I'm a left-eye shooter too, but have never found that a problem. Grips always on though, so I don't have anything to compare it to.

Dan

Back to dcweather's original posts, I'm surprised that no-one's picked up on him saying he doesn't use AF-C. If not, and he's using AF-S, once the camera does lock on, it won't then try to follow focus, and will happily fire away with the subject getting further out of focus all the time.

My preferred technique (although it's not a subject I do an awful lot), is to use AF-C, auto focus points (if it's a relatively clean background, or more importantly really, clean foreground), and hope.

As far as I know, one of the major factors here is that Canon and Nikon both use predictive focus, and have done for years. The camera measures the speed that the subject's distance is changing, and then predicts where it will be once the mirror has flipped up (which also cuts off any input to the AF sensor), and the shutter has opened. This might only be a tiny fraction of a second, but it can be significant if the distance is changing rapidly.

Pentax just try to keep up with the subject, but have no predictive ability that I'm aware of. Once that mirror flips up, who knows quite what happens?

Having said that, I've got some decent shots of birds in flight, although they tend to be the bigger ones (Kites, Cormorants, Gulls etc), and have done since I used the K10D. The K-5 is definitely quicker, and better at focusing, than that ever was.

Dan

Couldn't care less whether it makes it look more 'pro' or not, but it feels a lot better in my hand with one. I've used one ever since I had an *istD (the reason I got that, even though it was discontinued, over the *istDS).

I don't have a battery in mine, I keep the remote control where the battery should be.

Dan

Hmmm, just with that lens Gareth? Although I'm guessing the rose was shot with the 16-45mm. :-/

If it's just the 18-55 that's giving you consistently underexposed images, I'd be tempted to think it's an aperture problem with that lens, although normally things would be overexposed if that were the case.

Be interesting to see how you, and other K-5 owners get on - I haven't updated my firmware yet (need to charge my batteries up).

Dan

Just a thought, check you haven't inadvertently switched to spot-metering.

Dan

Also on the roadmap is a new super-wideangle, something around 12-28mm, and today Tokina have announced a, you guessed it, 12-28mm. What's the betting this crops up in Pentax clothing?

http://www.photographyblog.com/news/tokina_at-x_12-28mm_f4_pro_dx/

There'll be a nut that you can tighten up in the mechanism somewhere, or it may need to be loosened. Or there may be something stuck in the hinged bit of the clip. If you can't see it, go and visit your friendly local camera shop, see if they can spot the problem.

Dan

All doing very well, thanks Peter.

Dan

Here I am! Thanks for wondering, Peter and Gwyn. Yes, other commitments have kept me away - I do look in now and again without logging in, but I haven't been able to devote anything like the sort of time I used to, but as John said, I'm here if required.

I'm still using Pentax, still running lots of workshops and private tuition, still working for Essex Wildlife Trust. It means I'm often working 12 days straight, if not more (think I did 16 days without a break earlier in the summer), so when I do have some spare time, it's devoted to the family, rather than you guys - sorry!

I'll try to be a more frequent visitor.

Dan

Thirded. Got my K-5 from there, great price and no problem when the dreaded stains appeared.

Dan