I have a couple of Nikon SB80DX flashes and use them manually both on my K10 and off with triggers - i have been very impressed with them - got them from ebay for around £70 however if you only need one i would perhaps go for the AF360FGZ as it may be more flexible for your needs

I would go with the above recommendation - raw is great as you can do loads of manipulations and never degreade the original file - Just extract the jpeg of your raw file with the adjustmens - I am still a photoshop beginner and I love the fact that i can totally mess up a file and always have the original to return to.

Ok Time for a confession of my LBA

Sigma 1 * 80 -200 APO
Pentax 2 * DA 18-55 mk1
Pentax 1 * DA 18-55 mk2
Pentax 1 * DA 16-45
Pentax 1 * F 80 -200
Pentax 1 * F 35 - 80
Pentax 1 * F 28 - 80
Pentax 2 * A 50mm F1.7
Vivitar1 * A 80 -300
Pentax 1 * K 55mm F1.8
Pentax 1 * M 28mm F2.8
Pentax 2 * M 50mm F2
Pentax 1 * M 135mm F3.5
Pentax 2 * M 75 - 150mm F4
Pentax 2 * M 80 - 200 F 4.5
Pentax 1 * M42 13 F3.5
Pentax 1 * M42 55 F1.8
Pentax 2 * M42 55 F2
Pentax 2 * M42 35 F3.5
Pentax 1 * M42 200mm f5.6
Helios 1 * M42 58mm
Carl Ziess 1 * M42 135mm F3.5
Nikon 2 * SB 80 DX Speedlights
plus loads of the usual flash triggers, stands etc etc

I think thats it there is a couple of rubbishy ones i must throw out a well a vivitar and something else

Argos are stocking it as well - its good to see more of it about in the mainstream shops

Well whoever they are I would not use them as they do not look professional at all - my father is having his chimney rebuilt and scaffolding etc is a must along with the big tube/pipe to get the bricks etc down. cowboys come to mind

Yes thanks - I will save a little bit and go for the DA55-300 its not massivly more expensive

thanks
will

Can anyone comment on the quality of this lens? the local camera shop has a good one for £80 and i was looking for a 300mm zoom - it thought it might be slightly better than the Tamron or Sigma?

any tips for a good 300mm zoom gratefully recieved - of course i would like a 300mm prime but a bit too much at the mo

Nice capture and the texture of the weevil matches the rock very well, also the background fits in well - excellent picture

on a constructive note it perhaps would be improved if the foreground was if focus as well but i appriciate that can be very difficult with macro shots

These are impressive shots for a low light situation especially as the in first one you appear to be almost shooting in to the spotlights they appear sharp and well exposed - i would be interested to know what iso etc you used and what- if any flash?

I like it a lot - very much in fact the only small points i can make are that the left hand side needs cropping to remove the bit of chimney stack or whatever it is and maybe it needs levelling as others have said before me also the bottom window is chopped off but you may have had no choice there. Overall its an excellent image it think that it just needs a small amout of cropping. The big plus is that it does have immeadiate impact and is an appealing picture to study.