see also this link to adobe . I think that I added that update to my PC so that I was using the latest Adobe Camera Raw (version 4.3.1). I use gimp under linux now though.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 does process PEF (ie RAW) files. When you open a PEF file it runs Adobe Camera Raw for you. So I would think that Photoshop 7 should also handle them???

another happy RT user here, version 2.4

the new version looks good but it's on test at the moment, ie there isn't a fully-tested production release yet. On my system (ubuntu linux 9.10) the test version looks good but it crashes sometimes.

I've also got UFRAW but RT has more functionality for my use. I like the fact that you can save all of your current settings (eg saturation, noise reduction etc) into a profile (ie a template) and load this template for subsequent RAW images. So you could have a low ISO Pentax template and a high ISO template etc.

Thanks for the quick replies chaps!

John, yes, I agree that 1.4 are all expensive, but a 1.7 would be ideal for me. Don't need anything faster really.

Joe, sorry, I may have been unclear. I agree about the manual focus. I would be happy for a manual focus at a decent price. I would prefer auto exposure over manual exposure though.

It's a pity that Pentax don't appear to produce a new 50mm prime for decent cash.

Flicking through a camera mag recently, I saw that Canon/Nikon sell one for approx £100 (eg SRS have the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF NIKKOR at £111).

I would quite like a 50mm prime, but used 50mm 1.7 Pentax-A lenses seem to go for approx £60 - I would prefer to buy a new one (preferably 1.7 or thereabouts) but not at current prices, eg the only one I can find on the SRS web page, apart from the macro one, is the Pentax smc FA 50mm f1.4 at over £300 !

Cellardyke harbour wall, Fife:

Jacobs are £898 and SRS are £895

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/3222/Pentax-K-7-Digital-SLR-Camera-with-Pentax-...

Ok, thanks Matt & hefty.

Hi all,

Looking at getting an external flash, primarily for macro work. The P-TTL flashes seem to be quite expensive. I could get a Metz 36 AF4 for under £70. However, I can get a manual flash for about half that price. Can anyone tell me if it's easy or difficult to use manual flashes when shooting macro? Thanks.

Yes, according to this: http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html