u can set ur WB using 3 methods right?
1) The camera preset WB (AWB, daylight, tungsten, etc)
2) Using specific Kelvin temperature
3) Custom WB using grey card

The easiest will be option 1) but probably not so accurate. The most accurate will be 2) and 3). (3) u may need a grey card).
So why 1) not so accurate? AWB is always guessing ur lighting temp so that explains it. When u use the preset tungsten, it may be it at 2600k ( i dunno) but ur temp is actually 3000k tungsten.

option 2) is accurate if u know ur lighting temp very well. eg: my home tungsten light is 2900k.

regarding, M1-M9 that I am unsure ....

You found that using flash will give more accurate WB is because u know ur flash temp is 5500k and u set it at 5500k.....u can get accurate WB if u know ur lighitng temp well too I believe the preset "flash" WB will set ur temp to ~5500k right?

So what is a color filter for?
Situation:you are in a tungsten lighting environment and u are using a flash right?

Flash only(u will set WB to FLASH or 5500k):
your subject will be lit with 5500k ligthing from ur flash and the background will be tungsten (say 2800k)...
result: ur background WB may be wrong right? because it is not 5500k (ur background will be warmer than it shud be)

Flash with flash gel (orange) - you will set WB to tungsten/2800k)
your subject will be lit with ur flash+flash gel (2800k) and the background is tungsten (2800k)
result: ur background WB will be the same as ur subject WB right?  so u will have accurate color for both background and subject

Sorry for the long long post...correct me if i`m wrong. WB is a very interesting and important topic..albnok tot me a lot

kev da man: Blue car lights are cool what. Besides, if your WB was set to the lights, you'd probably end up with a car with blown, washed-out reds.

gobo the flash or adjust the lighting placement or your camera angle to avoid light spill.

flaring happens due to light spill

I guess u shoot with a filter on your kitlens??
Try remove that filter and see.. or.. use a better filter with better coating..

kev da man: Even the best filters give you a bit of ghosting (but no flare.) Honestly the kit lens has excellent flare control as it is so it can do without a filter.

yeah bro.. time to *upgrade* to DxO optics Pro.. excellent in NR... plus using the settings VIVID 0 0 +3 -2 -1 (i prefer not to saturate the colors too much).. ISO1600 is a dream to use... only funny thing is, the Details (noise reduction features) are not available for JPEG files.. if shoot in JPEG, Lightroom is the way to go.. if RAW, it is DxO Optics Pro...

For the A500/550, it is using a new hardware design based on DxO consultancy.. which resulted in superior ISO performance...
unfortunately for A850, it is not developed yet.. the aim is for a cheaper FF model to kill the Canon 5D MKII... need to wait for the A900 replacement model to see better ISO performance and hopefully full featured HD video shooting with excellent AF & exposure control...

CMOS EXMOR-R sensors still have issues (even with the handycams implementations), that is why not yet introduced in Alphas...

The F20 doesn't work as wireless slaves out of the box unfortunately. The Sunpak PF20XD for half its price (or rather, almost the price marushin paid) does optical slave mode and manual power no problem.

yeap.. and some daylight outdoor issues as well... give Sony some time,, from some images taken on A550/500 they have really improved the circuite wise... after DxO intervention...

DxO also provide consultation to Nikon,, now we can see a level playing field,,,

kev da man: Yep as you see it DxO 5.3.4 makes the A900 look a lot better.

Er, what problems do Exmor R have with bright lights? Any links?

What I've seen so far is superb stuff. Excellent ISO1600 on a compact!

cant remember the source, but it did put me off from buying the Handycam XR520V... coz I do video shooting as well... the low light is excellent no doubt.. but some sensor issue in bright lights or something... Sony do intend to implement the R sensor into DSLR.. but not until they perfect it yet...

DxO v5.3.3 onwards supports A900... on torrent only v5.3.2... damn...

v5.3.5 just released to support A850..

kev da man: I've been using RawTherapee; freeware with good batch processing.

i thought to use CLS, you need to get the transmitter (or something like that)
unlike sony where as long as the flash support wireless flash, the body can directly trigger it

ooh meaning that u can set it to wireless either
1) setting flash to wireless
2) set it on camera then pull out the flash?
wow....i didn't know that, i always put my flash onto my camera then set it to wireless and remove it ..hmmm

kev da man: The SB-900 is just, just a bit less of a hassle, going from WL to fill-flash - you need to change the mode dial from Slave to On, before mounting it and then locking it.

I don't like the activation process for WL on the body either - you need to dive into the menu. With Sony you just change your flash mode to WL.

I love how with Sony flashes, if it is in WL Slave (for the F58, specifically RMT or RMT2), and you mount it on, it automatically becomes standard fill-flash. With Nikons you have an extra step (or two, if you count flipping the lock.)

I've a feeling you will like the A700's dual dials, too!

speaking of nikon and sony WL flash?? ask me ahha..i have both lol!...i like nikon more...i can set my pop up flash to 0 power and only fire the wireless flash. So my picture would only be lit up with the wireless flash. On a sony..u cant..but i remember albnok told me u have to set the shutter speed and something else...

kev da man: You can set the front dial or rear dial to change EV on the A700-A900.

I disagree with your comment on ergonomics, as I strongly value being able to operate the camera with the right hand alone. The D100-D300 series means you need to use your left hand to change things like ISO and Drive mode. Also, Quick Navi is not enabled by default - if it is, you can press the ISO button and it will NOT go into a separate screen, but lets you change the setting while seeing all other settings.