Lenses that are physically shorter than a long focus lens would be expected to be are telephoto designs.

Standard wide angle lens designs would need the back of the lens to be very close to the film plane/CCD position and this would leave no room for the mirror assembly in an SLR. So lenses are designed with a longer back focus and these are retrofocus wide angles.

Lenses are sometimes made to focus beyond infinity. In the case of long telephotos this can be to allow for expansion and contraction due to temperature changes - the infinity point changes. I confess I have not noticed it in the 16-45mm, but then I didn't look for it either. In this case maybe it is not a 100% true zoom and the infinity position changes slightly at different focal lengths?

In any event, it's a cracker of a lens!

A flash synch connection would be nice, but to be honest I only use studio flash that is more conveniently triggered by an IR flash release. No more trailing wires to trip over or send lights crashing to the floor!

We've had our for a day or two now. Only got as far as charging the batteries and setting up the Custom Functions to suit, but the cameras look fine. Everything is totally integrated with the Pentax design ethos, so no problems in handling. It's the quality that counts, so between Christmas and New Year we will be headed out for a field test.

Probably Anglesey I think.

Perhaps you could offer them the opportunity to put things right? They might do so, they might not, but it doesn't hurt to try.

The only way to find out is to buy the camera and try it for ourselves. Some tests are really splitting hairs when they discuss quality. Some magazines seem to have a go at almost all digital cameras.

On to it as fast as we notice it!

Benefit of the doubt...

Following on from "Your favourite magazine" lets open the pages now and ask who is your favourite writer/columnist?

I'm going to put in a vote for the no-nonsense, tongue-in-cheek and very well informed pen of Kevin MacDonnell, who appeared with his regular "Roundabout" piece in Photography throughout the 1960s and 1970s. I wonder whatever happened to him?

Anyone who can make his 1960s comeback with a snazzy opening title "Shooting a Fokker" has to have my vote. And a very interesting little piece about the German aircraft manufacturer it was.

So who would you like to give a mention to?

We have a SMC Pentax-FA 100mm f2.8 Macro that is indeed excellent and gives exceptional results.

Don't forget that the 5/4 construction is a very well established one, and used for many years in the Takimar Screw, K and M series lenses. There is no reason why, with such a limited aperture, results shouldn't be exceprional. Open up to f2.8 on the other hand, and especially extend the focusing down to 1:1 and you need 9/8 and similar constructions to deliver a similar quality level.

50mm f4 Macro lenses survive very happily with 4 element Tessar-type construction.