Anything which makes viewing the site less like jumping in a flux-capacitor enhanced DeLorean back to 1985, would be an improvement.

Just a good run, like the forum has its up's and downs. I've always been in the 'Gallery camp' on this site. While there are 'prettier' images to be found elsewhere, such as the flamboyant magazine stuff of 500px, I quite like the 'honest' and considered photography to be found here (if that makes any sense), along with the other very good stuff of course.

Begin with a J?

One of the universes great mysteries. Just out of curiosity, is permission needed to use the Pentax logo/typeface?

+1

100% agree get some tubes and the 50mm 1.7, and or the 100mm DA macro

Its glass glass glass - the marketing machine makes it hard to resist but try your hardest its all about glass, not MP.

An example, went into the O2 shop yesterday to inspect the new model of my Sony phone, they had boosted it to 20mp and have added a feature called 'Blur Background' or something... basically you select the focus object and it takes 2 shots, one on the subject the other on something else and combines them to give you a 'photo-shopped' DOF BOKEH field. Result = garbage. Better of with a cheap fast fifty off ebay and a real camera. Nothing beats good glass, yet anyway

My fav flower lens is actually a M42 135mm Carl Zeiss Jena I got in a charity shop - tricky to use but tremendous rendering with real character - kinda hard to explain

Yup, its easy to see why you felt the need to share that one - lovely piece of work - I might pay money for it myself - I feel a Japanese influence, Shibusa inspired calligraphy perhaps

Sharp in all the right places, great use of DOF and angle, great lighting.

Great examples for anyone IMO

I would agree would agree with the above and also add Sigma are quite clever and are aware of the vignetting and other issues with adding filters to their wide angle lenses. They add a some sort of coating I think, which gives images an almost polarized look already, lovely blue skies, particularly from the Sigma 8-16

And photo electric cells in a camera — I don’t see why it is done. It is a laziness. During the day, I don’t need a light meter. It is only when light changes very quickly at dusk or when I’m in another country, in the desert or in the snow. But I guess first, and then I check. It is good training. - Henri Cartier-Bresson