Well I have one more Play performance to do now (I am doing sound) and I am looking forward to it. Due to the nature of the play, there are a lot of sound effects, and a video. But because of my nephew - who is 16 - is a genius with the software I bought him for christmas, we are getting rather good at this lark!
Still it is good to sit down and have a BEER. This time the cheap pilsner from Asda, which is actually really rather good.

Has anyone been to New York?
I am thinking of going, and take some photos (surprised - LOL) Obviously My K-5 and primes will be going with me.

So whoever has been, what do you think and suggestions apart from the obvious places (top of the rock, Ellis and Liberty, Greenwich etc etc)

Yes, it's Pixie Dust.
I don't have the 31mm, wish I did.
It is like certain other Pentax lenses, namely the 55mm F1.8 of any flavour, the 77mm, the 43mm, the Nifty F1.7, the 21mm Ltd, the 50-135 and the FA*85mm.

They all have that magic. A certain quality that cannot easily be put into words. The image produced that only Leica and Zeiss can match, even Zuikos. A sort of liquid feel to the shots. a richness. Not an antiseptic look of others.

LOL Dave.
The thing is, my current "Launderette" is my parents 4 miles away, and I am sure that they would love to have me come over a couple of times a week to do mine, and not buy a washer when I need to, instead buying a lens....
I bet that would REALLY go down well.........

LOL

In all honesty, it comes down to hard facts. Do I NEED the FA43? Well considering my recent acquisition of the SMC-M 50mm F1.7, probably not

Do I want the FA43? Yes of course! It is a Limited and a very fine copy indeed. That is the problem of LBA.

At the end of the day, I still have my FA50, M50 and DA40Ltd that will give me what I want, along with the M42 mount lenses I have. But I would be gutted to pass on such a wonderful lens.

Whoever buys it will get a beauty. I just keep my fingers crossed that Mr Lottery is good to me at the weekend, and come Monday, it is still there.......

It is still there!
I still need a new washer!

Had a play with it on my K-5 though and compared it to my 50mm F1.7
It is a bit more contrasty than the fifty and has slightly richer colours.

I am so tempted........

Algi, it is a very reasonable £299.

I did'nt think of metering batteries, that is something to consider, especially with the Dreamliner in the news.

As I already have the MZ-5n and MZ-50 (with the awful plastic bayonet) I would like a nice metal bodied K-mount body should both my MZ series cameras finally give up on the mirror.
The ME Super and MX both sound rather good, and from your responses, the ones to look out for. As for the Z series, I am not a big fan, pig ugly cameras and big brutes. But having said that, are alright in the hand.

I have one, had it for about 10 years. After much use it needs a full on service, as currently it is back focusing badly, and I have to use the manual focus ring. Quoted £85 to have a service, which is not bad considering the use and age of it.
Apart from that, it is a big heavy brute but with wonderful sharpness and colour rendition. Bokeh is good too.

The "macro" feature is very useful.

If (when) Pentax FF body comes out, it will probably be my primary lens.

Tell me!

I now have the following in that range:-
DA40mm F2.8 Ltd
FA50mm F1.4
M50mm F1.7
K55mm F1.8
Super-Takumar 55mm F1.8
Mamiya-Sekor 55mm F1.4
Pentacon 50mm F1.8
Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm F2.8
Helios 44-2 58mm F2

I think that is it!

Oh there is a non-working ME Super body with a working M50 F2 that needs a clean too in the props store at the theatre. I might make them a silly offer!