G'Day and welcome.

Well firstly congrats on the 40.

It will be a bright day if those shops are camera stores!

Tozza - I'm sure you're trying to tell us something here

Care to share - what did he bring :

Dave,

The anchor would be my pick, followed by the white boat on its own on the beach.

You may not be as 'Over' Whelmed as with the 50-135, but have you considered the DA 16-45? That covers the range you want, and has room to spare at the top end. It's constant f4 - not as fast as your new long zoom, but still much better than the kit. Optically it's a good lens for the money, doesn't weigh too much, yet built well to boot.

It's been my main walkabout lens, and remains a favourite - perhaps you've noticed

Not sure what the going price 2nd-hand is though.

And - as unlikely as it may be: Try a battery recharge, make sure the battery terminals, inside the camera and on the battery itself, are clean. Can you try a second battery perhaps, to discount battery failure?

Machines and electronics are apt to do strange things on low supply voltages...

All the best with it Errol...

You're right H1 - I've had my K10 shutter noise compared to that of a 645. While that was a (poor, in my view ) attempt at humour, there may have been an element of truth in it. You certainly know when someone is using one of the latter.

Paul,

I've had a look at the 7 pic version, and it seems to have been 'stitched' fairly well.

The clouds look a bit over-exposed to me in some parts, and perhaps the bridge and the little yacht astern may be getting close too (all that white in the sun!).

David,

The second one has a class and character all of its own - both images are good work for their own reasons IMO.