Thanks Peter, that DA 60-250 just keeps being held back and back. I'm not sure that the f4 would be fast enough at only 1 stop better than my entry level sigma zoom.

Would you expect the glass elements of the DG/HSM to be the same as your zoom and therefore the weakness at 200 mm end?

Cheers
Geoff

Guys, I want a brighter zoom for sports use to replace/supplement my sigma 70-300.

Looks like Tamron and Sigma both have some good offers(70-200 f2. and the pentax 50-135 (f2. always seems to be praised. The 135 mm end is probably not long enough for me but I could crop if the image is better than the non-pentax brands.

I've seen one thread which showed superb images with the Sigma and seems there are offers which bundle in a teleconvertor.

Some say that Tamrons vary, some being great and others being "lemons". Purple fringing seems to be commonly linked to Tamron.

Pentax lenses are said to be better weatherproofed but does that mean when mounted on my K10D I can take pics in the rain without worrying that the camera or lens will suffer water damage?

If I need to use one of those plastic sleeve affairs I guess it wouldnt matter so much which lens I choose from that point of view anyway.

Are the new ultrasonic AF motors really much faster when tracking sports action?

It will be great if anyone has experience of these lenses.

I'd value any thoughts and apologise if this runs over some past topics but couldnt see anything which refers all these lenses in their latest form.

Thanks in anticipation (which is a good mantra for an optimistic photographer..anticipate and be ready..action replays only happen on telly.

Cheers
Geoff

Reading Peter's comments above makes me glad I went through the system so many years ago. Kids see all sorts of images on telly and in the red tops but no one ever gets on their high horses about those.

I'd hope that any photo club showing ndes would at least want them to be artistic - and if that meant explicit would apply the over 18 logic

If a club could display its members work at a local library or gallery then everyone can see it.

More and more I despair for the younger generation being held back by ignorance on the one hand and an overdose of dofartoogooders on the other.

Lets have CRB and List 99 type checks for those adults who have to act in loco parentis (Teachers, scout leaders, social workers etc)- for all other situations lets have parents being responsible and making the choices.

I am as yet not a member of a camera club but if I were i'd feel somehow that I needed to get a crusade going to restore the concept that photography is an art form accessible to all. Maybe even go into schools (with the teachers present) and show examples.

Am off to lie down now I've let off more steam.

Cheers all
Geoff

Hi

Johnny's post must send shivers down the spine of any of us that are strongly attached to our lovely Pentax bodies (and glass). If we only have one body how on earth would we cope with 3,4,5..or even longer weeks without them.

Maybe not so bad for the pros with their bags full of lovely kit.

My money would go to the insurance deal that offered a loan camera while mine was being repaired - like they do with car insurance and accidents?

I can dream!

If Johnny reads this I'd love to know how he gets on with the 50mm FA1.4 and if he likes the Sigma 135-400.

Not sure what the protocol should be for going off topic, maybe I should have written directly to him?

Am happy to get any guidance on this from the more experienced forum members on here (I am still a newbie, in my attempted defense)

Cheers all, Geoff

How come I feel at home already? I like the sound of the User Club uniform and it will be good to always have a pencil handy!

Is it a case of wearing the uniform to help relax the folk on the other side of the lens. Do they smile even broader when they see your underpants on your head?

The things we do in the name of our hobby.

Cheers to one and all...wibbles off into the distance.....
Geoff

Cheers Guys - and John you are right the next upgrade will be well in the bag by the time I get near 100,000 shots.

I envy you being able to change cameras before the 10,000 mark is reached!

I've certainly noted Peter's excellent point about where to buy future Pentax cameras from. Thanks for that. Ironically had Jessops had the Samsung model I'd have got two years with that but rightly or wrongly I thought that the Pentax brand would have given me better lenses and even better final quality control/camera firmware.

I did get some mileage from a Jessops warranty scheme on a digital camera. It wasn't a Pentax and the problems was that it used compact flash cards and some of the pins on the circuit board got bent. It was also a design fault of the camera because the feed slots were "sloppy" making it possible to puch the card down at an angle. The repair would have cost loads of money (they said).


OK, so now I'm off to the bathroom to research the bath tub effect.

Thanks for the thoughts.
Geoff

Hi Everyone - here's a hard one to ask, but nothing ventured....

My K10 is coming towards its first birthday. Its been fantastically reliable. So the question I have is do I shell out for the breakdown insurance...or save the money towards the next step upgrade?

I'm not a pro and probably average 200 shots per week.

I know that Pentax offer a policy as does the camera shop I purchased it from (Jessops in Leicester)

Has anyone had any tough experiences with either insurance option? Pentax sounds good to em but would need me to send the camera back to them whereas I could just drop it off at the local store in the case of Jessops.

One main question would be about how quickly any repair would be done.

Cheers, all
Geoff

I imagine one real issue is the way different agancies apply their duty of care and thoughts of "best practice". As far as schools in England go they have moved from making it compulsory that Governors be CRB'd to the situation now which is that CRBs are only needed if the Governor is ever going to be left alone with children!

So for Gwyn's son if there are qualified teachers present he shouldn't, by this criterion, need a CRB.

So round full circle -if the photgrapher is not left alone why should he need a CRB? I'm concluding that its the success of the digital camera and camera phones that have encouraged this thinking. The thought that such gadggets can be used in a hidden way maybe?

If we as happy hobbyists or pros are CRB certified is there a perception that that would make us less likely to resort to such digital tricks? Well the certificate probably means we have no criminal record of such activities.

I can't help think that if any of us were responsible for such dance/cheerleading clubs we'd give our parents the 100% reassurance which would come from looking through the memory card -that would really be the only way of giving such reassurance.

As to what then happens to the images -doesnt the law then come into it? We couldn't sell the pictures unless we had written parental permission could we?

For photo clubs I do hope that a sensible work around can be found. Maybe like an office needs a qualified first aider a club would need only one CRB type responsible person.

I am pursuaded that if I were a pro I'd be taking advice about CRB - I'd think it could be a feel good factor if taking studio or location photographs of children.

Hi All

For the original situation I was "floored" by I have indeed walked away.

As Forum guys have said we want to get on and enjoy our hobbies. If that means we can use our amateur experience to help others then so much the better - and lets face it also gain experience of getting that more creative shot under difficult lighting conditions!

What I have realised more and more as the discussions have continued is just how far child protection has come and by stealth mostly.

When it leads to older teenagers being denied their own identity within an established camera club then the ultimate loser will be the child.

In school/education circles I can see why we have a child protection trained governor in that everything we do needs to have an understanding of child related issues.

When this same nanny approach hits against responsible clubs (and these will be the ones who react first to such issues...because they are being responsible and following "best practice" ) then I am afraid it shows just how far wrong we gone by not allowing parents to make those choices for their offsprings independant growth.

If I were a pro photographer I would for sure apply for a CRB check through my business - as Duncan has done.

As an afterthought is it OK to take pictures which include children when they are in a public place? Imagine the fun one could have by the seaside!! (apologies for my humour -but I guess you get my point!)

Thanks all
Geoff

As an afterthought/observation (and to get beyond my 13th post) this only started because Pentax make great cameras which give the best chance of results without the disturbance of flash!!

Well that gets me off 13....me superstitious???

Cheers
Geoff