I don't know about availbility, but the FA Limited lenses are still in production, and the FA 50mm f/1.4 is still being produced, although it tends to sell out as soon as it hits the stores.

If you don't mind manual focus, the A lenses do all the things they're supposed to do, but they are not autofocus.

On my sample, at least, I get nine quick frames in RAW and then it slows to a bit less than two per second. Fast enough for me.

That's with a 133x Lexar SD card, which means the camera must be writing to the card at something like 20MB/sec.

To elaborate: In Windows Explorer right click on a problem file, go to Properties, and uncheck the Read Only box.

You can use the 16-45 on a professional job if you need to, I wouldn't risk it with the kit lens.

Yes, they're perfect on the D. And they are full-frame, should I have a desire to shoot some Kodachome.

I was able to order black 31mm and 77mm lenses from B&H last summer, they may or may not still have them in stock. They are being used on my *st D.

Data transfer rates for the new camera (K10D) are reputed to be about 20MB/second, so decent name brand 133x SD cards should be just about right.

I only usd Archival Gold DVD's, and they hold a bit over 4GB of data. But I also have live storage on a RAID1 array, so if a disk dies I can replace it.

I don't know if the DVD's are REALLY archival, and we may move to another storage medium before it becomes an issue.

Just avoid cheap recordable disks, I've had cheap DVD's go out on me after only a few years.

It depends how you treat the camera. My MX cameras that I bought all those years ago are still working, buy I don't dunk them in water or take them out in the rain without a plastic bag for a cover. Plus, they are all mechanical.

Try that with your electronic marvel!!

I use the Eclipse solution and the Sensor Swabs. Seems to do the job, although usually a bulb blower gets the dust off first.

Beutiful study in shape and color, in addition to a nice photo of a swan!