It's my impression that this forum has become more or less a Pentax 'Exchange 'n Mart' with few interesting topics in between. What's more annoying is that Joe Public creates a login to snap up a bargain before us regulars have a chance, then they're never heard of again.

I think new users should be made to wait a number of days before making any posts/purchases, even if they get around the current 30 day restriction by asking someone to PM them first.

Also, users tend to be lazy and ask questions that have been answered countless times before, all they have to do is put their question to Google or a similar search engine.

When that's the case, and users switch brands, they seem to inundate that section with images from their current chosen brand and post none from the brand for which the marque was set up. I've seen it happen on two other supposedly 'Pentax' forums, one posts images from a Nikon D4/D4s, hardly similar capabilities to any of the Pentax range.

Looks pretty good Louise.

I have a couple of recommendations:-

1: Some people do not respect copyright notices so watermark all of your images, it makes them less likely to be downloaded and used without your permission.

2: If you can, disable the right click option when an image is displayed, it removes the "Save image as" option and makes it more difficult for your images to be downloaded and used without your permission.

You've put a lot of time and effort into your work, so don't make it easy for others to benefit from it.

I hadn't noticed the ISO setting of Vic's shots. ISO 200 on an overcast day and fast moving subjects is much too low in my opinion, I'd have used at least ISO 800 and shutter speed of at least 1/500th, probably nearer 1/1000th.

In truth, I'd have used TAv mode and let the camera sort the ISO out.

For jumping horses a minimum shutter speed to get anywhere near sharp images is 1/320th.

None of the above images is sharp. Great composition and timing, but too much motion blur for me.

Here's an example, still not perfect, taken indoors under mixed lighting at 1/320th, f2.8 enormous ISO because flash is a no-no where horses are concerned.

The DA*300mm produces stunning images but I sold mine due to lack of use and I wanted a K-5 II, which gets a lot more use.

Your example shot in your initial post would have been much better had the bird actually been in focus. It looks to me like either the focus point was on the tree, or your lens is back-focusing. Have you adjust the AF?

Why buy a book when there's probably all the information you'll need online and there are plenty of free eBooks, online tutorials etc.

For me, this has very little wow factor, with the exception of the colours of her clothing which I'd like to see more of. As a portrait, it's too close and way too sharp for me. I can almost see the grains of powder from her makeup.

It may have a hidden wow factor though that some more post-processing might reveal.

You're not mistaken, Sigma don't offer their current 180mm Macro lens, which has a max aperture of 1:2.8 and HSM and OS, in Pentax mount.

But the OP is selling its excellent Pentax-K fit predecessor 180mm 1:3.5 lenses that does not have HSM or OS.

It's a fabulous lens in my opinion.

Might be a good idea to start your own thread and perhaps link back to this one.