anyone give me any advice on how to properly manage my cash flow. What sort of an organization are you talking about? Do you have inventory? Are you in manufacturing? — Brad Crockett Duncan BC Canada members.home.net/canbooks

– Yann Brisebois Senior Bookkeeper/Commis Comptable Principal Internet Institute/Institut de l’Internet — http://www.net-inst.com Tel.:(613) 233-5751 ext./poste:314 – Fax/Telec.: (613) 233-5767

Response:

It is an Intenet Training and Web Developing Company.   We also do a bit of Consulting.

OK. The first thing to do is to get a handle on how quickly you are collecting on your receivables. If you have a few customers that make up a big chunk of your revenue, see if you can nail down exactly when you expect to deposit their payments to the bank. Otherwise, see if you can figure out what percentage of your month’s sales will be collected the same month, after 30 days, after 60 days, etc. (You may want to break that and everything else that follows all down to semi-monthly or bi-weekly periods depending on your payroll.) Then try and project what your sales are going to be in the coming periods. (You might want to do an ‘optimistic’ and a ‘worst case’ forcast.) Take your projected sales multiplied by the percentage that you expect to collect that month to get an expected cash inflow from current month’s sales. Do the same for the previous 30, 60, 90, etc. (or you can use current, 15 day, 30 day, 45 day periods – whatever you feel is more appropriate for you…) Do you have a spreadsheet set up yet? That’s probably the best place to work all this out…. Do all of these calculations to try and come up with an expected cash inflow for the period. Now set up what your expected cash outflows will be. Your payroll is probably the first outflow that you want to project. Do you plan on expanding/hiring more staff? Are there any big projects coming up? Include the full amount that you expect to pay for any capital purchases. Are you going to be purchasing/upgrading any equipment? Will you be buying, leasing? If you’re leasing, put the lease payments into the appropriate periods. If you will be making any payment on loans, a line of credit, mortgages, etc., add them in to your outflows for the appropriate periods. If you plan on taking out any loans, add them into your inflows. You get the idea. Anything that goes into or out of your bank account, account for it! Plan as far ahead as you feel is useful. Give us some more details about your situation – perhaps there are some specifics that you would like to know how to handle? — Brad Crockett Duncan BC Canada members.home.net/canbooks

Response:

Hi all! Can anyone give me any advice on how to properly manage my cash flow. I take take care of the entire Accounting department where I work and the volume of transactions is increasing and I must admit that I lack the proper experience in this aspect. Can anyone help me? — Yann Brisebois Senior Bookkeeper/Commis Comptable Principal Internet Institute/Institut de l’Internet — http://www.net-inst.com Tel.:(613) 233-5751 ext./poste:314 – Fax/Telec.: (613) 233-5767

Response:

Can anyone give me any advice on how to properly manage my cash flow.

What sort of an organization are you talking about? Do you have inventory? Are you in manufacturing? — Brad Crockett Duncan BC Canada members.home.net/canbooks

Response:

Question:

The audit software might have a longer shelf life, but I don’t recall hearing anything specific on it yet.

It appears that RIA/Thomson is pushing the audit package in the CLR bundle they bought–I had my RIA representative push it just this week.  I use that as a kind of litmus test for what Thomson’s official plans are for things they acquire–if they have initial plans to keep developing it, I tend to hear from my RIA rep <grin. The big hitch, of course, is that Thomson and the entities it controls have changed directions so often in many of these areas that you can get whiplash easily <grin.

Response:

We made a crack or two about a vendor’s software being road kill and one part of Thompson being a puppet to another part of Thompson in a letter to one-time subscribers who wanted to resubscribe–they just didn’t know that til they got the letter.  Among those whose subs had expired were a couple of Thompsonees, so…. One from the headquarters called and tried to explain the corporate structure of Thompson that he said we got wrong.  Two others from one branch called and gave me a different corporate tree while they took exception to the tone of my opinions as expressed in the letter.  If it weren’t such a waste of everybody’s time, I’d publish both versions next issue.  My bottom line to both was, Figure yourself out before you try to explain it to me. But that’s never stopped their sales force from forcing sales. Franklynn Peterson, Editor CPA Computer Report newsletter 3006 Gregory St., Madison WI 53711 608-231-1003 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It appears that RIA/Thomson is pushing the audit package in the CLR bundle they bought–I had my RIA representative push it just this week.  I use that as a kind of litmus test for what Thomson’s official plans are for things they acquire–if they have initial plans to keep developing it, I tend to hear from my RIA rep <grin. The big hitch, of course, is that Thomson and the entities it controls have changed directions so often in many of these areas that you can get whiplash easily <grin.

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But that’s never stopped their sales force from forcing sales.

The general direction of Thomson is clear–becoming a "one stop shopping" location for professional practices.  However, when they acquire firms that have competing products, it will almost always be the case that one of the products is done for, even if it takes awhile to get there <grin.

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Surprise surprise.  CLR, the company that sold your firm GoSystem Audit and GS Fund got sold to Thompson publishing empire (also own Creative Solutions, SCS Computer, PPC, RIA research, the publishers of Accounting Today, Accounting Technology, Practical Accountant).

A hearty thanks for this information, Frank.  I hadn’t really hoisted this in.   You have to ask, what the hell are these guys thinking???? Do you think these components add up to any kind of synergy? I can’t imagine how. Of course when a larger or technically superior product buys a smaller one, nobody is surprised when the smaller product is merged into the large one. But Thompson almpst seems to be pursuing a "conglomerate" strategy of the kind that went out of style in the 1960s (i.e. diversification conglomerates where it isn’t even expected to work together, and the end result is loss of focus in the operating units.) I hope I’m not misjudging this.  the other scenarios seem so unlikely though.  e.g. a benevolent investor collecting these components to take better care of them?  nah.  an ingenious investor, who is going to weave these components into a higher level cognitive tools, for knowledge management?  By building the knowledge of RIA into Gosystem? nah. That is going to be done so much better by the XML and XFRML technolgy.  When these DTDs are completed for the accounting and finance domain, it will enable knowledge based software, like AI software.  Tools for accountants, that work at higher level cognitive processes.   Everybody knows XFRML will enable data interoperability.  YES, there will be a standard data format.  But that isn’t the level where most CPAs add value anyway.  It does no good for CPAs if all the world’s acccounting systems are interfaced better or run better. Or if Thompson builds RIA and PPC workflow into Gosystem, or even if they build XFRML interfaces on all those product so they can be linked to AccPac, Solomon, or Peachtree. Whatever CPAs do, that adds value, doesnt’ even begin until we get finished with all the bookkeeping work and building various reports on the numbers.  Then we do the good stuff, giving consulting advice.  That’s our place, in the value chain. When all the accounting reports are available in XML,then, the kinds of analyses that follow, in prepration for the higher level consulting process, will be possible to automate to some degree and you don’t have to buy all the companies to accomplish that. There is no advantage because your inter-product interface is not proprietary. Whats interesting, then is exploring the wholly uncharted territory of future AI applications for finance and accoutning. And how they will be brought downmarket into the small business marketplace by CPAs. I guess a roadmap into that territory might be found in the various analyses that are applied to companies by stock analysts.  Graphs, trends, metrics like return on capital, return per employee, turnover, all those things.  One kind of application that *anybody* could begin writing today, would be simply a compendium of all the 50 most popular financial ratios in use today for stock analysis, which you can get from lots of free and shareware and Excel spreadsheets. But you would bolt on an XML interface on the front end, for the popular DTDs e.g. XFRML.  The beauty of this product is that it doesn’t matter too much what version of DTD the source data arrives in, because XML is intrinsically self-describing.  It can be transformed with XSL. Looking into the more distant future, the domain software for CPAs has got to move, incrementally, higher into teh knowledge space… But it is not clear how this would occur.  There would be many horizontal branches, and vertical branches, that are just doing the same mechanical reconstituting the data or its presentation such as for an IPO.  But those are also dead-obvious XML applications that developers are surely writing already, today.   The thing that is reallllly interesting is automating more of the expert domain for example by drawing upon environment data such as the market my client is selling into.  Or, perhaps, his history of success or failure in X,Y,Z such as retention and motivation of his personnel, and whether those things are critical to his business strategy in future.  Or strictly local environment changes.  When you have 100 clients and all your clients’ data is in some accessible format such as XML, you can form hypotheses about local economic changes such as state tax developments, local labor markets etc and apply that to all your clients in a systematic way… I like local applications because intuit or microsoft (or thompson) can’t take them away quite so easily. * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * 9745-128th Av NE, Kirkland WA 98033       (425) 827-3107 * XML accounting, web ledger, ASP, GL Dialtone, whatever it takes

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We recently started using GoSystem, however, it’s already been dubbed by many the StopSystem. Surprise surprise.  CLR, the company that sold your firm GoSystem Audit and GS Fund got sold to Thompson publishing empire

FastTax’ GoSystem had the funniest error message I ever saw on any production software, this was right after its introduction around 1987.  This was about the time the 1986 Tax Reform act destroyed all teh tax software in the country. FastTax’ GoSystem were using their own, homegrown relational database called FADS, which would go into a panic and thrash itself to death every so often,   |   |   SHUT ‘ER DOWN CASEY   |    SHE’S PUMPIN’ MUD   | I guess some of their programmers had come out of th oil industry <G Todd

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I will no doubt steal that line for our October issue.  Thanks! Franklynn Peterson, Editor CPA Computer Report newsletter 3006 Gregory St., Madison WI 53711 608-231-1003 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We recently started using GoSystem, however, it’s already been dubbed by many the StopSystem.

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We recently started using GoSystem, however, it’s already been dubbed by many the StopSystem. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Surprise surprise.  CLR, the company that sold your firm GoSystem Audit and GS Fund got sold to Thompson publishing empire (also own Creative Solutions, SCS Computer, PPC, RIA research, the publishers of Accounting Today, Accounting Technology, Practical Accountant).  So I’d go slow with Go/System.  Their writeup package was transferred to Creative Solutions which will support it til 10/00.  The audit software might have a longer shelf life, but I don’t recall hearing anything specific on it yet. Franklynn Peterson, Editor CPA Computer Report newsletter 3006 Gregory St, Madison WI 53711 608-231-1003 The firm I work for uses Go-System Audit and Go-System Fund.  I’ve only been there a few months, but both seem very easy to use, they allow for Journal Entries, generate nice reports, though it can be a lot of work to build them if a custom report is needed, and the audit program has nice write up features.  I don’t know about the exporting to tax programs though.  Hope thats helpful. Anthony Hi. Can someone recommend a good trial balance software? My company is currently using ATB for Windows, which was sold by the AICPA to Creative Systems. I spoke with Creative Systems who said they would suppport ATB for about another 12-18 months before phasing out ATB. It seems going to Creative Systems’s trial balance or write-up software would seem to the way to go but after speaking with customer service and sales, they seem less than friendly. They won’t even mail a demo unless they think the customer is ready to buy from them (almost immediately) so one can’t even test out their software. Does someone have any good experience with a good trial balance software that would allow journal entries (i.e. general, adjusting) as well as easy to use features and export/link features to tax software like those found in ATB for Windows? Thank you in advance.

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Surprise surprise.  CLR, the company that sold your firm GoSystem Audit and GS Fund got sold to Thompson publishing empire (also own Creative Solutions, SCS Computer, PPC, RIA research, the publishers of Accounting Today, Accounting Technology, Practical Accountant).  So I’d go slow with Go/System.  Their writeup package was transferred to Creative Solutions which will support it til 10/00.  The audit software might have a longer shelf life, but I don’t recall hearing anything specific on it yet. Franklynn Peterson, Editor CPA Computer Report newsletter 3006 Gregory St, Madison WI 53711 608-231-1003

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The firm I work for uses Go-System Audit and Go-System Fund.  I’ve only been there a few months, but both seem very easy to use, they allow for Journal Entries, generate nice reports, though it can be a lot of work to build them if a custom report is needed, and the audit program has nice write up features.  I don’t know about the exporting to tax programs though.  Hope thats helpful. Anthony Hi. Can someone recommend a good trial balance software? My company is currently using ATB for Windows, which was sold by the AICPA to Creative Systems. I spoke with Creative Systems who said they would suppport ATB for about another 12-18 months before phasing out ATB. It seems going to Creative Systems’s trial balance or write-up software would seem to the way to go but after speaking with customer service and sales, they seem less than friendly. They won’t even mail a demo unless they think the customer is ready to buy from them (almost immediately) so one can’t even test out their software. Does someone have any good experience with a good trial balance software that would allow journal entries (i.e. general, adjusting) as well as easy to use features and export/link features to tax software like those found in ATB for Windows? Thank you in advance.

Response:

The firm I work for uses Go-System Audit and Go-System Fund.  I’ve only been there a few months, but both seem very easy to use, they allow for Journal Entries, generate nice reports, though it can be a lot of work to build them if a custom report is needed, and the audit program has nice write up features.  I don’t know about the exporting to tax programs though.  Hope thats helpful. Anthony

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. Can someone recommend a good trial balance software? My company is currently using ATB for Windows, which was sold by the AICPA to Creative Systems. I spoke with Creative Systems who said they would suppport ATB for about another 12-18 months before phasing out ATB. It seems going to Creative Systems’s trial balance or write-up software would seem to the way to go but after speaking with customer service and sales, they seem less than friendly. They won’t even mail a demo unless they think the customer is ready to buy from them (almost immediately) so one can’t even test out their software. Does someone have any good experience with a good trial balance software that would allow journal entries (i.e. general, adjusting) as well as easy to use features and export/link features to tax software like those found in ATB for Windows? Thank you in advance.

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Couple of possibilities: Caseware http://www.caseware.com/home.asp Audit Vision – by CCH http://www.prosystemfx.com/products/buildframe.asp?wantframe=/product… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. Can someone recommend a good trial balance software? My company is currently using ATB for Windows, which was sold by the AICPA to Creative Systems. I spoke with Creative Systems who said they would suppport ATB for about another 12-18 months before phasing out ATB. It seems going to Creative Systems’s trial balance or write-up software would seem to the way to go but after speaking with customer service and sales, they seem less than friendly. They won’t even mail a demo unless they think the customer is ready to buy from them (almost immediately) so one can’t even test out their software. Does someone have any good experience with a good trial balance software that would allow journal entries (i.e. general, adjusting) as well as easy to use features and export/link features to tax software like those found in ATB for Windows? Thank you in advance.

Response:

Hi. Can someone recommend a good trial balance software? My company is currently using ATB for Windows, which was sold by the AICPA to Creative Systems. I spoke with Creative Systems who said they would suppport ATB for about another 12-18 months before phasing out ATB. It seems going to Creative Systems’s trial balance or write-up software would seem to the way to go but after speaking with customer service and sales, they seem less than friendly. They won’t even mail a demo unless they think the customer is ready to buy from them (almost immediately) so one can’t even test out their software. Does someone have any good experience with a good trial balance software that would allow journal entries (i.e. general, adjusting) as well as easy to use features and export/link features to tax software like those found in ATB for Windows? Thank you in advance.

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Question:

I’m looking at getting into a joint ownership situation (just a small weekend flyer type – C-140 or so, no business trips, IFR, etc.) and was wondering from the group what is typically done in the real world.  I know the benefits of incorporating or forming an LLC (limited liability company – i.e., a corporate form that is treated as a partnership for federal & state tax purposes.)  I like the limited liability idea, but all the recordkeeping (federal & state tax filings, property tax returns, etc.) associated with these forms are a pain in the ass.  Besides, when it comes time to sell the airplane, then you’ve got taxes associated with capital gains, dissolution of the corporation, etc. & I’d just as soon tell the feds to keep their nose out of it.  Would it be a bad idea just to form a loose partnership (but ALL written out in an agreement before hand to address all the sticky issues) and just make sure the plane is well insured to cover everyone involved? What does everyone out there do? Thanks in advance. Doug B.

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We chose to go the S-corp route.  I think if I had it to do again, I’d probably do an LLC.  I don’t know if the corporate shell will protect us in event of a high liability accident, but we hope so, or we would not be doing this. You need to keep good financial records in a parntership, whether a company or not, so that overhead is not new.  The only real overhead that is new is the taxes.  After doing it a few times, and using a good accounting program for daily financials (such as Quickbooks), I find the taxes are only a few hours work once a year.  I don’t mind it if it will give me some protection. Just my $0.02. Joel Larner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m looking at getting into a joint ownership situation (just a small weekend flyer type – C-140 or so, no business trips, IFR, etc.) and was wondering from the group what is typically done in the real world.  I know the benefits of incorporating or forming an LLC (limited liability company – i.e., a corporate form that is treated as a partnership for federal & state tax purposes.)  I like the limited liability idea, but all the recordkeeping (federal & state tax filings, property tax returns, etc.) associated with these forms are a pain in the ass.  Besides, when it comes time to sell the airplane, then you’ve got taxes associated with capital gains, dissolution of the corporation, etc. & I’d just as soon tell the feds to keep their nose out of it.  Would it be a bad idea just to form a loose partnership (but ALL written out in an agreement before hand to address all the sticky issues) and just make sure the plane is well insured to cover everyone involved? What does everyone out there do? Thanks in advance. Doug B.

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Question:

An old friend of mine was moving this weekend and stopped by to say his farewells.  He had something in his hand that I couldn’t make out until he got closer.  It turned out to be a fairly rust covered Stanley Bailey.  His grandfather used it quite frequently when Charlie was just a little sprout, but he had no use for it.  He gladly gave it up – visited for a few, and left.  I immediately took it AS IS to a piece of scrap on the floor and what shavings I made!  Cleaned it up, (never even sharpened the blade yet) and now has a place in standing in my "dedicated" plane drawer.  Also got creative and built a little something extra for my Dewalt 12-1/2.  The pic is on alt.binaries.pictures. furniture.  It weighs a ton, but the old lawn mower wheels nicely move around where I need it.  Thank God for scrap 4×4 stock and 2×12’s. — Jim Mc Namara Future Collectibles Sugar Land, Texas

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Nice gloat, JIM! Nice to see an old plane put to good use, instead of in some snotty collector’s lot.   There’s no accounting for friendship! Woodchipz

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He’s been a good friend for about 7 years . . . been through a lot together. I think he knew the value as a collector piece, but knew I’d put it to good use. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nice gloat, JIM! Nice to see an old plane put to good use, instead of in some snotty collector’s lot. There’s no accounting for friendship! Woodchipz

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An old friend of mine was moving this weekend and stopped by to say his farewells.  He had something in his hand that I couldn’t make out until he got closer.  It turned out to be a fairly rust covered Stanley Bailey.  

<Snip    Interesting, yesterday afternoon, while I was out at the picnic table putting the final touches on a clock case I had just made, my neighbor walked into the back yard and asked me to come with him for a minute. He took me out to his pick-up truck parked in front of my house.  There was some heavy iron on the bed.  Two old cast iron 12" planers, one was a Sears Roebuck, the other a Parks Woodworking machine.    I own a DeWalt 12.5" but… I now have the Parks in my garage.  Cast iron base, three bladed head, a magnetic starter switch, clutch driven infeed roller, and is dual V-belt driven by a gigantic physically sized motor.  I suspect although huge, the HP rating is probable 3/4 (I can’t see the face plate with out removing the motor).    I switched the unit over from 220V to 110V to see if it works (no 220V in the garage) and it purrs.  Much quieter than the DeWalt.     SWMBO wanted to know what I planned to do with another planer, saying it will be in the way. (It reminded me of bringing home a stray puppy and being told that I couldn’t keep it.)  Although I really can’t figure out why I’d need two planers, I just smiled and said, "We’ll think of something." Jack Novak

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Question:

I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens?

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For me, the answer is yes. Other lenses that also have similar budget, 35/2D, 85/1.8D and 50/1.4D ($250-350). Asmuni.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens?

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Most of the worlds most famous photographs were taken with a "standard" focal length. The nikkor 50mm f1.8 AF is one of the best standard length lenses in existance. I own it and highly recommend it. Go to a camera shop and check one out. It will add a new perspective to the way you photograph, and may even turn out to be the lens you use the most. George……

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<<I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens? Greetings! I have quite a collection of 50mm lenses, including AF.  I use that focal length for some group shots,copy work, astrophotography, sports, and indoor activities at the schools where I volunteer.  I tend to shoot fixed focal lengths rather than zooms, although I do find zooms convenient for some things.  The 50mm is typically inexpensive, and well corrected.  It is just another focal length in my bag to use when the occasion arises. Best regards, Gary L. Meador Odessa, TX

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For me 24mm is a bit too wide for general landscape work. My favorite for the format is 35-40mm range. For wide, 28mm. But between 24 and 50, I used a 50 much more.  The natural, relaxed perspective suits many landscape subjects for me. But hey, don’t listen to me or anyone for that matter. Decide for yourself what suits your vision. You may find yourself using the 85mm more for landscape…. If you have a 24 & 85, a 50 makes alot of sense. I think you will find many uses for it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens?

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I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens?

I use 50mm 90% of time. 50mm is a bit weak for landscape, I admit.  But I think landscape is only situation where perspective come into play and there is not much a photographer can do. For all other situation, I got used to zoom with my feet. I.e. physically move away/closer to my subject.  For portrait, perspective doesn’t come into play (don’t quote me on this) because of the shallow depth of field. The only problem with taking portrait using 50mm is that I have to get pretty darn close to the subject, which make the subject nerverous. People usually use 35mm or less for indoor shot, I find I can get away with 50mm.  fast lens means more creative latitude in terms of exposure and depth of field. I found that most modern zoom does give photographer more freedom in terms of composition, but a typical f/3.3-5.6 max apature usually means less, if any freedom in terms of different shutter speed/apature combination. I really wish there is a 35-70mm f/1.4 that weight less than a pound.   But I don’t think that is possible. In the mean while, I’ll stick with my 50mm. Harv —

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Exactly the same for me. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <<I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens? Greetings! I have quite a collection of 50mm lenses, including AF.  I use that focal length for some group shots,copy work, astrophotography, sports, and indoor activities at the schools where I volunteer.  I tend to shoot fixed focal lengths rather than zooms, although I do find zooms convenient for some things.  The 50mm is typically inexpensive, and well corrected.  It is just another focal length in my bag to use when the occasion arises. Best regards, Gary L. Meador Odessa, TX

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I use 50mm for 80% of my photography.  In fact, when I have to go out with one lens and one flash only, I’d bring my 50mm lens. The reasons are because that a 50mm has best optical quality and distortion correction in any given lens line, I believe.  And also, because it is fast (mine is f/1.4) for low light situation.  And the 50mm is light and compact. For composition, although a 50mm is often not capable of capturing the whole landscape, I can always find an area within the landscape to concentrate in. This actually helped me to improve my vision of photography. Good shooting. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens?

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Me for one…this has got to be the best quality lens (regardless of brand) for the $$$ around, and because most photographers believe they have to have something different to a ’standard’ lens to take a great photo, by using one, you shoot a different visual perspective to most modern amateur/semi pro photgraphers.  To re-iterate what a previous post said, most of the great photos were taken with a standard lens, be it Cartier-Bressson with a 50mm Snap on a ’standard’ and concentrate on what you are photgraphing, use your feet to zoom and you will be amazed at what you can achieve……at very high optical quality.

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I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens?

I have a 50mm f/1.8 and to be honest I can’t think of a specific type of photography that really needs it either. And yet I use it 31% of the time. So I guess, for me, it falls into the "damn near anytime" catagory. Its a fantastic lens. David — Naomi and David Duffy Pictures of my little corner of Japan: http://www.synapse.ne.jp/~fiddlydi/gallery/

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In my "most used lenses" kit, I carry 20mm, 50mm, 85mm and 70-300mm. The frequency of use is more like 50mm, 20mm, 85mm and 70-300mm, with the 50 accounting for over 80% of my picture taking. It’s small, light, sharp and fast. And the focal length is just about right for more subjects than most other lenses. Godfrey

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I own/use 50mm f1.4, and use it for a few different things. (I recently moved from Minolta —Nikon, but I used the 50mm Minolta for the same stuff.) Many museums, galleries and similar places don’t mind cameras but they do mind flash photography. For those instances, the lens is ideal, and for the price of the lens, why not own it? Other good things about a 50mm lens: No zooming = one less distraction when taking a picture. Good for practicing the more technical aspects of photography, i.e. Set camera on manual, load slide film, use a lightmeter, bracket exposures and take notes or use a data back and see just what kind of mistakes you’re making with exposure. Finally, a 50mm lens is about as small and light as they come. — Eric Edelman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens?

Response:

50mm lenses, being approx. the same field of view as the human eye give a good general purpose lens.  It isn’t the best at landscapes or portraits, but will do both pretty well.  It is great for a lot of indoor shots and various other general purpose uses.  As you stated, they are ultra-fast and innexpensive.  They alow you to shoot in situations you otherwise wouldn’t be able to.  When I am shooting sports in non-professional facilities without TV lighting and the inability to use flash, sometimes I use my 50/1.4 instead of my 80-200/2.8.  Even though it is not an optimal focal length, it provides proper stop-action which 2.8 would not provide in these hostile environments.  You have to get closer, but you will get images you otherwise wouldn’t be able to, even with the proper focal length. 50mm lenses have also been sold and manufactured for the longest time.   For this reason they are optically supperior to much, much more expensive lenses.  For this reason, if you can use a 50mm without sacrificing the image it is probably a better choice.  It will provide the best and largest enlargements possible without distortion.  Nearly all 50mm lenses (even the cheap f1.8 ones) have the highest resolving power out of any lenses.  For maximum resolution images it is the only choice.

: Exactly the same for me.

: <<I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For : lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. : However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how : cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light : photography the only application of this lens? : : Greetings! : : I have quite a collection of 50mm lenses, including AF.  I use that focal : length for some group shots,copy work, astrophotography, sports, and indoor : activities at the schools where I volunteer.  I tend to shoot fixed focal : lengths rather than zooms, although I do find zooms convenient for some things. :  The 50mm is typically inexpensive, and well corrected.  It is just another : focal length in my bag to use when the occasion arises. : : Best regards, : Gary L. Meador : Odessa, TX — Thomas M. Sapiano

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50 are underrated and underused! I love my 50 1.4! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In my "most used lenses" kit, I carry 20mm, 50mm, 85mm and 70-300mm. The frequency of use is more like 50mm, 20mm, 85mm and 70-300mm, with the 50 accounting for over 80% of my picture taking. It’s small, light, sharp and fast. And the focal length is just about right for more subjects than most other lenses. Godfrey In my "most used lenses" kit, I carry 20mm, 50mm, 85mm and 70-300mm. The frequency of use is more like 50mm, 20mm, 85mm and 70-300mm, with the 50 accounting for over 80% of my picture taking. It’s small, light, sharp and fast. And the focal length is just about right for more subjects than most other lenses. Godfrey

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I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens? I have a 50mm f/1.8 and to be honest I can’t think of a specific type of photography that really needs it either. And yet I use it 31% of the time. So I guess, for me, it falls into the "damn near anytime" catagory. Its a fantastic lens.

I have a 50mm f/2, i use it all the time.  Well, i can’t afford a different lens but i haven’t come to a situation where i absolutely needed a different lens, i would just physically move.  I have wanted some type of telephoto a couple times, but i’m saving for that. James – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – David — Naomi and David Duffy Pictures of my little corner of Japan: http://www.synapse.ne.jp/~fiddlydi/gallery/

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I think most of us will remember the times when most cameras came with the inevitable 50mm lens as a kit, so it became a very "uncool" lens to use. The reality is some of the greatest shots of the 35mm era were made with this focal length. Maybe this lens will start making a comeback now that every new camera kit comes with the inevitable 28-80 or whatever zoom. Considering that the 80 mm in medium format (I am thinking Hasselblad) which corresponds to 50mm, is very much the staple there (of course the Hassy lens prices do not help much), I wonder if we are not spoiled for choice at 35mm? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens?

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I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens?

You say that as if low light photography is some sort of niche.  Many of us do quite a lot of low light work.  I’d love to switch to a 58mm f/1.2noct but my checking account says no .  I find that the focal length works well for a lot of my work.  I’d love to have some more super fast lenses that are a little wider or narrower (like the 28mm, 35mm and 85mm 1.4’s) but again these cost a lot of money, especially when they are seriously lacking on ther other end of the scale (28mm sucks for closeups, 85mm sucks for wide shots) which means I’d need all of them.  The 50mm is a good compromise and the f/1.8 is cheap and very sharp.  It’s also very compact and light weight. Even when I’m not working in low light, I like shallow depth of field so the wide aperature is still a favorite (there must be some reason there’s a 1/8000 second speed on my camera ). –Bill Davidson

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I remember seeing an aarticle about 5 years ago or so in POP photography[?] that had this picture of Dallas at night shot with a 50mm nikor lens on an F3- beautiful photo- was one of the highest grossing pictures of all time earned the photographer about $250K in income for stock sales and picture use. Not too bad in an era of autofocus and mega zooms costing mega bucks. Nothing like just knowing what to do and being there at the right light – but that’s a whole other thread topic! 50mm lenses are great for many things and still can lead to great photos.  I agree that zooms are good for certain things but  a 50mm lens should be in everones camera bag.

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50mm lenses are great for many things and still can lead to great photos.

I got some really great shots of the Hale-Bopp comet a couple years back with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4. It’s a great lens!

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens? I have a 50mm f/1.8 and to be honest I can’t think of a specific type of photography that really needs it either. And yet I use it 31% of the time. So I guess, for me, it falls into the "damn near anytime" catagory. Its a fantastic lens. I have a 50mm f/2, i use it all the time.  Well, i can’t afford a different lens but i haven’t come to a situation where i absolutely needed a different lens, i would just physically move.  I have wanted some type of telephoto a couple times, but i’m saving for that. James David — Naomi and David Duffy Pictures of my little corner of Japan: http://www.synapse.ne.jp/~fiddlydi/gallery/ It is a very sharp lens, I use it for full lenght potraits and a few other

situations where I want to go with a prime rather than a general purpose zoom. Rgds John Iversen

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50mm lenses are great for many things and still can lead to great photos. I got some really great shots of the Hale-Bopp comet a couple years back with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4. It’s a great lens!

So did I.  I used an ancient, AI-converted 50/1.4 that cost me $50, mounted on my state-of-the-art F90.  The pictures were awesome, and there was no evidence of earth rotation because I could keep the shutter speeds reasonably short (a few seconds). Jim

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What’s the difference between the 50mm 1.4D and the 50mm 1.8? Is the D part worth the extra $100 or so? Thanks, Bob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens? I have a 50mm f/1.8 and to be honest I can’t think of a specific type of photography that really needs it either. And yet I use it 31% of the time. So I guess, for me, it falls into the "damn near anytime" catagory. Its a fantastic lens. David

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Bob The lens is 3/4 of an f stop faster.  I would not be overly influenced by the D chip.  My guess is that the 50 1.8 will become a D lens when Nikon runs out of existing stock.  I own the 50 1.8 and think its  a great lens.  Yes I use it when speed counts Joe – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What’s the difference between the 50mm 1.4D and the 50mm 1.8? Is the D part worth the extra $100 or so? Thanks, Bob I can’t find a clear type of photography that really needs 50mm.  For lanscape, a 24mm should do well and 85mm is more native for portrait. However, most people experience this lens.  My question is, besides how cheap (f 1.8) this lens is, how do people use this lens?  Is low-light photography the only application of this lens? I have a 50mm f/1.8 and to be honest I can’t think of a specific type of photography that really needs it either. And yet I use it 31% of the time. So I guess, for me, it falls into the "damn near anytime" catagory. Its a fantastic lens. David

– Joe Passante

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Question:

PLEASE ADVISE ME ON THIS.   ***HENRY***

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PLEASE ADVISE ME ON THIS.   ***HENRY***

Okay, first, get about a couple billion dollars.  Then get a bunch of lawyers, a bunch of accountants, and then see who’s parting with airliners.           Perhaps you’re actually asking about a charter or an air-taxi operation.  In this case, look up the FARs, part 135, and then see realistically what your budget can afford in terms of equipment, personnel, and FAR compliance.         Good luck.

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