Hmm, I wonder why trap focus only works with K and KA lenses - I'd have thought that F or FA (and presumably DA) lenses would effectively become KAs when set to MF!

I've just tried my DL with F 50mm 1.7, set to manual and the shutter fires regardless of focus position - so there's a definate reason for having a couple of MF lenses in your collection

DOH, just realised that it's a function of AF cameras and so the camera itself has to be set to AF but the lens must be manual - well I was still drowsy when I posted the above comments!

BTW Mongoose, 'trap focus' is the name used by Yashica (and probably others) but the correct terminology for us Pentaxians is 'Snap-in focus', please get it right as some of us are a little sensitive about such things

Well I've been 'banned' for at least several hours but as I'm here now, I guess I've been pardoned

I think Pete just meant MF for manual focus as opposed to M for M series.

I know they're not easy to get hold of but I'd definately go for the Pentax F 1.7x TC but the Tamron would be a good alternative.

If it's only for occasional use, bearing in mind that AF is slightly less effective due to light loss with a TC, a manual converter might well be more cost effective

You can view a pdf of the MZ-M manual here:http://www.butkus.org/chinon/pentax/pentax_mz-m/pentax_mz-m.htm

The section regarding the use dedicated flash confirms that TTL flash is not available.

I didn't get that email or visit any other site but PentaxUser did seem to be down for about 24 hours - I kept getting the 'page could not be displayed' message.

Blimey, there's stacks of them on eBay, just type in 'cable release'.

Chris's link doesn't appear to work but this is the first item that popped up when I did a search:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/70cm-REMOTE-RELEASE-CABLE-4-Canon-Nikon-Fuji-UK-Seller_W0QQitemZ330109345555QQihZ014QQcategoryZ43443QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They're all pretty much standard, just make sure you choose one with a locking function (saves you having to hold the cable during really long exposures)

BTW, just tried the first link again and it's working now

Great shots Pete, they could grace the pages of any magazines - I've seen many published that aren't up to that standard!

One thing I find 'old and predictable' for landscapes, is the inclusion of rocks to add foreground interest. It's a general rule that critics usually insist on but because it is used so often, I just think it looks contrived.

Your last shot looks natural enough and it works well but the first (sunset) shot doesn't quite look right to me - there are no other rocks of that size and so you could have placed them there yourself.
I think something a little more subtle would have worked better ie. a plant or clump of grass, a bird or small animal - anything other than a big rock!

I think that too many photographers try to make every rocky terrain look like a lunar landscape and it doesn't always work (just my opinion, of course).

Lenses usually, if not always, state something like 'Multi Coated', 'Multi' or 'MC' as in the following picture:

http://mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/jupiter_9_m42.html

Hmm, you're right - I haven't bought a mount for quite a while but they used to be about £25 new and I think PK and especially PKA ones now often sell for more than that secondhand - probably cheaper to buy a lens that you don't want, just to get the mount!

I've got an Olympus OM and a Canon FD mount......if anyone's interested