Great achievement Gareth. They don't gives firsts out unless you've earned one.

Usual thoughts - you are a maestro at this and you've just proved it again.

You've convinced me to dig mine out - stupid really, ignoring an expensive bit of kit, as I hardly ever use it.

You had a great day out ! The deer is particularly nice.

That red admiral is gorgeous. As you have demonstrated, get the focus smack on and avoid lots of twinkly highlights. Lovely collection. It does good macro too!

The size of those veils of gas? dust? is beyond awesome (I don't use that Americanism unless I mean it). Photographically, I can see there is a gap between the trees but as it is so dark, would it be better to crop the bottom off?

Certainly liked them -- old glass!

The Meyer/ Pentacon f2.8 135mm 'bokeh monster' is well known and a good one can be a bit pricey. I have never understood why nobody is ever interested in the f4 200mm however. It is just as good and the extra reach is handy now and again. You'd be lucky to get £10 for one of them! There is just one from the 135 here - the rest are from the 200.

1 This dandelion was nicely lit and I loved how it was hanging over the edge of a plant pot. This is the 135mm.



2 After I put the 200 on the camera this hoverfly turned up.



3 Lychnis is one of those flowers whose intense colour presents real problems when trying to photograph it. It has a pale center that clashes with the vibrant purple/red. That, in its turn is so intense that it often renders with a dark red border around the edges. This one turned out quite well.



4 Then it started to rain. I had been saving this hawksbeard 'dandelion' seedhead until it had fully formed but the rain put paid to that !



5 And the lychnis got wet too.



All with a K1 on a tripod and IR remote release

What a strange PR stunt - especially married to that call sign.

No. the K3 one doesn't have that slot up against the body - it isn't needed. That's a K5 eyecup I think.