I think what Dan means is that SLR's are bought as fashion/status symbols these days as often as they're bought as photographic tools. I know four people with DSLR's (including myself) within my circle of friends and two of them have never moved off the point-and-shoot Green Mode factory settings (with just the kit lens). One of them was bought specifically because the owner likes the sound of a mirror slapping.

These people probably make up the *majority* of DSLR purchasers - we just don't hear from them much because they're not into photography as a hobby, they just want to take snapshots and doing it on a DSLR is "better" than doing it on a compact (the adverts tell them so, so it must be true).

Pentax needs these people if it is to survive and, by extension, provide us enthusiasts with the shiny things we covet (like expensive lenses). If it needs to make the entry level cameras in 100 colours to do so then so be it - judging by the sales figures for the K-x it's obviously working spectacularly well!

As for me, I'm just waiting for the K-7 to be released in Old English White with Sherwood Green accents like a Lotus Cortina. Or Sky Blue and Orange like the Gulf GT40 that won Le Mans in '69. Or British Racing Green and Yellow like the Jim Clark Lotus 49. Or...

On digital it's just a polariser and ND grads, but I'll also be shooting some b&w film where I'm sure my yellow filter will get extensive useage

Still not in orange though...

If you tell me what you want to pay for it I'll bid on your behalf; if I win then you keep the camera and pay your friend, we leave each other nice feedback and there'll be no PayPal fees to pay. Everybody's happy!

PM me if you're interested.

I've had a couple of half-decent moon shots with the cheap and cheerful Tamron 70-300 but as John said the atmospherics play a large part - my only "good" shots came on an exceptionally clear night.

My main tip for shooting the moon is to ignore the camera's meter and shoot manually, otherwise it'll try and compensate for the dark sky by blowing the moon out completely. Remember the moon is about as bright as a sunny summer day so try f/8, 1/250 at ISO100 and adjust to taste from there

Ironically old Pentax ones! You can get a Sony>M42 adapter and use old Takumars to your heart's content.

It's true that the later AF (Dynax mount) lenses work on the Minolta/Sony DSLRs but there are a couple of decades' worth of manual Minolta MC/MD mount lenses that nobody seems to want (or can use). I had a load in as part of a larger job lot and while a few genuine Minolta ones sold on for peanuts (99p-£5 each) I'm still stuck with a few off-brand MD lenses and teleconverters that I can't even give away.

Not a problem I've ever had with *any* Pentax lens...

Very impressive stuff, although it probably says more about the filmaker(s) than the equipment - even if I had a K7 I couldn't shoot that!

I think the trick with ants is to tempt them with something (a little sugar does it) and then set up your gear and wait. When the ant pops into view to investigate the tasty treat hit the shutter!

Glad you're pleased with it but I hope you realise that one new lens is never enough!