I think it all depends on your system - Windows is not necessarily unstable, but it can be with certain configurations, get the right config and you're away! It seems Mongoose has the right configuration, so why would he want a Mac?

And there are viruses out there for Macs, so I'm surprised you don't have any antivirus software.

I use free anti-virus and free firewall software, and 'servicing' is non-existent, other than my time, if needed.

Horses for courses, as they say. I suspect it's the same as us saying Canon-users are all a bit daft.

Dan

...if you wear a little badge that says 'Viewfinder', I don't think that will be a problem.

Dan

Hi Will,

I've got the 10-20 Sigma, and I like it - usual good EX build quality.

Recently posted about it here:
www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=24768&highlight=#24768

You can use filters with it - I've used 'P' size polariser in the mount, which, rather than fitting to an adaptor, I just hang on the front of the lens in the holder, the bayonet bits for the hood hold the P holder quite nicely. It does vignette at the wide end though, so you'd either have to get an X size (think Matt has these for his Pentax), or go for screw-ins.

Might get away with taking a hacksaw to a P holder though, cutting off the front couple of slots, but I haven't tried it.

Dan

I post pictures here because this is the only online photography place that I frequent - I'm not interested in using ePhotozine or wherever. I post images because I think they're either relevant, or may be of interest, or, very occassionally, to show off a bit to a small 'community' of people I like.

Many of the things discussed here are not specific to Pentax, they're just about photography.

I would argue that this forum isn't solely about "all things Pentax", just that the majority of the people here are "Pentax Users", that being the name of the forum.

I agree that we should have a limit on image dimensions when posted, it is annoying to have to scroll side to side to read text. But I think it would lose it's appeal if all we are allowed to discuss are Pentax "issues", there's a lot more to photography than the brand of camera you use, and I'd rather have one place to discuss it, rather than ten.

Dan

I think the odd, relevant image in a thread is a good thing, and wouldn't want to move away from that (mainly because, if when posting a reply I suddenly realised I had an image that painted a thousand words, I'd have to open another thread in the gallery page, post an image to that, then carry on with the original topic).

By all means, have a general gallery/critique section, where we could put pics that we:

a) Are happy with, and purely want to share
b) Are happy with, but want other's opinions
c) Are unhappy with, and want advice as to how it could be improved.

but please don't say that's the only place we should post images.

Dan

Or perhaps to have focused on the tip of the nearest leaf, but using the same aperture that you did. Depends on what sort of effect you're after really.

Dan

What lens did you use to take the pic with Brian?

Dan

:

The spots have changed, but they're still there... The little wee beasties are on the move!

Dan

It's alright Mac, you're not being stalked by strange wee beasties, I see them too.

We're talking about images 31 and 32. Image 31 has (amongst others) three bright dots in a line at the bottom left hand corner. I thought they must have been from a flash too.

A pair of eyes in the middle of the rocks too.

Dan

P.S. Nice shots Galoot, takes me back to our trips to Skye, it's a beautiful island.

I use a Kood circular polariser (Cokin P size) a lot, on my istD. Has exactly the same effect on digital as it does on film, and it's something, as John rightly says, that can't be reproduced after the event.

I tend to use the cheaper ones as I seem to have butter fingers when it comes to filters - but I've been perfectly happy with the quality of them. I've not noticed a difference in image quality between images taken with and without the filter, but I am careful to avoid sunlight hitting the filter, as it's obviously not got SMC!

Dan