Great building. I did my own BPS walk in January and found surprisingly few places to get a view. However, I was rewarded with some beatifully clear conditions and was very pleased with my results, which is unusual for me. Have a good trip and please post some of your output.

The FA43 suits me. My second choice would be 35mm.

Thanks for the commments. Glad you enjoyed the photos, it's one of those can't go wrong locations with so much interest.

Of course I did some of the obvious shots too, no shame:

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I'm not sure of any benefits of going to the 55-300 from the 150-500, but here's pretty much the best I can extract from the 55-300 - I don't take many bird shots so I'm sure others can do better. The AF on the 55-300 isn't great and quickshift on the DA version is useful:

I think they might well be entirely on the pulse. The most important thing, as with the Q, is how well the K01 sells in China and Japan. Not what old fogey photgraphers in the UK think about it.

The fact that it comes in whacky colours is much more important than how practical it is with a long lens.

I bought a 100mm macro WR from Jessops, West Croydon. Reserved it online. They called me to say it was ready for pickup. Arrived, courteous, friendly staff and a nice lens at a steal of a price. The staff weren't spotty teenagers despite it being a Saturday afternoon. One happy customer.

“I don’t recall seeing that many cameras on the market that have been designed by professional designers,” says Newson. “Most of them are designed by engineers.”



There's a good reason for that. says Orloff.

Because the K01 only makes sense as 'compact' if it has a very compact lens. The DA40Ltd is already very compact so would be good to use on the K01 anyway. The choice at 30-35mm is not very compact. Put a 31 on it and you might as well use a K5 as neither is remotely pocketable.

I really see this camera being a very useful high quality street shooter (perfect for grab shots with a silent shutter), ideal for places where they don't like professional looking cameras (the Duplo look helps here), for travelling to places where discretion is important. A superslim 30mm would be a very versatile focal length and I would use the combination as a go everywhere option. And because of the Kmount it's a second body and backup. Really useful, potentially. Hopefully the K02 will be weather sealed and will sport a viewfinder (or at least an articulated screen) and a cable socket. Come to think of it my Canon G3 had an articulated screen and I used it a lot.

As a single camera proposition I just don't get it at all. I can't imagine how to use it with say the 55-300, trying to hold it steady while holding it up to look at the LCD screen. Does anyone take photos with a large lens like that? I don't think this was thought through by a photographer, not at all.

So once again, as with the Q it seems neither one thing nor another.

It bloody well should be with that snorkel.

Looks to me slightly more compact, but not really that much. That I suppose is the trade-off for retaining the K mount, so I'm happy with that. Looks are I'd euphemistically say are an acquired taste, but if it's rugged (WR a must) then that's the main thing for me. I like the idea of a slim lens with the ability to use any other. as the DA40mm is small enough anyway for my liking I'd (much) prefer other options, 30-35mm range for example.

Silent shutter is excellent. Really excellent.

If the focusing aids for MF lenses work well then that's excellent.

This would make an ideal second body for discreet around town and travel use. Except, except, except. I'd have to hold the thing up in the air a foot in front of my face Japanese-tourist-in-front-of-Tower-Bridge style. If they'd put an electronic viewfinder on it, then I'd start saving right now. An articulated screen would have maybe got me thinking. But from first impressions I'll have to wait for the next not fully thought through offering.

As a single camera alternative to a DSLR then I don't see the attraction as it's not very compact, especially with a zoom, will probably cost almost as much as a K5 but less well specced. Don't get it.

I think they are hanging their hat on the styling. Mmmmm. I think people who like snorkels will find it gorgeous.