George, I have no desire to get into an argument over this as although I do not post much on here, I have read enough to have respect for you and your knowledge, but I do not think one person can ever give an objective opinion as it is always based on the prejudices of personal experience.

My comment is based on seeing that a question about the 10-20 on epz gets around a 90% 'good lens' response where as on here 90% will tend to say buy the 12-24 because...

I am sure the 12-24 is a good lens, but taking a snapshot of a broader user base, the consensus would appear to be that the Sigma is better value than most if not all other offerings in that focal range, irrespective of the manufacturers it is compared to.

If we are just going to go on personal experience then I have 3 sigma ex lenses and 2 non ex and all have been fine and I therefore have no issue with recommending them.

I would be interested to know when your bad experience with a Sigma lens occurred and if it was an EX or more consumer orientated item.

I have both the sigma-10-20mm and the 70mm macro.

The 10-20mm is now my most used lens and I am very happy with it. IIRC it has also done better in reviews than the 12-24mm which costs nearly twice as much.

I have not used the 70mm macro much yet beyond testing it, but it is very well made and looks capable of great results based on my test shots.

I also have a Sigma EX 180mm macro which is very good as well.

I am not going to do myself any favours on this forum by saying it, but if you want an objective opinion on sigma lenses this is not the place to ask. Someone will be along in a moment to tell you their quality control is poor closely followed by someone else telling you only pentax will do.

As the owner of Pentax 31, 43 and 77mm pentax limited lenses I can tell a decent lens when I see and use it and the Sigma EX range in my experience are great lenses and better made than the DA and FA lenses I own (excluding the limiteds here of course).

As for alternatives, don't really know of any on the wide end other than the 12-24 already mentioned, but in terms of Macro there is also the Sigma 105 or the Tamron 90, both of which are also well regarded.

I had the 100 and it was good but too small. Now have a 200 and I am very happy with it. Currently loaded with:

K10D with battery grip and 16-45
Sigma 10-20mm
Pentax FA 80-320mm
Sigma 70mm Macro
Pentax FA 31mm Limited
1.4x converter
Lee foundation kit
Polariser for the 16-45mm
4 spare SD cards

All in the main compartment.

Lee grad set and cokin ND filters are in a pouch in the top pocket, along with 2 spare batteries.

Cleaning bits are in the front pocket.

This still leaves space for a tomtom go and my ipod in the top pocket and then I have a small extra pouch on the main strap for my mobile.

I have a large Lowepro backback for when I need to take a lot of stuff

No, to be a genius you need to have a mac, a pentax and an alfa romeo - left field choices all the way.

Taken yesterday with my K10D and 80-320mm:

http://www.ephotozine.com/photo/627546/large

This one was taken a while back with K10D, 80-320mm and 20mm extension tube:

http://www.ephotozine.com/photo/470406/large

I had exactly the same problem a few days ago.

I had to remove the battery from the grip, switch it back on, go into the menu and tell it to use body first and then I could put the dud back in the grip.

Very irritating as I fully expected it to automatically switch when the grip battery became flat.

Hopefully something that will be fixed in a future firmware release.

Even if it is half the cost of a Mamiya ZD it is still going to be over £3k

£3999 GBP with 75mm lens

Hi Ben,

You need to have them loaded on to a web server so they can be accessed through a web browser. Then you can enter the link of where they are.

For example:

If I insert: http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/ulpics/77751_1171535149.jpg

Between the [img] tags created by the button on the post a reply screen I get:





If you don't have easy access to some web space, one option would be to upload some photos to your ephotozine portfolio and link to that, which is what I have done here.

I bought an FA for under £100.

Sounds a little expensive.

SRS (http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/index3.asp?id=65&Page=2) list an FA1.4 new for £165. They don't have any in at the moment though.

I bought mine on ebay for under £100