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Hi Mattie,

You've had numerous responses on the equipment and weight options available, I'd like to consider a different aspect. The strain on the back depends partly on how that load is carried. Having a balanced load with the heaviest items close to your body makes a lot of difference to comfort & strain.

1) Most photography rucksacks I've seen are configured to carry tripods on the outside at the back, the furthest point from your body. Some however carry them strapped to the side or horizontally on top. That is better.
2) If you use an iPad/tablet, some sacks have pockets right at the back rather than close to your back.
3) Carry some items on your front such as: in a small bag clipped on the rucksack's front straps (e.g. water bottles), or on the sack's waist strap, to act as a counter balance.
4) Carrying items in pouches on a separate belt takes the load off your back and directly onto your hips.
5) Depending on how much you need to carry, putting equipment into the pockets of a coat or waistcoat (e.g. Paramo Pajaro or Halcon) will keep it even closer and may negate the need for a rucksack altogether.
6) Use walking poles. These help to keep the spine upright. Some walking poles can also be used as monopods.

I hope this helps.

Hi John,
yes that's cracked it. Nothing to do with mirror lenses per se.

In the interim I had tried a second manual lens with adaptor and that too worked on the K-r but not the K-30, so I was convinced that it had to be a camera setting.

Thanks also to Graham for the article. It is addressed in that too. I look forward to reading it fully later.

Cheers

£715.58 - on Amazon this evening
(link)

and, following a link onthe Amazon page to Electro Hut,
£686.45 including a DA35mm lens

(link)


P.S. Just realised that if SRS' prices do not include the £80 instant cashback, they will be comparable with the Electro Hut price
£749 - £80.

Hmmm.
SR was active with the previous lens on, but as soon as I put the manual lens on, it is deactivated.

I recently bought a manual 500mm mirror lens, with a T-mount to PK adaptor, from another forum member. Putting it into my K-30 I was expecting it to ask me to enter a focal length as it couldn't read it from the lens. However, it didn't. Looking through the menus, the option was there but blanked out and couldn’t be selected. As soon as I put the lens onto the K-r, it asked me to enter a focal length.

Does anyone know why this happened and how I can set it in the K-30?

Royal Mail have done that with me several times.

These are good too and noticeably cheaper ( http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/small-flight-case-with-foam-interior-n50fu ). You will need to trim the foam to fit, but that is easy enough and flexible. I use one for my old film SLR and it has been reliable.

Hi Saxon,

one thought that occurs to me is that you could hire a K3 for a few days or even do a shoot or two witih it to make your own mind up on its capabilities. Then, if Pentax do come out with something new next year you would already have more info. on the K3 and only need to see how much better the new camera is than that.

I know that SRS hire items (see their web-site); Park Cameras which is nearer you might do so too.

Regards,
Kearton

You have a PM.