Absolutely! It's been a lovely lens to use, with a decent close focus capability (not macro by any means, but great for flowers etc), and for wildlife too. It's beautifully sharp, and the bokeh's great.

Here are a few links to pics taken with it:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/photo/user-1387/Iris-1007

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/Mystery-Birdand-hedgehog-7005

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/First-results-Pentax-SMC-DA300MM-F4-6910

Amer, if you need a lens with this focal length, and you can afford it, I'd have no hesitation in recommending it.

Dan

Dan

If you were looking for a cheap K-mount film camera, I would suggest this one.

I had (still have actually) a CE5 which was essentially the same thing, and it worked perfectly, gave good exposures (or at least predictable ones), and felt great in my hand with the winder attached. Had all the features I needed (depth of field preview, Av mode, cable release socket), and I loved it. Even had a little 'judas window' to show the aperture set on the lens in the viewfinder.

Used it in preference to my MZ-5n.

Dan

P.S. Buyer beware and all that, I have no knowledge of the seller etc.

I don't think there's any setting that you could change, as the grip shouldn't make any difference to this.

My guess is that your right hand (near your little finger), is half-pressing the shutter button on the grip and this is stopping the screen showing your shot. If this might be the case, try it again ensuring that you're holding the camera in a way that your hand won't touch the grip's shutter button to see if this makes any difference, at least to test this theory.

I quite often will hear my camera focusing on stuff when I'm carrying it, and this is when my hand presses the grip's shutter button.

Dan

I'd snap this up if I needed another K10D body, this is an absolute bargain.

I think if no-one buys it by the end of the day you should do yourself a favour and put it on ebay, have you seen the price these make on there? Pop it on with the lens. I'm tempted to buy it then ebay it myself, to be honest.

All the best,
Dan

And it's the only example of that lens on that website. Well done!

Dan

A rabbit walks into a pub and says to the barman, 'Can I have a pint of beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie?'. The barman is amazed but gives the rabbit a pint of beer and a ham and cheese toastie. The rabbit drinks the beer and eats the toastie, he then leaves.

The following night the rabbit returns and again asks for a Pint of Beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie. The barman, now intrigued by the rabbit and the extra drinkers in the pub (because word gets round) gives the rabbit the pint and the toastie. The rabbit consumes them and leaves.

The next night, the pub is packed, in walks the rabbit and says 'A pint of beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie, please barman'. The crowd is hushed as the barman gives the rabbit his pint and toastie and then burst into applause as the rabbit wolfs them down.

The next night there is standing room only in the pub, coaches have been laid on for the crowds of patrons attending, the barman is making more money in one week than he did all last year. In walks the rabbit and says, 'A Pint of Beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie, please barman', smiling and accepting the tributes of the masses. The barman says, 'I'm sorry rabbit, old mate, old mucker but we are right out of them Ham and Cheese Toasties'.

The rabbit looks aghast, the crowd has quietened to almost a whisper, when the barman clears his throat nervously and says, 'We do have a very nice Cheese and Onion Toastie'. The rabbit looks him in the eye and says, 'Are you sure I will like it?' The masses bated breath is ear shatteringly silent. The barman, with a roguish smile says 'Do you think that I would let down one of my best friends, I know you'll love it'. 'Ok' says the rabbit,' I'll have a Pint of Beer and a Cheese and Onion Toastie'. The pub erupts with glee as the rabbit quaffs the beer and guzzles the toastie, he then waves to the crowd and leaves....

.....NEVER TO RETURN!!!!!!

One year later in the now impoverished public house, the barman (who has only served 4 drinks tonight, 3 of which were his) calls time. When he is cleaning down the now empty bar, he sees a small white form, floating above the bar.

The barman says, 'Who are you', to which he is answered 'I am the ghost of the rabbit that used to frequent your public house'. The barman says, 'I remember you, you made me famous, you would come in every night and have a Pint of Beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie, masses came to see you and this place was famous'. The rabbit says, 'Yes I know'. The barman said, 'I remember, on your last night we didn't have any Ham and Cheese Toasties, you had a Cheese and Onion one instead' The rabbit said 'Yes, you promised me that I would love it'. The barman said 'You never came back, what happened?'

'I DIED', said the Rabbit.

'NO!' said the barman,'what from?'

After a short pause. The rabbit said...



'Mixin'-me-toasties'

Oh, well thanks a lot! Just read that piece and now I'm wanting one of those!

Dan

A simple way may be to use a video chat site like www.stickam.com - it's free, you can have private or public 'broadcasts', with one main webcam and up to 6 other webcams online, as well as unlimited other text chat members. My local radio station (www.phoenixfm.com/chatroom.php) use it and it generally works well.

Using a webcam utility like 'manycam' means that you'd easily be able to show what you were doing on screen. You could even have one webcam showing you on one of the small webcam views, and the large view reserved for your screen image. You'd need 2 computers to do that, but I'm guessing that might not be a problem.

Dan

That's not fair, ChelseaBlue's got one of those new cameras that can see into the future!

Dan