I started in 1970 with my first Spotmatic. At the same time I had abunch of Leica equipment.
But the Spotmatic was my first SLR. It had a 55mm f1.8 super Takumar lens.

I found the SLR just fantastic. Through the lens metering, No worries about filter factors, or using extension tubes. I was hooked. I bought a stack of accessories and kept it spotless. I then bought a second used Spotmatic with a 50mm f1.4 lens. This I used for dragging around in the rough when doing some hill climbing and when it didn't matter that it did get a bump or two.
I used them until I bought my first Super-A with a 28-80mm SMC-A lens and then a second with 50mm 1.4 lens and then another one. I loved this cameras.
In the mean time I bought secondhand MX, K2, and a few other Pentaxes,
But I felt never happy with them. I flogged them again. But kept my Super-A's. Then came the Digital era and it started to get hard to get good prints made. I bought a couple of those small Pentax cameras, but found they where crap. I then got a Canon Powershot, which pooped all over the Pentaxes. I think the Pentax lenses in those cameras where not up to scratch
However, I lost interest in photography, until I bought a K5. This made all the difference. My interest came back and I had fun again photographing. So much, that I always wanted a Pentax in the car beside me. but the K5 with the various lenses was to valuable to me to leave unsupervised in the car, so I bought a X_5. A great second camera. It is light and has a super zooming range. It stays in my car, ready for any motive I find.
I don't think i will ever buy another brand, I've given the little Canon Powershot to one of my grandchildren (8 Years old). She uses it now and makes very fine pictures with it
Now I am waiting for a Pentax FF. I am 70 now and hopefully have another 30 years or so and maybe see a FF by then.

Regards, Horst

The

well, I suppose Pentax felt sorry for you guys and released the WR cameras and lenses.
However every time I watch Midsummer Murders, the weather seems to be perfect.

Regards, Horst

Gwin wrote:

I've done all that, what now?

Regards, Horst

This is a great shop. I nearly bought something., but I couldn't figure out how to get to the checkout.

Regards, Horst

Lenny wrote:
Your right with the Ashes, But the weather? We had between 35 and 41 the last week.

And its going to be in the high 30's this week again.

Only a nice cool beer can be of help when it's like this.

Regards, Horst

Thanks Gary. I had a look at your link. Wow what great pictures. As I said, I will Load my Film camera with a real of B&W film. And screw a yellow No1 filter on front and see how it goes .
I found a place in St.Kilda which looks very interesting for developing the B&W films.
link.

Regards, Horst

I watched the video. looked good. then i tried it and now my wife is trying to untangle my arms.

I possible stick to my existing method.

Regards, Horst

A good manual is importand for any piece of equipment. it is very frustrating to be able to look up any query one has with it.

Especially the modern types of equipment, be it a camera or a smart phone or similar.

A printed manual has the advantage, that it is easy to carry if required. The K5 manual is not bad, but it was guaranteed not written by a user but possibly by the developer of the camera.
Quite a few items it is assumed that you know already most of it. Why should you? there must be plenty of people who use this type of equipment for the first time.
You know,the old saying: when all else fails, consult the manual.

Also If one pays 1300 dollars or more for a camera, one should expect a decent explicit manual.

I can see the cheap Chinese rubbish not having a decent manual, but just some B&W hand drawn images to tell you how it should work, but not for an expensive precision piece of equipment.

Regards, Horst

Hi, I saved all my coins and finally bought: Wait for it-----
a 77mm f1.8 limited Brand spanking new lens.

I bought the silver version. Wy? because I liked it. Reminded me of my old Leica days.

It cost me $AU 799.- (427.- GBP) with free postage. It comes with a 2 year Australian guarantee and was shipped by the official Australian Importer.
By far the cheapest of all I could find on Ebay or on the Internet .
I anybody is interested. here is an Ebay number for a black one for this price: 231148448568.

Now i fitted this lens on to my K5. It focuses like a dream.

Then I made some pictures around the house and garden. Nothing I would put on to the Gallery, but just to see how the lens performs.

It blew me away. just blew me away. I don't have any other lens as good as this one.

Then I decided to put it on to one of my Film Pentaxes to see how easy it is to manual focus.
No problem at all.The focus ring is wide enough and just in the right position to be comfortable.

I will be taking some B&W pictures with it next Wednesday and see how it performs.

The camera is my Super Program = Super-A. I made some pictures of it with the lens attached.

It looks great. Have you ever seen a better looking Pentax Camera-Lens combination?

Regards, Horst

Smeggie wrote:

But you have to give the copper a bit of leeway:

The Camera in question was a Canon!!!

Regards, Horst