Thanks, looks like 2. is by design then.

Is there any play in your focus ring though, however slight (enough to make a little click when trying to rock it at the rear from side to side, without turning it)? I can also slide the corner of a sheet of writing/typing paper between the focus ring and lens barrel, though only by about 1/4 of an inch. Both these may be normal too, thought it better to check because my 30 year old Mitsuki 400mm is slightly better in this respect (though much worse in general build quality and image quality).

If I may add to this thread as my concerns are in some ways similar, I too have an Amazon '£639.99' 300mm DA* special and for two days, have thought all is well. It may be, and the image quality leaves nothing to be desired, however, I have two slight concerns (apart from the usual tricky-to-fit lens hood).

1. The back (camera) end of the focus ring isn't what I consider to be a close fit, which is something I did expect from an AW lens of this quality. When gripping the focus ring and pushing its back end from side to side (holding the lens firmly) there is a bit of play, enough for it to make a slight but clearly audible click each time the ring is pushed sideways, from any side. The click sounds like solid metal-on-metal, it's not tinny at all, but it's there. The focus ring action is smooth and quiet when turning it normally. My 100mm DFA WR macro has zero play or side-to-side movement in its (admittedly much smaller) focus ring and I had expected the 300 to be similar in that respect.

2. When turning the focus ring manually, it is allowed to continue turning well beyond the infinity and minimum focus marks respectively, on the focus scale... and I do mean a long way beyond. There is no 'stop' e.g. like my 100mm DFA, and I daren't even try and see how far it will go! Otherwise, within the scale, it turns and focuses well.

What I am asking is if these two points are by design, or if they indicate a sub-standard lens. Can anyone help? Thanks!

300mm DA* and HD 15mm are still on offer at those prices and now marked as 'in stock' following a period of 'back orders' last night. They must have got more stock in.

Me too! Nearly bought one at £800 a few weeks ago so... boom!

Had a £5 promo balance too, so a snip at £635 for me. Only 6 left now... never look a gift horse in the mouth!

£470, 26% off, less £49 cashback, so an 18-135WR for £120. Only 83% claimed, deal over.

Good deal. Unless you missed it!

Went there the other day, 20 minutes return on the train from Euston costing a tenner off peak, 10 minutes walk to the store. Not too bad really, would be helpful if they had a late night though.

Have another read of that link earlier in the thread... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8253915.stm

The Sale of Goods Act can save you all or part of the cost of repairs if the camera should not have failed in this way, having been handled normally, after 2 or 3 years. Even up to 6 years but the longer it is, the less you could claim for (the value of normal wear and tear might be deducted).

Manufacturers Guarantees are little more than a duplication of your existing rights in consumer law, and always last for a much shorter length of time than your consumer rights anyway (which are with the retailer). Citizens Advice Bureau would advise.

http://www.mifsuds.com/acatalog/Pentax-SMC-DA-560mm-F5.6-ED-AW-3562.html

One only (of course), when it's gone it's gone!

Many people have 1920 x 1080 screens these days, and increasing. Some still use 1024 x 768 screens. Others use tablets or even phones.

The answer is to do what some other big forums already do, introduce variable auto-resizing of images (based on detected screen and browser size) so any size can be posted.

You know it makes sense.

Too much scrolling due to too large vertical spacing.

Too little contrast (a lot of us are getting old!).

Hope that helps. (ah that's better. Slightly!)