Pete,

If the Pentax 50mm you bought is a SMC Pentax-M or just SMC Pentax, the aperture on the camera will flash as you need to set the aperture you desire on the lens then meter manually (green button) to set shutter speed in manual exposure mode.

If it is a SMCP-A lens you have, move the aperture ring to it's A setting.

Whichever you have bought, set the menu function to allow use of aperture ring.

I think the images from the Cosina could use the contrast lifting a little as they have a bit of a 'ghostly' or 'milky' look about them.

BTW, 50 quid for the two sounds good to me. Enjoy.

Regards,

John,

You're absolutely right to make your positive comments about Pete's latest offering. I should have done so, but didn't. My mistake and apologies to Pete for that.

I have interpreted, rightly or wrongly, Pete's latest posting as his attempt to perhaps win back some support from his critics here. Personally, I think some of the work that he has shown is very good. The flower pic doesn't do it for me for the reasons I described and I don't think that he should simply go out and click away at whatever presents itself to his lens without thinking too much about the resulting image. That's not photography, it's . . . snapping?

Pete,

Perhaps you could explain to us why you took this pic, and how you think it makes a good photo.

I believe that some of the criticisms that have been levelled at Pete in his other posts are unfair and way too personal. They certainly have little to do with his photography.

He PM'd me for some advice on prime lenses because he didn't want to ask the question in the forum for fear of further snipes. I replied with the best advice I could offer and suggested that there are others more knowledgeable than I on here that could probably give better advice. I'm no expert after all and many of you have much more knowledge and experience than I have. My point here is that Pete should have been able to ask his questions, any question, in the best way he could, on this forum but he didn't feel that he could.

I have no wish to discourage anybody, least of all this guy who is obviously new to our common hobby/career. I like to think that I've helped a few people in the time I've been here and Pete is no exception but sometimes I feel compelled to say what I see.

Regards,

Pete . . . mate . . .

What follows is meant as constructive (not destructive) criticism. Please accept it as such.

You have presented what I regard as a rather less than average photo of a Camelia ?

It lacks 'sparkle'. It's flat. There is not much detail in the petals. The leaves look like they've just had a coating with cement dust.

If you tweaked it a little in Photoshop, I would have tweaked it a lot more. Better still, I would have looked for a more interesting photo.

Not every shot you take is worthy of posting here. This one IMHO is perhaps your worst to date.

I'm sure you are capable of much better photography as is evidenced by some of your previous posts. Take some time and look harder r create a more pleasing photo with creative lighting.

I know you've received some criticism from previous posts . . . but this is not the way forward. Taking more photo's is not necessarily going to make you a better photographer. Take time to study, learn, and understand the craft and its many facets.

If this photo was to highlight the fact that Spring may be sprung, it's done it. As a killer photo . . . it sucks.

Keep at it bud.

Cheers,

Do they make one for 8 track ?

Only kidding. I have a Citroen C4. "Alive with technology" according to the advert. Headlights turn on automatically when it gets dark. Wipers activate when it rains, but I can't plug my iPod into the stereo though. I still use iTrip.

Yes, with restrictions. Needs to be used in manual exposure mode with manual stop down metering. 24mm is better for the K10D as it has a little wider perspective, 36mm v 42mm.

Pete,

any of the SMC Pentax-K/M/A/F/FA/DFA 50mm (1:1.7, 1:1.4, 1:1.2) ought to be as good if not a lot better than the Porst 55mm 1:1.2 although I have no personal experience of the latter.

There is also a SMC Pentax 55mm 1:1.8 but they seem to be pretty rare nowadays. I sold mine a while back and got the 50mm 1:1.2 instead Brilliant lens. A little soft wide open but sharpens up nicely when stopped down a tad.

Well I never know'd that! My English teacher obviously didn't have access to the 'net.

We live and learn.

Pete K Davis, my spanish must be imroving. I understand almost everything you have written (escribir, no hablar). Just one word I haven't grasped. Que es 'ejemplo'?
Cheers.

Way OT: Ermmm, the letter 'y' may hav a vowel sound, but it were a continunt wen i went two skool.

It could of course have changed with our entry into the EU.

I would be happy if posters would just capitalise the 'i' and spell lens correctly.

Nope. I didn't doubt it for a second.

BTW, the child looks jaundiced, get him to a doctor.

There doesn't appear to be too many (none) Samsung chips in there, does there.

Interesting though. Apart from the difference in the brightness of the blue lamp (mine's orange) I can't see the point of the last photo showing the card door latch ? ? ?