Blimey, that was a long time ago! Nice to see you taking pics again, I do like your style, and they're often of places I've been to, and would like to return to.

Partial to a bit of red hair myself...

Dan

I assume you haven't got any filters on the lenses. Not doubting that there's the possibility of this lens being awful, but just checking.

Dan

'True' mirror lock-up is available on the K-7 is it not? One press to raise the mirro, and another to take the shot, as far as I know.

The ISO control dial/button is there in the K10D, K20D and K-7, in various ways, depending on your custom settings.

Although I usually find the AF fast enough, and accurate enough for my purposes (using a K10D), I've picked faster AF as my choice, but as Chris says, this has to be faster, whilst still accurate.

Dan

Note, that Wiki page relates to LCD screens (as in computer monitors and the like), not camera sensors. Totally different kettle of fish.

Dan

EDIT: At least, the bit about stuck pixels does.

You're welcome - tempted to come and pick it up.

Dan

The distance from the front element to the front of the hood is just over 60mm, the actual hood is a little longer as it bayonets on, rather than attaching to the filter thread.

Just to confuse things even more, Pentax use the same hood on the 200mm.

As the angle of view of your 400mm lens will be something like 5 degrees, I can't imagine any hood that you'd get would vignette the image at all, so just get the longest you can find, as long as it's still practical.

Dan

I'm in agreement with Tim on this, although correction in software won't look the same as the method Kris uses. As long as it's not shot with a particularly wide angle lens, the effect does look natural to me.

No. 6 for me too, lovely shot.

I've just read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (again), so these are suitably relevant.

Dan

PM sent! (And congratulations too )

Dan

Does it have to be a rubber hood? I suspect the reason that there's a limit on the length that you've found is that longer ones may start to droop under their own weight.

If you could use a metal one instead, this might be okay.

Dan

You might be hopping over a barbed wire fence. Whilst you concentrate on keeping 'things' clear, you may forget about your camera swinging about on its strap. Much better that the lenshood scrapes across those barbs than the front element of your lens...

I've dropped my camera with the 50mm lens on, and a small hood. The camera was fine, the lens was fine, even the hood was fine, although it did pop off the lens. If I hadn't had it there, I may well have damaged the lens. I could then have not had a lens to use for the rest of the day, and then had all the hassle of making an insurance claim. I know which is easier for me - put a hood on.

Dan