There are some (many) public places/buildings where tripods are banned, but monopods are not.

I have one in the car at all times and always take it on walks in the mountains. Its primary use in that case is as a walking aid, to push away bushes etc., and as a potential defensive weapon against wild boar and/or dogs.

Images of most of the remaining items can be seen here.

I have found a SMCP-FA 28-80mm lens which will be included with the MZ-6 for £65 including delivery. I have also added a battery grip (Pentax FG - takes 4 x AA cells) for £25.

Buy the MZ-6 (incl strap & manual), FA28-80mm, and grip for £80 delivered.

If any of you wants to try your hand at film work, this is an exceptionally good camera. It is also capable of utilising the wireless and P-TTL features of the AF360/540FGZ flashes. It's mount is not 'crippled' so even your old Tak's and pre-A series lenses can be used with it. This body can also use the later FA-J & DA lenses which have no aperture ring because the aperture can be set on the body. That's something that the MZ-S cannot do.

I'll be taking the 500mm with me when I visit my sister in Cornwall this weekend and will hopefully return with some images taken with it.

It may well be, but you know you really want the image quality of a prime lens

Besides, I haven't sold enough for the new microawave my wife wants yet .

Shameless plug:-

I have an SMCP-A 24mm 1:2.8 lens for sale at only £149 including postage.

There are three important differences between the two lenses you mention, and zooms covering the same range.

1: The wider 2.8 aperture which can render OOF areas much better than a zoom.
2: Better low light performance.
3: The IQ from primes, even old ones, is generally superior to that from a zoom due to the compromises made in the design of zooms.

Of the two ( 24/28 ), the 24mm is held in higher regard.

I had a 'Contact the seller' conversation with Ian Hobday recently about 2 lenses he had for sale, the A* and FA* 200mm macro's. When I mentioned I was currently using the Sigma 180mm, he mentioned that he had once used one for quite some time and found it to be an excellent lens. I couldn't disagree with him, and ended my quest for my 'Holy Grail', the FA* 200mm Macro.

I'm sticking with the Siggy.

Clarky, I think you'll be hard pushed to determine much difference in IQ between the A* 200mm and the 180mm EX DG lenses. I would resell the A* unless it was orders of magnitude better in the IQ department. You'll certainly get more money for that than you will the Sigma.

That's not likely, they were out of stock the last time I checked.

Windows 7, and Vista before it, refuses to install unsigned drivers, but there is a workaround.

Reboot the system and press f8 (several times during the boot process to make sure) to get the boot menu where you will find an option, I cant remember the exact wording, to allow the installation of unsigned drivers.

Vuescan works fine on Windows 7 Pro x64 with my Minolta Dimage Dualscan iV and Epson scanner (about 10 years old).

When installing Vuescan, use it's drivers rather than those supplied with the device.

Further update:-

Prime lenses
SMCP-A 24mm 1:2.8 - £149
SMCP-K 50mm 1:1.2 - £249
SMCP-M 50mm 1:1.4 - £55
SMCP-K 500mm 1:4.5 - £599

Zoom lenses
Pentax-F 28-80mm 1:3.5~4.5 - £10
SMCP-FA 28-200mm 1:3.8~5.6 - £75
SMCP-FA 100-300mm 1:4.5~5.6 - £55

SLR 35mm bodies
Pentax MZ-6 - £55

Sundry bits 'n bobs
2 x Pentax K-M42 adapter incl. release tool - £10 each
Pentax screw on lens hood - £15
Tokina filter kit - £15

SOLD:-
SMCP-F 50mm 1:1.7
Pentax Z20
Extension cord F 5P
Pentax 4P Synch Cord B

I will try to take some images with it, and of it, today and post them here.

The first AF series Pentax lenses were the F series. This lens pre-dates that series by a very long time so no, it will not auto-focus by itself I'm afraid.

It can be made to auto focus by adding a Pentax F 1.7X AF Teleconverter though and I have used the two together on occasions.

You can see the lens spcifications here.

In use, the lens with a K10/20D body attached is extremely well balanced making it much easier to use than the 135-600mm zoom I had before it.

This lens was supplied used by SRS about 1 year ago and it has seen little real use since then.

If you are a serious wildlife photographer, this lens will serve you well and it's a lot cheaper than the Sigma 500mm prime.