If the roumered price limit of $2000 is right then the 645D replacement is out of the question.

FF d-slr
budget non WR d-slr
& one other d-slr replacement?

with 2 of them coming in AA filterless (or IR) variants.

or even:

FF d-slr with AA variant & IR variant
IR variant K5II
IR variant K30 or K-01

Development/production costs of IR versions are minimal, and Pentax have already done it with the 645D!

Too far, Andrew. just too far!

Well OK then, I'll indulge you. Feast your eyes on this........ http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-AMERICAN-PENTAX-GREY-JACKET-LARGE-/30087338982...?

pt=UK_Men_s_Vintage_Coats_Jackets&hash=item460d7396fd]link[/link] [/quote]Tempting, an American 'Large' might be big enough, but in the UK in need an XL/2XL or sometimes even 3XL...

Looking at the photo I think the aperture ring shows PK-A/R which implies the Ricoh mount, dealt with as Andrew describes. It sounds like you may have had a lucky escape, I've heard many stories of the Ricoh pin locking a lens onto the camera!

Thanks for sharing the link with everyone Andrew.

My list gets to at least 34, I assume Takumar counts.

7 Bodies
17 lenses, (11 primes/6 zooms)
2 Flashes
4+ filters
1 Bag
1 motorwinder (I think my other is a 3rd Party clone)
1 eyepiece magnifier
1 helicoid extention tube

I'm not including seperate books/manuals it would take too long to confirm if they are, published by Pentax or only about them, genuine/copies.

I don't know how many of my T2/M42 adapters etc are Pentax brand ones, so they'll all get excluded as well.

[quote:3496ace15f="McGregNiAnyway, I had always thought that the whole reason that Digital has taken off (at the high end anyway) was precisely because it was perceived as offering IQ and resolution superior to 35mm :[/quote]Hardly!
The advantages of Digital are, instant feedback, cheaper cost per shot, easier editing, variable ISO, easier storage/transmission...
Even with the very beat digital sensors there is some debate as to if it offers superior IQ or resolution to equivalnet size film. I've seen technical 'proof' of both sides of the argument some claiming digital had supassed film 5-10 years ago, and others that it's still got a long way to go.

Some excellent advise here, but if you've not practiced panning a lot, I think is worth adding - There is a definite knack to panning, so don't forget to grab a few higher speed shots (at least 1000s) during the day, preferably when they're under hard acceleration. That way you should get at least a few to remember the day with - It would be a shame to find none of your shots quite worked on a propper screen!
Even after years of practice most of my panning shots are not even worth showing to the kids.

Arrived safely on Friday, excellent service (and Value) thanks Eddie!!

Many years ago whilst i was still a sprog, my father shot 35mm photos of me for a full 16 sheet bill-board advertising campaign (He used a Pentax MX). Admitedly the Tonka toys I was cut & pasted into may have been shot om MF, most of the pros I remember had interchangable back 6x6 SLRs.

Given the typical viewing distances for billboards, I wouldn't be suprised is many of the more action type ads don't use DSLRs today.

I'll gladly be a lottery winner for you!
If you supply the stake money I'd even buy the lens for you as long as the winnings cover it, and my expenses.

I'd even carry it for you (attached to my camera & probably being used when ever you want it) except of course you're the wrong side of the UK.

Although I answered the poll saying I use one, I also use other techniques and combinations of techniques, most often recently would be stacking lenses (a prime reversed infront of another longer lens).

As others have mentioned there are TCs with built in variable extension designed for macro.
Neither of mine work well for distant subjects being very soft when supposedly focused at infinty.

Yes TCs magnify any imperfections in your lens as well as potential introducing loads of their own. But remember even extension magnifies the aberations of your lens - if it didn't you wouldn't get a bigger image! The big advantage for TCs is they don't effect the minimum focusing distance of the lens used on them few 100mm lenses will focus as close as a std 50mm lens. The extra magnification also means you don't need to get quite so close for skitish subjects.

If you use them with extension tubes as well you get an increased flexibility in your system without increasing your bag weight as magnication will be different depending if the TC is before or after the tube(s). The combinded affect on lens aberations may well make it a pointless excercise though.