It's horses for courses isn't it. I've seen a lot of people say they prefer the K7/5 ergonomics to the K10/20. The compact yet capable approach of the newer bodies certainly sets Pentax apart in the market place, especially when coupled with the DA ltds.

Look we all produce cliched shots. Ken is no exception as I'm sure he would be the first to admit. This doesn't always mean they aren't good shots; they are shots we take on the way to getting that unique and special image - the thing which we are chasing all the time when we are taking pictures!

There are so many images being created every day, that even the self-consciously non-cliche shots are sort of cliched - eschewing the scenic view in favour of the abstract detail or the unlikely juxtaposition of elements are becoming cliche of its own...

Still, we go on, and we keep trying, and sharing the shots we take along the way!

Shall we make this thread more interesting, and post what we thing are our most, and our least, cliched shots, and why? Who is feeling brave!

Yes. Irritating!! But you could leave a step-down ring permanently attached to the lens. It will not vignette.

(I have a 49-28mm step down ring permanently attached to my 50/1.7 - it's my 'lens hood' and it doesn't vignette!)

Interesting article. It never hurts to be reminded to create our own photographic vision, not recreate someone else's. Although emulation of someone else's style (subconsciously or deliberately) is perhaps a useful phase in learning about photography.

You reminded me of this article on street photography cliches - http://shutterfinger.typepad.com/shutterfinger/2012/06/top-10-street-photography...%C3%A9s.html

Producing a cliched work is less satisfying than something unique, but if you pull it off really well, it is still rewarding.

My take on the gallery is that people can and should use it as they please. I do agree that people should be as honest as they can be (in a diplomatic and humble manner of course) rather than expressing too much praise on shots that aren't really that amazing. But people's viewpoints and experience level will vary, so it's not right to criticise someone else's criticism... you just have to take on board where they are coming from and clearly a serial 'nice shot!' commenter's opinion will carry less clout than someone who comments in depth.

I'm of the opinion that, on a photography site, posting lots of images should be allowed - encouraged - if that's what people want to do. People enjoy it and it helps keep them coming back to the site...

I don't tend to head straight for the gallery either - I prefer to look at threads where people post a series of images and a bit of backstory, rather than the 'lucky dip' of the gallery. When I do go to the gallery, some times there seem to be too many so-so images, but sometimes you get a run of excellent shots.

I don't think my pictures are that great either. Some are OK, and some I'm more proud of than others. My best shots I would give a C+ or B- at best (if A+ shots came easy, it wouldn't be as much fun!) This is why I keep from casting blanket aspersions on the quality of other people's work!

In the current gallery page there are IMHO several shots which are technically and/or artistically well done: https://www.pentaxuser.com/gallery/p-0

Take a trip down memory lane and look at a really old gallery page like this: https://www.pentaxuser.com/gallery/p-2306

A barely passable sample of shots IMHO! And every other one seems to have been shortlisted for the magazine.

I was tempted to respond to George's comments yesterday, but refrained because the subject is off-topic (as pointed out by Dr.O) and I just thought it was better we just moved on from this attempt to sow rancour and discord.

I don't think postings like 'One member floods the gallery with third-rate pictures of lakes and mountains as though he were doing us all a favour. God knows why' are really very helpful or constructive. Of course, as John states above, constructive criticism is valuable, but those are best made on the images themselves on a case by case basis, rather than singling out a single member? (You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out who is being referred to).

Looking back through the gallery, all the way back to the start of this website, I can't see any evidence of a dropping in standards despite the huge increase in uploads.

It may be that the core products will be sold on to another company. There does still seem to be a demand for the best/more interesting films, even if the market for bog-standard 'holiday snap' film has dropped off a cliff.

Yes the RX100 looks like it blows all other compacts out of the water. And then there's the Nokia 808 cameraphone; also with a big sensor and great quality.

As long as they don't suddenly die while I'm waiting for them to dispatch the item I have just paid for....