I have registered with the site in question, and no doubt will be posting lots of Pentax stuff.....

You can use 50mm lenses with close up devices, bellows, etc., and get away with it because they are computed in a way that tolerates a considerable amount of abuse. The f2 and f1.7 versions are best for this.

Try the same on a zoom and you will likely be disappointed, because the comnpromises in the zoom design will soon begin to show in terms of image quality.

However, it is true that any 50mm lens is a 50mm lens, and a zoom set at 50mm will have the same field of view, etc. as any other 50mm lens.

50mm lenses and especially zooms are computed to be best at longer distances, for general photography. Macro lenses are computed to be optimised at very close distances, and also to have a flat field so that if you were to photograph a document it would all be in focus. Try a zoom and curvature of field would mean you couldn't get the centre and edge of the document in focus at the same time.

For a good overview of lenses, try The Lens Book by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz (David & Charles, ISBN 0 7153 0149 7) It's very readable, very entertaining and will give you a good grounding in the subject. After that, follow it up with books on Optics if you want to.

The macro lens is great, thanks for asking, Brian. I'll see if I can't post you an example over the next day or so.

The 1:1 magnification gives it a real edge over the usual 1:2 lenses.

A second shot, of a small building seen high up on a hill:

Here's one of the first 12-24mm pictures:




Hope you like it!

Yes, my 12-24mm Pentax lens arrived today. Buy now pay in 12 months helps a good deal, so thank you Jessops!

Later on, I will open the box and have a first look. This weekend the first shots will be fired.

Such suspense! I'll let you know how I do....

Just think, there was a time when no self-respecting Photographer (with a Capital Letter!) would consider the heinious crime of using a through-the-lens meter on his SLR.....

It's all relative. There's a terrific article in an old AP titled "Do We Need Colour?"

Where will it all end....

*istDS vs *istDL2 ?In general terms, it doesn't matter much. I would prefer the Pentaprism finder of the *istDS, but it's a minor point and I'd happily use either.

The *istDL2 is a superb bargain, capable of excellent results.

In terms of handling, all you can do is visit a dealer and have a close look at the DSLR options. DSLRs are smaller than film SLRs in general, and they don't need to be bigger with their smaller format. Maybe you should look at some of the bigger models from Nikon and Canon. But these will cost you a lot more money.

When comparing like for like, I think the Pentax models are streets ahead of the D70, D50 and 350D varieties. Especially look at the view finders - the Pentax is in a different league altogether.

It's worth remembering that all these lenses will be extremely good when stopped down, some will be superb, and it's the wider apertures where the differences may tell.

However, if you're into portraits it may well be that a slightly soft lens would be a very good thing to have. (David Hamilton did well with his) So when people criticise a lens, they may be right, or they may not realise that it is designed to be soft wide open and sharp when stopped down.

You don't always need a sharp image, although you do need a properly focused one and freedom from camera shake. Usually.