Oh...forgot..decided photography must be one of the hardest of all professions to get into. Would I try it now? no way. Far too many others who think they have the ability to shoot for money..but most simply do not have the ability or application and far too many so-called clients far too willing to accept shoddy cheap work from people under-cutting 'proper' quality photographers.....

Decided to become a pro approx 20 years old, instead of going to art school. Rang up all local studios from the phone book. Rang them all (about 50) and got nowhere. Then one of the 'B's' (I rang in alphabetical order) rang me back said come in for a chat.

Ended up there for 12 months, in a local social photography studio..ie mostly portraits/weddings etc, but also some industrial work, based in the West Mids. Decided I hated social work but fancied the 'top end' ie advertising work.

Then went to full time photography college at West Bromwich College, passed with flying colours after 2nd year. Next 18 months spent phoning, writing to all studios within 50 miles of Birmingham, I wrote to each one every 2-3 months, sent over 400 letters. Worked for several advertising/industrial studios for free or little money.

Eventually got an interview with one of the larger advertising/ind studios in Birmingham. Worked there for a few years before becoming VERY bored of clueless clients telling me how to shoot stuff.

Finally left photography altogether and never picked up any camera for over a decade. Moved into sales/retail instead.

Finally returned to photography as an amateur about 9 years ago and like it much better...

cheers Steve.M.

Hello all,

UK sales only please, I am on ebay under the ID: Bongonut, if you want to see feedback. Payment: UK sterling bank cheque.

Photos of all items available via email, just ask, thanks Steve.M.

1. The superb Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 SL2 PKA fit, MINT in box, as new package, ie all packing, paperwork etc. I will include a black metal 58mm thread lens hood by Photax. The VC hood is an optional extra and I did not buy it. £270 INC Royal Mail Special Delivery. Robert White new price is £315+ VAT = £362.

http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=1819&PT_ID=435

2. Pentax FA 28-105mm f3.2-4.5 AL (IF) Lens. Boxed, NEW & unused. £95 Inc Royal Mail Special Delivery.

3. Asahi Pentax metal Lens Hood for Takumar 85mm f1.9. (58mm screw thread) Near Mint, just tiny marks on extreme edges. £18 inc 1st class RECORDED mail.

4. B+W 49ES (49mm thread) TOP-POL linear Polar filter in case. £12 inc 1st class RECORDED mail.

5. Think Tank URBAN DISGUISE 20 camera bag. Superb discrete bag. Great condition, no damage, hardly used.£38 inc 1st class RECORDED mail. If you click on 'select another feature' on the right hand side of the link below, it shows many different views of the bag.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/feature_cat_slide_pop.php?ftr=UrbnDsgs_UD20_1

6. Tamrac MX5392 M.A.S. Pro Digital Accessory Kit. Organiser holds batts, memory cards etc, approx 17x15x5 cm.
New & unused. £8 inc 1st class post.

http://www.tantronics.co.uk/acatalog/Tamrac_Modular_Accessory_System.html

I have come to the conclusion that AP often IS biased, not just against Pentax, but also Olympus and others. The quality of articles, reviews and technical knowledge has all gone very downhill in the last few years. Angela has without doubt her own biases and seems often to be incapable of objective writing. I totally ignore their reviews these days. The young so-called technical writer is so often lacking basic knowledge it is painful and the lack of even cursory research is shocking.

Q: Do we still need photographic knowledge?

A: Only if you want to take excellent technically superb photos.

...If you are happy with average or rubbish, then by all means remain ignorant.

UK sales only please, I am on ebay under the ID: Bongonut, if you want to see feedback. Payment: UK sterling bank cheque, or paypal (but add 5% to the price if paying with paypal)

Photos of all items available via email, just ask, thanks Steve.M.

1. The superb Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 SL2 PKA fit, MINT in box, as new package, ie all packing, paperwork etc. I will include a black metal 58mm thread lens hood by Photax. The VC hood is an optional extra and I did not buy it. £270 INC Royal Mail Special Delivery. Robert White new price is £315+ VAT = £362.

http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=1819&PT_ID=435

2. Pentax FA 28-105mm f3.2-4.5 AL (IF) Lens. Boxed, NEW & unused. £95 Inc Royal Mail Special Delivery.

3. Asahi Pentax metal Lens Hood for Takumar 85mm f1.9. (58mm screw thread) Near Mint, just tiny marks on extreme edges. £18 inc 1st class RECORDED mail.

4. B+W 49ES (49mm thread) TOP-POL linear Polar filter in case. £12 inc 1st class RECORDED mail.

5. Think Tank URBAN DISGUISE 20 camera bag. Superb discrete bag. Great condition, no damage, hardly used.£38 inc 1st class RECORDED mail. If you click on 'select another feature' on the right hand side of the link below, it shows many different views of the bag.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/feature_cat_slide_pop.php?ftr=UrbnDsgs_UD20_1

6. Tamrac MX5392 M.A.S. Pro Digital Accessory Kit. Organiser holds batts, memory cards etc, approx 17x15x5 cm.
New & unused. £8 inc 1st class post.

http://www.tantronics.co.uk/acatalog/Tamrac_Modular_Accessory_System.html

"Sony is the ITV of the DSLR world"

Harsh. Also out of touch. When Sony bought Minolta, they (surprisingly to many people) kept all the Minolta staff. The Minolta Co. made superb lenses & cameras...the current Sony range are still effectively Minolta models...and the A900 is truly superb.

cheers Steve.M.

I recently bought the DA 15/4 from the USA and even after all the customs fees & post etc, I still saved the best part of £100 over the SRS price...sorry Chris...(SRS)

On my previous DSLR I used the Sigma 50-150/2.8 which was super....

I have a K20D...I really like it. I bought Pentax more or less purely for the advantage of small size & weight...ie K20D with Ltd lenses. The D300, 40D, 50D etc are all too large IMO.

However, the ONE thing I do not get with the K20D (or K-7) which I would VERY much like is a decent size viewfinder. This is for me, the one large advantage of so-called 'full frame' DSLR's. If you think FF is not worth having, then spend 5 minutes looking through the viewfinder of a Sony A900...you will suddenly realise what you are missing with all the APS & 4 thirds models.

To dismiss FF as not 'cutting edge' is to miss the point. Just because a DSLR happens to have a sensor size rooted in the dim distant past does not suddenly make that camera old hat.

cheers Steve.M.