Very nice. I have the same lens and like it a lot as a walkaround lens for wildlife. I do find that you need to keep it at f8 or more (light permitting) to keep it sharp and to avoid some Purple Fringing. You've done very well with the blue tit shot in that regard

I've had the older Sigma EF-500 DG Super and now have the Pentax AF360FGZ.

While the Sigma was fine most of the time, I found it to be unreliable and would sometimes have sync problems with the shutter - a real pain when you're trying to get Macro shots of bugs on bushes before the fly away.

I then got the 360 and like it much more. The only issue with it, as others have reported, is the somewhat vulnerable battery door - but if you're aware that it is fragile and treat it carefully, it's a great flash.

I have no experience with the Metz.

SRS have the new 300mm f4 for £899 (they just had some in stock, but they're gone now)

OMG

Many thanks Belinda Well done in judging a well contested competition this week!

The old Tamron 300mm SP comes up trumps

Well done to everyone for such an excellent group of photo's.

I'm now in PANIC! mode for the new topic and judging

Great Crested Grebe:

SRS appear to have the PENTAX SMC 18-55 F3.5-5.6 DA AL MK2 in stock for £59:
http://srsmicrosystems.co.uk/index3.asp?id=65&Page=2

Some quite prominent competitions on the list too. I understand why the competitions want to be able to use the entries for a specific purpose (promotion) for a short period of time, but to expect you to waive all your rights to the photo, especially to the extent YOU cannot use your own photo anymore, seem ludicrous.

An interesting read for those that submit their pictures to photographic competitions:
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Campaigning-for-rights
http://www.pro-imaging.org/content/view/188/132/

Have you tried cleaning all the contacts? Ought to work so long as you have definitely set the body to MF or AF.C

That's a lovely tit shot. It just how well the bigma can perform even if light is a problem.

Hmm, bramblings, I'll have to look out for them.