[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Misc/IMGP3798-c1_small_bright.jpg[/IMG]

I appreciate that there are quite a few things wrong with this shot but I wanted to put it up as it was the last photo taken using my DA*16-50 as I wrote it off falling down this slope! The details are in my entry in this thread.

K20D with DA*16-50 @ 16mm
1/50 sec, f8 & ISO 200

Taken on 29th June 2009 at 05:42am

DA* 16-50 serial No. 9011016 RIP

Glyn

So that you don't feel its only you, and possibly to share the woes around a bit, I had a very bad start to this week.

I wrote off my DA*16-50 on Monday:

[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Misc/IMGP3911-very_small.jpg[/IMG]

My wife, Jane, & I decided to go out for a walk very early on Monday. Part of the walk, about 2 miles out, involved a steep downward slope on which I slipped, lost my footing and fell down the slope.

After I had climbed back up again inspection revealed quite a bit of skin missing on my right forearm, a blooded knee sticking out of a tear in my trousers and taking the camera out of its bag the damage to the lens above. Fortunately no bones were broken and I was able to walk back home. My K20D also appears to have survived.

Just to add salt to the wound, when nearly home, I realised I had lost my glasses in the fall and had to go back, climb down, find them fortunately intact, and climb back up again.

The scratches and grazes are healing up nicely although they are now itching a lot!

Worried about the hike in lens prices I had a hunt round and bought a replacement at the old price from Park Cameras which arrived on Tuesday and it appears to be better than my first batch original, not needing any focus point adjustment.

As an aside if anyone needs a lens hood, cap or soft case for this lens I suddenly have a spare set

Alls well that ends well although my pride and wallet are still a bit sore.

Glyn

It might also be worth having a look for the Samsung equivalent of the Pentax 100mm F2.8. I have one of these and am very pleased with it.

Park cameras have this listed at £339.99 and indicate that it is "in stock" although from experience their stock indications can be wrong so, if interested, its probably worth giving them a ring.

Glyn

I guess you really would have to have a specific need to buy a WR lens at these prices given that the non WR versions are currently being offered by SRS for £49 & £99.

From my direction I would not consider them. I already have a DA*16-50 which is weather sealed and I specifically used in falling snow back in February. I also have the non WR version of the 50-200 but I've not used it since I bought a 55-300, which I think is far superior, and if I was worried about taking this out in the rain, or snow, I would probably just wrap a plastic bag around it

Glyn

In hunting around for something else I found the WR lenses quoted on the Warehouse Express site. However the prices do seem a bit extreme and I would hope that they end up closer to the prices of the non WR equivalents:

Pentax 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR @ £179.99

Pentax 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR @ £199.99

But perhaps this is just another indication of the recent large increases in lens prices.

Glyn

That would have been great but to be honest it was on some sort of junction box about a 100 yards below the church on the Guildford side along the north downs way. I'm always taking pictures of signs and I just could not resist this one.

We walked up from Guildford Station via Pewley down and returned back along the north downs way. The views were stunning, well worth the climb out of Guildford.

Glyn

Deleted because I was being stupid.

Glyn

Lovely pictures.

I was there last weekend and found this sign:

[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Misc/IMGP3259-c1-small.jpg[/IMG]

So I'm glad you survived

Glyn

The rabbit only looks worried as he thinks he is on his way to ebay

Of course he's far too precious for that. He just happened to be handy when I set up the shot.

Glyn

Sure does:

[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Misc/IMGP3310_small.jpg[/IMG]

Using the old version of the Manfrotto 055PRO.

On the old one you have to split the column by unscrewing it using the knob on the bottom, pull it out of the vertical mount, slide it into the horizontal mount and screw it back together again. This only takes a few seconds.

I believe the new version simplifies the switch of the column from vertical to horizontal.

Glyn

Edited for details on how the column is switched.