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Is the grass greener on page 200?

Donald those aren't the Nikon 18-55 VR or the Pentax 18-55 WR.
Don't know how much the Nikkon VR is different than the DX II but the Pentax DA-AL is optically different than the WR lens.

The DA-AL is the first version.
DA-AL II is the same lens but with improved optics, it's quite a bit sharper.
The DA-L is the light weight version of the DA-AL II.
The WR is weather resistance version of the DA-AL II with a different lens coating as well.

here are two comparable reviews
http://www.lenstip.com/index.php?test=obiektywu&test_ob=202

http://www.lenstip.com/225.1-Lens_review-Nikon_Nikkor_AF-S_DX_18-55_mm_f_3.5-5.6...

It's hard to say that one is sharper then the other, Nikon is only quite a bit sharper on the long end wide open.
Centre
Pentax


Nikon



Edge
Pentax


Nikon

The whole stofen becomes the light source, but because the front is illuminated directly that would be the brightest so a wide flash angle should make the sides lighten up more than using a narrow angle.
Still the problem is though if you point it up you're using the side as direct light and the brightest part is bounced from the ceiling so you probably will cut the flash power to 1/8th (if not more).
If you're indoors, it might be better to simply bounce the flash from the ceiling, might be more efficient.

Btw stofen/omni bounces only preform as advertised in close spaces, out side the light has no where to bounce off from so it won't soften the flash light.
A softbox type diffuser will work out doors because they increase the source where the light is coming from.
Here is a read about it (apparent light size) link

A recommendation if you want to resort to long shutterspeeds.
You might want to consider to "exposure" stack several short expose photos to a long expose photo in post processing.
If you take a 5 minute exposure for example and a car comes by and shines into the lens you can start all over again.
If you make 10 photos of 30 seconds and stack them, only one photo of 30 second will be ruined.

What about warrenty the manufacture gives?
The K7 is weather resistance so if it get fried because one of the seals leaked, surely the manufacture can be hold responsible right if you handled the product correctly and haven't damage it or not?

Using the same system as Tim but instead off flickr I use Deviantart.
I also have a flickr account though but never have uploaded a photo to that and my latest photo to Deviantart is almost half a year ago while I've taken some good photos in the mean time though, just couldn't be bothered.

You're right John but that isn't what I'm talking about at least.
Donald said that the Nikon kit lens looks sharper, I said that the differnce in sharpness can be make because by the in-camera processing for creating the JPG file.
If you want to compare solely the lens performance you should use the same processing on both photos.
The closest you can get to that with digital is to compare the RAW files which have under gone the same processing.

I wonder if a sto-fen or other diffusers would work.

The metz flashes goes down to 12mm with the wide angle, the question is, is that on 135 format or APS-C? I think it's in 135 format so it would be 8mm for APS-C, that should be wide enough.

btw, I don't see the Metz 48 on their site anymore but I do see a Metz 50, is that a new flash?
Yep it is, the Metz 50 is the replacement for the Metz 48, don't know what they have changed besides the guidenumber.

Pentax flashes will work on Pentax bodies without any risks/problems, just contact Pentax if you aren't sure

Here is the list with the trigger voltages. link
Pentax probably has a standard ISO hotshoe so voltage of 24 volt shouldn't be a problem, as you can see all the Pentax flashes listed don't even come close to that figure.