Hi and welcome to the Forum! We are mostly harmless and friendly, I'm sure you have already found that there's a lot of useful information on here!

Regards
David

I've been out in the garden today with my K-x and SMC 55mm F1.8. The bee shot was with extension tubes at F8, all the rest are at F1.8 with just the camera and lens.

Gathering Nectar





Two





Donkey's Ears





Blue & Gold




Hope you like, CC welcomed.

Regards
David

Hi Alan, I don't think there's any cause for concern with the Carabiner pin. I've tested the strap with significant stress placed on it on my workbench and applied probably 10 or more times the weight of a camera plus Siggy 150-500. Nothing gave way or looked like giving way.

The pin is only there to allow the opening part of the Carabiner to swivel, even if it did give way (unlikely as it's bearing no real weight) the camera would not come loose, unless you were extremely unlucky.

Regards
David

I would get some Aputure triggers, available on Amazon for very reasonable money. They are superb and work up to 120 metres away.

Regards
David

Absolutely Alan, I see no reason why it would not be fine with this lens.

Regards
David

Thanks for all the feedback since I mentioned the Caden straps. I don't find that mine twist up a lot - once you have got them on correctly they stay put.

They are probably the best value accessory I've ever bought for my cameras, I really struggle to understand how they can make a profit selling these at £4 including free delivery!

Regards
David

£400 to £475 if in excellent condition?

Regards
David

Be aware that if you use a reversing ring with something like a Pentax-M 28mm, it becomes extremely difficult to get shots in focus, if you are shooting things that move about 'in the wild'. The depth of field with such a lens when reversed is wafer-thin to say the least. It is much easier with a macro lens, or even something like a 50mm standard lens with tubes or bellows, but the results with a reversed 28mm can be spectacular when you get it right!

Another good option is a teleconverter with a macro lens attached, or a macro teleconverter with a standard lens. You will lose a bit of light and a bit of sharpness (not very much sharpness if the lens and TC are good), but good results are readily achievable.

Regards
David

Hi Will, we can all see this, but the OP was referring to purple fringing as far as I can see, not to a line down the right edge of the image.

I agree that the line down the edge is a converter issue, but I was referring to the actual exposure of the images which does look consistently too high.

Regards
David

Good point Richard and one I have also made to Shaun on several occasions. The K-5IIs does make a difference on landscape shots, even if it's difficult to see on sites like this one.

Regards
David