...and of course if the South and London User Group (SLUG) ever met up again, you'd be more than welcome to try out any lens I have.

Dan

You read it?

Why on Earth would you do a thing like that?

Dan

Google "exif apex", you should get some including http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APEX_system

Dan

You've got a PM.

Dan

Well, first off, I use a rubber eyecup, which I find really helps increase contrast and apparent brightness in the viewfinder, so this helps once the lens is stopped down.

If you're stopping the lens down past f/11 or so, you've got to let your eye adjust, so keep it closed down for a couple of seconds.

However, I mainly use it for checking DoF when using a lens fairly wide, especially with a londer lens when shooting wildlife, just to make sure I'm getting sufficient DoF without making the background too defined. ALso good for macro stuff, to which I'm partial.

I suppose now we can just check the screen on DSLRs it's not so important, but I still find it good to check before a shot, certainly if I'm shooting birds that are moving about and the background's constantly changing.

Force of habit from my film days I suppose.

Dan

Well, I suppose it depends on how you use your camera, but for me the Depth of Field Preview is a big 'it'! Wouldn't buy a camera without it.

Dan

Exactly why I thought it worth mentioning. For a consumer lens the Tamron is very solid indeed. I have the 16-45 and am well aware it wobbles.

Dan

I tried one out yesterday and it seemed fine - certainly no complaints over build quality, nice and solid and no wobble even at the longest setting.

Haven't had a chance to look at the pics I took on screen yet. Noticed a fair degree of barrel distortion at 18mm, and vignetting at f/3.5-5.6 at the wide end too, but you'll tend to get this with any consumer zoom.

As a general use, walkabout lens, I reckon it's probably fantastic.

Have fun when it arrives, and obviously show us some results.

Dan

After I'd seen your post last night, I had a look through some of the shots I've taken with it, and was reminded just how good a lens it is, as long as it's used carefully!

Focusing is critical, especially when used fairly wide, and being such a heavy lens, you need a very sturdy tripod (or a large bean bag) to ensure a crisp image. I haven't used it much on my K10D, but the good shots from my *istD are very nice and sharp. Not the sharpest lens I have, but still pretty damn good.

Dan

I've got one of those too - nice when I can be bothered to lug it about. I tend to use it mostly either in the garden, or when I know I'm going somewhere specifically to use it, it's not something I carry about on the off-chance.

Works okay with my 1.7x AF convertor too, makes a nice 500mm f/4.8, but quality's certainly better without it.

Have fun!

Dan