We were probably both downloading the manual, Mott!

Dan

Well, looking at page 50 of the manual, it states "Macro: Lets you take vibrant pictures of flowers and other small subjects at short range."

If this is what you want to do, then try that mode for starters. If not, then try some of the others, whichever suits what you're trying to achieve. Then when you're happier with how your camera works, try taking charge of the aperture size (using Av mode) to blur the backround or ensure everything from near to far is sharp.

Read books, talk to other photographers and, above all, play with your camera, there's no better way to learn.

Dan

If I extend my 16-45 and 50-200 zooms, there's definite, although slight, wobble of the extended barrel, perhaps perfectly within tolerance and certainly not a problem. I'm not talking about 5 degrees both ways or anything, but movement none-the-less.

My EX lenses don't do this - although I have to say the 10-20 extends to such a short extent that it's not surprising, but it's rock solid.

Perhaps I've just got wobbly ones!

Dan

I've got the 10-20mm and am very happy with it - I don't use it a huge amount, but it's there when I need it. I couldn't justify the expense of the 12-24 Pentax for the amount I'd use it.

There's a discussion about it here: https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4388, along with links to other discussions and pics.

I also have the 105mm EX macro and am highly delighted with that.

One thing about the EX range is that they are very well made, beautifully sturdy, with none of the 'wobble' that the DA zooms tend to have. I don't think sticky-tape is used anywhere. I can't vouch for the non-EX Sigmas though.

Dan

So you're allowed to post this one again now then?
It has a lovely, warm look about it.

Dan

Oh yeah, hadn't noticed that...

Don't know whether distance has such a bearing, but then again, there's always going to be data-loss over a longer distance so I don't see why not.

From the very limited knowledge I have about these things (i.e. what I read in computer mags about 2 years ago ), there's the potential for Broadband providers to sell 'up to 4Meg' or 'up to 10Meg' packages, at progressively higher premiums, when there's no chance in the near future (for that customer) to recieve that connection speed.

In that case, you may well find that one customer paying for 4Meg gets the same speed as another paying for 10Meg.

Of course, if the technology allows it, that 10Meg customer could benefit from a much higher speed, but when that technology might be implemented is another thing entirely.

Dan

Er, I'd say they were the same. In fact it says they're 'Great!'

The speed you can attain has a large part to do with the distance you are from your exchange (I'm about at the limit for decent connection, couldn't get it at all until a couple of years ago, but now get avout 1.5Mbps on TalkTalk 'up to 8Mbps'), as well as the number of other users in your area.

So I'm a fair distance from the exchange, in a heavily populated area, so I've got lots of competition for a poor line. Other areas of the country are less densely populated, so the line's split fewer ways, so you get a bigger chunk of the bandwidth pie.

I would never have paid for a 8meg connection, 'cos I knew we'd be highly unlikely to get it. Local-Loop Unbundling also raised speeds about 20%.

Dan

Perhaps I should have picked one of the other, nice, sub £20 ones...

But it's a fair point, that I wouldn't have necessarily thought of.

Dan

Ah, but where's the fun in that?

Dan

I tend to find the photos I get from the lenses are the main concern. As long as the glass is good, the aperture works and focusing is smooth, I'm not fussed whether the lens is tatty or not.

I'd have no problem spending £20 on a lens like this one: http://tinyurl.com/28wuzo

Dan