The messaging system is fine. Messages stay in the outbox until read by the recipient.

It's a fair question David. I think the answer is in two parts. Admittedly outdoors we could use a longer lens for candids, but they tend to look remote, simply because they are shot from a distance. A candid shot closer with a shorter lens can look more intimate as it gets close to the subject, the photographer becomes involved with the ongoing action rather than a distant observer.

Indoors, I would find the 55-300mm far too long. The minimum focus distance would be too far away for the relatively close conditions. I would use a 35mm f/2.4 or maybe 50mm f/1.8 if low cost was required. They are great lenses and not expensive. With the K-3 the 50mm is a "75mm equivalent", which is a short telephoto. Those two focal lengths, 35mm (52.5mm) and 50mm (75mm) would be more than enough for candids. For small groups something wider might be helpful, but they would do. Then a wider aperture of maybe f2.8 or f/4 could be used and the risk of camera shake vastly reduced.

There are obviously other approaches, but that works for me.

It's not a preset of Pentax origin Bill, coming as it does from the Ricoh line of digital cameras, so maybe it was thought it would upset Pentax Users to have it as the default option?

To be honest, I wouldn't dream of using the 55-300mm in a small function room.

For a simple party and lots of candids, then a high ISO and fast prime lenses will catch all the atmosphere. An example with the 43mm f/1.9 Limited:


Flash would totally kill that and remove all those coloured lights.

I'd keep it simple, don't over-think it and have fun.

I use AWB when the lighting is mixed, but most of the time use a preset. I want the colour to be as I see it, not "corrected" by the camera. So the usual setting is Daylight. If I want a warmer result I use Cloudy and if in deep shadow that's tending to go purple then I use Shade.

This is similar to what I did with film, using Daylight film but adding an 81A (Cloudy) filter if I wanted a warmer effect.

It's not free of course, but the new version of Pictures2Exe is very slick.

Very interesting, thanks. We'll try to get to Whitby that weekend.

It has always been the same, but not just with Pentax. UK prices are always, well nearly always, higher than the USA, but it does us no good when we add their sales tax, import duty, VAT, courier handling fees.....

In relation to other marques, I'm happy with the deal we get with Pentax via SRS Microsystems. As I don't actually want another make it's academic anyway, it is what it is.

I've moved this to the Classified Ads section of the forum, just in case anyone is interested.

Why not add the prices you are looking for and upload some images into a reply on this thread and the job's done. Just click Image and follow the instructions, it's probably far less complicated than eBay!

Cleaning the contacts on the lens and the camera body, with a dry soft cloth, is the best place to start.

If there's a lens fault, then it's a new lens, so getting it replaced or fixed under warranty won't be a problem.