ah, excellent point

BTW, why the hell can't pentax just release a firmware update and allow all of there cameras have the option of using screw-drive focus. If they did that i'd pick up a 16-50 in a second knowing that if the SDM does fail, i'm not hosed.

I've been debating this same thing for months now and I still can't make a decision! I'm terrified of SDM failure. Mainly because I don't want it to fail while I'm traveling and be out my main lens. If it wasn't for travel, i wouldn't mind as I can just get it fixed. On the other hand i hear the Tamron is quite the dust sucker. So it's A) risk SDM dying but have weather sealing or B) get the Tamron, and hope it doesn't suck up enough dust to impact performance too much.

I bought Pentax for all the great prime lens options, but am really bummed by the fact that no one makes a super solid general zoom. I'd gladly pay twice the price for a really nice weather sealed normal zoom that is built like a tank and wont fail (or just doesn't have sdm). Sometimes you just want a zoom!

I'm leaning towards B and using the extra money towards other LBA needs.

Price dropped to £600 shipped in the UK (plus paypal fees if paying with card)

Still for sale! Offers welcome

I'm reading Michael Freeman's The Photographer's Eye right now. I think it's pretty good for a book on composition. It's a bit academic at times, but that's what I was trying to find (rather than just a "tip" book).

bottom half of an Ecover bottle works great for me. no color cast that i can see.

I think those are a waste of time. Can you guys really see a difference with them? i built one just to play around with and the difference was minimal.

However i did have good results with holding a small plastic travel mirror, or white card in front of the pop-up flash and bouncing off the ceiling. Though it's a battery killer, it does work pretty well. they sell fancy brackets to do this, but it's easy enough, cheaper, and i would think more convenient, to just hold it there with your hand

sort of the plan Would like to use it for head-shot portraits while on the road. Softbox would be held (by girlfriend, stand, or trust-able bystander) just out of the frame.

But I think i'm going to try to DIY one. So i guess never-mind on the question! thanks for the responses though

Hi all!

Just wondering if any of you out there have had any experience with the Lumiquest SB-III or Ltp or other similar products.

I'd like to get a mini-softbox in this size, and I'm wondering if there are any other good alternatives. My priorities are (in order):
-easy/quick to setup
-small packed size
-durable

I think the lumiquest might be the winner, just wondering what else is out there. The Ltp looks great, but I'm afraid of it falling apart and drooping down when it's been in the sun for too long. thanks!