It doesn't matter, it'll be a good one.

You're just a bit too late for my SMCP 400mm 5.6, sold it to a forum member.

The Sigma 400mm 5.6 is much lighter than the Pentax lens.

Sanyo Eneloop batteries have a very very low self discharge rate and are claimed to maintain 80% of their charge after a year of non-use.

They are however of a lower capacity at 2000maH than the more commonly available 2700maH NiMh batteries. In practice this makes very little difference.

700 frames = 700 pictures. The term frame is a legacy from film days that some folk just can't let go of.

My experience is very different from yours. I have both Uniross 2350's and Uniross 2500 & 2700's, some are less than a year old and I can't rely on any of them to hold a charge more than about 3 weeks.

Yes the batteries in the flashes and my *istD when I had it got charged regularly, but having a flat spare battery is about as frustrating as aving a flat spare tyre when you have a puncture.

By switching to Sanyo Eneloops I can rely on them 100% to be available when I need them.

I was reminded on a recent trip to UK how good a field of Rape looks from a distance. We see nothing like it in the area of Spain where I live.

Forget filters for protection, always wear a hood. And I mean that in a photographic sense.

This point has been argued to death before. My argument is, why spend several hundreds of pounds on a quality lens, then screw a £20 piece of optically inferior glass on the front that is going to do nothing except reduce IQ, if only ever so slightly.

Do you not think that if the lens needed more protection, the manufacturers would include it?

In Pentax's case they do, it's called Super Multi-Coating.

Treat yourself to an FA50/1.4 and you'll not be disappointed. Go for the DA*55mm if you have the money, but the FA50/1.4 will be much cheaper at around £150.

The only criticism I could offer if I were to nit pick is that the plane of focus seems to be somewhat in front of your subject. That's adjustable on the K20D if it's a real problem rather than 'operator error'

Yes, skin tone is pale but I would expect that if you've had to desaturate the red channel in PP.

Pentax-A was the last, and arguably the best, of the manual focus series of lenses. F, FA, FA-J, DA, & D-FA, all auto focus lenses, have followed since.

The Pentax-A series lenses are certainly more compatible with the DSLR's than the older K & M series lenses as long as you leave it on the A setting on the aperture ring and set the aperture on the body.

The Blackbird and Starling shots are very good, but that Chaffinch's head is way too blue and unrealistic. What happened, it's headshould be a grey/blue colour (closer to grey).