Absolutely Andrew, no problem!

I found that very helpful, thanks for going to the trouble of doing the write up for us.

It's a shame the mounts don't both line up with the centre axis. If the Kirks do, I guess that's why they are more expensive (if you can find them used). Otherwise yours seems a decently made piece of kit.

All superb. Winter Path, Winter Snow and Lines particularly so for me. I really like the combination of lead in lines and strong verticals in the first and last.

The words "This one was taken with a compact.." are particularly humbling!

I like the composition too

I have one I bought one used over Christmas. I want to try a reasonable quality fast zoom as an alternative to primes for low-light portraits. I'd read a lot of love for the Tamron 17-50/2.8 over on the American forum but that struck me as too short for my purpose and 24-70/2.8 seemed the better choice. The fact it's FF compatible was a nice bonus from a future-proofing perspective.

Like you, I'd read the forums for opinions and reviews. I thought quite a few had mentioned back/front focussing issues on later bodies and the first thing I did when I got mine was to check the focus accuracy. At 70mm and f2.8 it was front focussing beyond the amount correctable with the micro-adjust correction. So second thing I did was drop it off at Sigma in Welwyn Garden City for calibration. They charged £38 including VAT and return postage, and took a fortnight or so. Not extortionate but possibly worth budgeting for if buying privately.

Sorry I can't help with image quality as I have yet to properly put it through its paces. In terms of handling, I would say it's fine if you like to shoot exclusivity in either AF or MF, but I like to fine-tune and swap between the two and it's a bit different from what I'm used to. To swap you have to push/pull the focus ring, which acts as an MF/AF clutch switch, and also set the body selector. Quickshift it aint, but it's no worse than other lenses with an AF/MF swicth and the clutch means you can support the lens by holding under the focus ring as it won't turn when you AF. Other than that handling seems good. It zooms in for out and out for in, as it were, but who cares. It's also not quite as big as I was expecting and, so far, I don't mind the weight or the size at all.

From a purely selfish perspective it's a bit of a shame you didn't post in a few months time, as it it's always been my intention to sell it again at some point. As it is, I still need to try it properly before I can decide whether that point will be sooner or later. If I find it too big and bulky and I keep leaving it on the shelf in favour of the primes, or if I find the image quality is missing too much after the primes, then I'd probably sell it sooner. If I fall in love with the concept of a fast portrait zoom then I'd want to keep it until the roadmap-promised DA*16-85 (approx) has not only been launched but is available second hand at a price that didn't scare me!

Of the off-brand lenses, the Sigma 10-20 is well regarded. I sold mine in favour of a 15mm Ltd but that was due only to my preference for small, light primes. There's also a Sigma 8-16.

Both Sigmas are considerably less expensive than the Pentax 12-24 but, going on reviews alone, the 12-24 would seem to be the best option if price doesn't matter.

The M28/3.5 arrived today. Very carefully packed and looking very clean.

I just regret not buying the K55/1.8 as well!

Don't know about Ireland - it's wearing plates from Victoria, Australia. Bit of a drive to reach Latvia. Wonder if they're going round the world :jealous:

Back on topic, I'd love the lens but glass like that is way beyond my budget. Have a bump on me though

Even though I just declared my love for the ME Super, the Super A does have a trick up its sleeve: It can use lenses that don't have an aperture ring. Either in program mode or shutter priority. They need to cover a 35mm frame, of course, but the DA35/2.4 works well, for example.

That said, I imagine most of us strongly prefer the focussing feel of the older, manual lenses. But it does increase shooting options for those without much older glass.

If you don't mind the camera also having an Aperture Priority mode, the ME Super is even better value.

Same form factor as the MX. You have LEDs displaying shutter speed in the viewfinder rather than a needle showing exposure, and you push buttons rather than twist a dial for manually adjusting that speed should you so wish. But as far as I know that's more or less it. And they're tuppence ha'penny on ebay.

I prefer mine to my Super A because it's simpler, and because I prefer those late 70s LEDs to the tiny early 80s LCDs. Cost aside I'd prefer an MX to both, but as an essentially free camera the ME Super is, well, pretty super.