It will however go to f/2.8, which the kit lens can't do. It's only one stop, but sometimes one stop is all you need.

Not counting the Auto110, Pentax haven't changed their mount since the 70s

If he bought the lenses with an MZ5 they are almost certainly Autofocus and as such will work with any Pentax SLR or DSLR he cares to mount them on.

The specs sound like they're probably Sigma lenses as opposed to Pentax originals (not aware of Pentax ever having made a 135-400 or used the abbreviation APO), but that shouldn't make a difference. If they fit and work on an MZ-5n they should work just as well if not better on a Pentax DSLR.

I have always found that older, pre-digital, lenses tend to produce lower contrast images than new lenses do.

I feel this is likely to be the result of a combination of changing fashions among photographers for what a "good" image should look like, and the higher reflectivity of digital sensors compared with film.

When they say a lens is "designed for digital" we all know it's mostly hype, but the key word is "mostly". The newer, digital optimised lenses benefit from anti-reflection coatings designed to combat reflections from the camera sensor as well as internal reflections within the lens.

such stray light as might result from uncontrolled sensor reflections could well reduce contrast (stick an uncoated UV filter on an 80-320 and take it out in the sunshine, you'll quickly see the same effect).

Thankfully I've never found it to be a problem which couldn't be addressed by a little tweaking in processing and the sharpness of the lenses is unaffected.

later versions of UFRaw are quite happy with PEF files.

I'm using version 0.15, which happily opens the PEF's from both my *istDL2 and K10D.

the current version is 0.17, which is listed as supporting all Pentax cameras from *istD to K7

Now I'm not one to usually complain about the adds, I don't mind the ones which jump about, or have nothing at all to do with cameras. I put up with them all because they help to fund a site I enjoy.

However, please please can we not have ones which spontaneously start talking to me? I don't want to have to mute my PC every time I view this site just because I don't want to be told loudly and continuously about how much better Harpic bleach is than the next leading brand.

well she's a fine shot with a shotgun, I've never heard any reports on how she is with a camera.

I wonder if she shoots a Pentax

wow, that Typhoon is a wall hanger for sure!

very nice Chris, I know how annoying it is when you don't get the shot you really wanted but I reckon when you look at these again having given yourself a few days to forget about the red arrows syncro shot you'll realise there are more good ones here than you think.

I like the blue propeller display team (sorry I don't recognise them!), and the eurofighter takeoff particularly. The exhaust plume is very dramatic!

I was going to make some comment about light-traps being cheating, but TBH I think it's just jealousy talking! I doubt very much I could come close to those, light traps or no!

Surely it depends on the grain size of the film?

I'd be willing to believe that good quality ISO 100 film is better than digital, but how far does it maintain its advantage when compared with a camera like the K-x which is basically just hitting its stride at ISO 1600?