Beautifully shot, a great macro image. I'm no expert, but I agree with all the comments above.

Regards
David

Hi Chris

I've been following your macro adventures with interest! I have made a couple of flash diffusers a-la-Charlotte out of Pringles Tubes and they work really well, although I use mine with a flashgun, not the on-board flash. I have made one into a right-angled diffuser which is really effective for insect shots. With regard to the tripod, have you considered using it as a monopod, i.e. extend one of the legs only? This way it is far less cumbersome and still gives you some added stability.

Regards
David

Hope you like the 16-45. It is my current favourite lens, a brilliant little lump of glass.

Regards
David

Hi Barrie, I don't have a photo hotlinking site so can't attach the actual images here, but there are some on tonight's Gallery, see links below.



link link link link

Hope you like!

Regards
David

I would like to use this forum to send a personal 'thanks' to Shaun Wilson for organising and hosting today's model shoot in Frodsham, Cheshire. The day was superb, thanks to Shaun and his two fantastic models, it was just a pity that more of us could not have been there to enjoy it.

Thanks also to Glyn (a Canon user!!!!!:shock who let Shaun use the Community Hall and had a ball taking pictures with his Canon.

Kind Regards
David

Hi Alistair, I have owned a K-x for about a year and I have recently bought a K-5 so I think I can give you some unbiased feedback. BTW, I have no intention of selling the K-x as I like to carry two cameras with me and the K-x is a brilliant piece of kit.

Firstly, the K-5 is an entirely different beast to the excellent K-x. Better build, faster, brighter viewfinder, more flexible, better dynamic range, better rear screen etc.

However, I suspect your main criteria will be image quality. In terms of K-5 vs. K-x, the higher pixel count yields more detail, but you will need to have some serious quality glass to make this a deal-maker for you. The K-x, as you already know, is capable of taking magnificent images. The main advantage I have found personally with the K-5 is the increased dynamic range and better colour depth. Colours really shine on the K-5 and if you are shooting in tricky light, you can recover so much more detail with K-5, especially when shooting in RAW and processing carefully afterwards.

You will also find the K-5 better at high ISO settings, but it is not leagues ahead of the K-x in this respect as the K-x is already very good.

K-5 has a very quiet shutter - this may be important for you.

Finally, and maybe significantly, the K-5 focusses much faster and more reliably than the K-x in tricky situations and especially with longer lenses. I don't know if you use AF or MF for your bird shots, but if using AF you would find the K-5 a lot better.

I can't say whether or not it is worth you upgrading, but I certainly have not regretted it. The K-5 is a simply superb camera.

Regards
David

I love my 55-300, although it's only the DA L version. It's light, easy to sue and takes wonderfully sharp and contrasty images. I wouldn't hesitate to trade up to this lens; it is on my K-x permanently.

Regards
David

Congratulations David, it's great to see another PU member winning again. Both images are stunners.

Regards
David

Brilliant shots George, the lens should come out more often!

Regards
David

I have just uploaded my entry and it has certainly stirred some memories for me. I agree that it is a difficult subject and one that requires some thought and planning. I think more entries will arrive this weekend.

Regards
David