For WR you need a WR body and a WR lens

...but the K20D deal is a pretty good one indeed!

FWIW, in the family there is still the *ist-D, *ist-Ds, and currently the K7 (which is waiting to be sold on) and the K5. I've had the K10D and the K20D too All will produce fine, fine images! The *ist-D shooting in RAW can still come up with the goods - especially in landscapes It's slow - but that's no bad thing. I have a number of 18x12" prints that are really difficult to tell which camera took them

That said, the K5 does have an incredible dynamic range - which has meant I haven't used ND grad filters for some time

Deals will come up all the time
Matt

For Las Vegas you need something wide... really wide
I also like detail shots on telephoto, so I went with DA17-70 and DA55-300.

You'll enjoy the fountain outside the Bellagio hotel (the inside is pretty cool with the garden and glass flowers ceiling!). It's all ridiculously huge - a fish eye would be fun I'm sure

Matt

Shade 10 on its way for £2

Appreciate the tips!
Matt

If you're indoors and the lighting isn't changing (at all), then using the flash on "A" and the camera on "M" will suit just fine
(Actually, using "A" on the flash is often just fine all the time!)

If the distance doesn't change either (as in portraiture) then the flash should be on "M" and the camera on "M".

With digital all it takes is one or two test shots to get your settings right and then you're good to go

I've left a few handy hints littered around this forum... some on stickies, some to search for

Matt

Love the lacquer! Very stylish indeed
Matt

Interesting thought John...

Tokina ATX 24-200: I partially regret selling this. It was a lovely performer on film, but never quite up to expectations on digital. In the end I sold it - and it went for a song on eBay But since Pentax improved the microlenses to adjust for edge effects and poor lens collimation I wonder quite how well it performs on a K-5... hey ho.


SMC-A 50/1.4: Although not quite the same, I loved the whole feel of this lens. I really needed AF though, but the manual focus on the SMC-A series is just wonderful! Couldn't justify buying again though...


SMC FA80-320: My original S/H one I bought for very little from a high street store just before they closed down. I ended up having to repair it for a light fungus issue, and I tuned it - had some wonderful shots from it. Switched to the DA55-300 which is much more portable, has a non-rotating front element, but not quite the same rendition. Just bought an FA80-320 again and waiting for it to arrive to see if my memory matches up!

Matt

I found this technique from PhaseOne to be a very useful exercise

Surprising how much better things got with the DA12-24

Matt

Excellent link Ken!
Thanks
Matt

...paid

Go for it!

It has a larger sensor area than a full frame camera, and will be a fun tool for group portraiture.

Make sure you get him to include the kit bag for it though