LOL! Don't go there...

Thanks Unlocker - that was where I'd seen it
Matt

The best sign I have ever seen was:

Stans Steel's


Not even the punctuation repair kit could solve that one!
Matt

Peter,
(Had to research this one...)
This transcribed script of "A Touch of Class" says "quicker to train a monkey" (twice).

I'll double check in my "Complete Fawlty Towers" book later
Yours doubly pedantically,
Matt

Mike,
Have you tried just one tube alone?
(Mine have the occasional contact issue, especially when stacking them)

I do seem to remember that someone (probably on this forum) had to scrape away the coating on the tube where there should have been an extra pin... might be worth comparing tube contacts to lens contacts.

Matt

LOL! Exactly the same here!
Once you've got one you don't want to part with it
Matt

Lilly,
That's probably about right... though the bokeh may be better (but perhaps not £300 better ). Your alternatives for macro work:

* Extension tubes: very useful, especially to use long lenses at closer distances (put slim tube on). Cheap.

* Reversing ring. You can put the 50mm/f1.4 reversed onto another lens (like the 135) to get stupidly close macros. I mean really close . Cheaper than extension tubes.

I got hold of a second hand SMC-F 100mm/f2.8 for £200. If I had to buy again, I'm not sure I could justify the expense of a new macro lens (I'd probably go for the DA*50-135 as I work in low light more than actually doing macros. The extension tubes give great results... but are more fiddly).

...and yes, the field of view tends to be very flat for macro lenses

Matt

Most "A" tubes are only automatic in that they have the aperture close-down "finger". Very few extension tubes have electrical contacts - when they do, then the camera can select the aperture as if there were no tubes.

Since you almost certainly have the non-electrical-contact tubes you will need to manually set the aperture using the lens' aperture ring. You must also set the Custom Function to enable aperture ring use other than the "A" setting (That's why the K10D is flashing "--" at you).

Matt

Roscoe,
The harshness can always be softened in Photoshop. The 100mm/2.8 is incredibly sharp - frighteningly so! (I have the old SMC-F version which weighs quite a lot too!)
However, the flip side is that the longer focal length produces an even shallower depth of field. So, for Lilly's portraits it may have helped... but I suspect that a little more light would have helped more

The 50mm/f1.4 is a real cracker for portraiture though - especially on digital. Truly beautiful

Here's a quick tip (for Lilly) when you get good shots that are otherwise slight OOF - the brain & eye are drawn to the sharpest region (which may not be the region you want). If that's the case - just blur the sharp region and the brain accepts the image as a whole

Photoshop technique:
* Duplicate the layer
* Gaussian blur (just enough to reduce the in focus region)
* Apply a "hide all" layer mask
* Paint white on the layer mask over the sharp parts to soften them.

Works a treat and takes a couple of minutes max

Thanks for all your kind words Don & Mac! Tough in the sense of being worn out, as well as not having enough time Having to watch my health and state of mind
EDIT: Also be aware that Pete Bargh (who runs ephotozine and this site) suffered a heart attack the other day Apparently making progress, but still scary! See this thread on epz

Matt

The 100mm macro is sublime for macro work - flowers, bugs etc.
It's also a cracker for lowlight work (like my kids in school plays) where you can't use flash. Even when using bounced flash and shooting at f/4 the macro really shines. (Knocks dead some "pro" shots! LOL!)

For portrait work - yes, it's great, up to a point. But as Benjamin put it "brutally sharp". You'll get every imperfection, wrinkle, spot and hair. Very cruel

Flash work isn't that difficult... especially with remote AF360 or AF540 and brolly... which reminds me: I must try and find time to finish off (the words at least) my Pentax flash guide ebook (Please don't berate me everyone - it's been a tough time lately!)
Matt