I briefly tried square filters with the Cokin "A" system about ten years ago, but just didn't find I got on with them. They just seemed very clumsy if you're in the habit of moving around with a camera and of course have to be removed before you can refit the lens cap. Putting a socking great square thing on the end of, say, a DA 35mm just ruins the whole point of the lens IMO.

I have every intention of tracking down some top quality ND filters for 49mm thread, as that will fit the DA prime and my old M series primes.

There's at least one helicopter with ejector seats, or rather an escape pod. The one seen in "Goldeneye" is accurate - the blades pop off and the entire cockpit launches skyward to land on parachutes.

I always thought the F-111 escape pod was quite nifty. It's all very well being shot clear of your disintegrating aircraft but not terribly helpful if you end up in the middle of nowhere without food or shelter for a day or two before your mates can come and get you. That's without considering the fact that the locals may not be terribly friendly...

And that's why I try to pay cash if buying from smaller independent shops. They get charged outrageous sums to be able to accept cards.

The DA 35/2.4 will work on the MZ-5 too, although I'm not sure whether that body is able to set aperture other than by selecting Tv mode and changing shutter speeds to force the desired aperture? The lens is definitely full frame compatible however.

AFAIK the zoom isn't an "A" series. There was an A series 28-80mm which looks similar to the M 40-80mm but is physically larger.

I'm reminded of the Assassins Guild in the Discworld books, where the hall of fame has statues of the victims of alumni with increasingly tiny and discreet engraved plaques carrying the name of the assassin who "inhumed" them!

Seriously, my suggestion would be that photo clubs wanting to hand out trophies should organise for the winning image to be professionally printed and framed with a little engraved plate showing title, what competition it won, and the photographer's name.

That might have been what they meant. I know they'd worked on the seat fitted to the F14 and apparently done a lot of work on tailoring it to that aircraft.

At least it was an improvement on downward firing ejector seats, as found in some early models...

I might well head for Llyn Brianne instead, it's usually a lot quieter and has the added advantage of looking like a set for a 1970s Dr Who episode (huge and deserted concrete structures in the wilderness). The Abergwesyn Pass should make for some nicely rugged landscapes too.

Apparently ejector seat designers get very intense about the bit where Goose smacks his head on the canopy while ejecting. They spent a very long time making sure the ejector seat wouldn't fire unless the canopy was completely clear of the aircraft for just that reason...

I just watched large chunks of it and thought "I've seen photos/video of a Vulcan doing that stunt, which was much more impressive!"

As for Friday I plan to get well clear of what passes for civilisation. I wouldn't mind knowing where the street parties are though, so I can plan a route to some interesting wilderness without having to retrace my steps because a main street is closed!

Regarding the MX/LX screens, IIRC LX screens in an MX will cause slight exposure errors, but MX screens are fine in an LX as it meters off the film rather than from the prism.

I'd like to see a wireless slave flash base able to operate any hotshoe or PC connected flash. Functionality would depend on what flash you attached but I'd expect it to support the older Pentax flash features such as Program Flash and the "ready" icon. Given the cameras already do this it surely wouldn't be that hard.

You'll struggle to find a cheap 50/1.4. You should be able to find the Pentax-M or A 50/1.7 for sensible money though, especially if you look for cameras with lenses rather than lenses alone.

As for new lenses, the Samyang 85mm f1.4 is a cracker and pretty reasonably priced for a fast prime too.