I'm with Dan on this. Sitting and watching birds for some time helps you understand their likely actions. You get to see the tell-tale signs that they're about to take off. Make sure the lens is pre-focused to their static position and be ready to follow their flight. Practice without taking photos but just following the birds in flight through the VF. As Dan says, bird of most often quite predictable and you can anticipate where they're going to be.

I use both AF-C and AF-S depending on how confident I feel (and even Manual focusing with some success). You do really need good light so that the camera focus can keep up (click the image for better IQ as the forum degrades it with downsizing):

Lapwing in flight on Flickr - Photo Sharing!



Lapwing in flight on Flickr - Photo Sharing!



Cavorting Crows on Flickr - Photo Sharing!



Swan in Flight on Flickr - Photo Sharing!



Grey Heron on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I always use mine on a monopod like Reuben. Lovely lens. Framing with prime telephoto lenses is always that little bit more challenging, but you just have to use your feet

I use it too and agree that it helps greatly with manual focus, especially at macro. I don't have much trouble reading the OVF display either, though with glasses I image it might be a problem for some.

Also, since it's a new camera which, it's only natural for Pentax to ride the initial wave of enthusiasm and keep the price near RRP when fulfilling pre-orders. I'd expect it to come down as we get nearer the Christmas purchasing season. It's also bad luck launching what for many are new luxury items during a recession.

Like we've had with PC's in the past (perhaps less so now), it's a market that seems to have fallen into the trap of having to keep moving forwards with new models and new features, despite the fact that pretty much any DSLR to date will probably give most people everything they need/want/desire/can't-live-without - delete as applicable

I would assume it's a Samsung QC issue of the first batch of cameras. I also had one of the first K20D's and have had no problems with it.

Bearing in mind that this is Samsungs first foray into DSLR sensors, I think they've done remarkably well with the K20D/GX20 and K7 sensor. I would wonder whether Pentax are getting a much better deal with the Samsung sensor given the nature of their collaboration with them which has helped them keep their heads above water where staying with the Sony sensors without the ties with Samsung may not have done. Whatever the reason, it can only really be idle speculation.

#3377xxx was the old serial number.

I received my replacement K-7 today (#3384xxx c/w #3377xxx) and the problem is not apparent. I did an extended test on it and the dreaded green line didn't show. I'm cautiously optimistic

Thanks again to SRS.

They'll probably have to get their Sigma lenses re-chipped. I guess that's the gamble you take with Sigma when they (allegedly) reverse engineer things rather than pony up for a license.

SRS really are fantastic. I sent the camera to them Thursday, they got it Friday. They sent me the replacement Friday, I should have it Monday. That's one excellent reason why, to me, it's always worth shopping with such a company than scraping around trying to find the very lowest price for something.

Thanks Pete. I've heard that Pentax is very much aware of the issue (it's been mentioned by Pentax Germany), but it remains to be seen what they do about it. Their recommendation is apparently to let it cool down afterwards , which is hardly reassuring for what is essentially a design flaw if accepted.