Don't agree. Bigger range, definitely more outlets (back in John Lewis and more extensive range in Jessops), and quite a lot of adverts in more recent mags over the past few months. There's a way to go, but I think Ricoh is a lot better for Pentax than Hoya was.

Massive change since the 10MP bodies you mention. Much more mature product now. I've yet to experience issues with moire and wouldn't expect them in the circumstances you mentioned. Have tried to provoke with fabrics, to no avail so far. But I have seen occasional examples posted online e.g. with Venetian window blinds. The image quality I'm getting from the K-5iiS is easily the best I've experienced from any crop frame camera and other than depth of field, I suspect would give some full frame models a run for their money.

I`m with John on the 70/2.4 DA Limited but understand your desire to opt for a FF lens. I don't buy the argument that modern Sigma lenses are any less capable or of lesser build quality than OEM offerings (my experience with Sigma has been extremely good) so that's what I'd opt for....except I don't trust cameras to autofocus at f1.4 so I'd save a lot of cash and go for the Samyang variants (which I acknowledge may be more risky than a Pentax lens). Of the FF Pentax offerings, clearly the 77 should be considered.

Most of my lenses are old Pentax manual focus ones. I think they're all pretty decent but they're not all cheap. Best bargains were the 28 and 135. I really like the 50/1.4 which would probably be the one I kept if I was only allowed one prime lens. My manual primes ......

SMC20/4M
SMC28/3.5M
SMC35/2M
SMC50/4M macro
SMC50/1.4A
SMC135/3.5M
SMC200/4M

For all around fun and great image quality I'd throw the SMC35-105/3.5A into the mix - super zoom lens built to last with more than decent IQ. Build quality comes at a cost though...it's quite heavy. There's been one for sale in West End Cameras (Tottenham Court Road) for a while now. It looks mint to me and they've had it long enough that I suspect haggling may be worth trying!

Really liking the first shot - very effective use of black and white to carry on the rays of the sun through the railings of the bridge and into the shadows cast. The couple in the distance really add to the image too.

Alistair if you like the focal length, I think you might want to check out the f3.5 versions of the lens - which are quite a step up in image quality. I also have the SMC 35/2M and that's great, but the SMC 35/2.8 is pretty decent too and cheaper when you can find it (just slightly less interesting).

I agree with Nigel and Philip - nice subject and exposure but I'd probably consider a crop to 4:3 ratio and take it all off the right and lose a bit of sky (and along with it the aircraft contrail).

Cheers,

Jon

Go for hybrid batteries which hold on to their charge for much longer. Eneloop is one such battery, but there are other similar alternatives - Hybrio is one I've used with fine results, for example.

I like using a viewfinder, especially with longer lenses as that's a way to get more stability on occasions when you don't want to use a tripod. WIth one or two notable exceptions (not the FZ200, sadly) nearly all bridge cameras come with EVFs that I find verge on the unusable - small, slow and laggy, nowhere near as good as an OVF.

If I had lots of spare cash, I'd be sorely tempted by the new Sony which addresses many of the issues about bridge cameras, but that's rather unique and not really designed for the wildlife applications that you have mentioned. It's also the best part of a grand, more than I paid for my K-5iiS and a few lenses - I think I got the better deal.

Red Snapper. Bought secondhand on this forum a few years ago. Very happy with it.