I'm off to India a couple of weeks after you. Don't eat all the curry....

Again can't comment on the 50-200, but I didn't need to remove any filters with the 18-55. The lens hood had a small removeable window which allowed you to rotate a polarising filter without removing the hood. Lens cap still fitted fine as well.

I'll actually be in Yangon too on 8/9/10 December. We are having a bit of a mooch around Asia for a few weeks before Christmas - back in UK on 20/12. Haven't been there before so looking forward to it.

Thought the rainy season has ended by December? Can't see me packing any coats though. We actually end in Bangkok so hope things have improved by then.

Still trying to decide if it's worth getting a tripod. I'd like one, but the extra weight might be an issue.

I have a PH-RBA compatible lens hood made by JJC which fitted my 18-55 DAL perfectly. This is usually advertised for the DA so clearly fits both. I don't have a 55-200, but expect that to be the same.

As long as the hoods you buy are PH-RBA and PH-RBB replacements I'm sure you will be fine.

I'll be out in KL in mid December so keep the weather good!

Most sales aren't that much of a bargain

Hi Vic

I have the Pentax 18-250mm and have always assumed that the Tamron one was identical, but will obviously bow to John's greater experience on that. The Pentax version usually costs £20-30 more when I've seen it for sale, which isn't that often.

They both come up on Ebay from time to time and usually fetch anywhere between £210-£250. Mifsuds have a used one described as mint for £299 currently.

I've used it quite a lot in and around the garden and on a few walks, but haven't yet used it in anger for travelling which is what I bought it for - for exactly the reasons you describe. I'm off to Asia for a few weeks at the end of November so will be able to give you a better idea then.

So far I've been very impressed with it right across the range. I haven't detected any distortion at the wide end or any problems at full zoom. There doesn't seem to be much of a difference in magnification between 200mm and 250mm, but perhaps that difference is minimal anyway?

It's very sharp and far better than I expected. It's at least as good as the 18-55mm kit lens which considering it's range is quite an achievement. If I look closely it isn't quite as good as my FA 50, but for most travel pictures the difference won't matter and is very minimal.

It's a little slow at the long end, so poor light might be an issue, but I haven't had a problem yet and have the f1.7 50mm anyway. Those will the only two lenses I'm taking to Asia.

It's obviously heavier than the 50mm, but with a decent strap I don't think it will be a problem. I've bought a Think Tank holster which takes the camera and lens confortably with the hood in place so can 'rest' it in there when I'm not using it.

Zoom creep is a definite issue, but easily fixed with one of the silicon charity bands!

I've noticed some slight vignetting at 18mm with a (Marumi)polarising filter so would recommend a thin filter to help with this if you use one.

Overall it's much better than I hoped and I'd recommend it. Bottom line is that if you can get one for a decent price demand is such that you won't lose much (or anything) if you decide it's not for you and sell it on.

I'm still subscribed to the aurorawatch from Lancaster University, though it's not much use in the East of England. When we lived in northern Scotland I found it very accurate and didn't miss much.

It's free and certainly worth subscribing to the alert service.

http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/alerts

Payment for postage received and filters will be posted tomorrow.

I have a couple of 49mm skylight 1A filters that came with my FA50 that I don't use. One by Jessops and the other by Luxon. Both in used, but good condition and I'm just looking to cover the cost of postage/Jiffy bag which will be 80p second class or £1 first class. Payment by bank transfer, please.

I have a Pentax 18-250mm and am very impressed with it so far. It's a little slow at the long end, but hasn't really proved to be a problem. I've taken some reasonable hand held shots of the moon at 200mm which were much better than I expected. I have a FA 50mm for hand held low light if I need it.

It's a little heavy around the neck for long periods when travelling, but I have a digital holster to rest it occasionally.

It does suffer from zoom creep, but one of the silicon charity bands stops that.

It clearly isn't quite up to the quality of the 50mm prime, but is much closer than I would have thought. It is excellent for the sort of situations that you describe when carrying/changing multiple lenses isn't an option.

Bottom line is that if you can pick one up for around £220 you won't lose anything if you don't get on with it and decide to sell.

The newer Tamron 18-270mm isn't available in a Pentax mount.

Time and again the Redsnapper ones come out top in the 'budget' tripod range. I've never seen a poor review and they will be much better than anything Jessops branded.

They have just increased their prices, but are still very reasonable.

www.redsnapperuk.com