No, I meant f1.8, thus covering the early 55mm f1.8 designs in the statement.

The f1.4 lenses do not have flat field performance at close distances and do not respond well to close up and reversed use.

The f1.4 lenses are better suited to reportage, having higher contrast albeit it at the expense of the finest resolution.

The SMC Pentax 50mm f1.2 lens has been tested by various magazines. The major test I recall concluded that the lens was designed for people who probably didn't use it photographically at f1.2 very much but whi would nonetheless expect it to perform superbly when stopped down.

As such, it gives a very bright viewfinder image, very good control of point light sources (useful for night shots) and performs as well or better than any of the 50mm designs from f8 downwards. Of course it is also big and heavy and will not be the best option for bellows use or using reversed.

The best overall performers, and the ones that can be abused the most, will be the f1.8 and f1.7 designs.

I understand what you are saying, viewfinder, but I don't agree. Are you not being a little harsh on the designers? Modersn DSLRs are brilliant photographic tools and are equipped to work in a number of ways so they can be set up for the requirements of any individual.

That's why all the "gimmicks" are there. I don't think the intention is that any one photographer would use them all. No pictures would ever get taken.

From the extensive menu of options, we select the parameters that fit in with thw way we work. That could be fully manual if that is what is required.

There are some odd features on cameras that it takes some thinking about to decide why they are there.

I agree the slimming filter is one. The other is on my A20 and is a "Food" setting. To help me take appetising pictures of food...

My Pentax A20 can't even boil an egg.

I thought I needed a PC socket, but then discovered the IR trigger. Now we can have chaotic camera club studio shoots without having to keep catching the lights as yet another photographer trips over the synch lead...

This is, I think, progress.

I never felt I needed mirror lock up, but now it is provided with the 2sec delay I find I might as well use it when doing some macro work.

There are only a limited number of settings that will correctly expose any image, so all the electronics are very nice and convenient, but hardly essentials most of the time. I still quite like the simplicity of the MX, although I suspect it could baffle some photographers brought up on fully automatic systems.

I can see the future now, "Just nip out and take me some Ansel Adams landscapes will you, Camera Buddy?"

"Yes, master."

Yes, it needs truthful assessment. An obligation to say only nice things is no good either. It's just a matter of balance.

As regards the lens, what is the exact designation? For example, SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.7 When we have that detail we can perhaps help.

Thanks heavens you broke it to him gently....

I've waited a long time to use that quote (who knows where from?) but a little moderation (in the general sense of the word) would be good. There is a lot to learn in photography and there's no point discouraging people, which is an easy thing to do.

Sue nearly gave up photography when a judge absolutely slated her photoshop border on a print, without even stopping to look at the image itself. She rose above that devastating experience and became a better image maker than I am. Not so much on the technical side, but brilliant at making superb images.

So Pete, there are good points about your image. You have made the background unobtrusive. You have composed the image well - not too central and not too close. You have not over-exposed the whites.

I say take lots of images, post them for critique, take the comments ijn good part and never be discouraged. You would get lots of feedback from posting images on the sister site to this one www.ephotozine.com

Above all, have fun!

The average person will soon get fed up of all that....Over 30 years I don't see things changing that much...

Don't forget that although everyone on this forum might be up with the technology, the vast majority of the population are not.

We all do it, that is, fiddle first and read the manual when it doesn't work. It must be Human Nature.

It sounds as if you knew you shouldn't use the lens in that way, it didn't feel right when you did and you carried on anyway...a lesson to be learned hopefully.

Hope the repair is not too expensive.