I was struck by the contrast between scenes I've shot here, near Coulsdon in the southern part of the London Borough of Croydon, and the news images we saw last summer in Croydon. I guess the rioters didn't make it down here.

This was taken in June on my first serious landscape outing with my K7 - first time I'd put it on a tripod and shot with the remote control. I really enjoyed the process, very rewarding to work with the camera this way. I used the remote control setting with mirror up, so first press to raise the mirror, then second press to shoot.

K7, 18-55 II WR at 19mm, fll, processed in Sagelight 4 & Lightzone, then PS Elements with topaz DeNoise plugin.

I tend to use Sagelight first for exposure balancing and contrast work, then Lightzone for definition and colouring, then PS Elements with the Topaz plugin for noise reduction and saving into 8bit, and any cloning if needed.

Feedback of any sort gladly accepted!

Yes! I can do it!
Self confidence instantly restored, thankyou.

Sorry, my username could be improved! I'm Nigel. Foto.com are in Belgium, so it took a few days more than I'm used to from UK places, but absolutely worth the wait.

I received my poster prints 9 days after ordering. Very well protected I must say, in a strong narrow box rolled up with the hangers in a separate compartment.

Just realised that I don't know how to quote from a previous post. I clicked on the 'quote this post' link, and my chosen post appeared in its entirety in the text box. I then manually deleted the bits I didn't want to quote. But it didn't work properly - I didn't get the quote in the white box, see here ..link

Any tips please?

[quote:3496ace15f="Pentaxophile"]It is a very good review. It's useful in that it comes from a long-time Pentax user, as well as a Nikon user - so he is used to the way Pentaxes are set up (other reviewers miss a lot of stuff because they are so used to Canikon) but he is also a user of high-end Nikon's so can bring that experience to bear.

Oh yes! I've got a recent copy of What Camera? '100 Cameras Tested', and the full page covering the K-7 doesn't make one mention of the shake reduction system, nor the fact that the camera can take all the legacy lenses - both key features distinquishing this model from the pages and pages of Nikons, Canons and Sonys before it. These so called 'Expert reviews' (quote from the front cover) seem to focus on a limited range of similar specs and functions and make confusingly vague comparative comments.

And the percentage scores they dish out (all between 87 - 95%) have no practical meaning in my view - if anyone's curious, this was the range extremes : (low) Pentax K-R 87% / (mid)Pentax K-5 90% /(top) Nikon D700 95%.

The inconsistencies are ridiculous - eg. for the K-5..'ISO 51,200 delivers little discernable detail...'(!) and this is in the section on 'Image Quality' . But no other review makes any mention of another cameras detail at ISO 51,200.

Also under 'Image Quality' for the K-5 ...'The K-5 provides exceptional metering and exposure...' . But in the same section for the Nikon D4 (!) ....'The 3D Color Matrix metering coped well under a range of lighting conditions....' Well it would be a blow if it didn't after spending four & a half grand I would guess!

Thanks pentflash, the 50 AF had caught my eye also - its not much more than the 44 model. I am just in the process of trying to get the dimensions of the flash head to confirm its the same as the 44 (in which case the Gary Fong diffusrs should fit). I'll update when I've settled on it.

Thanks John for pointing out the K-01. I must admit, I tend to be very SLR centred, and I didn't realise that Pentax already offered a mirrorless camera with the KAF2 mount. A great idea!

It surely makes an ideal backup camera as it is. I think it may need to develop further in performnace terms before it could become a viable number 1 camera (eg when a DSLR is too cumbersome). With the concept already in place I think Pentax should develop it and offer a higher performing version, perhaps with more robust build and handling qualities also.

But this takes me back to an earlier point / question. Is there the market for these high-end CSC's? (at least in the 'conservative' old western markets). As you said John, once the lense is attached, none of these cameras is 'pocketable'. And for serious shooting, to do justice to their image quality potential, a photographer still needs to carry aournd accessories (eg tripod, remote button, wide aperture/long lenses) filters), just as with a DSLR. So I'm thinking that most serious photographers would stick with a DSLR.

I used FOTO.com for the first time last month, and I was blown away by the quality and reasonable prices. I ordered 11 'Posters' as they call them, the biggest are 90cm by 70cm, and they come with black plastic strips (hangers they're called) that clip onto the top and bottom of the photo. Very good value, and fine quality.

They had a deal, half price prints if you buy the hangers, and on average I paid about £10 per poster, extrordinary for these sizes. Printed on Fujifil Crystal Archive paper - I was very very satisfied.

I guess for this new class of younger person a stylish, pocketable and high quality camera system would be desirable also. But for the majority of potential buyers of this equipment, many of the features are way OTT.

I was looking through a 'What Camera' overview magazine, (with a full page spread for the K5 I'm pleased to report - but why do all pentax DSLRs now look like they've been kept in the freezer?!), and when the body price is combined with the cost of getting a few lenses, it is crazy money (in my view).

If Pentax are going to follow suit into this high quality CSC market, I really hope they continue the excellent lens compatability feature and keep a KAF2 mount for the system. I might even be a customer in this case, as having a second smaller camera able to use my Pentax fit lenses would be an economic and practical idea.

I've noticed a trend in reviews recently, when assessing new sensors over the 20MP level (but not Full Frame), to draw attention to various consequences in other areas - in particular higher iso noise, and of course higher prices, so its not all gain gain gain. And of course the marketing people push these figures to the front to attract attention - we shouldn't be distracted by this, but focus on the items that would really improve our photography.

piotro plugged earlier for the newer CSC style of camera 'To be honest I can't see much reasons these days to carry that big mirror box', but even the best of the latest crop of EVFs (I'm thinking Fujifilm X-Pro 1?)have their deficiencies - Its never going to be the same as a good 100% optical viewfinder.