Thanks for the comments. The first one was just a personal
preference for the colour of the feathers.... different from
the usual Mallard colours.

Most of the shots were at 300mm but I did take some others
with the zoom set wider. One is posted below.

Most of the shots were f/11 at 1/180th 140ISO using a small
tripod as a shoulder/chestpod, SR On.

I changed over to the Pentax-A* 300mm f/4 about halfway through
but on nearly every shot after I was too close and couldn't zoom out.

One of the Pentax-A* 300mm is below, not that much different,
unless you want to use f/4. It also seems longer than 300mm
probably 320-330mm. I had a 6mm extension tube on it to get
closer than 4m

This was at 135mm (Pentax-DA SMC 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED)




This one's taken with the Pentax-A* 300mm f/4 lens at f/8

I should have noticed that!!

I ordered 4 Eneloops once.... Imagine my surprise when
they sent... 4 Live ANTELOPES!!!

Quite a few people have shown an interest in the
Pentax-DA SMC 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED

Here are some examples of photos were taken with the 55-300mm lens
at a local duck pond a few weeks ago.

Hardly any PP, just a bit of sharpening on the last, although it
didn't really need it.

Duck




Greylag Goose




Swans




Black-headed gull




Black-headed gull




Greylag Goose




Greylag Goose

That's a lot nicer than a multi-colored K-x

Marketing people don't give a damn about existing customers anyway. I'm sick of every time I go to buy something that I've bought before either the product has been changed or the packaging/name has been changed and I'm left uncertain about buying something that I was certain about before before I entered the shop, so I finish up looking for an alternative

Most of the supermarkets now have a box to collect used batteries for recycling. Sainsbury's were doing the Energizer Lithiums for £3.99 a week ago.

Have a look on RiceHigh's site about tests on batteries for the K-x.

The flash has coped well in lighting up such a dark space.

The tapering brickwork suggests that it went quite high.
The openings don't look big enough for loading bays, so it
possibly was for pumping. Strange that nothing to do with
pipework is visible?

Great shot and nice and sharp. I wouldn't change a thing
The RWB fence adds a bit of stability. If you crop it the picture
will be falling over

Brilliant lens. I don't know why Pentax have brought out a cheaper version.

37 reviews here

If it happens again, I'd try another battery.