Nice shots Steve.

Yes. I swapped over the strap from my z-70. Wider and more comfortable. Looks nicer too. Why can't they make them like that anymore!

Hats off to your Dad - that's pretty awesome! I've yet to come across a K-fit lens that doesn't easily mount to a DSLR, but if I do, I'll know where to send it!

... I get the impression that (other than press and sports photographers needing a quick turnaround) most pros shoot RAW and incorporate RAW processing into their workflow, if they're genuinely at the top of their game, they'll have technicians to do it for them.

Of course that doesn't mean we should all do what pros do. We shoot to please ourselves, so whatever technique is most enjoyable and rewarding to us is the one we should choose.

I know exactly what you are getting at, but hey there a lot of times when it's more convenient to faff around with settings in front of the PC rather than on location, with a howling gale and rain all around you! I don't think it's actually that important whether you set (for example) WB at the scene or delay until post. So long as you are aware what you are doing. If I can forget about WB, it does free me up to think about other things which are more creatively important, such as composition and getting focus right - the sort of things that can't be fixed in post!

Getting exposure 'right' is important whether you shoot RAW or Jpeg. Yes you can fix an exposure in Lightroom, but really that isn't good practice as image quality will be degraded unnecessarily.

If you are exposing a RAW image, you'll often be going for the exposure which will give the best starting point for the image you have in mind taking into account the RAW editing you can do later. This doesn't seem any less skilled to me!

Thanks for clarifying that John. I think people get mixed up between lens distortion and perspective distortion.

The 70mm is great value now at £359!

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-DA-70mm-F2.4-Limited-Lens.htm...

At the lower end of the price spectrum, the DA 70mm f2.4 ltd seems great value. The sigma 70mm macro looks a belter too. Can't think of anything close to 58mm, would have thought your FA50mm close enough.

I would go for the kit 18-55 and wait for a second hand 55-300 to turn up in the classifieds. I wouldn't go for the cheaper 50-200, or any sort of do it all superzoom.

I tried to find you on PPG, but the only John Walker I could find was an Australian chap... and his photos looked different to yours so I assume it's not you!

There are times when I want to take photos in heavy rain, and a WR lens would come in useful (I use the 18-55mm - it's not thaaat bad! :wink

But I have to admit, these occasions are pretty rare, for me. Heavy rain which has 'set in' tends to reduce visibility, although it can be quite atmospheric. In light rain or drizzle, a non-WR lens is fine if mainly kept in its bag or under your coat.

A WR lens does make a lot of sense if you are out in the rain with the camera exposed for long periods - sports or wildlife for example.