I don't mind shooting anywhere in West Mids, actually... but I'm in the Worcester area but split my time between there and my partner's place in Stechford.

What to make of that review? Overall quite positive, although you have to admit he has a point re the price, and silly in-camera filter effects. Pentax should have predicted serious camera reviewers would have a field day with these.

I think the review is a bit too critical of the HD movie mode though - resolution is just as good as the Canikon alternatives, which also offer no continous AF but no mic input.

Also I haven't seen evidence of 'ghastly' results from the HDR function, either from Danny's tests or Angela Nicholson's review. I wondered for a moment if the reviewer had got it mixed up with the 'HDR filter'.

Come on let's get something sorted! Lots of great spots near me, and all over West Mids for that matter... Would be nice to meet a few members, and their cameras!

As Peter says, this variety (P. caerulea) does not produce edible fruits, no matter where it is planted. It's the only variety hardy throughout the UK. I'm sure you could get away with P. edulis in Spain tho!

Lol

I will get the Kood sometime down the line. My P-mount system is only really mounted when I am taking 'serious landscape shots', and that's also when I am more likely to be using the lens with the 67mm thread.

Meanwhile, the linear one, 52mm fits my kit lens, my 50mm and my 80-200 via a 49-52 stepping ring I already have. It only cost £6 and will save the bother of faffing around mounting/dismounting the P-system mount. So for more 'off-the-cuff' photography or when I don't want to wander around looking like Joe Cornish, it'll do the trick.

These days it seems compulsory to fork out silly money on accessories - filters, bags, tripods... seems because DSLRs are expensive, everyone thinks it's fine to ask a fortune on the peripheral items!

I won't be smearing vaseline on my filters that's for sure!

Anyway i've ordered a s/h Hoya 52mm linear polariser. Be interesting to see if the metering works on the K200D with it! Linear vs Circular was covered on another thread, so I'm aware there *might* be an issue...

(Edit - Getting a Kood one to cover the 67mm dia lens; via the P-system mount)

Bodyheat - I am sure you will get used to the exposure foibles of the camera, which, if anything like my K200D, is usually actually pretty accurate 95% of the time. Applying EV, checking the histogram, taking a metering then recomposing... you'll soon get a sixth sense of when to employ these techniques when the pecularities of the K20D demand it, and carry them out without a second thought.

Thanks... a 67mm Hoya filter will soon be ordered! I guess it'll offer plenty of flexibility on future lenses as well.

Reading about how coatings make a difference made me nervous about those cheap s/h UV/sky filters I've got in front of my lenses. Fortunately it turns out they are all Hoya - except one which simply says 'made in Korea'. Lol at least I know where to get a genuine Hoya one for £3.

Ok. I take both your points, but it is nice to have it explained rather than being bashed over the head! Sometimes I wonder if the supposed superiority of some brands over others is rather overhyped to support the huge price differences, and wonder about the 'real-world' differences...

Any brands to look out for, which are acceptable without eating into my living budget for the coming month?

Edit - missed Rees's post while I was replying to hefty.

Thanks, I'll have a look at the Hoya filters.

You obviously aren't aquainted with my lens line-up... lol

Seriously, I am after advice, not hectoring. Is there a significant difference? We're talking less than 1mm of glass, after all. All my 'protection' filters (UV and skylight) were £3 from the bargain bin at my local photographic shop, and they do not affect optical quality in any way that I can determine.