Also have a look at these link - a viable alternative to Manfrotto. I have the 3290B and the Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head which has now been discontinued.

As well as the advice above, I would say that the maximum you would want to be looking at is 1/350. That's probably too fast for Helos but still shows enough movement - here's a couple of examples taken at last year's RIAT







For the prop aircraft then 1/350 should be about right. I now realise how fast aircraft such as the Hurricane, Spitfire and Mustang in particular fly along the crowd line and it can be a job keeping up with them

Have you considered a monopod? I used one last year at the Duxford shows as they mostly feature warbirds and I'll definitely be using it again this year.

I bought the K-7 last July and was previously using a K20. Apart from a few extras such as the increased FPS, the automatic horizon and video (which I hardly ever use), I don't feel that it is such a major upgrade from the K20D for my purposes. Image Quality of the K20D is just as good maybe slightly better in my opinion.

So I would look around for a good quality new or used K20D or even the Samsung equivalent (GX-20), I handled one in SRS some time ago although there are slight differences in the body design.

As others have mentioned though try and find somewhere that has one in stock so that you can try it out, even better if they have both for comparison

Rob

120-300mm f2.8 (I would love that lens in Pentax mount)

I'll join you on that one

It's interesting to note that SRS haven't got any of these lenses at the moment and in fact they haven't had any for the past 4 weeks...also Sigma reduced the price of this lens a few weeks ago as well.

Is that an omen or is this normal for Sigma??

Thanks for the C&C so far...it is much appreciated. I hadn't thought of that when I took the pictures and I must admit that it does look rather distracting so I will bear it in mind for next time.

I also took some which did not include the shadow and to me they look slightly better but probably could have still used a white diffuser...




If you look on the set on my Flickr page where these are located you will find the recipe under the set description - and yes suitable for Diabetics

Rob

A very nice set of photos there, I particularly like #4, the sharpness and detail is superb.

Well Done.

Rob

Recently I was asked to take some photos of some home made flapjack (not made by me though!:lol for use by Diabetes UK. Out of the images that I sent them these 2 were included last week in the staff newsletter, "The Hummer".







The recipe along with the remainder of the images are on my Flickr page

Taken using a K20D, DA*16-50 and Metz 58 flash whilst on a tripod.

I've found plenty of subjects to keep me busy during the months of no airshows!

C&C welcome as always.

Rob

I found out about this late last night. Great news and now wait to see where she will be appearing this year

But VTTST now need to keep the appeal rolling for next season...

I managed to borrow the 150-500mm for a short while last Summer. Here's a couple of examples:




F8 @ 1/125 370mm.




F6.3 @ 1/500 400mm. All of these taken with a K20D.

Then I bought a S/H Sigma 100-300mm last October...



F11 @ 1/400 300mm.



F4 @ 1/800 300mm. These were taken with a K-7.

Most of the Duxford Autumn Airshow photos on my Flickr page were taken with this lens, only when the weather looked a bit grim did I then switch over to the DA*60-250mm and then noticed the fact that it was 250mm and not 300mm

I'm going to be using the Sigma a lot more this season (hopefully) and if that is the the case then the DA*60-250mm will be redundant. I also found the AF to be an acceptable speed on the K-7, it didn't seem too slow and at times faster than the SDM

All in all I am very pleased with this lens and prefer this to the 150-500mm

Hope this is of some use to you,

Rob