Olympus camera division is being sold. Pentax got there first - which, of course, is why it's now a Ricoh brand.

Just had a thought - perhaps the Pentax vision is aimed at Olympus users who might be looking for a new home that values traditional quality, the photography experience and isn't the Big Two...

Steve

Be honest, folks, how many people would buy tubes, bellows etc. etc.? When current makers of such things don't find it makes financial sense to provide them for K-mount when they do for others, it would surely not make financial sense for Pentax to do it. Reasonably priced macro lenses have replaced tubes + non-macro prime for most people, copystands were for when documents weren't digital and scanners didn't exist, etc. etc. And don't forget that every camera now comes with a full range of films (sorry, should have said 'sensor' rather than 'film') suitable for all lighting conditions which I can't remember Pentax supplying in the pre-digital era. Life has changed!
Gwyn - Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration (according to Thomas Edison). So put that camera strap round your neck, go on a walk determined to take some photos, have a look at them when you get home, decide how you could do better next time, go on another walk etc. etc. Inspiration will come. Then when you're inspired but frustrated because the K5ii can't quite get what you want, you'll find it much easier to justify buying the new Pentax!

Steve

It's traditional - school holidays have started .

Steve

Says much the same as they've said before, but in a different way: do what you know you can do well for the people who appreciate that sort of thing. Sensible and reasonable as far as I'm concerned. Mind you, I'm not sure about "make us feel as if we're connecting directly with the subject" - there are some things seen through a macro lens to which it's probably best not to feel a direct connection !!

Steve

Just a thought - I don't have either 16-50 and 50-135, but aren't they both SDM? And the Pentax lenses you mention that do work with your K5II not SDM. Perhaps your camera has developed a problem with SDM lenses. If so, it might be as simple as a bit of muck on a single contact that is crucial for SDM but not other lenses. Can you lay your hands on another SDM lens to check it out?

Steve

An interesting pair of photos. Both of them flowers at the end of long stems but entirely different in concept and execution. Keep taking 'em!

The 2nd shot looks like a sempervivum (houseleek). If you've got more sempervivums than just that pot (and who can stop at just one pot??) you've got ample subject matter for lots of photos. Shallow depth of field, macro, abstract shapes, colours, flowers from all angles (alive and dead), how they change through the year, even the miniature wildlife that hangs around them - there's plenty of opportunity and subject matter for taking more (and more and more...) pictures .

Steve

Nature and art - amazing!!

And lucky. Every time I've been to Ham Wall, the starlings have either been settling elsewhere or going straight down with minimal murmurating .

Steve

It's all in the Wizard of Id (remember that comic strip?):

King (to crowd of peasants): Remember the Golden Rule!

Peasant 1: What's that?

Peasant 2: Whoever has the gold, makes the rules!

Steve

OK, it's time for the Big Reveal. Myles was almost right, but her nose is tucked under her rear leg - she can curl into a very tight ball! I would not like my nose to be where hers is .

Now for last night's strange position. Somewhere in here are parts of a head, ear, tail, front leg, rear leg and front paw. Even I was initially puzzled about where the paw came from!




Steve

Correct so far...

Nearly but not quite.

Black mongrel. When we first got her (rescue dog) the vet said she was a lurcher so that's what she's been ever since. No idea what's in her ancestry!

Steve