Sue fancied trying the Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6DiLD Macro 1:2 lens instead of our SMC Pentax-FAJ 75-300mm so she brought one home tonight on trial.

The Tamron is a nicely made lens and is certainly capable of very close focusing. With a 1:2 magnification it is entitled to call itself a macro lens. What I don't like is the way that you have to switch in the macro range with the lens between 180-300mm and then you can't switch out again until the lens is focused at normal distances. I've always disliked these messy switching systems.

Any way we shot some test pictures, trying the lenses at the longest end where performance is likely to be worst and for close up and distant objects. Apertures tested were f5.6, f8 and f16

The results showed that at long distances the Tamron put in a superior performance but at closer distances the Pentax had the edge. Overall, we preferred the look of the Pentax images and certainly preferred the simpler design and continuous focusing.

So we won't be buying the Tamron, but it was an interesting exercise.

There is an auto-change slide scanner that takes 50 slides per loading. It looks like a slide projector.

I have no idea how good the scans are...

I suppose it depends on what sort of quality level you will get for the £50. If the scans were excellent ones, large file sizes with full detail, then £50 might be a very good deal. If they are low res rushed scans then they might not be worth the trouble.

Scanning 300 slides yourself would take a long time. Not a job I would fancy!

We generally don't carry tripods any more, reserving their use for studio and macro shots.

SR combined with higher ISO if needed has given perfectly good sharpness in the darkest of corners in the cathedrals and churches we have visited. Oh, and also use of wider apertures. Sue has been using the 50mm f1.4 with great success and I've been finding similar results with the 43mm f1.9

It's a sensible precaution to take more than one shot to make sure. I think even the steadiest of hands will show some shake, just a substitute a 300mm lens for a moment and see how steady you are.

Thank you, george, for the well considered judging. Especially from your hotel room!

Well done our winners, and if Dr Mhuni would care to step forwards and start a new competition and a new thread please, we will see what we can do to rise to the new challenge!

The cathedral in St Malo has the most intense stained glass windows. The lights just cascades around the whole interior and here spills across a secluded corner, casting patterns of multi-coloured sunlight.

The MX is a very fine camera, one of my all-time favourites.

I hold the new lens in the right hand, rear cap slightly loosened. With my right thumb I press the lens release button and with my left hand loosen the lens on the camera. I then remove this with my left hand, remove the rear cap also with my left hand and then seat the new lens with my right hand. Then both hands are free to attach the rear lens cap and store away the previous lens.

The time any lens is off the camera is therefore very short.

Sounds complicated to describe, but it's actually quite easy.

If I ever feel concerned about dust on the sensor I remember how many dust spots used to cover my negatives, and all the concern evaporates instantly.

All good advice, thanks Gwyn!