Indeed some could, indeed some would, but unless they are talking to a fairly tech-savvy customer it's likely to just end up confusing the customer and most wont try (either because they don't understand themselves or can't be bothered, or because the get commission on every Canon they sell)

Look how long it took to get the "Mhz does not equal performance" message to the average PC buyer. Even now it's only sortof there


Incidentally, the noise in small sensors is caused by quantum fluctuations. There is an absolute fundamental limit on how accurate the measurements from these sensors can be. I havn't figured it out so I don't know how close we are to that limit, but beyond a certain point it can't be "sorted out", it's a law of physics.


Interesting to hear that Mr Foveon and I agree, I've always reckoned that 4-5MP is optimum for a compact digital camera

just whatever you do don't have it plugged in for recharging in a lightning storm

Number 5 is alive!!

I sent an email to Sigma UK a couple of weeks ago asking if there were any plans in the works to start making HSM lenses in Pentax mount. They said they hadn't heared anything about it.

Since Sigma usually reverse engineer things I imagine we'll have to wait a while after the DA* lenses hit the streets before Sigma will have figured out the command protocols etc.

I wouldn't worry too much about HSM on a wide angle though, can't really see the extra focus speed being necessary for wide angle shots.

the East German zeiss lenses are easy to dismantle and play with. Japanese lenses like the Takumars are more difficult (so I hear).

I took my Zeiss flektogon to pieces and was able to free its sticky aperture without any special tools at all. Unscrewing the rear element was a challenge without the proper whatsit though!

the moon moves surprisingly fast, you need to keep the shutter speed up which is why I suggested 400ISO film.

Unfortunately I was otherwise engaged last night and missed it, but my Dad got this




*istDL2 on an 8" F5 newtonian, motor driven to match siderial motion

ISO 200, 10 seconds

I'd use ~400 ISO film, open the lens right up and bracket like mad. With my K10D I intend to spot meter on the moon (assuming there are no clouds, and thats a big assumption since I'm in the UK).

Also the Sigma SD10 was truely abysmal in low light.

There was a test of Astro photography performance in Sky at Night magazine a few months ago, Canon 350D vs Nikon D50 vs Pentax *istDL vs Olympus E-330 vs Sigma SD10.

The results came out in that order, mainly due to noise issues. The reviewers noted that the Canon, Nikon and Pentax all performed pretty well, the Oly's small sensor was a handicap but produced useable images and they actually gave up testing the Sigma.

I would also echo John's concerns about having to use Sigma lenses, not even the other 3rd party makers support the Sigma mount. If the reviewers think the Pentax has limited accesories available, they should be going mental over the Sigma.

If it used Pentax K, Nikon F or even Canon EOS lenses it might be a contender, but without access to a decent lens catalogue it's just an expencive paperweight.

surely no one is still running a computer whose graphics card doesn't far outshine any monitors capabilities these days?

Some GFX cards have better 2D quality than others though, but since in the modern world of 3D games and triangles per second this is almost never reported in reviews it's very hard to find out which is best

I have a couple of Lowepro Toploaders, the small one and the long nosed one (can't remember the names). Both are great bags, keep my camera snug and dry in the nastiest conditions. They aren't completely waterproof I don't think, but I've never had one leak yet since any conditions bad enough to get through the bag are easily bad enough to make me seak shelter!

The long nosed bag holds my entire "walking around" kit, that is K10D, 18-55 and 50-200, with room to spare. The small one holds either one of the above lenses happily, not sure how the 16-50 compares to them for size though.

I got all my gear for attaching my cameras to telecopes from David Hinds

http://www.celestron.uk.com/catalogues/browse_content.asp?catalogueID=272&pa...