Very nice those Matt.

Just one thing...it looks like you might have had a couple of marks on your lens in image 4...just left of centre?

Karlo

I don't think that the voltage is too high. I used to have a K-x which I used to run mainly off NiMh rechargeables rated at 1.2v each x4 but did on one occasion run off 4 lithium AA perfectly well. Lithium AA are generally about 1.7v ex factory each x4. As you can appreciate the camera would operate within quite a wide voltage range (4.8 - 6.8 )

I'm assuming that there won't be any appreciable difference in the operating characteristics power wise from a K-x to a K-r. Interestingly the Pentax D-Li109 that's in the K-50 and others is rated at 7.4v so for those classes of entry level cameras I should imagine this is at the top end of operating voltage.

I vaguely recollect this cropping up with other people a few years back but can't remember the outcome...sorry I can't be more help.

Karlo

Delightful set of quality images there Gareth...some of the best I think you've ever posted.

Karlo

Nice as far as they go Jules...although they are a bit small...are you paying by the pixel.

regards

Karlo

Hi Jonathan, welcome to the forum. Whereabouts in the US?

You seem to get plenty of extreme weather over there so presumably you must be kept quite busy?

regards

Karlo

PM sent.

I agree Alan...the 150-450 is absolutely made for wildlife and i'd love one for that specific purpose...just can't see that happening any time soon!

Karlo

Hi Matt,

welcome to the forum. What equipment are you currently using?

Karlo

Cheers John and Alan for your comments/input. Regarding a possible 400mm f5.6...my preferred option would be a zoom with 400 at the long end and 80-100 at the short end...very versatile but I wouldn't turn my nose up at a prime particularly if it performed reasonably well with a 1.4/1.5 convertor.

I mention my main interest being aviation but i'm quite open to other genres and would likely do a lot more bird / wildlife with such a lens, telephoto abstract, sports/outdoor, candid.

My next new lens will probably be a macro...might wait until Christmas now. Choice was going to be between Pentax 100WR / Tamron 90 / Sigma 70. There's no way i'll pay over £500 for the Pentax...not even sure i'd pay £400 so i'll have to see how that pans out...may even go down the used manual route for £150 or so...seems much better value.

Going back to the initial topic...yes 2 camera option is a possibility but with the exception of a major airshow like Fairford I can't really see me carrying two lots of stuff about and even Fairford would be a hefty workout...12hours in total of mainly standing , a bit of sitting and about 4-5 miles of walking up and down the static displays! Outside the airshow scene I always go with a specific location in mind and the best focal coverage for that location depending on the type of shot i want.

John,

It was a 400mm F5.6 not f4 I was meandering around...and the 100-400 f5.6 zoom...pretty much staple fare these days for all sorts of uses. Once you've experienced the buzz from having 300mm on APS-C many users (myself and my son included) want the extra reach that a 400mm can give. 500mm is too big a jump in so many ways but 400mm is an attainable compromise for many people.

My son has the K-S2 with 18-135 and also one of the cheap but surprisingly good plastic 80-200 from Pentax and he's used my Tamron 70-300 Di LD which is great for the money but he's looking at moving to Canon...probably a EOS 70 OR 80D so he has access to some reasonably priced lenses longer than 300 and also better AF.

I'm not in quite the same rush...i'll probably buy a bit of time by going down the manual film lens route to get those longer lengths but am hoping that in a couple of years when I decide to change my K-50 Pentax might have something suitable from their then current lens line up. If not then reluctantly i'll probably jump ship as I'm unlikely to be able to afford to run two systems.

I have considered the 60-250, IQ looks very good on it and because of that it would crop quite nicely as the long end is too short...it would have to. Just not sure about the pedestrian AF performance and what it is like on manual focus on fast moving objects. Looked very good value on the recent 'Blink and they've Gone' offers but not sure at its new price.

Anyway...lets see what unfolds over the next few months...we live in very interesting times.