I understand completely how you feel! I had sleepless nights over the issue! I came within an inch of jumping ship and buying a 5D mk 2 and 3 lenses. It was only the appearance of the K7 that stopped me from doing so. I really love this little Camera but i still want a Pentax Full Frame! I began saving for one when the K20D was announced as a Mid Range Camera, So i thought a top of the range one would not be too long in coming! By this April i had over £6000 saved and more than 50,000 clicks on my weary old K10D but there were only delays of any announcement from Pentax. The K7 was launched as a mid range Camera too so my hopes are still high!( And i am still saving up!)
The 645D looks as though it would not be very much more bulky than a large DSLR but i could not afford to replicate the same range of lenses that i have for a 35mm equivalent size Camera.

Regards - Pete

Congratulations! All very worthy shots.

Regards -Pete.

I still hold out some hope that Pentax will surprise us with a Full Frame LX-D.

Regards - Pete.

What a horrible thought! I cannot believe that there was no possibility that Pentax would ever produce a Full Frame DSLR. If it were true i would be devastated!
The only reason i bought the K7 was that it was a good enough stop-gap until the finally produced a FF camera!!!

Regards - Pete.

Hi Stefan,

Yes that price is extremely competitive thogh as yet this is not confirmed by Pentax themselves but at least we have a definite date for release.
If it had arrived at that price earlier this year then i would have bought one instead of the K7!

Regards - Pete.

Hi.
Just Spotted on the British Journal of Photography Website,
Pentax 645D 30mp Camera confirmed release date as being Spring 2010 along with a brand new lens.
The expected price is likely to be £5000-£6000 (Not confirmed by Pentax)
link

Regards - Pete.

I think what has helped the Sea Fury Shot is the better lighting, (Though i love the framing on this shot too) The others appear to be in shadow but with relatively bright sky behind, Always a difficult situation to expose for. You could have benefited from a couple of stops smaller aperture if the lighting had been better for you. And to be honest it takes a while to get used to panning with such a long lens. Perhaps if you had the opportunity to use it regularly for a whole season you would probably see an improvement in sharpness as you become more attuned to the lens.

Regards - Pete.

I have a whole raft of M series lenses bought new in the 1970`s as i found independant lenses did not last very long before dropping to bits on me. My favourites are the 20mm f4 and the 100mm f2.8 also a slightly older 300mm f4 which i bought cheap as the M version had just been released.
My other M lenses are 35mm f2.8, 50mm f1.7, 200mm f4, I still use most of them on my K7, Though since buying a couple of DA* zooms it is mostly the 300 that is used more than any other. Can`t wait for a full frame Pentax so that i can enjoy them in their original focal length.


Regards Pete.

I use the Manfrotto 055PRO with 804RC2 Head and i have bought retractable Spikes for the feet, I did`nt go for the Black PROB as it would only get scratched off and look scruffy so i bought the plain aluminium which was around a tenner less! There is a tool for re tightening the legs but i found the top part became loose and had to have a small hole drilled so that an Allen key could be inserted to re tighten it. But otherwise it is a brilliant Tripod that i take almost everywhere.
Regards - Pete.

One book that i would recommend is John Hedgcoe`s Photographers handbook. It`s 1970`s vintage but there is still enough that is relevant to Digital Photographers . I only acquired a second hand copy a couple of weeks ago for under a fiver. It was my Bible back in the 70`s and i am enjoying getting re acquainted with this brilliant book.

Regards Pete