Hi Chris,

I like the shallow depth of field - it helps concentrate the viewer on the eyes, too much in focus and your eye ends up wandering all over the place looking at detail in clothing etc. Your style gives a more immediate connection with the model, as far as I'm concerned.

Just need to get the eyes sharp - I'd say keep going with the window light for the time being, perhaps just a bit nearer the window! Get the shutter speed up and perhaps close the lens down a stop to improve it's sharpness.

Hope you don't mind, but I had a little play with the image I like, just to show you what I was thinking when I said brighter and more contrast.

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I think the image (either one) has a fresh, airy look to it. Definitely one of the best portraits I've seen on here (IMHO), just needs to be sharp!

Keep it up!
Dan

Well Chris, personally I prefer your images to John's - a very natural and flattering light. Lucky you too, having an attractive, and willing, model on hand, I hope, for your sake, she's willing to pose for you again, even if the results don't get posted here (hope I don't sound too lecherous ).

My favourite composition was the 5th image (the one in reply to Brian's comments). Nice and tight on the face, just needs the eyes to be sharper. I can't tell if Jayne moved a bit or if the focusing is off. Also, perhaps it could be a little brighter with slightly increased contrast? That might be this monitor though...

Keep at it - remember the Vogue covers would be highly photoshopped to get 'perfect' skin, eyes etc, but your pics are good as far as I'm concerned.

Dan

Viewfinder,

I'm sure you're a decent chap, and I'm sorry that things haven't worked out here. If you ever feel tempted by the K10D but want to have a proper play with it, look me up, I'm fairly local - I got mine yesterday.

I've got a Sigma 24-70 zoom if you fancied that...

Unfortunately, and this is a common problem with emails and messageboards, things don't always come across as you might want them to - tone of voice has a lot play in communication. But I have to say that some, if not many, of your posts were a little inflamatory, but if that wasn't what you'd intended then that's a shame.

I'm not sure, from your previous comments, that any DSLR is right for you at the moment, but we can all live in hope!

All the best,
Dan

The MTF charts for the 43mm Limited goes off the scale (well, way above the top line anyway). Much better than any Canon lens I could find, 24mm L came close, but edge resolution was much worse.

Having said that, the Canon lenses were tested on a 350D, the Pentax ones on a K10D, so that may have some bearing on it.

I know resolution isn't everything, but even so...

Dan

I wish I'd found these when Viewfinder was moaning about the price of the 31mm Limited, quite a good comparison between the 31mm and Canon 35mm L, which is over £100 more expensive.

www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/pentax_31_18/index.htm

www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_35_14/index.htm

Check out the MTF charts and CA especially.

Dan

Just Canophobic. Like I was Kodaphobic when using film - Fuji all the way for me.

At a push I suppose I would consider one, but I would go Nikon first undoubtedly. Well, second, obviously, after Pentax...

I'm sure they're good cameras, but I can't help but feel it's the huge marketing budget that's got them where they are today. I prefer the underdog. Especially if it's called Merlin.

Have a great time in Wales - lovely part of the British Isles.

Dan

Now there's a statement to leave on the board before you go off to Wales!

I, for one, would say a categorical NO to that.

Dan

It certainly is a possibility, but I would expect most people would phrase the original question along the lines of "The K10D seems like a remarkably feature-rich camera for the price..." rather than:

"The K10D is now widely available in most countries but unless you are happy with 2 zooms and the kit zoom, you can forget the idea of getting any other lenses because they are not only extremely rare but, if you are lucky enough to find a 'dealer' with one in stock he starts sucking air thru his teeth when you ask about price....

The k10 is obviously not intended as a serious system base, so is it simply a loss leader competitvely 'cheap' to get people struggling to find and buy very non cheap lenses"

It's these sorts of statements that put peoples backs up. With a current lens line-up going from 10mm to 320(?)mm, including primes from about £165, and 'other' zooms from £300, and various 3rd party lenses you're not exactly stuck for choice and shouldn't be too out of pocket.

A little research shows that there are lenses available. Perhaps the K10D is priced low to encourage 'jumping-ship', but there's no need to feel that you're then penalised with high-priced lenses.

If Pentax only made sub-£100 lenses, I know who'd be the first to complain about the lack of quality lenses.

Dan

I sure Matt will respond, but as far as I am concerned, it gets a bit tedious when Viewfinder uses the phrase 'Mindless Complexity' for the umpteenth time, moans about the lack of available lens, for which he's been searching for a week, but one phone call and one website reveal several available, complains about the cost of a fantastic lens (even though he's after the highest quality), but a comparable Canon lens is more expensive, dismisses zoom lens out of hand, or says that the new ones will be too expensive, and generally berates Pentax's commitment, philosophy etc.

After a while, people will just stop replying. There's only so often that we'll say "no, the zooms are actually very good", or "these places have the lenses in stock", or "no, the camera isn't complex, I got mine yesterday, and ten minutes later I'd customised it to how I wanted and that's all it needs!"

He winds me up, and that's an achievement - anyone that knows me will vouch for my placidness (placidity?).

He liked the quality from the Nikon D70 he borrowed. The K10D surpasses that quality. He may well have used a kit lens with that camera, and the 16-45mm would easily surpass that. If he wants primes, there are primes available.

We're all here to learn about, share and enjoy our hobby/profession. 'Noobs' are most welcome. But sometimes you just seem to get someone who goes over and over the same ground, and doesn't seem to take anything in. That's when people 'get a bit bored'.

Dan

A quick ring to Warehouse Express found a 14mm, 43mm and 70mm in stock.

Chris at SRS has the 14mm, 21mm, 43mm, 50mm, 50mm Macro, 70mm, 77mm.

So that's six off the list (and another extra one for luck) just looking at 2 retailers.

But I suppose you'd want the 31mm, although at £750 perhaps not. You could always get a Canon 35mm f/1.4 for £939.

But I do get the impression you don't like the Pentax system, so simply look elsewhere. If Canon offers what you need, get one. But if you think a K10D looks plasticy...

Dan