I am not sure if this will help but have you tried re-installing the firmware, it maybe a software curruption??

That was me making enquiries, 85euro shipping too Australia No mention of Paypal fees though.

Anyone with a few quid to spare for this beauty.

Thank god for that, I thought for a second I may have lost you

Thats hilarious

Hefty, you are kidding aren't you

Paul, I haven't been in that part of the country for a number of years, I thought that area was all open cut mining,? but I believe the area you are referring Paddington and Mt Pleasant have commenced some underground mining.

Sounds like it would be a lot of fun, wish I could go with you

Not really, he lives in Sydney

Paul, is it a working mine ?? and where is it, if I may ask.?

I saw one sell in the US a couple of weeks ago, mint condition, boxed with leather hard case, it sold for US$650,(420 pounds). Which is quite a lot, but it is a rare lens.

If I were keen on it, I think around 330pounds would be a fair offer.

good luck with your sale.

Just get yourself a rain cover for it, or make one out of a plastic bag.

From what you say I assume you are mainly using these lenses at the long end 300mm mark.

You will struggle to get good sharp results from any of the lenses you have mentioned, the Sigma 100-300mm are just cheap budget lenses and anything taken over 200mm will doubtful look sharp, Unless you get the Sigma EX 100-300, f4 which will set you back over $1000

The other 2 Sigmas you seen on E-bay will be much the same, The best of the bunch would be the Pentax 55-300mm, but even that will have limitations,

Your best bet would be to do away with the zooms and get yourself a 300mm prime lens, but again prepare to spend well over $1000 for a good quality one.

You could try for an older manual focus 300mm prime lens which you can pickup fairly cheap for a few hundred dollars and pick up a good quality TC for it too increase focal length if you need it.

Are you using a tripod with the Sigma lenses you currently have, Post a few pics, maybe we can help with some different camera settings,