Nice job on both but the second one has it for me.

When you say you used flash, was it just a straight flash or were you using any attachments etc?

Well there is another one now, BIN for £1,665.64. Mind the post is free!

The thing that puts me off the weekly competition is having to judge the next one, in the extremely unlikely event of winning!

That would be really scary!

That's good weather for the Lakes!

You've got a view, cloud above the tops and everything. Were you expecting sunshine or something?

Reading all this with interest.

My son bought his first DSLR just before Christmas, a KR and kit lens. Next purchase, an M 50mm. Within a month of Pentax ownership he had, like so many others, an old manual lens so I don't think the subject is too restrictive.

Good luck with the completion.

I found the Kata T-214 Torso Pack takes both my newly purchased 150-500 and the DA300, comfortably, but not attached to the camera. I generally use a CCS warthog slr pouch for the camera, much quicker to get out but not with the 150-500 attached!

The Kata is a sling type and no problem when full. Holds the lenses nice and secure within the bag and no problem when moving from back to front of the body. Easy to get the big lens out and in.

Works well for me but not sure how much they are new. I bought mine second hand.

Filter arrived all safe and sound.

Thanks once again.

Bob.

I think my best buy was a Zenit E camera, case and a 35mm f2.4 Flektagon on the front for a pound!

The other good one was a Pentax-A 135 f2.8. I was in a charity shop and someone else spotted this lens and was going to buy it but he noticed that the aperture blades were floating around inside. The lady in the shop said she would throw it out, did I want it for £1. I decided it was worth that for the caps and took it home.
Some time later I got around to taking it apart. Several hours later I had it back together and the aperture working fine. It would even focus correctly!

If anyone wants a Zenit E for the postage just let me know, there are several to chose from!

PM sent.

A few suggestions that you may have tried already.

Are they fresh batteries?
Old batteries may light a light but not have enough umpff to power the whole camera.

Are the battery terminals in the camera clean? Give them a rub and try again.

Clean the battery itself, rub with a cloth and don't touch the contact surfaces as you put it into the camera.

Try exercising the switches a few times. Contacts may need a bit of rubbing.