Thanks very much for all the comments, I am thinking now big zoom lens, rather than a prime, probably the Tokina 80-400 if I can find one. I can't justify another body at the moment, still getting on my feet after four months unemployment prior to starting my new job, so the range of the 80-400 is very appealing. I'll have a look at the 135-400 too. They both seem a bit more portable than the Bigma, so I would be able to take it on work trips as well. The problem of crowded safari vehicles is not really an issue since any game viewing is not going to be on an organised safari.

That being said, I hope to do a few trips in Asia too, so there is a possibilty that I will end up on some sort of organised short jungle trips there.

There is something rather appealing about the Bigma though....

Thanks again all for your feedback.

Jon

There will always be new cameras coming out, but it'll soon reach the point where they are way beyond what anyone actually needs.

I would much rather see Pentax investing in new technology regarding sensor design than going full-frame. The next generation of sensors should be more than adequate for any professional, and then it's just down to the glass you put in front of them. The light-gathering abilities of new sensors being proposed link are four times that of the present generation, so soon aperture will be more about DOF than light.

For the moment, I am more than happy with my K7.

Thanks Steve. I spent 20 years in northern Botswana, and had the luxury there of having three film SLR bodies, a Zenit-5, a Spotmatic and a Ricoh KR10.. The main problem changing lenses in Botswana was dust, so I kept different length lenses on the Ricoh and Spotmatic and used the Zenit for B+W.

I don't think I can justify the expense of another digital body at the moment, but I might keep my eye open for a K10d or similar. A lens like the DA* 60-250 would have some advantages, but I don't think it's long enough, and I already have the Pentax 50-200 WR which covers most of that range.

A friend of mine is over in the UK for a month at the moment, so I will see what is available there second hand and get him to bring me a lens over if I find one (or finally make up my mind what to get!) Failing that, I may wait until I get to Hong kong and buy a new one.

Flossie, I have to say from your argument for FF cameras I wonder why you bought a Pentax...

The next generation of sensors will make the difference between FF and APS-C sized sensors a bit pointless, as it will soon reach the stage where the printer or screen will not be able to show the full resolution of the picture. As I said, I just don't see the point of sticking with a standard based on an old format, everything else technology wise has moved on and got smaller, why should cameras be stuck in the 1960's?

If I was a journo, I think I would be looking for lighter kit to lug around. It's interesting that Nick Danziger mainly uses an Olympus E400, an entry-level model. I think a lot of journos are under the misapprehension Canikon gives them some sort of stret-cred. At the moment, I can understand FF if you want to produce a picture for a billboard, but then medium format would be a better choice. In the long term, I don't see the point of developing full-frame any further. As the link I put in my first post said, soon it will be possible to photograph wedding with a camera phone. The resolution of a picture will in a few years be dictated solely by the glass it is taken through.

Thanks for youe input everyone...still undecided. I could probably stretch to the DA* 300mm so may go for that, but I will read up a bit more on the Tokina, which I had to confess I had not heard of until John mentioned it in a previous post.

Reading some comments on here and on other forums, I can't help wondering why so many people want to see a full-frame Pentax. Personally, I think if Pentax were to produce one it would be a step backwards.

I think that new sensor technology will eventually make full-frame cameras obsolete. At the moment, the sensors used in camera have the metal circuits on the surface of the sensor, where they use up surface area that could be used to gather light. New inventions like quantum dot sensors link will improve sensor technology to the point where having a large sensor is pointless. Olympus's commitment to four-thirds was what made me buy one of their SLR's when I first bought a digital camera. I thought it a very forward thinking approach to camera design.

I switched to Pentax because I like the fact that so many old lenses work on their new cameras, and also I wanted the weather sealing the K7 and kit lenses have and the superior high ISO noise performance compared to the four-thirds sensor. I also love the fact that the apparent focal length means those lenses work as if they are one and a half times more powerful than they are on a 35mm camera (not as much, however, as the 2x crop factor on four-thirds). With lenses such as the Sigma 10-20 and the Pentax 12-24 available, I don't see this as a disadvantage when it comes to wide-angle.

Basing sensor size on an almost obsolete format (apologies to the film buffs amongst you), the 35mm negative, is akin to saying that CD's should be the same size as vinyl LP's.

Personally, I hope Pentax never produce a full-frame DSLR. I would rather see innovation in sensor design leading to better (mirrorless?) cameras than carry a brick like the full-frame Canikons I see weighing down their deluded owners.

As long as they don't abandon the K-mount, which is unlikely given the commitment they have shown to it, I'll stick with Pentax and leave full-frame to the puritans.

Apologies as I am sure this one has been asked before.....however a search didn't seem to answer my dilemma.

I want to get a lens of 300mm or above, but can't decide which. Zoom or prime? I like the idea of a fast(er) and probably better performing prime, but I also like zooms for their practicality (and generally cheaper price). I was considering a Bigma but now I am veering towards a DA* 300mm. However, I am worried if I will then want something a bit longer. I still have connections in Africa and will be doing some game and bird photography at some point. How well would this lens work with a 1.7 or 2x converter?

I would welcome any recommendations from forum members based on their experience with longer lenses before I decide what to buy.

Thanks,
Jon.

Any hand strap for a DSLR should fit as they all connect to one of the lugs and the tripod socket. It does mean you have to remove it to use a tripod however. As to whether any of them are comfortable I wouldn't know as I have never tried one.

Hello and welcome!

Hello and welcome! I and am sure everyone else here look forward to seeing some of your photos!