Do you think the image quality would be significantly improved though? I'm not certain that it would be.

Interesting idea Joe, but I doubt I could leave the bag at home.

Looking at the focal lengths I used in these 70+ shots, 30 were taken at 12mm, 11 at 14mm, 14 at 24mm, and the rest in between.

My widest prime is an old 28mm smcp-M lens and the next is a 31mm Limited so maybe I need a 14 Ltd

I should have added that all images are processed in Lightroom 4.x, some with a significant amount of perspective correction to make verticals . . . err . . . vertical.

Thanks Johnha, I'm not sure that I've been an inspiration to anybody in the past but there's always a first time and you could be 'the one'

I may have overdone the WB/Hue customization because the original images are predominantly orange from the street lighting. I always, always, always use daylight WB unless using flash, which the camera changes automatically (custom setting).

The Pentax smc 12-24mm lens is truly superb but if cost is an issue, have a look at the two available versions of Sigma's 10-20mm lens. Others on here, and most other forums, swear by them. Wider than the Pentax at the short end but not as wide at the long end, you might find it better suits your needs/desires.

Sorry I didn't see your original post. FWIW, I regularly use this lens wide open and can say that it is acceptably sharp.

Thus far I have had no CA issues, but then I've used it mostly at night with flash.

Thanks for all your kind comments.

Before leaving for Valencia I had thought that it was perhaps a mistake to limit myself to only one lens, albeit a short zoom, and that I'd miss a lot of shots.

Not so, I don't think I saw any missed opportunities and I can recommend it, just be sensible with your choice of lens given your intended destination. For city trips in the future I'll probably take the same kit again.

I also thought that the 12-24mm was the wrong lens to be using in the confines of a glass tunneled aquarium but again I was wrong, it did a very good job as you'll see when I post the remaining images.

The only criticism that I could make of the kit I took is that I could have used a f2.8 lens rather than the f4 max aperture of the 12-24mm. For that reason, I might use only the DA* 16-50mm lens next time.

Thanks Stan. #2 was taken later in the day when the clouds had moved in to give the sky some character.

#5 was taken hand held but with the camera resting on some railings on the top floor of the hotel we were staying in.

Well here they are, the images from my challenge, at long last, or at least, part one. I can't understand why it's taken me so long to get around to editing these, but finally, I have.

Part two will follow very shortly . . . maybe.

This first set are mostly architectural record shots of the buildings comprising the City of Arts and Sciences, all built in a dried up river bed.

Part two will be almost exclusively from the Oceanographic aquarium with the limitations that come with shooting in low light through almost 2 inches of glass and no flash allowed.

All images shot with a gripped Pentax K-5 II + Pentax smc DA 12-24mm 1:4 lens . . . and nothing else.

On to part one . . . a link to the full set appears at the end.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8626374049_3ff816e5ec_b.jpg" class="comment_image" />

K52_0346.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr[/img]

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8627480200_9b9723d2cb_b.jpg" class="comment_image" />

K52_0535.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr[/img]

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8627489980_603b1ec6e9_b.jpg" class="comment_image" />

K52_0541.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr[/img]

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8404/8626374865_3157b7636d_b.jpg" class="comment_image" />

K52_0348.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr[/img]

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8627496818_faec88c8ec_b.jpg" class="comment_image" />

K52_0556.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr[/img]

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8399/8626400189_1c1257e9ba_b.jpg" class="comment_image" />

K52_0583.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr[/img]

Link to the whole set of part one.

Next trip . . . Cordoba, same set up.

I watched that movie last night too. One of the cameras used was a K1000.

Your flash can be used on auto together with a Pentax DSLR body that supports TTL, these are limited to the early *istD and *istDS bodies. Pentax bodies since then only support P-TTL for auto flash control.

On your camera, with the flash mode switch set to Auto, you will only get 1/1 (100%) flash discharge.

Your flash can however be used on either of it's manual settings but these are very limited at 1/1 and 1/4 output.

It is unlikely that the flash compensation set on the K30 body will actually affect the flash output.

Time to get a new flash I think

Pentax, Metz, and Sigma produce P-TTL compatible flashes.