I'm running Windows XP. I'll try and sort it out tonight - I'll go through the installation instructions again very slowly this time. Thanks again for your help.

Matt
Thanks for getting back to me.
I did that - that's why I said it could see the colorimeter (I did read the FAQ promise!) I ran syd2en with my install disk and it created the necessary bin file. However I still get this COM1 error as I mentioned above.
I have the Spyder software installed as well as the Argyll so I'll try a reinstall of Argyll after deleting that. Also when should I attach the colorimeter - before or after running the spyden2 executive?

I'll keep trying as the software does look sophisticated and would be an improvement on the supplied software

I have a big Billingham which my wife bought me 20 years ago - she wouldn't spend anything like that now on a birthday present!

It's a lovely robust bag.

Hu I've just installed Argyll and dispalGUI after reasing this thread and I'm having problems getting it to run with my Spyder2 device. It sees the colorimeter but I get a COM1 error. I can see the setting in dispal but its greyed out. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

arto thanks for your comments. I agree that printing is a a craft and a difficult one at that. As I mentioned earlier many famous photographers had their work printed by others and many of them were wealthy (Cartier-Bresson, Eggleton etc) or connected to rich people (e.g. Mapplethorpe). In some cases I think the printer's work has not been fully recognised in the final production of a piece of fine art.

For me, I just want prints that I can hang on my walls and look at with some satisfaction. I would love gallery quality but can't justify it. I'm after something that would satisfy a good amatuer. However, I agree with the message above your discount for Pentax owners is very appealing.

I'll certainly look into some of those printing services. But just in case I'll keep my own photo printer at the ready. Perhaps I'm being lazy but in my mind being a phographer doesn't have to mean being a printer as well. Some of the great photographers never printed their own work. I doubt whether Henri C-B saw the inside of a darkroom for years - he was far too aristocratic to get his hands wet!

Many thanks for all the suggestions. My second topic and lots of help again. It's good 'ere.

Best regards
Rod

As far as the darkroom went, John, I might have well have sent the negatives out! But seriously, when I lost my darkroom space I sent my negs out and got contact sheets made. Then I sent the selected negs for hand processing by someone who knew what they were doing and who also liked the smell of fixer. Is there a digital service equivalent? I'm not talking getting lots of pictures done - just a few selected ones. Or should I just labour away until I get the right print?

I spend enough time in front of the computer as it is and labouring in Photoshop gets wearisome. And also I find that I'm not getting any better with the program - I seem to have hit buffers there. It's not the best part of photography for me.

Thanks

Rod

I'm thinking of retiring my photo printer. It's not that it doesn't do a good job - it's just the sheer effort, the paper, the ink, the time that I use up just getting the prints I want. So, can anyone recommend a printing service either on or off line? Preferably one that can handle tiffs. Or am I just deluded that this is the easier option. And yes I do use profiles and have a monitor calibrator. And I won't be offended if you tell me that it must be because I'm a rubbish printereditor because I wasn't much cop when I had a B/W darkroom!

Thanks

Rod

I'm overwhelmed by the response. Thanks to you all. I've been trying to digest as much information as I can from thevarious websites about Pentax and the various lenses and its great to have my hand held when I get stuck. I bought a set of cheap macro tubes from ebay and they have gone into the bin. I had problems fitting them on my lens and also the camera body and I had to dismantle them to get them off. I decided they weren't worth risking in the end.

Thanks for your feedback. Very much appreciated. I'm still getting my head round the Pentax system. I owned Minolta and Canon film cameras and Pentax was my leap into digital so I need a bit of hand holding in building my Pentax kit. And no I'm not working my way round to Olympus and Canon. I'm very happy with my Pentax. It says serious camera to me - not an upgrade to apoint and shoot.

I bought a 28mm f2.8 A Vivitar and a Pentax f2 A 50mm. Really like the former as it lets me do some interesting closer work with a shallow depth of field. I'd like to add to my primes - I used nothing but on my Minolta X700 (now there was a fine camera!) - but Pentax primes are not that cheap now. I'd like to add a macro lens butI'm very attached to my limbs at the moment