I started my photography endevours with a K2000. It was great. and it was fully manual.

When I got the K10 I was keen on appreciating the ease of use, instant review, and mainly, the possibility of working in full manual mode.

Wanting to learn how to work my camera in Manual mode has been a steep learning curve, but now, I have no issues with exposures at all. I check the shot i've taken, and rotate the front or rear dial accordingly. Often (like in case of live music photography) I will not rely on the camera meter at all, because even spot metering (which is what I almost always use) can be easily tricked by complicated lighting.

Having started my photography in this way, I have learnt to enjoy the new technology, but not rely on it, making me, the photographer, the essential part of the Photographer-camera relationship.

It is a bit like when Jeremy Clarkson tests a car with the traction control off. Its the real feeling of the car, and not what technology does to help the idiots that buy them (Idiots in the sense explained by iceblinker...)

I strongly suggest working in manual mode on the K10/K20, press the green button for a reading, and adjust by turning the front or real dial, no need for exposure compensation...

Unfortunately, I have been thinking about this as well.

If until now selling all my gear would have made about £2000 - and with that I couldn't even afford the only camera i'd buy into (D700) with one lens.
- with these increases one could expect to re-sell at much much higher prices.

I would imagine a large profit on a 1 year old 'as New' lens. Perhaps now I'd be able to afford a D700 with 24-70 70-200 and a flash...

Yeah right... !!!!

I am quite happy, having recently bought the 50-135, and actually not feeling any need for new lenses, apart from maybe a longish prime.

I must say that if you are going to try and build a new kit, this is going to be problematic. The 50 f1.4 that has always been the great cheap alternative, is now not cheap at all.

And no, there is no salary increase on the horizon...

I am getting married though, and the K7 is getting closer....

Chris!

you're not supposed to be in the office today!!!!!!

I forgot to mention what you just wrote, so pentaxians, go and get your LBA fix before its too late....

Also, the 31mm is going up from £699 to £1133 - that is astonishing...

I suddenly became much richer, but I really struggle with the idea that Pentax will compete in the market with these prices.

OR is everything else going up as well? What are nikon and canon doing? and Sony and Olympus?

Very big decisions are going to have to be made in the future, and also second hand sales will increase a load...

I am shocked, and rich at the same time... but from now, LBA will not sussist...

Lenses

DA* 16-50 £873
DA* 50-135 £919
DA 10-17 £629
FA 31mm ltd £1133
FA 50mm f1.4 £456


Flash
AF 360 £390
AF 540 £540

I suggest you update your insurance policies -

Dear Bodyheat,

(I am really going to try not to sound arrogant, because I might get hung if I get critical again!!)

I think that the assumption is that, if a normal person without photographic experience, buys a complicated Digital SLR camera, there will be a steep learning curve, in order to achieve the best results the camera can produce. Often people buy a very well specified camera (like the K20) and expect the jpgs, shot in green auto mode to look stunning, because these should be the basic settings of a truly expensive, semi-professional camera. Unfortunately this is definitely not the case. In my opinion, the higher specifications a tool has, the more care needs to be taken whilst using it, and the steeper the learning curve is. So in order to get the best results from cameras like K10/K20, it is often necessary to set certain parameters for Jpgs, adjust exposure compensation, and mainly shoot in RAW, in order to retain the full capability of the camera, instead of compressing it with Jpgs.

TO conclude, after 2 and half years with 3 K10's, I only recently felt I have mastered the camera, and all its functions, and I basically only use M and A modes. Probably these tools are just smarter than we are (and underexposing is a very strong example of this - because it allows for more detail to be preserved).

I hope this helps, and has not in any way offended you.

Regards,

I might put in a vote for the 31 ltd.

It is expensive, and not too small. But apart from this, its is an absolutely unbelievable lens.

If its completely out of your price range, then probably the 21mm.

Good luck!

Oh, Apologies to John for having added some more to this thread, I was called upon, and would have left it otherwise.

I've left the computer for 4-5 hours and come back to 3 extra pages of stuff. Great conversation going on here.

Matt, a couple of considerations:
When you talk about other people, and other people's attitudes towards you in particular, try and be informed, and provide information in the correct way.
What I have written to John was absolutely justifiable in our conversation, had you read it, perhaps you would appreciate the non-offensive nature of my remarks.

Furthermore, please, don't quote only what you like - quote the whole post if you are trying to make a point about how rude I have been to you.

This was my post that upset you so much. Perhaps you should read it again, and appreciate the fact that I've spent my time to find a great source of information for you, and you haven't even said 'thank you'.
And just to clarify, the sentence that so much upset you was a perfectly legitimate one. I have learnt photography before I bought a camera, and learnt the manual before I used the camera. I, therefore, don't find that sentence in any way offensive (that's the 'but this is just me' part)


But I understand that you, in your country, with your polite manners and great sense of moderation, surely would be offended by this disgusting italian way of doing things. I Britishly apologise for any offence I have done to you. Can I still stay in your country, and pay my 35% tax?


(BTW, FYI, I haven't had any posts deleted around here, I know what are the limitations of my freedom of speech, and NO, in a democratic society you have to commit a crime before you are convicted for it; a moderator has no right over one's opinion, if this is within the boundaries of decency and respect.)

Nathan



Edit: rearranged the quote to fit in the white box.

Taken from a horse carriage running the other way,
on one of the princess Islands next to Istanbul.

[IMG]http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u332/nathanever82/RunningAway.jpg[/IMG]