Clarky,

Sometimes talking about Camera's or any other subject leads into other areas, that's life. It maybe an area some people don't like to hear about. That doesn't make it off limits, unless of course it is banned on this site.

Guns are a part of our society, however many Americans also like you only see the negative aspects on the subject, not open minded at all.

I know you live in Australia, my response was broad.

I was born and bred (raised) in London and surrounding towns, I am very well aware of how many Brits feel negative about firearms. Also aware many would like the same freedoms we enjoy over here. They are pretty much heading for a police state, it's fantasy land to believe otherwise.

That will never happen here, there will be another revolution.

As far as my toothless comment, that unfortunately is the view of the uneducated and why I stated it.

Just remember if you ever visit the USA you will probably by very near normal looking hard working Americans all the time, carrying concealed. Don't worry none of these citizens will harm you, quite the contrary, one may just save your life.

You see in the USA the concept is the individual is not protected by law enforcement, they can only try to protect the masses. That doesn't work out very well for poor old Grandma and Grandad except in Hollywood Movies.

Finally, if some subject comes up during the course of discussion that bothers your circuitry don't respond, the subject will instantly go away. It's as simple as that.

RG.

Clarky.

You don't have to get your knickers in a twist.

I was originally just making a point that I feel much safer here out and about with my camera than I ever would in London or the UK. nothing for anyone to get upset about.

George appears to sometimes have a very sarcastic form of comments. I was just pointing out some facts of life.

With all due respect I also don't know who selected you as the freedom of speech monitor !!!!!!!!

I have been reading this site a long time before I joined, seems to me off topic has always been going on, including political type content.

Don't know that any subject is banned, with the exception of rudeness
and cussing.

Didn't realize mentioning guns would shake up the boys and girls.

I guess unlike the UK, Europe and most of the rest of the world, we who live in a free country, slip up with our freedom of speech philosophy. We feel we can have a chat about anything, including big bad guns.

Oh, by the way us toothless grinning gun toting Rednecks don't have millions of camera's monitoring our every move, or a BBC that wants to use the C word on TV. If that's a civilized society you and George can have it.

RG.

Fact is, London is full of thugs.

Fact is, one is 6 times more likely to be mugged in the UK than in
the USA.

Fact is, home burglary rate in the UK is far higher than the USA.
Reason, break into a US home and you more than likely will be shot dead.

Break into a UK home and maybe get invited to stay for dinner !!!!
Much better than defending ones self, after all if you do you will probably get a longer prison sentence than the perp.

Murder rate is very high in the USA. Main reason, gang turf wars (coming to your town soon) The high rate of so called children's deaths from guns is because they include children up to 18 years old in the data, the vast majority are once again gang members.

If all Hispanic and Black gangs evaporated, our gun death rate would drop dramatically.

I have had a CCW Permit for a very long time. We like other carry states have extremely low to non existent rates of permit holders using their weapons without just cause. It is not as was predicted by the weenies, gun fights at the OK Corral.

As far as some piece of garbage surprising terrible gun toting citizens, it's highly unlikely considering most of their IQ levels are probably in the two digits. I know for a fact anyone trying it on this Camera/Gun toting individual would be in for a very nasty lead filled
shock.

I know this is a Photo site, however it makes me sick to my stomach that some people let themselves be victims.

I will now jump off my pulpit.

RG. ( Camera control is like Gun control. Focus and Shoot.)

My wife and daughter visited family in London and the surrounding area last March.

They had not been back for 20 years. Apart from the initial shock on arriving at Heathrow (They wondered if they had got on the wrong aircraft)
they then had to listen to my wifes brother (London Metro Cop and sister-in-law, who works at Scotland Yard) about the crime in London and tips to avoid it.

When they were about to visit Covent Garden he insisted they took no handbags with them and tried to convince our daughter ( Pro Photographer in LA) not to take her camera with her. That was like trying to keep a cat on a hot tin roof.
Anyway after leaving CG she stopped to take some shots from a street corner. A guy driving a van stopped a couple of yards away, got out opened the sliding door and then leaned on the van watching my daughter. My wife who was across the street yelled at our daughter to watch her back. The guy obviously noticed he had been tagged and quickly shut the door, got back in the van and took off.

My wife is certain he was after at least the camera and possibly our daughter as well.

Beware when visiting London, remember it's not what it used to be, yes there was always crime, now it is out of control. That is straight from the horses mouth.

Take your camera and enjoy your trip, however I would suggest you stay alert in code yellow, even orange in some areas when that K10D is visible. (Come to think of it, even when not visible)

Would also suggest you only use small capacity SD Cards, that way you may at least have most of your images if by chance you do get ripped.
If you use High cap cards in the camera, all your images are gone.

Don't carry your camera in an obvious camera bag with Lowepro, Tamrac, Pentax etc written all over it.

I assume you will have trip insurance !

We have it much better in the USA if we live in a handgun friendly state, like here in Oregon. We don't have to give in to thugs. Thousands in Oregon have concealed carry permits, including myself. I carry most of the time, aways when out and about with my camera's in a bad area. So I don't worry too much.
Robbers are very likely to find themselves with a very sticky wicket !!!!!!!!!

RG.

Dirk1000.

Here are 3 more images taken same day.

I shot approx 30 single images, no repeats. All good.

By the way I increased the size using the slider on iPhoto to over double and they are still very good quality images. Tamron did a great job.

RG.

Dirk1000.

It's a 18-250. Not the 200.

Data from iPhoto.

Image 1. f8. 1/60. 85mm.

Image 2. f11. 1/60. 50mm.

Image 3. f11. 1/30. 250mm.

Image 4. f8. 1/25. 250mm.

Image 5. f8. 1/30. 50mm.

Image 6. f8. 1/320. 85mm.

Image 7 f8. 1/125. 29.38mm.

Camera Pentax K10D. Lens 18-250mm Di II. F/3.5-6.3 (35mm equivalent approx 28-390mm)

All Images hand held. Shot in RAW.

Used Aperture RAW. Transferred to iPhoto, then to Photo Bucket for upload to this forum.

All images required very minimum adjustment.
No 1 had basic adjustment and was then changed to Antique.

Weather. Light overcast with patchy blue sky. Temp approx 54 F. Time all shot between 1.30-3.30 PM during a drive around.

I paid $400.00 US including a UV Filter. New unopened from a private party.

In my humble opinion this is a fantastic lens. One which I will get a great deal of use out of.

Cheers, RG.

I received this lens today and took some test shots this PM around our valley.

To say I am impressed is an understatement.

Many of the testers state it doesn't focus fast enough, it sure locked on for me very quickly.

It appears to be very good quality build and is made in Japan.

Here are a few shots, please note I wasn't after artistic value, just checking the quality at different lengths.

K10D. Shot RAW. Software, Aperture. (Very few minor adjustments, except the guy and his dog, changed it to Antique.)

Tim,

Thanks.

I shot a few images last Saturday as we drove the Scio area of the Willamette Valley. Gray and Blue patched afternoon sky.

Just a sample below.

RG.

K10D. Sigma EX 17-35mm 2.8-4

Flink.

B&H Photo have it for $659.99 (US)

Made by Cosina. Said to be the fastest macro lens in the world.

This is a manual only lens.

Appears to have good build quality and I know Cosina make a line of Zeiss Lenses.

Never been a fan of Cosina products, however this lens seems to get good reviews. For all we know Cosina may make lenses for Pentax and the other DSLR manufacturers.

Certainly not an expensive lens in the USA, no more than any other decent lens.

RG.