I'm not experiemcing the problems you describe, but I will take it up with Admin on Monday.

You should be able to set this site as a friendly one in your AntVirus software, which is also where you can block pop-ups. Windows also has features that will do this.

When things like this happen it's often because something has been changed inadvertantly, maybe some new software loaded, maybe a setting has been activated. Have you run a virus scan? How about an automatic update that has changed something?

Hope that helps.

I have one of these, and as stated it has a unique construction that means that the legs can be used in water.

Now if someone were to offer training on refolding the thing so it fits back in the bag, that would be a major benefit....I've wrestled with the Benbo for many happy hours and finally, yes, finally I think I've tamed it.

Good luck!

The biggest improvement will be had by using a tripod. Then you can stop down the lens and get some depth of field, which is narrow enough at close distances.

For macro shots a good solid tripod is the only way. Not a flimsy plastic one but as heavy a one as you can put up with. I use a Manfrotto 055 Classic, but there are others just as good.

He might have said the sweet spot?

The rule of thumb is that lenses perform best two stops down from open aperture. In reality, with the 50mm you will have superb performance at most apertures apart from the two extremes.

Just select the aperture you need for DOF considerations.

The first two are not crtivcally sharp to me, but the third one is and is a really good shot.

No, all lenses should have a crisp and snappy diaphragm action. It's necessary for correct exposure on both film and digital.

As already mentioned, the stop down action should be crisp and snappy. Sluggish is no good and needs repair. Unfortunately this is very unlikely to be cost effective.

You can test the condition of the aperture ,echanism by taking off the lens and flicking the stop down lever on the mount. It should be snappy and resposive. Any sluggishness in operation will mean exposure errors.

Don't forhet to set a small aperture to test as at open aperture it doesn't stop down at all....

The Pentax DSLRs all have the Pentax K mount, so your answer is that there is no problem. It is on the list of adapters.