Note-
I've been asked before why I was constantly using manual to shoot
on my D50 and not aperture priority or program mode. The answer
actually stems from my experience within radiography, though at
the time I used Manual exposure on the D50, I must admit
I had little clue on how to set the right exposure. As with Photography,
Radiography too allows for Automatic Exposure (something call Automated
Exposure Control;AEC). The AEC basically comprises of 3 calibrated
chambers(they sit behind the patient) that cut off once the "correct" density is reached. Though
like anything else, it can be very inaccurate for two reasons.
Poor patient positioning and Patient body habitus- a good reason to go manual-
reliability. Though, like all things else, radiography too is well within the digital age,
and the Medical Imaging site I will work soon too be converting to CR (computerised radiography).

On a separate note* Tripod rules
-the general rule of thumb states that to attain reasonably sharp images(hand held),
the shutter speed should be no less then the reciprocal of the focal
length in use. Though I wonder If this rule was with regards to Film or Digital.
So say I shot at 80mm, this would be the equivalent of a 128mm on a 35mm
camera due to the smaller digital sensor. So would it then be safe to shoot
at at above 1/80th...or 1/160th shutter speed?