Thanks all. I should have added that all the above were taken using a tripod and my K-3. I did actually think they were slightly better than before the lens went back, but I have to go with users who know the lens can still do better. I'm told that the lens was re-calibrated at the factory, but I'll take up David's offer and get the view of an expert.

Got my mis-focussing, unsharp lens back from Pentax at the weekend. Please tell me these are more like they should be, even if they're not perfect! (But, as always, be honest!) These are just a few taken to test out the lens in a brief spell of sunshine this afternoon. The last one was in fact taken after it started to rain again.

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Thanks for any interest,

The whole area around the lake is geared up for outdoor activities and there are windsurfers galore. In the right conditions, they can seem almost like butterflies on the water. Hope you like these! All comments welcome!

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Thanks for the reply, Philip. I think your points are completely valid. I would not dispute that your version of the scene is very attractive, precisely because of the way you have brought out detail in the flowers and trees on the left, as well as brightening the foreground rocks. Perhaps my memory of the scene is playing tricks when I say that's how I remember the scene - I wouldn't want to be dogmatic about it now! I think each image has its own qualities and, had I not actually been at the lakeside at that moment, I would have looked at yours and thought "what a superb photo"!

Thanks for the interest, everyone - and it really is interesting to read the views. In one sense it's a similar discussion to the one in Nigel's Swanage thread - what is the image intended to show?
Philip's version of no.6 is a different photo from mine, obviously, and has different qualities. It may be "better" in that it's brighter, sharper, has stronger contrasts etc, but I don't think it's the photo I took of the landscape as it was at that moment in time. I think the K-3 has captured the scene pretty much as it appeared to the naked eye - the sun coming up over the hills on the left actually did produce the soft, muted effect that some say they like and others would apparently try to edit out. Since I was struck above all by the quality of the light at that time, I'm happy with the way it turned out, with virtually no processing, as that's what I wanted to capture.

If I was going to brighten anything, it would actually be no.2, which I do think is duller than it should be. My own favourite from this set is no.3, again purely because of the quality of the light (and because I managed to find a spot behind the tree to avoid looking straight into the sun!)

If I've said anything here you think is arguable or just plain wrong, please come back and say why. I'm a real novice compared to many of you who post on this forum and following discussions about different approaches to subjects is both stimulating and instructive.

Thanks again, (and I've a few more to come yet!)

Just had a week's holiday - first time in this area and quite hard to capture, I found. Lots of high hills surrounding the lake, so one side or the other almost always in shade, except in the middle of the day. Almost impossible to be in the right place at the right time to catch the best light because it's so big. So here are a few in two or three sets. All advice, especially on coping with the light issues, welcome. First set is mainly water (hopefully not sloping!)
K-3 and either Pentax 18-135mm or Sigma 10-20mm

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Thanks for looking!

Been following this thread with interest. Personally, I find it hard to take to a landscape in which water is portrayed as behaving in a way that goes against all the laws of physics. Water always finds its own level and, to me, sloping water just doesn't make any sense, artistically or otherwise. However, I don't think John's comment about the "feel for the subject matter" is invalidated by whether the water surface is horizontal or not.
Best wishes,

I love all these, David! One of my favourite walks - out along Stanage Edge and back along Bamford Edge, with gorgeous views all the way. I've always taken a pocket camera in the past - you've shown here what can be done with a proper one! Thanks!
Best regards,

Lovely, David, all of them. Your manual focus approach both makes sense and obviously pays dividends. Must take a lot of patient practice. Obviously the way to go though.
Best wishes,

Not everyone was there for the pain!

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No more! Thanks for looking!