Let me know when the USA as a nation affects Pentax or even photography and I'll jump right in.

Regards

Drew

I am sorry Don, but as a fellow Canadian I must speak up here... that was in poor taste. Not very much different than what has happened long ago in many places around the world including here in Canada.

Regards

Drew

HAHAHAHA

Hi all

Using the DOF preview and viewing the resulting image in the viewfinder of course tells you nothing about if the exposure is correct. It only stops down the lens to the chosen aperture so you can approximate the effect on the depth of field before taking the picture. I guess that is why they call it that and not the Exposure Preview button.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think there is a misinterpretation of Tanya's point. My take on her intent is that she is using the DOF preview button to read the exposure values (+0-) that is visible in the viewfinder when using manual lenses and making the appropriate adjustments. This is an alternative method to using the AE lock button to set the exposure when either the lens aperture ring is not set on the A setting, or with when using manual non-A lenses. She asks a very legitimate question and I doubt she is looking to debate whether the viewfinder image is a good way to see if her exposure is correct. Jump in here Tanya.

Best regards

Drew Peabody

That is certainly not a stupid question Tanya. I also use that method to check the exposure settings when using non-A lenses. You will find this mentioned in the chart on P. 179 of your manual so you can be assured it will in no way damage your camera. I prefer this method over simply pressing the AE button to set the exposure as you are able to see the exposure values in the viewfinder when simultaneously turning the thumbwheel to stop up or down for exposure compensation (if desired). I totally agree with Mannesty's comments regarding the preview feature being extremely useful - even when using A and FA lenses.

Cheers

Drew Peabody

Have you seen the Pentax DA roadmap at this site?
http://www.digital.pentax.co.jp/en/lens/roadmap.pdf

Phew, I was very worried for you Ted. I did some research on BuyDig when you ordered and found many unhappy customers that had ordered goods from them only to have their credit card charged even though they back ordered the item. I'm not suggesting they are dishonest, just poor business practices but I think you should feel very glad you got your money back. In my opinion the best price isn't always the number one criteria. I find it is worth the extra few dollars to either purchase locally (no shipping costs) with a 100% return policy within 15-30 days or research the feedback carefully for an impecable on-line dealer.

Good luck

Drew

PS: The more I use this lens the better I like it. Very good walk about lens.

Typo, sorry.

Ted

Your last post came as I was composing this but just to let you know I have the Pentax 55-200 DA and I am quite pleased with it. It is the perfect compliment to the 18-55mm on my DS and these two very compact and light lenses will give you a 28-300mm equivalent range. This lens is probably not the quality a professional would demand but it is one of the best I have ever been able to afford other than old used manual primes I have picked up. It is definitely better than the Pentax 18-55mm DA. The one feature the Pentax DA's will have that 3rd party lenses don’t is the ability to manually focus in auto-focus mode, a big plus in my opinion.

Regards

Drew Peabody

I know this is getting way off topic but just to let you Brits know that not everyone "over there" spells colour without a "u". Canada also uses them and loves silent letters just as much as you people. We also relish pronouncing invisible letters whenever possible just like you do as in the word "leftenant" much to the chagrin of all American "lootenants".

Here is a bit of trivia that makes me wonder how this complicated language ever developed. I simply cannot fathom how adults are able to learn English as a second language.

"The combination 'ough' can be pronounced in fourteen different ways.

1. awe: thought, bought, fought, brought, ought, sought, nought, wrought
2. uff: enough, rough, tough, slough, Clough, chough
3. ooh: through, slough
4. oh: though, although, dough, doughnut, brougham, Ough, furlough, Greenough, thorough
5. off: cough, trough
6. ow: bough, plough, sough
7. ou: drought, doughty, Stoughton
8. uh: Scarborough, borough, thorough (alt), thoroughbred, Macdonough, Poughkeepsie
9. up: hiccoughed
10. oth: trough (alt)
11. ock: lough, hough
12. oc[h] (aspirated): lough
13. ahf: Gough
14. og: Coughlin (also #5)

Crazy!!

Regards from Canada

Drew Peabody