Great set - really love these ! I didn't know Moorhens could be so aggressive.

I've just bought the DA*300 to go with my K5 and have just posted my first series on here, taken it on the 2nd day of ownership. Therefore I was particularly interested in your comments on focusing issues as I encountered the same with a flock of small birds that were flitting around all over the place - one or two sharpies but it is tough going at times even shooting at 1/800 !

Hmm site compression seems to have softened a few of these, 4,6 & 8 in particular. This seems to happen on all fora I've posted on to be fair - guess I should put up smaller versions !

OK I went off to the (huge) local park for a couple of hours to try out the new lense, plus there's a bonus kingfisher shot from the compound where I live (it has a small stream running through it that a pair of kingfishers have adopted).

If I know what they are I'll name them otherwise I've asked on a Birding forum (who are usually brilliant at recognising them) for names and I'll update this once I know.

#1 - These were in a flock of maybe 10 -15 birds feeding on the yellow flowers of this bush.




#2 - Long Tailed Shrike - right ?




#3 - Ibis ?




#4 - Same as above




#5 - Amur Wagtail ?




#6 - Light Vented Bul Bul




#7 - Light Vented Bul Bul




#8 - Common or Japanese Kingfisher (but I've seen other names for this).

#1 for me too - lovely.

I lived in Southern Austria for 3 years so these bring back some very pleasant memories. Thanks for posting !

Yes. Not only one of Pentax's best 3 lenses of all time but one of the best of ANY lenses ever made. See this link :-

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-02-05-02.shtml

If using a Mac then Aperture 3 is only US$79 now - bargain of the Century in software terms.

I can see why you love this lense ! I have the same feeling as Anvh - love the hill shot, super-sharp, and the flower shots. Congrats on a fine piece of glass !

Richard, everything I've seen & heard of the Tamron 18-250 (the Pentax is the same model) has been excellent for it's range & price point.

If it's a family holiday you don't want to drive them mad sneaking off to take shots of this that and everything (sorry Wifey I'm just going to run over there *points into the distance* as it will give a great view of Bala Lake, *comes back 2 hours later*) then it's a great compromise lense.

How often it stays on your camera after the holiday is completely your decision, I can't possibly see how your other lenses could become defunct if they offer higher quality - if they don't then sell them !

Ha Ha - well I got this one completely wrong !

On reading the thread title I thought Goth = Gothic and had something to do with Gothic dressed person meeting something in March - Mad Hatter perhaps. So off base I could be in Timbuktu.