I'm sure we've all seen stunning images from FF cameras, but then again we've all seen stunning images from compacts. It's still the photographer, not the camera, that makes the picture.

If that was the case though, don't you think it would have been done already? As it hasn't, perhaps that means that the case for doing it is not as clear cut as we think. The key is probably profitability, plus of course the immense cost of development and tooling.

The 645D was a very well developed camera, very long in the making, and based on a sound original principle with the film 645 models.

I can see the attraction of using a DSLR for video, with all the creative possibilities of using various lenses and the quality potential of a relatively huge sensor.

I use compact cameras sometimes for this, perhaps at a concert or party, but that's never a "serious" shoot. I did use Super 8 film for a very short while, but soon discovered that to make it worthwhile I would need to make movies properly. Script, shooting schedule, actors.....gartmore knows much more about all of this than I do.......but that requires a lot of creative investment.

Otherwise, we just end up with boring moving pictures, in the same way that slide shows of holiday snaps were boring in the days of film. I applaud anybody who can invest the time in it and make it good.

Probably the first thing to try is to clean contacts on lens mount and body mount with a soft, dry cloth. It might be that there is poor contact somewhere.

You could also try the lens on another body to see if the problem is with the lens or the body.

You can add pictures Horst. Just click on the Image button and upload your picture following the prompts.

It depends on your own style and the result required. Lenses from fisheye to ultra-telephoto can be used as landscape lenses.

The two lenses you list are fine in their own right, but if you want an extra lens I would stick with those two and add something longer. The 55-300mm is one option, or a prime if preferred.

That sounds incredible, what a great opportunity! We'll be very pleased to see the images and hear all about it, I'm sure you'll have a great time.

It looks thin on the ground for answers!

I'd suggest looking at the adverts in the back of AP and I think you'll find a few options, in the UK from Skye to the Lake District and other places.

A Google search might help. Also, search the info sections of ePHOTOzine.

http://www.ephotozine.com/directories/category/photographic-holidays--courses-an...

When I used these cameras I never used the split image, relying just on the sharpness as perceived on the focusing screen. It depends on our eyesight whether we can do this. Also, the viewfinder is set at about -1 dioptre, so our eyes need to be able to focus on an image about 1 metre away, which is the virtual distance of the focusing screen. This is not adjustable like current cameras are, so a correction lens may need to be fitted over the viewfinder. Sometimes reading glasses can give a much sharper view, enabling better focusing.

When tested by Photo Technique people's ability to focus on the same spot varied by wide amounts between different people or even the same person at different times, so manual focus can be very inaccurate unless extreme care is taken. Depth of Field covers it usually, but modern AF is much, much more reliable than our own eyes.

The black bits were from the seals and buffers as 1970s and 1980s foam just falls apart in time. Fortunately, no need to throw a camera away because the foam seals can be easily replaced.

Hope that helps!

I use the Pentax Q case - that will fit the camera plus a few lenses. Alternatively, now I have rather more lenses, I also use a small Lowepro Mini AW.