Looks good and sharp even in the corners.

Because you haven't got Quickshift it's probably better to
have the lens ready focused around 5M to INF and use the zoom
between 100mm and 250mm, although I never have any problem at
300mm but, I've got Quickshift.

In bright sunlight without the TC I always use the sunny 16 rule
which at 100ISO works out at 1/320th at f/9 or better f/10
When I put the TC on I change the ISO to 400 and the shutter
speed to 1/400th, but if it's a dark subject I leave it at
1/320th..... Checking the Histogram on the preview shows if
it needs tweaking.

I have SR is ON but it will be based on whatever the
lens says. So the TC isn't taken into account, but it
seems OK.

--

Usually it would get out, but it probably only condensed in the
first place because the glass was very cold.

--

Usually leaving a lens in the sun for about an hour will
evaporate the condensation.

--

I take my best pictures with my beer-goggles on!

---

Moiré can be added to a photo by the re-sizing algorithm or
a different algorithm can take it away

Going from about 5,000 pixels wide down to 1,000 pixels
wide means losing 80% of the pixels or keep 1 lose 4 so
it's hardly surprising that there is a change.

This is quite a good HP7 review...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RlegtV262Q
Doesn't quite pick up how good the flood is though.

The P7 does have a problem of showing rings off the reflector
which can be annoying.

---

I've done a few more tests outside today (Cloudy EV 11) to see
how far in front of the subject the 55-300mm lens at 300mm on a
K-5 can be set on the focus ring so that the camera goes straight
to the subject without winding back to min. focus and then out again.
It worked out as follows.

Subject at 9M from film plane lens can be set anywhere from 4.3M to 9M
Subject at 4.3M from film plane lens can be set anywhere from 3M to 4.3M

All focusing was very fast with no sign of hunting.
Camera on tripod and centre focus point only .

With Jessop 1.7x TC
===================

Subject at 4.3M from film plane lens can be set anywhere from 3.5M to 4.3M

So it seems to vary due to the light.
Again no sign of hunting and focus was fast.

The focus at INF also works so for say a bird at 4.3M setting the
lens at anywhere between 3M and INF should focus quickly with no hunting.

---
Distances measured with a Leica Disto Laser.
For the target I just used two recycling boxes with paper stuck to the side.
Focus first on the one at 3M and then the one at 4.3M.
Move box until lens goes wrong way.




Anyone with Quickshift should be OK just turning the
focus ring until the subject looks approx. in focus
through the viewfinder. The camera will then focus
quickly without hunting.

The camera needs to be held steady.

For close ups of bees etc. manual focus is best.

---

I'm not surprised

Never tried the P7 but the HP7 was based on it and advertised
as an improvement. I looked at one in it's package in Maplins
yesterday, but it didn't look as nice as the HP7

It's actually what a torch should have been years ago. I never could
understand why they couldn't make torches that worked like spotlights
with an even light across the beam an no silly hotspots

On flood the HP7 is just like a wide spotlight very even across
the beam. I'll probably only ever use mine like that. I wouldn't
mind the headlamp version as well which costs £35.... I'd wear
it all day long

I got mine through a friend who deals with mountaineering shops, but
this one ebay for £39 looks good and it's in a box, mine was just bubble packed.

Sickening that in the US they can get the HP7 plus Headlamp torch
for £46 link

This ebay listing shows how good and even the flood setting is,
also how white the light is.



.

Have a good trip home and pop in whenever you can.