I've subscribed to the RSS just so I can see how the photos of Grumpy Bear come along

Graham - wot needs inspiration for photographing THREE grumpy dogs

Took a punt on ebay and got a Pentax-A 28-80 3.5-4.5. I know it was never a spectacular lens in the (grand scheme of things) but I was wondering if I could expect much from it, or whether fifteen quids worth of beer would have been a better investment

I can't argue with the economics over a long period, you're absolutely right there.

Regarding OEM only, you'd hate my gadget bag! It's been a slow day and so far I've made a clip-on flash diffuser for the pop-up flash and a two-button cable release for the K100D - and it's only lunchtime...

These are generic batteries and fit many different cameras and camcorders. It's basically "off the shelf" stuff. Maplins do an NP400 battery for 20 quid that is 1600-odd mAh. As a very general rule of thumb, most OEM batteries (for the bigger brands) are made by Sony. They're the biggest OEM battery supplier in the world. Pretty much any laptop battery you'll find is also stuffed full of Sony cells.

The batteries to generally avoid, for reasons highlighted by John Riley, are the really cheap stuff coming out of China/Hong Kong etc via unofficial routes such as Ebay.

I reckon you'd be pretty safe if you were to get third party batteries from known brands, such as Duracell, Uniross and so on.

Thanks for the input I've done some more research and have concluded that what I'm after doesn't exist - yet (well, not with Pentax written on it anyway) According to the specs on paper, the K-m is barely any smaller (the odd millimeter here and there).

My perfect camera would be the size of a Panasonic G1, but with a larger sensor (at least APS-C) and a KAF lens mount. Would put up with a EVF provided it was very high resolution if needs be.

In the meantime I'll just find a better way to carry the K100D (maybe an R-strap) so I can have it with me as well as keep three dogs under control

Thanks again for the input, I'll shut up now and get on with producing some pics that come close to being postable on the gallery (it may be some wait )

I'm finding the K100D really cumbersome. It's like dragging a Praktica around. I was really looking forward to going fully digital, but I'm really missing the ME Super and it's diminutive proportions.

To be fair on the camera, it's performed more than adequately (though the matrix metering is dreadful) and although far from the images I want to produce, it's technically perfectly good.

Anyway, this isn't a moan, but request for advice really: do I have any options at all for a small dSLR that will take my accumulated KA and M42 lenses, or am I in a "get used to it" situation?

Graham

Wow, these photos are stunning

I've realised just how far I still have to go to be able to create images like that.

Ya know what? I reckon that's about the best advice I've ever read about exposure!

Graham (who's switched off the histogram!)

Only in a lab environment if I'm honest. More familiar with their other optical equipment than the cameras, though I briefly had a IIIa (with a dreadful uncoated lens) in the mid-90s. Only ever handled more modern stuff, never used one properly.

WOT?!?! You mean, you mean... move away from the A? But Pentax have spent years putting A's all over my camera, who am I to move away?

Actually, I have done that and more today. I tried out RAW for the first time. I got real bogged-down with the Pentax Laboratory software and had a thoroughly hateful time, cursed liberally, and blamed the dogs for everything. Now I've discovered RAW Therapee and OH MY GOD I have SHADOW DETAIL back and EVERYTHING! This is like the day I first discovered shadows in pre-used and replenished ID11!

I'm really starting to love this photography thing again

Thanks for all the welcomes, I'm really finidng out heaps reading through some of the threads.