I have recently noticed that, within Picasa2 - the application, EXIF data is displayed for JPG's but not PEF's or DNG's.

Does that tally with your originals?

EDIT: Missing EXIF data from Pentax PEF's is well documented in the Picasa discussion forums. It's been missing even from the very early DSLR's, and many others including my Fuji F810.

It is true that camera bodies reduce in price (and SH value) as time goes on, but I'm not sure that the same will be true of lenses.

Pentax DSLR bodies in the past have been rapidly replaced by a new model making the older ones obsolete and/or difficult to obtain. Their lens range however has remained almost unchanged save the addition of new lenses, not replacements.

I don't count the DS/DS2 or DL/DL2 revisions or even the K100D/K110D, more the *istD being replaced by the K10D within approx. 3 years.

My 'need', if I have one, of the 16-50mm/50-135mm DA* 1:2.8 lenses is more a desire to be able to take pictures indoors without flash. Of late I have been visiting various shows, fiestas and music gigs, where the use of flash would be wholly inappropriate, either because the animals involved (horses mostly) would be startled, or the camera might be confiscated at music gigs.

They've run out of stock of the 50-135mm lens, not the 16-50mm.

BTW, take a look at the bottom of the page that your link brings up.

Matt,

Look into my eyes , only my eyes , nowhere else, just my eyes . . . .

Are you under? . . . . Good, you know you want one, just do it.

I am, and I don't need one, I just want one, that's enough justification for me.

Demonstrates the marketing power of the Pentax brand I guess.

OK, I'll count backwards from 10, on the count of 1 you will be wide awake, 10, 9, 8, err, umm . . . .

That'll do nicely. What's your budget? Prepare to use all of it

The additional filters are possibly worth bidding at least the £125 that this seller is expecting . . . but wait . . . until the last minute.

My advice, for what it's worth. Don't waste even a fiver. Put that money towards a decent macro lens. The SMC Pentax F, FA & DA 100mm 1:2.8 are very good, so too is the Sigma 90mm Macro lens.

The only 'macro' zoom lens I use is a Sigma 70-300mm APO lens which is very good for keeping your distance from otherwise shy subjects but it doesn't do 1:1. For that I use an SMCP-FA 100mm, wickedly sharp.

The lens you are looking at will not be a true 1:1 macro lens either.

You have the Samsung 'K10D-'ish' body which may or may not suffer from the same exposure issues using pre A series lenses. For that reason I would avoid buying anything older than a lens having the KA mount. Manual focus is OK, AF is unnecessary for macro work.

That's definitely not a UK power cord in the photo either. Warranty ? ? ?

For every poster intent on 'shooting you down' there are dozens more willing to offer genuine help.

Remember, there are no silly questions, just inappropriate answers.

The truth is the K10D can be operated more or less as a point 'n shoot camera (except you don't have live view), just set everything to the green option and auto everything else. You won't be getting the best out of it but you will get some cracking photo's.

When you are comfortable with it, start to use some of the manual functions for which you will need to learn a bit, but we've all had to do that. The first thing you'll need to do is change the focussing from auto to centre spot, then you can be sure of what you are focussing on.

Good luck with your new camera and do come back and show us what you have achieved.

Pete,

www.warehouseexpress.co.uk have the Sigma 500 Super DG in stock. If you'd have ordered before 4PM today, you'd have it tomorrow.

So where's the problem exactly?

Know one thing, you'll be better off looking for a needle in a haystack than looking for Pentax or Pentax fit products in the High Street. Buy online, you know it makes sense . . .

Sorry George, speed reading at my age sucks. I should know better than to try it.