My assumption is, and I could be quite wrong, that when Pentax use an existing design from someone else such as Tamron or Tokina they either contract out their requirements or buy in the lens cell and coat it with their own SMC coatings. Or perhaps even contract out the SMC process - it is, after all, just a specification.

In any event I would expect any SMC Pentax lens to be Super-Multi-Coated, and this does seem to be borne out by the similar transmission propertiues from lens to lens. That is, the colour balance, etc.

The 28-200 has lots of elements, so even with the SMC coating I would expect some degree of flare. There was some flare with the 15mm f3.5 as well, although it can be used creatively.

You'll get next to nothing for it and it is a good, compact lens. It just might be useful sometime?

It would be more appropriate to check out a Leica site - there are no doubt many of them.

I can see lsited the SMC Pentax-FA Zoom 28-105mm f4-5.6 which takes lens hood RH-RC 58mm screw-in type.

Is this the lens you refer to or some other lens?

Devices like the Epson P2000 are designed more for the purpose than a camera is.

I think you're trying to do something that a DSLR will find uncomfortable to deal with. I would be wary of filling up the card with a directory structure that confuses the camera.

No need to be sorry!

I can see what you mean about the 40 being too small - the original M series 40mm was too small for many, although it was a terrific performer.

The best way is to go and join up at www.ephotozine.com and upload a picture every day!

Let us know what your name on the site is and we'll go and have a look.

You will also get useful feedback, so that sister-site to this one is highly recommended.

The 40mm and 43mm lenses are really different lenses in their design intent. The 43mm is a metal, 35mm format, high quality standard lens that set new high standards in a lens type that had not really been re-visited for many years. It out-performs possibly every other standard lens available.

The 40mm covers the APS-C sized sensors and is I believe more plastic constructed than the 43mm, but this does not mean that it can't be of equally high quality.

My guess is that in normal use there will be no apparent difference.

The principles are the same for all DSLRs. There are two different questions here. As regards camera handling, the manual does cover the basics, but apart from the different controls and menus (not much different) the methodology is very similar to the other marques.

The post-capture processing in Photoshop should be covered very well in books on PS. I suggest Martin Evening's books as being extensive and clear.

Any specific questions that remain can be posted here and someone should know the answer!

That's quite a difficult question as there is so much to learn not only about the camera but also about handling the digital images.

Are you a photographer coming to the *istDs from a film camera? If so, the photographic principles remain the same. If not, then a basic work on photography will offer the start you may need.

Are you familiar with Photoshop or some other imaging program? There are books and magazines by the hundred that deal with this.

I would suggest lots of reading, asking questions, perhaps joining a photographic society, maybe a digital course. All of these things would help.

Otherwise, use the camera, practice and practice and see for yourself what the results are. After all, you aren't wasting film, so you can shoot as many pictures as you like. Try all the shutter speeds and apertures, all the settings, don't hesitate to have a go.

Then when things need working on, ask more questions and someone will have the answers.

Above all, have fun!