Oh dear, my Q 01 prime died. It was such a good lens and so useful that it had to be replaced. No problem, there were several on the usual auction site. But there was a problem - as well as finding and buying a 01, I noticed a 08 wide angle zoom at a price that wasn't as outrageous as it usually is. To buy or not to buy? That was the question. Well, my bank balance is now smaller but an 08 is now in my Q collection. It looks good, it feels good, and from test shots taken with the Q-S1 on the daily dog walk it can take good photographs. Here are a few, the first with the sun just out of frame to see how the 08 would cope.

Thoughts, comments welcome as usual.

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Steve

Is that the guy who designs emojis?

Steve

There's a DA* for £350 BIN and another on auction with a couple of days to go currently at £271. The only £150 300mm I've found is an M, not DA*.
Yes, the same thing has been happening as has happened over the years in many other areas. 200 years ago there were horses everywhere, it was the only way to get around. Then trains and, later, motor vehicles arrived. Horses are now mainly just for enthusiasts who appreciate them for what they are, not as a means of transport. 100 years ago and more there were pianos everywhere, most middle class homes had one, they were in pubs and clubs, and there was always someone who could knock out a tune to entertain whoever wanted to listen. Then came recorded and broadcast music. Pianos were destroyed in their thousands. They are now mainly just for enthusiasts who appreciate them for what they are, not as a means of general entertainment. If there is a piano in a home, pub or club it is probably digital, not 'real' (or in my case, one of each ). Piano tuners are rare, there is only one 3-yr course in the UK. But pianos, pianists and piano tuners are still around, they are now just a specialist minority and no longer part of mass culture.

Steve

Hang out the flags, dance in the streets, cuddle you mother-in-law, slap your face with a wet herring - this is Lubbyman's 3000'th post!

Yes, in spite of everything that life has thrown his way in recent years, Lubbyman is still here, still taking photographs, still posting on this forum. And still acquiring gear in the vain hope that one day there will be time and opportunity to make good use of it and amaze the world with the results.

Thank you for all your help, comments (both positive and not so positive), inspiration, good humour and opportunities to relieve you of your excess gear at good prices. And thank you to the tech team and mods. This is truly one of the Good Places on the internet.

Steve

Eeeek!!!

They were always good to me whenever I bought something from them.

It makes me wonder how many other photographic stores are close to going the same way...

Steve

That's good news indeed . But don't forget that when re-importing the camera you might have to pay UK VAT on the repair bill. However, that's based on my understanding of general UK rules. I might be wrong and in any case things might be different in your part of the UK. Keep saving!

Steve

There are no magic mushrooms or hallucinating bokeh balls in this particular darkness, but there are things like this ready to drag you into the depths....




Profound, very profound. And appreciated, too,

Steve

Facing the darkness and the light at the end of the tunnel. On a footpath allegedly used by Thomas Hardy, poet and author, when visiting his friend Rev. William Barnes, rector of Came church and Dorset dialect poet. The footpath is now well used by dog walkers and their canines (including me and mine).

K1 + FA100-300mm f4.7-5.8.

Thoughts, comments, poetic musings etc. welcome.

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Steve

So, another reason for going into the garden for a quick 10 minutes that turns into an hour or more...

It sounds like the tube that all tubes should be. Enjoy! (both the tube and the bottle)

Steve

Definitely an excellent TC, well worth having in the bag. Surprising that it works very well with the 55-300mm, I've never tried it, perhaps I should.

Try it with the 100mm macro that's in your sign-off. You'll get more magnification, no change in minimum working distance and to my eye no loss of image quality. Seeing little things even bigger through the viewfinder is always fun (for me, at least).

Steve