the benefits of Evil Class cams over d-slrs are cost cutting for the manufacturer.... they will eventually beat out d-slrs....
medium format on the other hand.... let us assume the 645 d gets more competition in its price range... let us assume the newer competition gets better and faster... then Pentax will have to upgrade it.... what is there to say SOMEONE won't take a MF sensor, and slap it into a MF sized EVIL? take away the viewfinder, and pentaprism, and throw in an apple retina like display for live view and sell it for less....

The first camera maker that releases a 4k raw video codec with still capabilities matching the k-5 will change the market.... and you can bet it will be a mirrorless class camera....

I think the surest sign that the life out there is intelligent is that they won't talk to us.

There are several references in the Book, that hint towards extra terrestrial life...

What occupied the space before He said "Let there be light"?
mention of Angels.
A passage where "others not of this flock" is made...
So I guess the first question I'd ask if we ever do make contact with extra terrestrials is this:
"Do you believe in God?"
Can you even begin to grasp the ramifications if the answer comes back "YES"?

if one wants to speculate, the best guesses are to take what is already known and imagine what the next generation would be like...

for example.... you take a zeppelin (known).... stealth bomber (known)... lightweight rigid composite materials...(known eg carbon fibre)... lighter than air material (known areo foam gel)... lighter than air gasses (hydrogen for example).... autonomous unmanned drones (known xb37) now combine all those things together and it is feasible to build a stealth blimp like craft with a rigid skin that is capable of staying aloft and floating like a zeppelin, but having a rigid body would also be capable of high speeds... you design the aircraft so you can expel hydrogen and ignite the hydrogen outside the craft and ride the shock wave from the gas explosion and it would accelerate to high speeds nearly instantly... make it triangular shaped for aerodynamics...
and you got a plausible, build-able useful spy/attack drone that easily fits the description of many recent UFO sightings....
My guess is Lockheed sskunkworks black project... Stealth blimp, UAV.
I want one.

4 dlsrs, 8 lenses and three camcorders 2 laptops...... minimum.....

I need professional help....

A professional bodybuilder to carry all my stuff!!!

I await JR's findings with the lens. I'd be more inclined to believe him.....
I'm think Gerri might like this lens for weddings... it is certainly more affordable the the 50-135....

here is something interesting:
link vs link

considering it is the same lens.... the Pentax score lower for image quality, but better for build quality.

says something to me about the accuracy of thier testing...
I have the old Pentax 28-200 and it was a rebadged version of the tamron (gen 1 28-200)... as I recall the Pentax version focussed a little closer than the tamron and had noticeably better flare and aberration control.

I think maybe their testing standards are somewhat questionable...

basically they're saying it offers mediocre optical performance, at a high price.

but it is well built, weather sealed and quiet.

if the image quality meets (anybody care to check?) the 18-55 then maybe it isn't so bad image quality wise, just over priced...

I don't know.... this is the first review I've read...

well it it come to filters, tripod legs, lightstands, and many other photo related items, I've never understood why people feel compelled to torque them on.

A filter you should simply spin it on until it stops turning... apply no torque at all... you are supposed to take it off and put it away when you are done with it, not leave it on.

tripod legs need to be turned until snug then a little bit of torque for like like an eighth to a quarter turn to ensure the legs don't slip. Same with ball heads and video heads...

light stands need to be tightened the same way.
your flash heads should offer resistance but still be movable if you try to reposition the flash head.

over-tightening just leads to premature wear out or breakage of equipment.

to me this entire thread should be titled "Here are some solutions to one of the easiest problems to avoid"

the only time a serious photographer should encounter this problem, is if they just bout a used item from somebody that doesn't know any better.

you forgot the first method.... take a piece of neoprene (like a mouse pad) press the lens filter into the rubber neoprene and turn...

next time don't be silly, just turn it on, don't over tighten it.

I wonder if it still counts as robbery if one approaches the cashier with hand in jacket pocket pointing finger like it was handgun and demands he opens the cash register and hands over $5.00 in coins, and leaves a five dollar bill on counter before exiting?