Hmmm, tricky then. If you're not desperate for either, it might be worth hanging on... The price of the K20D is sure to fall over the next 6 months anyway, and if you're happy with your K10D. But, then that's 6 months without the K20D.

I was sure I wasn't going to upgrade from the *istD to the K10D this time last year, then a bargain price appeared, and I couldn't resist.

Dan

Well that's a good price on the K20D, they're around £730 here, but the lens, when you can find it, is a touch under £500, so that's nothing special price-wise.

There's not a huge mark-up to be made on photo gear, at least for a small retailer not buying in bulk. Typically for lenses it's around 25% of the net RRP, but how often are the lenses sold at the RRP?

Dan

That's 180 degrees across the diagonal. For the purpose purpleski has in mind, he needs 180 degrees across the shortest side.

Dan

The Sigma, and I suspect the Peleng, will only be circular on 35mm film, on the *istD some cropping will occur.

Can't think of an alternative, or know what sort of quality you'd need to produce something like that example, although it doesn't look too high resolution, so I would imagine you should be okay with whatever you get.

Dan

Excellent news Simon, glad I could be of help.

So, just to recap for the benefit of others, Simon bought a Sigma lens from the U.S., properly imported with taxes paid etc, and Sigma U.K. are happy to repair under warranty. I assume this isn't a one-off, and I'm sure I read it somewhere on here that this was the case, so I was only regurgitating someone else's advice.

Dan

Okay, no problem. I'll be occupied from 10.00am-4.00pm, but you could nab me either for a while at lunchtime (12ish-1ish), or after 4.00, which might be better, but whatever suits you.

See you saturday!

Dan

That's good to know. I heard that you'd got a 300mm lens, for a good price, but was told it was the DA*. I'd have been very interested to know where you'd got it at the price I was told!

If you fancied coming down this end of the county, I'm at Thorndon with a workshop on saturday, and bedfords park on the sunday.

Dan

Hey Simon, just realised who you are!

I don't have either lens, but I do have a Tamron 1.4x AF converter which could be of use deciding where the problem lies. Not sure where/how we'd meet up though. This weekend's out, the following weekend I will be at Fingringhoe for a workshop, so if you could hang on 'til then that might be of help.

Let me know if that's any use.

Dan

The full quote was:

I think that was after the second time of winning (trying not to sound smug again ), and was meant with tongue firmly in cheek - notive the smiley.

I think if anything would put me off taking part, it would be if you didn't get to judge the next week's competition. That's all part of the fun, and that's why I enter (assuming I have a good pic to put in).

I was only joking about Lilly's choice of subject, it's what interests her, and she does like to set more challenging themes.

We've had a good range of entries and winners over the weeks we've been doing this - I haven't won since January, and I think that's due to entries getting better all round, and the choices made by the particular judge for that week.

I people feel they should be handed the opportunity to judge, then so be it. I'd rather get that opportunity on my own merits.

Dan

I haven't entered the last couple of competitions, not through fear of winning again (Lilly's some way ahead of me now, I think ), but simply because I haven't had something suitable.

Anyway, Lilly has demonstrated the perfect way to keep the judging to a manageable level - pick a subject like "Local Shop and Keeper".

If it was ever a chore for me, I think I may tactfully say that unfortunately I had a very good reason why I wasn't available to judge (surprise trip to Tibet, perhaps), and that if the second placed person could do it instead, that would be wonderful.

I say leave it as it is!

Dan