I've covered many sports events over the years, both indoor & outdoor events of various types and have come to the conclusion early on that "brand" is not the important thing, and especially the brands around you that other folk use.

Believe me I have jostled with all manner of elbows and equipment and still managed to raise the odd eyebrow of the competition.

Capture the “great image” is what it's about; my Pentax kit has always delivered without drama, even in some of the most adverse conditions.

Hey Gartmore, we need to start a sad shift club

Hmmmmm, just five eh, it’s a difficult when you admit to LBA, here goes my top five of all time, well to date that is.

smc PENTAX-A 1:1.2 50mm
smc PENTAX-A* 1:1.4 85mm
smc PENTAX-A* 1:1.8 135mm
smc PENTAX-A* 1:4 300mm
smc PENTAX SHIFT 1:3.5 28mm

As you can see from my sign off signature, not long changed to digital, so I make no excuse for my still enjoying my fast older manual glass.

For me I use PEF RAW straight to Adobe Camera Raw 4.4.1 and then on to Photoshop CS3 without ever going near DNG, hence I’m saving a workflow step each time, without any detrimental effects to my output, but hey, each to their own way of working, there is no right or wrong here.

Guess it must be a North of the Border thing, to buy "The Real MacKay"

I bought a Kodak (remember them) Gray Card (note US spelling) some 30 years ago and still using it today. Its 8" x 10" size, Grey side reflects 18% of the light falling on it (described as middle grey or Zone V).

The reverse side is White which reflects in Kodak's words "about 90%".

It was priced then as $6.50, a small fortune thirty years ago, but over the years it works out as less than 22 cents a year!

Just going back briefly if I may to the “grip or not to grip question”.

I use grip always fully loaded with the additional battery, SD Card and remote control installed, while each of the described elements in its own right weigh very little. I find the combined total gives me the extra stability/balance when using long or older fast manual heavy lenses. I also have large hands and the grip gives me more to hang onto in moments of shooting frenzy.

Maybe some of the good camera dealers/shops will allow you feel/play before you buy. As this is a case of each to their “own”, you need to be able to try before you can effectively compare to the pros and cons of grips for your style of shooting.

Hi, the last couple of Extreme Cards I bought came with a software utility called Rescue Pro which recovers files & pictures.

Please note that version 3.3 covers Pentax PEF raw files, which earlier versions of this software did not.

Not strictly photographic equipment, but a mountaineering karabiner and 3 foot length of thin mountaineering rope, total cost six pounds. Use as a quick secure method of securing camera bag to table leg or chair etc to prevent snatch a grab merchants.

I had used PSP back in the old days, now on CS3 which I find meets all my needs, its just finding out about all the other stuff it does.

Has a vertical learning curve, but it does get easier, plenty tutorials all over the web.

Also I love Bridge software that comes bundled with CS3.