Wha-hey !!!!!

I make it on to page 14.

Took me while to get there, mind.

"The Shop" in my original post was Utopia. I dont like being being sold something I dont need.

I've since sourced a couple of on-line retailers, one in Glasgow, who are doing pretty good deals on new PCs. I'll report on my "shopping experience" (dont you hate that expression) in due course.

I've never tried HDR in the PC, only in the camera. I found it gave some pleasing results on my K-X, but last time I tried in my K-5, it produced a "halo" around some items in the image, especially where the sky-line met land or rooftops.

Have a look here.

OK - 2 years ago, I got myself a new K-X and a couple of kit lenses. Christmas just past, Santa brought me a new K-5 and 18-135 WR zoom. I find my limiting factor now is this old PC of mine (hang on 'til I shovel some more coal into it) and the old software I'm using to post-process (an old version of Paint Shop Pro). When I run Gimp or Silkypix, it takes an age to do anything. Time to get some new hardware...

The guy in 'the shop' yesterday told me I'd need an overclocked i5 processor, 8Gb RAM, some sort of 'all singing all dancing graphics card and Windows 7 - (64 bit version), all necessary to run Photoshop and Lightroom. Seems a bit OTT to me.

Any advice will be copiously rewarded with some fine malt whisky next time you're round my house.

B.

Billy Connolly once described the difference between The Bridge and the road bridge...

"Before you cross the road bridge, you drive up to a wee booth and pay a civil servant a pound then you're allowed to drive over. When crossing The Bridge however, you dip into your pocket, open the train window, and cast your silver to the winds and make a wish. Style"

FWIW, I had no problem at all.

I ordered my new K-5 from SRS. It arrived the next day. Posted off the required info and the refund hit my account within two weeks.

Looks quite easy with good results. I'll give it a try.

Thanks both.

B.

I phoned my 1st and only order (so far) to SRS. I cant remember the name of the chap with whom I dealt, but when I mentioned my forum name and number, there was no hesitation in deducting the P&P charges. My new K-5 arrived within 2 days.

All in all, excellent service. I shall be placing another order with them very soon.

B.

PS - I also find it much more "human" to talk to someone rather than do everything on-line.

Any of you guys out there got a DA 17-70 AND a DA 18-135? How do they compare in terms of image quality and speed/quietness of auto-focus?

I bought my new K-5 body before Christmas and now I'm looking for a standard "walkabout". I was tending towards the 18-135 until I read the various comments about IQ.

I've read reviews on each, but you cant beat a side-by-side comparison.

Anyone?

Ta.