Thank you Tim ! Tat only took a moment

Mike - for sure it is the lighting, the 7D shot was taken in a mobile studio off to one side with all the lights set-up to perfection and shot at ISO 100 (or 125 I forget) whereas the K5 shots were in dim uneven multi-coloured light and shot at 1,600 - 3,200. Even then there is not much difference when you pick out the sharpest areas.

Thanks Kev !

Cheers Gareth - I used the on camera pop-up diffuser when doing posed shots around the dinner tables, it worked so much better than I could even have imagined. It is a huge ballroom so even had my Metz 50 arrived in time I couldn't have bounced it off the walls / ceiling anyway. For groups power was on +1 and stood a couple of more yards further back than for couples , power at -1 and stood 2-3 yds away, all taken with the diffuser.

Ha ha ha @ FS.

As some of you may remember I took part in my first Pro Shoot as backup shooter for the St Patrick's Day Ball for 800 people at the 5 Star Shangri La Hotel in Pudong, Shanghai a few days ago.

Although a large part of the shoot was party-goers portraits and corporate logo and 'street' shots we also got to shoot some of the acts. One of those acts was Stavros Flately - who I know many Brits will know of - he did very well in a talent show a couple of years ago and is a very popular performer / comedian ! He put on a great show that had everyone laughing, singing and dancing. Later I had the personal pleasure of finding out he's a really good bloke too !

These are my first attempt at shooting stage so I hope you like them ! Please forgive the prominent positioning of the copyright - I'm sure you understand why it's necessary. Thank you for any C&C !

These were shot with the 43 Ltd and Tamron 17-50/2.8 and mostly wide open / 1/125 and ISO varying from 1,600 to 3,200. No NR has been applied in PP.

The last one is yours truly with Stavros at the formal shoot after his performance !

Just one I really like - the buttie eater !

Yep - Aligator is #1 - cracking shot.

I like the border - don't like Border FX but I also have no other option at present.

Put your watermark in a prominent, and not easily PS'd out, position on your prime shots, maybe not so prominent for tothers. Just have a note on the page that any of your shots can be purchased without the watermark. Most people understand the necessity now - otherwise it WILL get stolen if it's good enough.

I have just received my 50-150, no sign of FF at all. Though it is definitely a little softer wide open than when stopped down, by f4 it is pin-sharp though.

Congrats on your new 50-135 Mark ! It does seem like the best option for you since you definitely require WR.

Dave - I recently bought the DA*300 after toing an froing between it and the 60-250. Both are wonderful lenses but my 55-300 never sees the light of day now, the *300 is absolutely stellar and 1:1 crops are good enough to print. For a once in a lifetime trip I'd take 4 lenses and a K5 and then sell off those I didn't want when I came back ... it IS a once in a lifetime event isn't it.

An UWA - 10-20 or 12-24
Tamron 17-50/2.8 or Sigma 17-50/2.8 or DA*16-50
Sigma 50-150/2.8 (or the 50-135 you already have)
DA*300 and the AFA x1.7 (which works very well indeed with the *300) - sell the AFA when you come back not before you go !

Have a wonderful trip (take plenty of SD cards) !

Ah ... our favourite holiday destination, kids (now all grown up) love it there, as do we of course.

Not just good for dental work but any medical necessities, I had a hernia fixed there, brilliant work.

Nice set - fish shot the best (defo some distortion going on there though - try PTLens for 10-20 correction).

#2 & #4 for me too. Love #2 - great shot of the bird looking straight at you.

This. But I also have metal hoods on some.