Tyr wrote:
There are suitable backpacks but they are expensive.

The Kata Bumblebee-222 UL is the most comfortable and it is fairly flexible.

http://www.kata-bags.com/product.asp?Version=photo&p_Id=19780

I am sure there are other and cheaper options out there, you just need to search. Hopefully someone else will come along with ideas.

Smeggypants wrote:
I would recommend using Adobe Lightroom rather than worrying about photoshop. The cataloguing aspects of lightroom are amazing and the Develop module is more than enough for 99.9999% of any Post pro you'll ever need, unless you get into some specialist aspect of photography

No, they'll get better if you stop reading books and magazines and just get out there and take lots of photos in all kinds of situations, all kinds of lighting, all kinds of weather, at all kinds of perspectives/angles.

And do NOT follow any rules. If you've already unfortunately been indoctrinated into any rules ( by so called tutorials ) then break them!!

Often the 'correct' composition is not artistically the best composition.
Often the 'correct' exposure is not artistically the best exposure.
Often the 'correct' lighting is not artistically the best lighting.

IMO

Anvh wrote:

But one aspect i really like with APS-C and what Pentax is doing is the size of the camera, the K5 and K7 have so many features and are so easy to carry around an FF system would take up alot more space

Maybe the getting a 645D beside it would be a better option, because you actually gain something instead of only a little bit.

Anvh wrote:
The Kata Bumblebee UL-222 has that as well, one of the reasons i bought it.
Video review http://vimeo.com/11497898

btw i bought mine for € 269 (239 GBP) i'm sure if you look around you will be able to find it below the 250 GBP.
http://www.kamera-express.nl/product/kata-bumblebee-ul-222/

The whole bag is only 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) and that's not heavy if you consider it also has a metal frame in it...

Northgrain wrote:
Thanks again to everyone for contributions - really useful

I've decided to try Jules' screw-in grad solution, and have just ordered the one-stop from Hilton (the two stop wasn't in stock, which given the cost is probably a good thing until I've played with the first one!).

Depending on how I get on with this I could end up looking again at some sort of square filter system but (as per Matt's post) the main reason I'm investing in the Ltds is for portability... so I suspect even if it's not perfect I'll end up taking the screw-in out routinely on hikes etc, which is when I'm doing most of my photography at the moment.