I would be careful about using the word 'upgrade' and simply assuming digital must be better. In my view it is simply 'different'.

I do not believe any Pentax rental business would be viable anywhere in the UK. The only market for returning rental customers in anything like large enough numbers is the pro market. Hence why you only find Nikon & Canon rental facilities.

There might be a slim chance of a London based rental facility being viable...but would I travel from West Mids? of course not.

Martin..thanks, the post was sooo long I became a little bored after a long day at work....cheers Steve.

G:

I often agree with you, however re this:

"but I do take exception to the slovenly and discourteous manner in which some people express themselves"

IMO you are making some great assumptions here..heard of dyslexia?

cheers Steve.M.

Hi,

Just a point about the so-called brilliant Canon L lenses.

Many Canon owners think they are the most amazing lenses ever made. However, several less 'blinkered' users who also use other lenses on their 5D's etc will tell you that many of them (zooms usually), including the famed 24-105 L actually have horrible distortion, that many, many less discriminating Canon owners either cannot see, do not want to see, or seem to ignore.

Just because many of the owners say they are great does not automatically make it so. I am constantly amazed at the sheer volume of 5D & 5D2 owners who are utterly clueless about even basic photo technique and knowledge....

Hi,

I have this little beauty. I cannot give you IQ info, as I do not do lens testing. IMO it's a waste of good time. The petal hood does not fully retract. I do not think it would have been possible to achieve. That means any filters have to fit inside it, having a diameter no larger than the front of the lens barrel.

I have never used UV or any other sort of 'protection' filter in 30 years, so it does not bother me.

cheers Steve.M.

It's Jessops on the ropes not Sigma. They are probably telling Jessops they must pay COD. It seems they are in deep S***. How sad.

Hi all,

Posted these a while ago here, the remaining several items are now on ebay..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=2...

cheers Steve.M.

John...I am thinking maybe you should mention the paypal t&c's re no surcharges for paypal on the top of the classifieds listing to avoid members infringing them..

The paypal t&c as on their site:

4.5 No Surcharges. You agree that you will not impose a surcharge or any other fee for accepting PayPal as a payment method. You may charge a handling fee in connection with the sale of goods or services, as long as the handling fee does not operate as a surcharge and is not higher than the handling fee you charge for non-PayPal transactions. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to affect the legal right of a merchant in the UK to impose a surcharge for a debit or credit card transaction under the Credit Cards (Price Discrimination) Order 1990.