Hairspray works. An old trick I learnt a long long time ago, in art class at secondary school I think. We used to use it on chalk & pastel drawings. Something I've remember all my life, used it as a fixative on all sorts of similar things included ink on paper

Thinking about it, this actually might be the lens I've wanting from Pentax. 2.8 is actually a big improvement on the 3.2 of the 21ltd. 20mm is great for going 'walkabout' plus you get a little extra length for flexibility. 1.8 would have been great but you could argue that you would have been stopping down a little anyway a lot of the time just to improve your focus hit rate.

I've been checking Google everyday to see if the Sigma has been released for our mount however there are 2 things now to consider:

i. this lens is going to be a lot smaller and lighter, the Sigma is a beast and while offering creative possibilities it's not exactly handy and discrete
ii. It's WR! You wanna walk around with your WR Pentax body then this lens is it!

Looking forward to the reviews.... but not the price

Camera companies really make their money from lenses, so, sadly I would think any new Pentax 'retro' interchangeable camera would come with a new mount for that reason alone, nevermind any technical difficulties. What a loss leader it would be if they brought out such a camera and then everyone just went onto ebay to buy old primes for it?

Very interesting. Particularly as D600 price is down to the same level I noticed today. The K5iis already runs most cameras down. I picked up one second hand last month after being convinced by DXo labs and particularly the dp studio comparison tool and have found the accurate with my own experience. These examples look even stronger. The IsO performance particularly. Detail comes from the lens first and foremost IMO, but that Nikkor is supposed to be pretty damn good? Smells like an good ol' fashion Canikon ass whomping may be around the corner... yet again

I know the effect you're going for and you're on the right track. Like John says try some other subjects. Most importantly keep going if you enjoy it, they'll get better and better

Absolutely. Or take up hill walking to help get you out there everyday.

I'm impressed this hasn't turned into a 13 page tit for tat on equipment and sensors and mega pixels and blah blah blah.

Tripod - yes, Filters - Ok. But any camera from the last five years will do. I wouldn't care whether I had my K5iis or GX10 if I was in the right place at the right time

It's no surprise the best landscape shots come for those who are out there morning after morning and know their locations. The genre really is the 'elevator muzak' of photography IMO, to get those real top quality shots, and I mean those real stand out 'winners', you have to put in some serious consistent effort. Even those of us who try at the weekends or make little holiday trips are up against some serious odds. 'Nature' after all can not be dialed in on your Pocket Wizard.

There are 5 pros on the Isle of Sky that I know of, I might be as good, I might be better, I might own a 645D - but simply jumping in my car turning up and hoping to get a single shot as good as one of their best... well what are the odds? 365/1? 1000/1? More?

Congrats! Yes Mark seems to be on one helluva roll

Ferry leaving Newhaven harbour might be the most photoshopped but looks like my favorite

Indeed. MX version please Pentax.

I'm also very pleased about the sensible MP count too. A7r is cool but taking holiday or 'nights out' snaps at 36mp??? No thanks.

+1

Might be some good news regarding the price of the K3 with today's release of the N**** D5300?

For the laymen who will be comparing buying choices by the big main numbers, and who cares little for the importance of DXO lab results or build quality, (might even prefer the lighter weight plastic body), this new camera is much cheaper, easily matches the K3 in most areas and beats it in others - WIFI, GPS, tilt screen - Hellloooo Ricohoooo?!

If you're talking about attracting new users Ricoh may need to put their thinking caps on. Perhaps Ricoh will mark down the K3 price a little? Unless they have a 24mp K50s in the wings?