I also like the longer lenses for portrait but personally I think the 200mm is too long to handle in most cases since I already struggled with the DFA100 quite a bit for portrait since you need room to take a photo.
The DA*50-135 just covers so good as the whole spectrum of useful focal lengths for portrait.

I agree with Peter though, the DA*60-250 is a superb lens from what I've seen and f/4 is wide enough for portraits surely above the 100mm.

Try to clean the contacts on the body and the lens, that solved the problem for some users.

I'll give a quick look through my photos I might have a couple of windmills that might do but I'm very busy with work so don't count on me making something

Also sorry for the hard competition theme, it's quite a though one

I agree 2 days doesn't seem long but I think it's long enough.
To vote it will most likely only take a couple of minutes and the entries can be watch constantly.
You probably already have a favourite now and if you just watch the new entries of the day voting might only take a couple of seconds even.
Therefore I thought that time could be better spend on entering the photo does that make sense?

Lets see how it goes for now, I think a longer run of a month for the whole comp and the last week for voting might be better. it gives you more time and more entries to consider and it doesn't interfere so much with the other competitions.
At least that's my idea does any one have some thoughts about this matter, the more we know how each of us think the better we can come together to create a competition for everyone.

That's not the way to do it I think.

Just try to meet up with someone and shoot the race together, if you ask then it's easier for them to say yes.
I know there are some motorrace fans here so you you should be able to do something like that.

You can make a thread here for a meet up https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/view/local-groups-and-meetings-2

Sorry Gwyn
A friend of my also have the pedals with all kinds effects also linked to it, quite fun when you use it right ^^

Looks like a great band, do they also sometime have an open play where you can tickets for?

I envy the brass and guitar players funny enough

Say that again when she borrows your lenses every time

You shouldn't see it as a video camera replacement because it's not.
See it as a creative option besides photography.
Something like a pan sweep over a landscape or a plain flying over or on a birthday party when blowing out the candles, for that sort of thing, those 10 seconds clip a DSLR could be used succesfully.

With half-backwards power-on sequence do you mean what you describe above?
I never found I had to do that with my gear, can switch to different modes with the camera or flash while both are powered on.

I believe we ran on this problem before on the forum.

Matt advice was very help full, have no idea any more what the solution was.
At least fixed ISO will help a lot.