Thanks David...not as challenging getting up there as it might seem...see my reply to Chris.

Thanks also...it is a gamble you are right...however you can stack the odds in your favour by doing a bit of research first. Weather is the biggest single factor I would say. Visibility has to be at least 'good'...preferably 'very good'. They do fly through in rain and murk but much more limiting and anyway you wouldn't want to be taking pictures in those conditions. Very much a Mon-Fri timetable as well...mainly 9-5 (ish) and often a break for lunch. I've been 5 times now over a period of about 4+ years and never left with a blank SD card...worst case was 2 or 3 aircraft. On thursday we got 2 US C130s x 3 laps each and one of them went round for a 4th time!

Pleased you liked the wide shot...thought i'd include that to give some perspective...helped enormously by the presence of another person in the image. He is an ex fireman..one member of a party of 6 or 7 who had rented a self catering property about a mile away for a week to see the area and 'do' the Loop several times.

Cheers Chris...know you've been before and as you say you do get a different angle of shot from Cad West. Getting up to Cad East though is easier than getting to the mid point of Cad West! There's a gate on the LHS of road (heading west on A487) a couple of hundred yards before the Cad West layby...you open that and drive up a narrow single track road used by a farmer and forestry commission...its about 1/2 mile + long but brings you to a small parking area...only big enough for about 7-8 cars in total. From here it is a moderate walk uphill for about 1/4mile gaining about 250-300'...takes about 5 mins...that's all. Some people do walk up from Cad West layby...and you are right that is a killer...but no need to.

First time out there for about two and a half years plus.

Met a great group of like minded enthusiasts atop Cad East...a good day was had by all.

First time using the K-5IIs / Samyang 135 combo...all shots with these. Lots of slightly out of focus... but very good results when focus accurate.

I noticed these price drops also.

An encouraging trend anyway from a consumer POV as drops like this only usually happen in Nov/Dec.

Can't help feeling that with all that's happening in the world right now there may be more to come.

The 'Middle Classes' are being squeezed and with less disposable income 'luxuries' like photogear will be amongst the first things to suffer from financial restraint.

Maybe that is what Pentax were alluding to recently when they talked about producing stuff more or less to order and dealing direct with consumer.

So it could mean that equipment already produced will be reduced to clear ensuring cashflow continuation but that in future equipment will be more expensive
as produced in smaller quantities and possibly more bespoke.

Well done and good of you to let others in on the 'secret'.

regards

Karlo

This doesn't sound good for Pentax and might more than any other single issue sink the brand here in the UK.

Lat year my K-50 suffered the aperture solenoid issue. Wasn't cost effective to repair so decided to keep it purely for use with manual lenses..luckily i've a few of those and do shoot a lot on pure manual..BUT i bought a used K-5IIs which i'm very pleased with rather than a new K-70 as i didn't have any confidence in the reliability of that model given that it apparently uses the same solenoid that keeps failing.

I've noticed in the past year or so that lots of people on here have had less than satisfactory experiences with repairs to their equipment in UK and only having one approved service centre and then issues with parts/service backup and supply is not good.

Recently we've read that Pentax intends to change its business model and go direct to consumers cutting out (presumably) much of its dealer network and engage with them more...ideal opportunity if true for people to tell Pentax what they think of its service/repair issues. Once your customers lose trust in your brand you don't always get a second chance...and Pentax has so few customers here in UK it can't afford to lose any.

Great shots guys.

That B-52 looks like it has been fitted with the latest in defensive aids...a smokescreen.

There will be calls to ban those on purely environmental grounds!

regards

Karlo

Another strong rumour from the usual site...said to be 70-300 WR and 50-135 AW.

Will be a very welcome addition if confirmed.

+1

Four USAF B-52s have arrived / or about to at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

Are expected to stay for a while due to tension over Ukraine and likely to depart in pairs...two heading north to Baltic region and two heading out towards Ukraine/ Black Sea when on operations.

Could even see B-2s as well shortly if things escalate even further.

Re. possible shortages...AA Lithium are in short supply...many battery distributors are out of stock of the Lithium AA although they still have stock of the AAA for the moment.

I'm beginning to speculate this might have something to do with the Global Elites stocking their underground bunkers for what they see as an imminent global disaster. The Max Keiser show on RT earlier today, was quoting from a report by the head of Commodities Research at Goldman Sachs saying that there was a fundamental 'Molecule Crisis'...the worst they had seen in the 30 years they have been doing the job.
Whether it was in oil, gas, coal, copper, aluminium...apparently they just can't get what they need...massive shortages.

So...if you need any batteries , cards...general consumables and can get them, might be worth stocking up whilst you still can.