Flash .. I have a tripod that folds up to about 12 inches long and weighs about 1.5 pounds. It is not really good for a heavy 35mm SLR, but does fine with my Minolta DiMage digital. I'll take a photo of it and post it here for you later today if I can get the chance. (We have company).
Here's the little tripod I was talking about above. It is measured at 11 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. I bought it some years ago at J.C. Penneys'. When it is fully extended, it stands about 4.5 feet tall. It also came with a belt holster.
Flash, and Bill, I have a little tiny one that came with my Gateway digital camera. It, as you say, wouldn't support a 35mm, but works fine with these little lightweight digitals. It's even smaller than yours, Bill. It has already been worth the extra expense, which wasn't much.
I love my Digital SLR and the bulkiness of it really hasn't bothered me. I spent an entire day at the local zoo with a nice Nova 2AW and I hardly noticed it while walking.
I am a firm believer that a tripod really can help creat exceptional photos .. especially with a digital camera that normally has a serious shutter delay feature. I was reading a digital photo publication last week and there was information in there stating shutter lag has been cut to almost what you might expect with a 35mm SLR in some newer, high-end cameras. Jman .. I feel the same way about my digital SLR. Still much lighter than my 35mm. The most vexing problem I have with the digital SLR is learning (and retaining what I learn) what all the buttons do, and when they should be used! LOL But what the heck .. it's a learning process that's fun.
I started off with a Nikon N60. I moved up the ladder to an N80, and now I shoot with a D1 and an F5. I've played with gear from all of the other guys, and I put them all back in the toybox. You can't beat the optics available on an SLR, and short of Zeiss T* glass, you can't beat Nikon. Honestly? I think digi is great for snapshots, or subjects of little substance. I don't see it having any staying power in terms of archival storage.. I shoot pictures on the D1, and I reserve the F5 for the real photography. -Gordon
There will always be a place for film but I've produced some very nice pictures with my rebel that are more than just snapshots. BUt I'm also not a professional who has my own dark room so perhaps my opinion of a snap shot is different.
Yes, I have been reading at dpreview.com as well as http://www.steves-digicams.com/ - both good sites. Also, bhpphotovideo.com looks like the place to buy a camera. Especially when reading at http://www.photo.net/neighbor/one-subcategory?id=2 Charlie