Why not play dangerously - take the 15mm (you can crop a bit if needed) and the 55-300. That should cover most bases.

So what kind of Auto Focus technique does the K50 use then? Is it not phase detect type causing this mirror action?

If I was heading to the alps I'd want to take something much longer as well - something in the 70-250 range would be invaluable I'd think.

Only just seen your reply there sledger - thanks for clarifying that.

I know David, It's not a definituve answer, just raising some possibilities to explore really. At least the OP can check these AF settings to rule anything out. Do we have any K50 video shooters out there to help? That model is a development of the K30, so I'd expect some continuity on from that older models functioning as well.

The sealed units were obviously good for dust issues, although I'm not sure now if people generally have problems with DSLR snesor dust? I havn't found any problems in over 2 years so far - I routinely activate the sensor shake dust removal tool, and keep the camera pointed down when the lens is off - so far so good.

My own response to seeing these Ricoh models when new was that it seemed quite extravagent - buying a new sensor for each lens you needed really seemed a bit excessive. I wondered also about consistency in shots taken with the camera - but then we have differences created by the different lenses as well I suppose.

On the K7 / K5 series models this behaviour is related to the Movie Autofocus mode selected - this is controlled in the menu. It depends on whether you choose a phase detection or contrast type autofocus (phase type will flip the mirror to allow the AF snesors to work, a quicker AF response). Maybe your camera is set for this? Its worth checking. If your shutter button is set for AF activate then this will trip the mirror as described. (Ending recording with the shutter button does sometimes also flip the mirror I have found).

Contrast detect AF is probably preferable for video work, due to the uninterruped screen view, and fine tuning can be done with Quick-shift on DA lenses. Also, there's a logic for video to de-activating AF on the shutter button and using this just to start/stop recording, and use the AF button specifically when you want to focus.

Looks like a firesale, extraordinary bargain. I remember reading about this new idea when it came out, most unusual. It was marketed with the message that the sensors were 'optimised' for the individual lenses, being combined in a sealed unit, a supposed advantage over an inter-changable lens system with a single sensor (???). Thats the question really, was it an advantage?

Does this mean its the end of the line for this camera system?

3 lovely scenes, and good to see mountains basking in some sunshine! No 1 is the best for me - I like the back/side lighting and this has knocked some contrast and saturation out in a very realistic manner. Would I be tempted to add some saturation back again? - probably would, but its very nice as it is as well.

I think 3 would benefit from the same crop as the 2nd - ie a bit less sky, narrower. Thanks for sharing, lovely images

How can one genre or style be more or less 'photography' than any other? Photography surely is the act & or art of recording a visual image with camera equipment? Nothing more than that. What you are saying here ISO really is 'that type of photography speaks most to me'.

My point above does not detract from the point of street portraits, nor Alistair's many good examples and his particular project. I am saying that for me I would value,and want to store for the future say, shots of local fields and hillsides I'd taken locally - more so than images of peoples heads who I don't know. For me shots like that ARE Photography

Regarding the parade image - its about how deep any personal interpretation goes ... is this a story about those things that Smeggy has referred to, or is it just a picture of some people in shiny uniforms walking along together?