Ok so it’s not Pentax but the brand is irrelevant, I absolutely love the photos of Elena Shumilova on Flickr, a young woman living on a farm outside Moscow. Can’t do a link but google her name and be inspired by images reminiscent of 19th C fairy tales.

I have cleaned the watch up and had another go at the face:


I have to say the sharpness of this lens is astounding, and zooming in on the computer it picks up every microscopic flaw. I did have another at a more oblique angle to illustrate the depth of field but some tiny hairs and an annoying highlight spoiled it. The lighting is really tricky on this subject, not helped by the lens being so close which can cause a shadow and blocks the effect of a reflector. I ended up shining a halogen desk lamp on a white wall behind. Manual focus on the K1 live view zoomed in is pretty easy when mounted on a tripod.

Inspired by the fantastic watch macros on another thread I decided to have a go. Thought my watch was pristine until I saw these close-ups!




Both with the TS lens at full tilt, the latter involved a Heath Robinson arrangement involving a kitchen spatula, a flash in a bag counterweight and a box. Mounted on a Manfrotto Pixie and with a remote cable.

How easy would it be to add a ‘II’ to the name on the K1 and you would know nothing different? Wouldn’t touch it, be patient.

I admire all your sang-froid, my iPhone would have a flat battery as usual and I would either keel over or run as fast as. Or I might just have a small Lumix on my person.

My favourite is usually the last one I bought. Until the next one.

I paid £1599 for the K1 at launch so a no hassle trade in of £1100 isn’t too bad after two years; I am betting that the mk II will similarly go up after a few months. Problem is I am a bit of a nerd with my kit and get attached to it, irrational I know but there it is. So I won’t be trading up but may consider the upgrade and just hope it doesn’t take too long and they look after my K1 with loving care.

It’s a Specsaver ad which explains why the N***n name has been erased.

Same model as used by the female for advertising The Photography Show!

Despite my comments on the cost/value of the upgrade I am becoming more inclined towards that as an option rather than trade up given my low shutter count; although two years old my K1 is as good as new and there is no rational reason to swop it. In another two years we will be facing the same dilemma again when a completely new body gets launched so do I want to keep changing at a cost just to keep up? The added performance would be nice but for now I am more than happy with my K1 so will do nothing as well.