Are there not two types of Eclipse fluid, one of which should not be used on Pentax?

Ispropyl Alcohol (isopropanol)is an alcohol which was also used for cleaning the record cartridge stylus.

I would be wary of using it on a sensor, just in case the alcohol reacts with the coatings on the sensor. I would talk to the technical department at Pentax or at JPS first, just to make absolutely sure.

It may be, or may not be, that some other alcohol is better for the purpose.

This is the whole premise of the monthly competition - we go out and shoot something new, specially for it.

The first two entries were taken outside the time frame, so, sadly, both have had to be removed.

I guess we start again, please do follow the competition rules.

If you look on the Pentax UK website they will give you the details for JPS, their official repair house. Don't forget to join PU Plus so you can download the 20% discount form to send with the camera.

I have used JPS to repair a K10D and they returned it repaired and absolutely spotless. They were slowish, but at least it was ajob well done.

This morning we were trying out some new studio space, shooting the delightful Melissa. Pentax K-5 and SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm WR.











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There is no Jessops though Mike, so getting a refund is pretty good. Normally creditors such as customers with outstanding deliveries would be very last in line to get any cash.

If you ordered more than £100 and paid by credit card you could pursue the credit card company, but still only really for a refund.

And Photoshop.

Learning how to make BW conversions is well worthwhile, whichever software you opt for. Even Photomatix now has BW presets.

The shots you have seen will no doubt have been prepared by very skilled workers. You can do it too with practice.

The original was supplied with the K10D but when the K20D needed higher resolution this was upgraded to the MkII version.

The WR version is weather resistant, to go with WR bodies. The DA-L version is a lighter mount, no QuickShift and no supplied lenshood, which reduces cost. It is however the same optically as MkII/WR.

That makes four versions!

To be honest, I wouldn't get involved enough to take sides, simply because we aren't privy to both sides to what has happened and why.

Fan is the wrong word. If I used Sony I'd be advocating Sony-original parts as well. The reason is that over the years I have learned very well what false economy is. A cheap battery that has a label that rubs off and which doesn't last quite as well as the original is something I find unsatisfactory. It's also often expensive in the long run, either because it lets me down or it needs replacing sooner. I can't stop shooting a wedding because the battery has run out, there are no excuses.

As for other lenses, I've tried them, lots of them, and I understand the pitfalls. I am never going to persuade some that there are pitfalls, but it is something that may have to be discovered by the individual. It will be discovered most likely if we do a lot of photography. If I had known from the start then I would have saved a fortune over the years.

Agreed, but the point I'm making is that it should be aimed at the views and claims. "I can't see the difference that you claim in your images" is fine, "well you would say that because you're following the party line" is not. The difference is that one statement attacks the argument, the other attacks the person.

So, the moral is find fault with the argument and discuss that and a lot of friction is avoided. Attack the person and the motivation for their argument and people will react badly to it. I would always restrict myself to writing what I would happily say if you were stood in front of me.

Re: the MX-1 I already have a pretty good idea what to expect from it, having tested the Olympus XZ-1 for EPZ and being very impressed with it. The DxO figures for the Pentax and Oly versions (if that's what is actually happening) show identical figures in most respects. Add Pentax processing and colour and you have a winner for me, regardless of this review, which I just took as a bit of a fun presentation.