Exactly

Yes

I think I've seen it but not badged as a Vivitar. This Bower has been popping up in my searches a lot in the last couple of months: Link

Don't know if it's any good or not though

Pentax 50's are regarded as some of (and by some people *the*) best lenses in the business. Given a new FA50/1.4 is cheaper than the Sigma it's probably not as attractive to the average Pentaxian as it it to owners of some other brands.

I don't think Hemel itself would be classed as The Vale, but come in as far as Tring and I reckon that'd be allowed.

Well done Tony-O for judging aand congratulations to Dr Mhuni on a well deserved victory.

But you're miles off with frying pan - it's actually the lens cap from the lens used to shoot the picture with...

I've long since stopped expecting staff in chain stores to have any idea about the products they're shifting; but having said that I would at least expect an optician to understand their glass which is a step in the right direction.

Just picked up the local weekly (The Bucks Herald) and they're running a photographic competition for the best picture of Aylesbury Vale; first prize a Pentax K200D + DA18-55, second prize a Pentax Optio and third a pair of glasses with Pentax lenses.

The thing that interested me was that the prizes are being provided by SpecSavers (who probably shift more Pentax glass than all the UK camera shops combined) - could this be a new tie-in for Pentax? Would you consider buying your next camera from an optician rather than a camera store?

SpecSavers seem to be the only ones who actually advertise Pentax on TV and the mainstream press these days so maybe this would be a way to get the photographic products into High Street shops?

Charity shops often make good hunting grounds for M-series and A-series stuff; car boot sales tend to favour M42 gear I find - or maybe that's just 'round here...

Enabled and Disabled both refer to the SR being switched on.

When you activate the meter (by half-pressing the shutter button) it takes a fraction of a second for the SR to be ready (the green hand symbol illuminates in the viewfinder). If you shoot before the green hand lights up then it'll show as "Disabled", if the green hand had time to light up then it'll show as "Enabled".

Another time when SR is switched on but "Disabled" is when you use either a remote shutter release or the built in timer - both of these override the SR as the camera will assume you're using a tripod.

Off refers to the SR being switched off.

Does that make it any clearer?

Only 'cos I hoover up old cameras and lenses from auctions and car boot sales - I give 'em all a try before I sell 'em on...

Actually handled a DA14 for the first time at SRS on Saturday and was impressed by its size compared to my DA12-24. Still a 77mm filter ring though so with a petal hood reversed over it I imagine it'd still be quite a space hog in the camera bag (my biggest 12-24 grumble).

Results have always looked very good from what I've seen but I like the flexibility the 12-24 gives me and at those sorts of focal length I'm not sure I'd get much use out of the extra stop of speed the DA14 gives.

Each to their own though; I've never heard a bad word said about the DA14 from its owners so I guess it depends how much the extra speed and the size difference means to you (at 420g v 430g compared to the 12-24 there's not much weight saved)?