http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/hot-first-real-pictures-of-the-pentac-k-01-mirro...#comment-10478

Thank you all once again for your very helpful advice and comments. The Forum at its best once again. You have confirmed what I thought would be the best flash for my lens. I have ordered the Pentax flash from Pixmania for £359. (SRS also have a second hand one at £399). I know that Pixmania do not have SRS's reputation and I'll probably get an instruction book in French but I can't ignore the price. I have dealt with them successfully before.

As whatsthisbuttondo has pointed out, SRS also have the Sigma at £219.

Thanks again everyone.

John

Thank you, everyone for your helpful comments.

I have seriously considered the Sigma and it is still a candidate. However the Pentax seems to get better reviews.

I have read that the Sigma screws on to the lens' filter thread which can cause problems with the non-WR D-FA 100mm macro, which I use. On the other hand, it seems that the Pentax uses the bayonet fitting that the lens hood uses and hence at close focus, the lens can pass through the flash without any weight on its front end. Can anyone confirm this please? Also, if the Pentax uses the bayonet in this way, does the protruding lens at closest focus cut off some of the light?

Thanks again,

John

Has anyone got a good condition and complete Pentax AF-160 FC Ring Flash that they would like to sell? The cheapest price that I can find new is £359.

Thanks.

John

I get the same sound with my K5 and raised it on this forum some months ago. The consensus seemed to be that the ultrasonic dust removal is silent and the sound we are hearing is something to do with image stabilisation. I also have a K10 like yourself and find the noise and vibration very reassuring!

John

I've used Shutterfly and was very impressed.

John

Thank you so much, everyone for your kind comments. They are much appreciated.

You are quite right. Three of the four shots have wings outside the frames. I realised this immediately afterwards, but when the action was going on, all I could do was contain my excitement enough to keep the camera pointing in the right direction and my finger on the shutter. Something for me to work on next time.

I try to use the TAv mode on the K5 whenever I can, especially when using a long lens as here or taking action. My minimum when using this 170-500 is f10 to maximise lens quality and 1/1000 to freeze movement. As long as you don't go above ISO 6000 you won't be disappointed. Hence, here I was already on 1/2500 when the fight started, which as it turned out was just as well. Have faith in your K5, Unlocker and experiment with the higher ISOs. It won't let you down!

Thanks again for all of your views. I feel quite encouraged.

John

So there I was at the Wildfowl Reserve trying out my Sigma 170-500 and K5 when two herons flew in and started fighting. The bigger one won! I don't know my herons; was this a male/female domestic?

Hope you like them. Postprocessing was Levels and Contrast using Elements 10.

F10 1/2500 ISO3200 430mm

[IMG]http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc379/daphnejohn/Pentax%20User/one.jpg[/IMG]

F10 1/2500 ISO3200 430mm

[IMG]http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc379/daphnejohn/Pentax%20User/two.jpg[/IMG]

F10 1/2500 ISO4000 430mm

[IMG]http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc379/daphnejohn/Pentax%20User/three.jpg[/IMG]

F10 1/2500 ISO4000 430mm

[IMG]http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc379/daphnejohn/Pentax%20User/four.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for looking. C&Cs welcome.

John

Wonderful shot, Don.

What lens/camera/settings combination did you use?

Regards

John

I had a similar problem once or twice with my K5 and the 55-300 just after I bought the camera. The camera would focus on a contrasty subject on which you would have thought that it would have found focussing easy. However, the focus indicator continued to flash and the shutter refused to fire. I resolved it by focussing on a much blander subject the same distance away, or switching to continuous focussing where practical.

I have not had that problem since, although I have not used that camera/lens comination recently. I would be very interested if anyone can pinpoint the cause.

John