I think we are way off-topic now but hey ho.

In the post at https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1555&highlight=hyperfocal+d... mattmatic wrote that he thought the *ist-D focussed at the hyperfocal distance. Can that be true?

On re-reading Tanya's original post I agree with Drew. She seems to be using the DOF function to set/verify a correct exposure and not actually to preview DOF.

Anyways, It's been an interesting thread and no Tanya, your question is not stupid and was accurately answered in the first reply post. Your camera will not suffer any damage by using the DOF function as you described.

Excuse us for rabbiting on off-topic but as a result I've got a couple of new programs for my PDA to play with. Funny how things turn out.

Agreed, photo's shot in low light scenarios show DOF better on the screen and probably not at all in the viewfinder. Bright sunlight however dictates the exact opposite, you generally can't see the detail you are seeking on the screen.

Hmm. Technically the screen provides postview, not preview (but lets not split hairs) and if the moment has past when you could recapture the shot if needed, as would be the case if you couldn't see the screen at the time the shot was taken, . . . it's lost, maybe forever.

I don't know of too many amateur photographers who carry a laptop around to review images and my perception is that the original poster is an amateur. My apologies to Tanya if I'm wrong.

My point about your original answer is this: An enquirer asked a specific question and you as a PRO in reply, state that x "should be OK" or y "shouldn't happen", it's not very reassuring, is it? If you know that no harm will be done by the action Tanya described, why not say so? I have no doubts as to your technical photographic prowess (I have no knowledge of it either) but such vagueries as should, or shouldn't are not helpful when someone has a problem, they just pose other questions for the original poster.

1: Isn't that about the same as saying you don't know :

2: The DOF preview facillitates a pre-capture view of a particular shot to ensure the desired effect will be achieved by using the camera properly in a pro-active way and not the 'finger in the air' approach. Bracketing only adjusts exposure and might or might not show a different amount of DOF per shot.

I defy anybody to be able to see any real detail on their built-in screen on a bright sunny day whereas the scene can be viewed before capturing the shot through the viewfinder. On older lenses, DOF can be guesstimated fairly accurately using the DOF scale on the lens barrel.

In my view, DOF preview is a must for some shots, but not all.

The current Pentax Lens Roadmap shows a DA 35mm SDM and a DA* 55mm 1:1.4 slated for manufacture sometime, they don't say when yet.

Personally, I'm still waiting for the DA* 50-135mm to land on the doorstep of a certain store in or near Watford High Street .

True to their word, Park Cameras delivered my shiny new 16-45mm DA lens today, the day after ordering, with English paperwork too.

Thanks Dan. I am happy with my decision to switch to Park Cameras for this lens. Especially as I recently got an email from Pixmania which I will share with the members of this forum:-

Message begins:-

Dear Peter,

Thank you for your email,

As you can read from the product information sheet and from our terms and conditions the PENTAX manuals do not always come in English.

We apologise for this inconvenience but you can download the manual from the following site:

http://www.pentaxusa.com/docstore/index.cfm?show=6

Best regards, Cécilia

Team Pixmania

Pixmania.com : Number 1 in Europe. Low prices guaranteed. Always in stock.

Pixmania is a Fotovista company.

Message ends:-

They tell me this AFTER I place the order, and in response to my order cancellation. I had enough trouble translating the Spanish instructions for the new toaster we bought a while back . . . and the manual for the car is gathering dust in a drawer somewhere, I bought a new English Manual in UK. I ain't about to start learning French.

I particularly like the little tag "Always in stock" . . . yeh, right.

Ammonyte, Thanks for the heads-up, I owe you one.

It seems I may have ben a bit hasty in cancelling my order with Pixmania. When I ordered it on Saturday the item showed as in stock. Upon checking the progress of my order, the item showed availability 8-10 days and my order was not validated. I then cancelled the order on Pixmania and re-ordered from Park Cameras (it'll be here tomorrow). Now Pixmania shows the item in stock again. I think that they had one in stock to fulfil my order but their stock system works a lot faster than their order processing department.

Anyway, it's done now albeit £25.00 more expensive from Park.

Ammonyte,

It seems you might be right about Pixmania. The lens is now showing availibility of 8-10 days and my order has not yet been 'validated' (whatever that means).

I've cancelled my order with them.

Correction to my original post re Distance selling:

Right of withdrawal

In conjunction with Article L 121-20 of the Consumer Code

The customer shall have a period of 15 working days (fifteen clear days required by law) in which to return, at his/her own expense, any products failing to meet with his/her satisfaction. This period shall run from the date on which the customer's order was delivered. In the event of this period ending on a Saturday, Sunday or a bank holiday, it shall be extended to the first working day thereafter.

Ammonyte,

Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware of the issues surrounding Pixmania but I have bought from them before with no problems. Time will tell.

I've paid by credit card and distance selling laws allow me to cancel the sale within 7 days so I think I'm pretty well covered.

Grey import or not, if needed, Pentax UK should honour any warranties offered . . . shouldn't they.