A superb lens - the best f/2.8 lens for Pentax APS-C bar the new DA* 16-50mm PLM.

The only problems I've had are the usual inexplicably removed features and randomly-re-arranged items which were previously easy to find and now are not. But most of that can be fixed quite easily.

Some MF cameras which have not seen their prices increase so dramatically are the Yashica 6x6 TLRs (I have two 124Gs) and the Mamiya TLR models that don't have a light meter built into them.

TLRs don't have the flexibility that SLRs do but the quality of the images is just as good and they are fun to use.

Excellent work as always.

Yeah, film prices are through the roof, and Portra is one of the few that's actually available - so much is out of stock everywhere. Camera prices have also gone up enormously.

I think we discussed a possible move to medium format a few years back. My 645 is the original, so manual focus only and push-button controls instead of more intuitive dials, but once you get the hang of it it's fine. Manual focus on a 645 is easy as the viewfinder's huge. MF in general is another level in quality, whether SLR or TLR, and I think you'll appreciate and enjoy it if you go that way.

I need an alternative to my Epson V500 scanner before I get anything more scanned to digital but once I get that sorted I'm very excited to see what level of details I can get out of a good medium format negative. My mirrorless should be able to get 96MP stills so that's the route I need to explore.

Windows 19? I just upgraded to 11 and thought I was up-to-date...

24mm has taken over from 28mm as the standard wide-angle of primes and also starting focal length of zooms. Before that, long ago, it was 35mm. Both are fine if they meet your needs, and that will be something you'll need to decide, with the easiest way being to get a zoom that covers both, even if it's a cheapie, and try out the focal length by using the zoom as if it were a prime.

If you do decide on a 24mm then you'll struggle to find an AF one if that's what you want. The only ones I'm aware of are the FA* 24/2 and the Sigma 24/2.8 super-wide (which is also available as a manual focus version).

I don't think you'll find any image quality difference at high ISO, in fact the K5 may be better than the K-3 (II) in that regard. Autofocus should be a bit faster as the K-3 has faster AF protocols and a more powerful AF motor than the K-5.

The K-3 II lacks an onboard flash and has a GPS unit in it's place.

Welcome to full-frame

I have found that using old lenses doesn't detract from the magic offered by the great sensors available today. If you can focus them properly then just let the camera do it's part.

Hi all,

I recently got hold of a nice condition LX that seems to work fine, I just had to put in new mirror bumpers. Before I put in the bumpers I made quite a "ding" sound when firing (I didn't initially realise there was no bumper) but I thought the cause of the sound was the lack of bumper. However, the sound is the mirror hitting it's resting position when it comes back down and I'm not sure if this is normal or not. It's quite strong and I can feel the camera vibrating. No other camera I've used, Pentax or otherwise, makes thins ringing sound.

The sound is like the one that can be found at the beginning of this video, the first one I found when checking to see what it normally sounds like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmvoZJONDjQ&ab_channel=PhotoRing.euCanaleUfficia...

It can be heard perhaps a little less noisily in this video too:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BoJUFFPRGqc

Is this normal or is it something that needs fixed?

Many thanks

Some of the old lenses from when Sigma competed only on price are poor but then so are many Pentax lenses from the same era.

These days Sigma lenses are every bit as good as Pentax ones.