Brilliant Bill, a great image that is well worthy of the win. Please keep it up, keep challenging us to aspire to the standards you set .

Regards
David

Hi Couls, in a word 'yes' it is good for wildlife, especially if you pair it with the Pentax 1.4 TC, latest version. I had the Sigma 150-500, but sold it when I got the Pentax 300 and 1.4 TC as I found I wasn't using the Sigma any more. Despite it not being a zoom, I find the Pentax combination so much more usable and it is much better optically too.

Regards
David

These are lovely and form an interesting contrast between the ones posted by John in a different thread. I do prefer the deeper tones and higher contrasts in your images Bill, also I like the tight framing which focusses on specific elements in the scene.

I do think this latest set suffers a little from lack of detail in the darker areas, I know this is intentional, but personally I would have liked to see a little more revealed in the shadows. On the plus side, the exposure used really makes the colours zing.

Regards
David

Regardless of the settings, I wouldn't recommend firing the flash head straight at the subjects, although I suspect you will already know this. Have you got a clip-on softbox that would be feasible to use without being too bulky?

Regards
David

I would keep the DA L WR version. I've never had issues with the plastic mounts and the WR is a valuable asset if you use your camera outside, assuming of course that your camera is WR too. If it isn't, I would concur with Andrew and keep the one with the best performance.

Regards
David

Super shots, taken with one of the best affordable zooms ever made for a Pentax camera. I'm always amazed by what this lens can produce in the right hands!

The Barn Owl is my favourite.

Regards
David

I've used one of these for a couple of years, it is great. Since getting it I don't use my pan and tilt head any more. The ball head copes with a lot of weight with ease, I've never felt it is insecure or liable to break.

Regards
David

Stunning image, you've got the focus absolutely spot on here. I owned a perfect mint copy of this lens a couple of years ago and sold it due to lack of use, I'm beginning to think I should have kept it!

Regards
David

It works really well, a good experiment I think!

Regards
David

I like Pentax being in the minority.

I like my Pentax cameras.

I like the fact that I only paid £150 for a mint K-01 a couple of years back.

I'm not really bothered if Pentax are good at marketing or not, as long as they don't go bust. Saab were good at marketing but they went bust.

I hope I'm not a cynic, I don't think I am.

Cheers
David