i've got a Crumpler Pretty Boy and i love it. used it in the rain an had no problems as the flaps fold in to keep the rain out (unless the rain is coming sideways, but then i'd think in those conditions most bags would have trouble).

the Pretty Boy range are fairly small, so get bigger than you think - or try and track one down and see for yourself. i can get a K100d with kit lens and the tamron 70-300 in my Xl (or it might be a L). there's also room for batteries, memory cards, lens cloth, etc in the front pocket. i could also get the 500 mirror in by perching it on the top and pulling the flap over and then yanking the strap tight to hold it down.

most days now i use a lowepro fastpack backpack as i can get all the lenses in there, but i do find it uncomfortable compared to the Crumpler and having the extra capacity means i tend to carry everything!

also, the Crumpler has better colours and just looks nice.

i second the Tamron 70-300. it's a great lens for the money. i've not had any problems at the long end - although i have found it tends to over expose, but only slightly. the macro facility is pretty good. i've also worked out that you can use it with extension tubes, to get even closer, as it's got a manual aperture ring. it's my most used lens - although i don't have that many.

don't get put off/intimidated by all the nikannon users, especially when they claim their gear is better than yours.

ok... i haven't got a 200d i have the 100d, but i do have the Tamron lens... on the 100d you had to select that the camera would accept a lens without an automatic aperture (it is in the custom setup screen).

now, the adaptall was in two versions (i believe). one relays the aperture info. could it be that this is happening, so the camera knows it's an f8, but doesn't know what the Chinon is? is the camera set up to take non auto aperture lenses?

sorry i can't be of more help, but i'm sure someone else will be.

i might be misunderstanding this... but it just does it!

the camera neters to automatically adjust the shutter speed/and or aperture depending on the mode the camera is in.

if you are in Av mode the camera will meter to work out the shutter speed to match the aperture selected... you can adjust this with the +/- button on the top to over/under-expose. of course, if you use the camera in Manual mode, then you set both shutter and aperture, so there's nothing to meter (as such). In shutter priority mode the camera will adjust the aperture to match the chosen shutter speed - again, with the ability to under/over-expose to +/- 2 stops.

When you set up a shot you can also 'lock' the metering to a chosen area by pressing the button on the rear top right of the camera. this is handy for wanting the correct exposure for an area that won't be in the centre of the frame (where the camera meters in spot and middle settings). it's much the same as choosing the focal point and then moving the framing.

hope this makes sense.

maybe we could have a sticky for printer recommendations and info? - it's even more bewildering than looking at camera specs!

i'd print a lot more if i had my own printer, but haven't a clue about them (or the money to buy one at the moment). as a result i get mine printed in a shop when i need them (had some done for a photo comp recently).

i've got the Tamron - i got it back in the film camera days.

plus points - it's fairly small and not too obtrusive. the image quality is great*. the background can be used to artistic effect.

minus points - you need lots of light! focus range is very small.

i've used mine for wildlife shots and it's great having something that you can carry easily and if it's a sunny day it's on the camera most of the time. the reason for the * on the IQ statement is that it is quite hard to get right as the focus band is small. it takes a bit of getting used to and the focus throw is big and a ship's wheel would help go from near to far focus!

there are often Tamron ones on ebay and are worth looking out for. i like the doughnut background and the image quality that the lens produces.

i had given mine away at one point (along with all the film camera gear as someone thought they could sell it) and, luckily, they hadn't. when i found that Pentax digital could use film lenses it was back like a shot.

if you can get a Tamron, then do. the rest i've heard negative stories about.

i used the Kodak service a few times (my compact is a Kodak and you got free prints as part of the package) and the quality was very good.

the last batch of prints i got done was at Jessops and they were surprisingly good (i got the 1 hr prints using the instore machines) and reasonably cheap too - much cheaper and far superior than the shop around the corner that claims to specialise in printing.

might be worth getting a few prints done at various places (using the same shots) and see what ones do it for you.

i'm not going to help any as i'll leave that to the experts on this forum (and they are experts). Just to say that i was in a similar position about a year or so ago - baffled by digital slr technology and range. a friend of a friend got a k100d and then the friend got one based on the pictures... and i got one based on her pictures.

i tend to not like any of my shots that much (not as i'm a perfectionist, just very negative!) but i've recently entered a wildlife competition as was encouraged to do so by seeing last year's entries (and knowing some of the entrants and seeing their kit). My k100d can easily compete with more expensive kit and i agree with your point about the colours being lifelike - there is a natural clarity about the shots.

good luck with your new purchase, should you get it (i see no reason not to). as someone else pointed out, there are many many lenses... i use a Tamron 500mm mirror lens for some of my wildlife ones (and even for some close ups) as i had it from my film days and just needed a pentax Tamron adaptall mount.

don't be scared of the old film lenses either. you can get a manual 50mm lens for about £20 on ebay and you can play around. i've got to complete newbie to owner of 5 lenses (3 manual focus 35mm ones) and a set of extension tubes in a year. i love playing around with the camera and it's incredibly satisfying when you get a great macro shot with lens equipment that is old and cost less than £50.

all that and shake reduction in the body.

i'm happy with my decision to go Pentax.

not sure about the k200, but the k100 works as follows...

depending on the mode, of course.

in AV the little thumbwheel at the back on the right controls the aperture (using an A lens). twiddle it and you'll see the setting change in the lcd screen and the viewfinder (obviously not both at the same time, unless you have very wonky eyes).

in Tv mode the thumbwheel changes the shutter speed and the camera chooses the right aperture.

in Manual mode the thumbwheel alters the shutter speed and to change aperture you have to hold down the +/- compensation button (that one on the top on the right) and turn the thumbwheel.

if you're using a manual aperture lens then set the camera to manual and change aperture on the lens and select shutter speed via the thumbwheel.

i used my k100 on auto for the first month or so until i had played enough to venture further. now my thumb is a blur of activity and i have even been known to get the exposure right at times.

L