I send a lot of packages and most First Class items arrive the next day. The trouble is, as the OP found, if that doesn't happen then it can be a very long time....

There are no silly questions, so ask away!

There is no need to have the lens wide open all the time - this would result in very little depth of field and less sharpness. Wide open is of limited use but might be required for some portraits or in very low light.

Medium apertures (f5.6 - f will give optimum quality and frankly most of my general shots are taken at f8. I only change this if I need either more DOF or a different shutter speed. Just make sure the shutter speed is fast enough to avoid shake.

Small apertures (f11 - f22 and beyond) will maximise DOF and are of use when very close (macro photography) or when everything needs to be in focus (landscapes maybe) but the smallest apertures are reserved for ovvassions that need them. Difrraction limits sharpness from f22 onwards.

That's a summary, but I'd suggest using f8 mostly unless the effect you want demands another f stop.

First Class isn't guaranteed unfortunately, but when a Special delivery item fails to arrive then the sender can claim back the fee.

Like many things, Royal Mail can deliver bang on time but when it goes wrong it seems to go very wrong.

The forum is designed for 800 pixels wide, that's all I can tell you. Sometimes when people post wider the whole thing goes awry and we need to scroll. I haven't analysed under what circumstances this happens.

It may be that some sections are not set up in the same way, but we do see it quite often.

I would merely suggest that as people seem to have troubles with Flikr and as Photobucket is free there is an easy option there. It's best to upload an 800 pixel image and not let Photobucket do it for you. It will be quicker and you will retain control of your image. Sometimes images look soft and it may be that the resizing causes this.

I thought so too, but I did read somewhere that it is being discontinued. If so, better get our orders in quickly!

1042 pixels is too wide and it distorts the forum so we have to scroll from side to side.

800 pixels wide is perfect.

Photobucket is free.....and it works!

Because it's a Photographic Forum?

Here's a thought. Without resorting to what is clearly not going to happen, what would we like to see added to the Pentax range that is a realistic proposition?

I'll put my vote in for an 80-400mm lens, as mentioned elsewhere, which could be sourced through exisiting channels.

Any other ideas?

I hate to think what a new 600mm f4 DA* lens would cost...but I would quite like an 80-400mm and I think that is achievable given the will to do it.

You're still ignoring though that right now the Pentax 50mm f1.4 is £299.00 whilst comparing it with today's alternative prices. You are effectively saying that the Pentax is too expensive if you ignore the best price you can get it for....

The Pentax Limited lenses should probably be compared price-wise with the canon L lenses, but to be honest I don't think price is the whole story.

For my money, the Pentax range is better designed and more ergonomic than the Canon range. In other words, it fits my requirements better. On that basis and considering I don't keep buying the same lenses I might as well buy the right product and stick with it.

I did compare the pricings in AP the other day and didn't find any one range to be out of step price wise. Most of the lenses that tend to get quoted as advantages to the Canon and Nikon ranges are horrendously expensive optics anyway, and unlikely to be purchased by most photographers.