Thanks to all those who commented on the pics, it's been a very difficult and challenging job, with temperatures over 45 degrees, logistical problems, a fairly vague brief from the parent company in Germany, plus I have a full-time job. I'm very pleased with how it went. I've never done anything remotely on this scale before and I basically blagged my way into getting it. (Actually, my wife was largely responsible. Thanks, darling!).

I really don't give a damn whether a K5iis would have suffered moire or produced more detail....I used a K5 and I'm perfectly happy with the results.

More to the point, the client is happy (they asked me do some more interior shots yesterday, in addition to the contracted shots, and have asked me to shoot the whole lot again when the landscaping is completed in 6 months or so). They are particularly pleased with the night shots which were done at my suggestion. I doubt very much if they're at all interested in the relative benefits of K5 models. When the next model comes out I may spend some of my earnings on it, but I don't think I need a K5iis right now.

The two Sigma lenses also performed very well. I'd thoroughly recommend the 8-16mm, in spite of the negative comments I'd read in some quarters about distortion. I managed to correct it all manually in Lightroom without too much difficulty. It also produced blue skies when most of my other lenses tend to show the beige look of dust in the air.

Thanks for the comments! I can't see that typo, Gwyn, there isn't the word "aerial" where you pointed out a typo?

There was another typo in the text that someone very kindly PM'ed me about. Thanks!

You don't need FF to print large images: I am regularly getting 30 inch prints (with interpolation) from both the K5 and my Sony Nex.

These images are intended for promotional printed material as well as web use, up to A2 size.

Thanks, Barrie, will do!

The drone I am looking at can apparently be controlled up to two miles away with a mod. It can also be programmed to return to its point of origin should it lose the controller signal.

I seriously doubt that a go-pro would give decent 30 inch prints. Plus I want to use my IR camera with it too. I was wondering if I could mod PK Tether to work wirelessly. Also I am looking for half a mile or more range.

I will probably get a go-pro with it, but mainly for navigating it.

I meant to wtite 100mm.....missed a zero out.

The blurb days it works on most Dslr's, I would imagine it will work on a Pentax.

I've just completed a commercial shoot for a large construction company in Doha. The K5 has once again proved what an amazing camera it is, dealing with a huge amount of dynamic range. All the shots were taken with the Sigma 8-16mm or Sigma 24-16mm f2.8. There is very little room around the site to work in, with a dual carriageway in front and building sites in the back. Most of the exterior shots were taken from a mobile access platform. I'm doing the whole shoot again when the landscaping around the buildings is completed, along with some shots from a helicopter (or perhaps a drone, I'm looking at buying one).

The contract stipulates I can only use the pictures myself to publicise my services (part of the contract was that they retain copyright), so I can't post them here, but here's a link to some of the shots on my website if anyone is interested.

Thanks, I'm well aware of that. However, a Go-pro will not give me large prints I can sell or enable me to do aerial shots for clients...

I'm looking at quite a large drone, so a K-01 will not be a vast percentage of the outlay.

This looks an interesting bit of kit for $35- only works with lenses longer than 10mm though.

link

I'm going to buy myself an aerial drone for aerial photography, and most likely a K-01 to use on it, but I'm wondering if I would be able to set it up to control the camera and transmit Live View wirelessly using a laptop/Android device? Does anyone know if this is possible, and if so what software/hardware etc I'd need?

This lens has never appealed to me; it seems an average lens at best at an above average price. The only thing it seems to have going for it is the range and WR. It depends how much of a compromise you will accept I guess.