K20D used most, K10D backup. Had a *istD but I've just sold it. K10D will go soon to help fund a K-7 when the price is more attractive (irresistable).

I don't think it's totally knackered Mike. Wet cleaning of sensors takes practice and patience to get it smear free. Keep at it, or send/take it somewhere for cleaning.

It took me best part of a day to clean an istD I had. I've not used wet cleaners since.

It looks to me if the offending mark has diminished somewhat.

If you bought the Eclipse fluid, it needs to be type 2, not the original.

The downside is that the resulting combination will be 1.5 to 2 stops slower in aperture, and that's not ideal for macro work. You'd probably need a couple of flood lights to get reasonable exposure coupled with useable DOF.

Interesting thought Steve but I'm not sure that focussing can be achieved by moving the image plane, can it?

It's one of the sharpest 'knives in my drawer', err, lenses in my bag.

You won't be disappointed by it, I'm sure.

Personally I would have preferred it to be a 1:2.8 lens but with the K-7's SR system allowing for up to 4 stops slower shutter speed, I think it'll do fine.

You're right Mike, I must have been looking at the 150-500mm prices. SRS price is £1119.00 but Chris might do a deal.

We've had power zoom lenses from Pentax, and on certain old film cameras I believe you can set a start and stop point for auto zooming.

How difficult could it be to set a start and stop focus point, select the number of frames you want, then have the camera divide the set focus distance by the number of shots and make the exposures.

ALternatively, could this be achieved using a Pentax camera tethered to a PC and control this function with a modified Remote Assistant like piece of software?

I think that this would make an absolutely killer camera/app for macro work.

Finally Pentax UK have acknowledged it's existance.

Full Spec here.

If it is scratched, it'll be the low pass filter, not the actual sensor. If that's the case it'll make a good candidate for turning into an IR camera by having the low pass filter replaced with glass.

Costs about £250 I think.

That's a very positive and impressive article. I guess that destroys the "film has a higher dynamic range" argument then?

Thanks Mike.