My copy isn't that bad - but I don't use it, which probably says all I need to. I used to have a Takumar Bayonet 80-200mm zoom that was way worse.

I rather like the Chinon 28mm - but if I want to focus close I'll use the Rikenon 50mm or Pentax 75-150mm with extension tubes.

Andrew

The currently popular are ....

Sigma 24mm f2.8 Super Wide II (super sharp)
Chinon 28mm f2.8 (also very sharp)
XR Rikenon 50mm f1.7 (sharpest lens I have - must use it more)
Pentax 18-55mm kit lens (though being used less recently).
Pentax M 75-150mm zoom (wonderful lens - fantastic value)

A Vivitar (Komine) 200mm f3.5 gets occasional use - as (rarely) does an old Tamron 400mm f7.5

All the above are keepers (for now).

The lenses I don't use much and probably never will are .....

Kenlock 28mm f2.8 (not as sharp as the Chinon or kit lens at 28mm)
Pentax A 35-80mm zoom (OK, but little more)
Rikenon P 35-70mm f3.5 zoom (de-pinned, sharper than the Pentax A, but no better than the kit)
XR Rikenon 300mm f4.5 APO (sharp but annoying purple fringing on the K200D - probably fine on film)

When I overcome the lethargy and sort out a sellers account on Fleabay (or put them on the classifieds here), these latter lenses might find new owners.

Andrew

I use mine mainly for internet and email access when I am on holiday - maybe £20 - £30 per year total.

Andrew

Pentax DA 18-55 AL II (lots better than many think)
Pentax M 75-150 (probably my favorite lens)
Sigma 24mm f2.8 SuperWide II (most used and very sharp)
Chinon 28mm f2.8 (still testing but looking good)
Rikenon 50mm f1.7 (even sharper than the Sigma 24mm)

Andrew

Answers are, to an extent, dependent upon a presumption of what was intended to be sharp.

Stirling Castle - sharp
Alghero - sharp
Firenze - sharp (if the crucifix is the intended subject)
Dreaming - sharp
Light Ship - soft (unless the centre of the rope is the intended subject)
Dancers Backstage - sharp
Yainer - sharp
Chloe - sharp
Lillies - sharp
Winter seed heads - sharp
Autumn Windfall - sharp

Andrew

Have you tried the Pentax M 75-150mm zoom? Some say that it's sharper than the 135mm. I bought mine in perfect nick for less than £25.

Andrew

Still a snapper. I find it hard to take enough time to do justice to the photos that I want to take.

Andrew

I wear varifocals and do not have a problem with parallax either.

I'll second that. I do think, though, that you need to calibrate it - or at least wind down the wick a lot on the white level. There were no obvious colour casts straight out of the box.

The Dell advertising suggests that maximum luminance is around 300 cd/m2, mine was about 240cd/m2 set at defaults. According to Wikipedia the SRGB spec for monitor luminance is 80 cd/m2. I vaguely remember targeting 120 cd/m2 when I calibrated it using a Huey and Argyll CMS.

It works great for me and is good value.

Andrew

If you are into taking photos of trees, you'll not go wrong in Dumfries and Galloway.

Personally, I prefer the more rugged, mountainous parts of Scotland. My favourites include Tayside & surrounds - Glen Lyon is amazing. Anywhere north of Fort William - on the way, make sure you drive over Rannoch Moor and down Glen Coe. If you ever get up towards Inverness, go and visit Glen Affric and definitely Glen Strathfarrar. A trip from Ullapool northwards to Durness is fantastic - make sure you take lots of memory cards and batteries!!!

Andrew