Nobody ever bothered about "filling the gap" with lenses before zooms came along....moving a few feet would happily cover the "gap" between 50mm and 60mm!

How will you post anonymous images? Will the system allow posting when you're not logged in?

I would phone the office and order one. The number is in the last mag you have.

Alternatively, PM PentaxDan for advice on how to order.

If these are professional wedding photos, then copying them may well violate the photographer's copyright. I know that people can feel quite dismissive about this, but sometimes less so when it's their turn to have things "lifted", probably these days from the web.

However, in a general sense, photo copying is best done on a copying board, which usually has two or four (better) lights at the edges/corners providing light at 45 degrees. This will minimise reflections. Stippled surfaces on prints may cause problems and will take the edge off sharpness.

A simpler and OK-for-eBay method is to put the print or magazine on the floor, point the camera at it making sure it's on a sturdy tripod and parallel to the subject, and use the 2 second self timer to eliminate shake. Lighting can be quite a dark room and the exposure can be a long one, as long as the light is even and not causing reflections.

The idea is great, but not so sure about the mechanics of how it's working. Three threads for each competition seems a bit OTT and potentially could clutter things up quite excessively. Also, manually putting up a poll for say 30 entries would be very onerous and people could get very fed up of having to do that.

Something more automated for the Gallery is on the wish list, so when time allows hopefully we will have something a bit easier to use.

The "wish list" already has something for the gallery logged by way of voting, but that will have to wait for its turn.

I can see that unless a lot more members decide to vote the problem here may be an indecisive result with several images having the same result. At this moment we have four images tieing for first place....

An unwritten rule that covers all competitions everywhere is that you don't vote for yourself.

As regards choosing between the 50-200mm and 55-300mm, both are highly effective. The latter is larger but potentially more versatile.

On the other hand, better to have a lens you want to carry than one that weighs you down - this is something only you can judge. Longer lenses are also more prone to camera shake, so you need to remember that at the longer lengths you need a faster shutter speed to stop that movement.

Check out SRS for pricing.

I really think that as a beginner you'll be best served by buying the easiest lenses to use, and that means from the current range.

The obvious companion to the 18-55mm is the Pentax 50-200mm, equally compact and light and excellent quality. It will also be relatively inexpensive, so there is little risk that you'll spend too much and find it's the wrong thing.

The 50-200mm is a telephoto zoom, so it will be ideal for pulling in distant details, reasonably close wildlife and portraits. It also focuses close enough to make lovely close ups of flowers and plants.

Later on there's plenty more lenses to think about for when you have more specific requirements. Walk first, run later!

You would have been so much more comfortable with a nice, warm, friendly lens...