Firstly, Lensbabies *aren't* macro lenses. You can buy "macro" adaptors for them but these are just close-up filters that attach to the front in the same way you'd use them on normal lenses.

Lensbabies are designed to mimic (in a limited fashion) the tilt movements of a large format camera. By changing the angle that the light hits the sensor (relative to the lens) you can radically alter the plane of focus, ie. the part of the picture that appears sharp.

The simplest of the Lensbabies (Original / Lensbaby 2.0 / Muse) is little more than a short length of flexible plastic tubing (similar in appearance to the hose on a vacuum cleaner) with a lens mount on one end and a glass lens on the other. Around the glass lens is a finger-friendly ring for you to grip as you take photos; by pulling, pushing and wiggling this ring around you move the focal spot around the frame. Once you're pleased with the composition you take the photo. It's quite a simple and organic process.

Example photo taken with Lensbaby 2.0 on my K10D:

[IMG]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd37/hefty1969/IMGP4040.jpg[/IMG]

You change the aperture on the lens by dropping in one of a number of supplied magnetic discs in front of the glass - quite a simple operation. You can then use the Lensbaby in Aperture Priority or Manual modes.

The Lensbaby 3G / Control Freak works in a very similar fashion, but has the advantage that you can lock the tube into any position once you've found one that suits. If you're looking to repeat an outcome (say for tripod work) then this would be the one to go for, however, for wandering around and taking snapshots some may (and do!) feel the locks to be too fiddly and restrictive, preferring the simpler Lensbabies instead.

I hope that gives you a better idea anyway.

OK, I'll let you off on a technicality then

Sorry John, but you're quite wrong. There are several people already using pre-AI Nikkors on their Pentax cameras without the aid of an adaptor. As Reuben points out they won't lock-in so you need to be careful not to drop them.

A Google will bring up some samples (and a lot of discussions) about this but this thread covers most of it and has some lovely examples taken with various Nikkors (55/3.5, 105/4 Micro, 105/2.5) on a K10D.

It's still only worth doing if you (a) have a bag full of old Nikkors or (b) squirm at the prices old Takumars can sometimes fetch.

I have to confess I rather like Panasonic compacts. My brother's got an LX2 and it's really quite capable, especially at lower ISO levels. Lovely rendering from that Leica lens too - good choice!

As for non-SLR cameras; they never really were Pentax's strongest suit even in the days of film, I don't see any evidence of that changing in the near future unfortunately.

I've not tried it, but apparently Nikon pre-AI lenses (ie. pre-1977) work on K mount cameras without the need for an adaptor or modifications to the lens. The registration difference is about 1mm so the Nikon focusses slightly past infinity but that's no huge deal. Obviously they're "dumb" lenses with no communication to the body but should work much like any other pre-A lens.

So why bother? Because there are a lot of old Nikkor 105mm f2.5 telephotos going very cheap out there. Modern Nikons below the D300 can't use them (how ironic!), they sold by the bucketload and they're generally thought to be one of the portrait lens all time greats.

I've already got the FA77 and the D-FA100 so I'm spoilt, but if I were needing a short tele/portrait on a budget I'd certainly give it due consideration.

Excellent subject! I don't think I have anything suitable so I'll have to shoot something for the comp this week - any excuse will do for me.

Never heard of them to be honest, but they are a "bricks and mortar" shop and they appear on Pentax UK's site as a Pentax Pro Centre so you should be safe enough. The price is certainly a good one!

The K20D shoots DNG or PEF RAW files, the GX20 shoots DNG RAW files only. Other than cosmetic differences that's about it really.

The battery grip for the K10D/K20D is a slightly different shape to the GX10/GX20 one so you won't be able to use it on both. Other accessories (batteries, flash, etc) are completely interchangeable.

A friend of mine has a GX20 and is very pleased with it. I've had a play with it and found it very intuitive, coming from my K10D. Nice to have all the buttons in the same places (even if the Samsung ones are square rather than the round ones on the Pentax).

Several magazine reviews that I've read prefer the JPEG output of the Samsung to that of the Pentax, but it's a personal thing and if you're shooting RAW then there shouldn't be any noticeable difference anyway.

It's not just you believe me! I have both flash and tripod but prefer not to use either if I can possibly get away with it - I think natural light just looks nicer somehow and tripods get in the way. They're just neccessary evils for certain types of shot.

As for your photo I think it's a fantastic portrait and they should be very happy indeed with the end result. I wouldn't have noticed the glare if you hadn't pointed it out and even now I don't think it detracts from the shot in any way. Good work!

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