Photography show - Birmingham

anyone going this year, opportunity to meet!

Hopefully, but still not sure when.

I'm there on Monday 21st.

I am also going Monday 21st

Went today and spent most time in the Adobe Theatre - watched 3 very good, if rapid (!), Lightroom presentations, and that showed me a lot of what I could possibly (not probably, knowing me!) do that I was unaware of. Definitely worth booking into if you want to use the programme but don't know much about it.

The Ricoh/Pentax stand is far bigger than last year and far more professionally presented/staffed, and the whole Pentax DSLR range seems to be on display and available to try out - including several K-1's with various lenses fitted, and the medium format 645Z as well (with, IIRC, a model to photo). Not sure about the Ricoh-branded consumer cameras as I was not looking for them.

Didn't buy anything (even a drink - the queues are horrible for the small booth vendors in the area near the Adobe Theatre - but I was OK because I took sandwiches and drinks with me). However, the CameraWorld stand has some pretty good deals on some things, notably LowePro photo backpacks & so on.

PS1: If you want to see the Adobe Theatre presentations, then get there early and you can book up to 3 of them in advance - but then there were very long queues to get in for the one on Lightroom Basics, which it actually was not for someone who has, but has never used, the programme!

PS2: Many people were walking around with their own cameras but I don't think there was actually much to shoot unless you go to try out lenses and so on. OTOH, there is an MCM (I think) "Comics" show going on in an adjacent hall, and there are lots of "weirdly" dressed (StarWars etc,) young people walking around outside in the concourse who would make more interesting and amusing "photo fodder!

There are some good special discounts to be had, from tripods to printers. Including, interestingly, the Nikon D810 with cash back for £1599.00! Coincidence or what? I went primarily for a close look at the K-1 and also an open-minded look at the alternatives; you really must handle and try cameras and I found the Nikon and Canon alternatives quite bulky to handle by comparison but then I don't have large hands. Also the K-1 controls seemed more accessible but I suppose it is what you get used to.

Also looked at 'pocket size' alternatives. There was a special Ricoh GR set in a glass case but not one loose to handle although the rep did offer to take it out for me. Having been seduced visually by the Olympus range I found the smaller models had a large strap lug in the way which seriously inhibited comfortable handling and which I knew would be an irritation over time. The Fujifilm range were better in that respect and rather impressive, and then of course there is Leica......

Back to the K-1 I reckon that amongst FF cameras this must be one of the best to handle; they have reduced bulk by a clever mirror flap mechanism which slides as well as pivots so requires less depth to operate in. Apart from a couple of primes the FA lenses are quite heavy and expensive which is another consideration, and the reps didn't seem really clued up about how the format would work with different DA lenses so I wish I had brought a couple to try.

PS they had run out of K-1 brochures half-way through the first day - unprecedented demand or poor planning?!

Did they have any lenses on display? I'm looking towards the Pentax 18-135mm. Would like to try it on my K-5.

Yes

There was/is an 18-135 on one of the bodies that you can play with - I assume you should ask if you can try it on your K-5.

Thanks for that.