SID, FYI, I use an entry level Digital SLR camera....the Nikon D-70. (approx $1,500 CAD plus a lens)
It's a 6.1 Megapixel camera, uses any Nikon AF type lens, and stores to Compact-Flash type cards.
I never let the camera decide much in the way of aperature, exposure white balance, ISO, etc, I've found the auto settings just don't do it for me.
I shoot at full res in .jpeg mode (2.5 Mg files), never done anything with raw or .tiff.
Wet film? who can afford it?, on a good day I'll take 100+
shots ...
My only secret...take lots of pics, think of different angles, shoot shoot, shoot.
I've flown Pro's from National Geographic Magazine in the past. They typically use 2 camera bodies, and an assistant to change film. All you hear form the back seat is a whirr of clicking. I flew on one project for a week, and only 6 shots made it to the magazine.