No need! Samyang T-S 24 mm is available on Pentax mount currently on the SRS Microsystems website and others.

That's great, thanks.

A couple of points here, John. Pentax used to make a 600 mm lens which is now as rare as hen's teeth and at least one lucky contributor here takes some cracking images with one. I recently opened a book on nature photography and on it's first page said that you need to buy Nikon, Canon or possibly Sony as no other manufacturer has suitable lenses available. I bought my Pentax before I became interested in this field but had I read that first it would have put me right off, so even if you and I don't wish to lay out thousands it is the perception of the system which is important. Also, make a visit to any popular birdwatching site such as Slimbridge and you will see a large number carrying around massive and expensive lenses so the market is there and growing.

The likes of Sigma and Tamron see that market and I guess that almost all their sales go to the aformentioned systems and by not making their large lenses available with K mount that puts more pressure on Pentax to respond; Pentax has positioned itself for outdoor photography with its WR so that only makes sense if the lenses are there as well.

I agree, I tend to make choices on whether I just like something; it's a better system than endlessly poring over reviews because there will always be a new model which on paper is better at this or that and so far this system hasn't let me down. I used to think I would like a Nikon until I picked one up in a shop - back in the day they were second only to Leica and really covetable, so when I could actually get one it was rather a let-down. The Pentax just felt like a proper camera.

[quote:What gaps are left?[/quote]I think the extra-long telephotos for wildlife etc. The 560 mm is the longest now available but this is rather cumbersome; I would like to see at least 600 mm in as practically compact form as possible, at least f4 so that a teleconverter would be fully compatible. I recognize that the market is relatively small for these as the cost will be high, but the main competition has them and the big Sigma lenses are not available. Also a 2x teleconverter.

Which raises a question - is the teleconverter compatible with full frame lenses on a full frame body?

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II has both inbuilt flash & GPS so it is physically possible to fit both.

Do you think the K3II is a market tester to gauge reaction for future 'professional' level model specs? And possibly for the full frame?

Clifton Cameras have a Sigma 150-500 for £549.00 advertised as refurbished/ex demo. I had ordered one a while ago and then found that SRS had one new for the same price so I rang Clifton: they told me that they were surplus US stock and Sigma had agreed to them being sold here but only under the above description. True to their word the lens was as far as I could tell brand new and has the 3 year warranty so a good purchase, so it is worth checking before ordering.

I think Ricoh see the lack of third party lenses as a positive in removing competition so gives confidence to developing the Pentax range. However for us consumers is that a monopoly means there is less incentive to reduce prices. The problem with the relatively small Pentax market is that it is difficult to justify the more exotic fast supertelephotos like those by Canon so I had the same qualms about whether to change brands for nature photography, but then reality kicked in when I realized that I was never going to pay the thousands of pounds they cost and it is probably a good idea to remove the temptation!

Funnily enough I was going to post on the same subject because not only is Pentax invisible in the magazine articles but also in all the ads too! Just to check I went through every page of the issue and there wasn't one single reference anywhere. Shame because I find it an interesting magazine and bought the DxO software as a result of the trial in the cd. I have just taken a subscription to Outdoor Photography because of the great articles and stunning images by professionals and amateurs alike; it concentrates less on technique and more on dedication and immersing yourself in the subject, if that makes sense.

Here is the diffuser with the velcro tape: