Try Asahi Photo in Brentford. I'm certain they will be able to help.

http://www.asahiphoto.co.uk/

You have the DA*300 and the DA*60-250 dimensions and weights reversed!

Hmmm
sig 100-300/4 1440g 237mm
pen 60-250/4 1070g 184mm
pen 300/4 1040g 167mm
pen 200/2.8 825g 134mm
tam 70-200/2.8 1150g, 194mm

I thought size was what mattered (for zooms anyway)

yes the sigma is a big lens, when I held one in a shop recently it didn't seem unbalanced though which was a pleasant surprise. (one of my minor criticisms of the DA200 is that it's a bit front heavy hand held, much more so than the DA300 judging from quick play) It looked like it would last the test of time though which is important to me at this price bracket, wishing to replace my 20yr old F70-210. I've read you weren't happy with the sigma optically ?

I've been holding off a purchase in this range to until the 60-250 came out, my options in mind being sig100-300, tam70-200/2.8, or pen60-250/4. With the price rise the sigma is much less likely now.

looking at pentax uk website they have added some lens factsheets, the 60-250 is quoted as KAF3 mount, so it will be SDM only like the 17-70. SO I will have to update the firmware from 1.1 to 1.3 and read up about the various hacks to get into the debug menu from 1.3 - hex editor req'd IIRC. In an ideal world I would have preferred KAF2 so I might have the chance to use on my MZ5N and shoot a few slides (mind you I think I've done a roll in the last 2yrs so that's more of a WIBNI, I do miss the feel from slides though)

I shall just have to carry on ruminating unitl I see the 60-250 ![/quote]The Datasheet for the DA*60-250 specifically says that the lens is also compatible for cameras without SDM technology, then states in the spec that the mount is KAF3!

Now this could mean it can be used on non SDM bodies in manual focus!

I'm sure we will know soon enough when some of you visit Chris's open day on the 28th Feb, unless of course, they decide to postpone the launch date again!!!!!

The 100-300EX is a huge heavy monster (okay as a P extension, if that's what you're after!), see below, the 60-250 is smaller than the DA*300 when at it's shortest (travelling position).










The other lenses are the A*300mm f4.0 and the Tokina 80-400 ATX II, which is just a bit smaller than the DA*60-250 and 20g lighter.

Cheers.

Just waiting for the DA*60-250 to arrive!

To my mind this is a much more attractive lens than either the 100-300 EX (had one of those - yuk) or the 70-200.

What is especially attractive about the 60-250, is it's small size (smaller than the DA*300) when not fully extended.

If it performs as expected, it will be a cracker!

I would strongly recommend the HP LP2475 24" S-IPS monitor. When properly calibrated, it produces some of the most accurate colours of any TFT. I'd rate it easily as good as any Apple Cinema monitor and way better than any Dell or Samsung, IMHO.

Review here: link

Price is very reasonable for such a high performance screen, Here's a good price from ebuyer link

It's the screen I'd go for if I didn't already have it's 20.1" 4x3 version, which is superb.

My mind says, 64 going on 25!

My wife says, 64 going on 80!

I'll second the Darkroom. Excellent service.

You beat me to it!

Reply from Shortcut yesterday (my mail below the reply):
_______________________________

Hello Richard,

We are still working on this and were delayed by about 48 hours.

Thank you for the patience

Regards,
George Spencer



From: Richard Day
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 6:21 AM
To: 'George Spencer (Shortcut Marketing)'
Subject: FW: Silkypix forum and Silkypix V4 (Pro)

Hi George

The forum is still not up, any idea when?

Regards

Richard
______________________________

I'm keeping an eye out for resumption of the forum.

ATB