Hi Simon - what's your thought process behind getting the DA21mm? If size and weight isn't important, I don't think you will be getting anything decisively better than the 17-70mm offers.

I owned one before I got my DA15mm. I don't think it's quite as sharp as the DA15mm although doesn't have the field curvature/soft corners to the same degree. It seems to have almost as good flare resistance, and nice contrast. There's a surprising amount of barrel distortion. For sharpness, I found the Sigma 24mm f2.8 a smidge better.

There are a lot of two-system shooters on the US forum, I hope someone there will be able to post their thoughts on how it compares. I had (wrongly) assumed that Canon high-end bodies all had really good AF. My experience is limited to shooting a 1Ds mkIII, and the AF seemed very sure footed, locking and holding onto the subject really well (kids at a party in that case!)

There are some Magpie shots on the other forum which seem to demonstrate a similar ability to hold onto the subject in the K30, as opposed to my K7 which locks onto... whatever it feels like!

Ted, you'll find that the RAW converter in CS2 will do the job - there are noise reduction settings there, but the big thing is to darken the sky to reduce the light pollution, while leaving the stars and nebulae intact - i.e. you need to lower the dark tones and midtones.

In CS2 (after converting and opening the image) you can use the Levels tool to further refine the job, and the Hue/Saturation sliders to reduce the impact of that orange hue by slectively darkening reds (and yellows). Both these tools are in the 'Image' menu under 'Adjustments'.

1. Before adjusting levels.




2. After adjusting levels.




3. Adjusting Hue/Saturation.




This is just a very quick go at the image to show that you have the tools within CS2 to improve the image without resorting to LR3.

They are totally different camera concepts, but you're right in that the K30 incorporates all of what I would consider the K-01's features and puts them in a DSLR body, which I prefer. I really can't wait to try one!

I know! That's what i thought too. Even complaining that the AF isn't quite as good as the Canon 5D mkII is a bit of a weird comparison.

That's probably the type of thing I'd go for, given 7" tablets are so cheap now, but backing up photos would be a secondary thing - I'd use it more as a portable movie player / internet browser.

TBH carrying several SD cards and backing up at home seems to work well enough for me.

+1! Congratulations Tim, great images. Very interesting blog too!

Sparkling set Gary even if the weather wasn't so great. The Professor Green shot is really nice, I'm sure cloning out the mic stand/light or cropping it to portrait has occurred to you without me mentioning it. For some reason I really like the fourth from last shot with the hands in the air - sums up the outdoor festival mood really well (i.e. a dry run for the post-apocalyptic breakdown of society...)

Unfortunate 'Page Three' pose from the guy from Simple Minds...

No, that's one of the first things I thought when I saw the picture too.

(After 'ahhh, cute!' and 'is that wallaby stuffed'?

Beautifully taken shot.