Hi Jon, I'm not sure what sort of location you will have and whether or not there will be good quality natural light, but I find that natural light with appropriate reflectors makes for far better and more natural portrait shots than any flash setup can give.

If you could get natural light from two or more sources (windows, roof lights etc.) with maybe a little fill-in flash this would be my preference.

Regards
David

Hi Annie, another Yorkshire member (born in Conisbrough, nr. Doncaster, now live in Killamarsh nr. Sheffield which is actually just over the border in NE Derbyshire). We have quite an active little group in and around Sheffield and you are welcome to join us when we have a day out - will let you know if anything gets arranged.

Regards
David

Superb shots with the 55-300 - it is a great lens but it's not easy to use it to such devastating effect as you have here. As George points out, it is more to do with the person behind the camera as it is to do with the lens.

Regards
David

Hi Sam, others more knowlegeable than me can advise whether or not it's possible to get dust inside the camera through the lens, but I would think it very unlikey. Dust can get inside lenses, but I think it would be difficult to get in via the lens, unless you don't clean the rear of the lens with a blower before you attach it, in which case the rear element and surrounding area could be covered in dust.

It sounds like weather-sealing is not your problem and that you just need to be careful about changing lenses and keeping your equipment free of dust. Get a Rocket Blower for balsting your lenses before you attach them.

Regards
David

Hi Chris, I'm not sure you are correct in your post above about sharpness at wider apertures being down to shorter exposures / less shake. I am basing my experiences when images are taken on a tripod with 2 second delay or on remote control with delay, so shake is not a factor.

I can't send you definitive proof with charts etc as I can't be bothered to test the theory to this degree, but in real world usage, a lot of my lenses seem to perform best at or near to wide open.

Regards
David

Hi Alistair, I think you can download the Pentax software that comes with new Pentax cameras from the Pentax UK website. If not, PM me your address and I would be happy to send you a disc.

This is very simple software, based on a Silkypix engine that enables RAW processing and lets you save to a Jpeg file. It works fine and I use it all the time.

Regards
David

Hi Sam, I have the K-x and it's a fabulous camera but as you've pointed out does not have weather-sealing. I'm not sure how your K100d has suffered so badly from dust ingress - do you mean via the body or when you change lenses? If this is from changing lenses a weather-sealed body will make no difference.

The K-x was superseded by the K-r which you can pick up for less than £400. If you must have weather-sealing I would strongly recommend you go for a K-5 and pay the difference between £400 and the asking price. It is superb and far better than any of the previous weather-sealed cameras, including the K-7. If you can't stretch to this, K-7 is probably next best.

Regards
David

I don't think you can generalise with lenses. My SMC Takumar 135mm F3.5 is fantastic wide open, my 55-300 needs to be stopped down to 6.3 or 7.1, DA 16-45 is great at all apertures, Chinon 50mm F1.9 is great at 2.8 etc.

For ISO I always use the absolute lowest setting I can get away with without risk of shake.

Regards
David

I totally agree Gwyn, his nude shots are exemplary and among the very best pictures have seen on the Gallery.

Regards
David

Hi Lenny, the pictures all look a little soft - have you applied any sharpening to them or are they 'as is' from the camera?

Regards
David