Thanks everyone...the shot which I converted to B&W was one of the last ones before the cloud fully descended which explains the extra detail in the sky

Simon

Having owned the Tamron (and Sigma) version and now the DA55-300 it's advantages to me are:

better colour/contrast and much reduced, infact insignificant CA/PF

The Tamron is very sharp, equal of the DA55-300 I think and it hunts less at the long end

Hope this helps

Simon

I know a few have posted photos of the ship over the years so might be interested in the latest developments

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22043199

Simon

The snow is definitely on the melt Bob although compared to here in North East Wales Snowdonia didn't really have that much, I think it was only really Pen Y Pass where the orad conditions were tricky after the falls.

Stuey..only had good light for 40 minutes until the cloud descended, rest of the day was poor..I bumped into a fellow tog how told me saturday was glorious all day...I'm used to travelling there and back without one decent photo because of the weather conditions though so happy I managed a few, especially considering that I've been trying to catch a snowy/reflection photo at Llynnau Mymbyr for about 5 years!!

Simon

Early start this morning (4.30) to catch the sunrise, good job I arrived early as only managed 40 minutes of decent lighting until the cloud descended, here are the shots, tried a mono conversion

Lovely place Madeira, awesome mountain walks/views especially Pico Rivo.

I wouldn't have worried about an inconspicious bag in Madeira, you won't go to many safer places than there.

I have the K5 & 17-70 combo and it works really well for me too, in fact not only on holidays but also as my mainstay landscape lens..it's suprisingly underated and in my experience produce images to compete with most of the Pentax prime lenses.

Look forward to seeing some of the photos

Simon

A polariser reduces light levels anyway by around 2/3 stops depending on the brand and you certainly run the risk of increasing flare and image degradation by adding one filter onto another but I have to ask, why would you want to do this anyway? Just remove the skylight and fit the polariser, nothing to worry about then

Simon

We're the security guards around, they were pretty keen at keeping people away at one time?

Simon

Here you go Andrew..the view from my front door when I opened it this morning...Mold in North Wales - I'm going nowhere, completely snowed in until a snowplough turns up, if one does!!

Simon

[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/DSC00389.jpg[/IMG]

Can be some confusing info around...it's not necessarily the lowest iso you want to shoot at but the "base" iso..I have a Sony RX100 which can go down to Iso 80 but it's actually ISO 125 which provides the greatest dynamic range

Simon