I owned the 40mm but found it a little too small and also the focal length didn't seem quite right for me - difficult to explain why but having now bought the FA35mm F2 I find it suits my needs much better although to be honest it's not a lens I use very often

Simon

I owned the Sigma 17-70 before my current DA17-70 and it's a terrific lens which is definitely a good step up from the kit lens, nice shots - I should really get into Chester more with the camera!!

Simon

Interesting shots Brett, unfortunately we missed that when we were there on the 9th August - loved the city, we took a "Chillout walking tour" with a local student Anna who was very informed and funny with it too (booked from the little tent in the square opposite tourist information), I'd definitely go back, if only to see the prison next time

I took quite a few shots but mine are more typically tourist shots


Simon

I think if stitching is a possibility a prime becomes even more useful, the low distortion most of them exhibit is ideal - I always carry an FA35mm with me although to be honest have rarely used it, one day though I'm sure!!

Simon

I think you'll find divided opinion on the "superzooms" - I recently bought the Tamron version of the 18-250 for the same reasoning as you, and it's pretty much the most highly regarded lens of this type.

Unfortunately I was left disappointed by the results as it just didn't have the colour/contrast of my Pentax DA17-70, it's pretty sharp though -I sold it. Unfortunately as with many things you'll only really know if it's for you until you try it

Simon

I have the DA12-24 and its an excellent lens but only occasionally use it for landscapes although it was terrific for architecture shots on a recent holiday. By far my preferred lens is the DA17-70, nice colour/contrast and sharp. For some reason UWA lenses are often commented on as being the "must have" landscape lenses but at least from my experience it doesn't seem to be the case, I see them as a nice addition to a "standard" range zoom or perhaps a prime somewhere around 21mm

Simon

Hi Ian,

Throughly enyoyed my visit to Stockholm, infact I'd say it was my favourite city of our Baltic Trip, great atmosphere. We managed to arrive at the Vasa early (9am) so although there were still a few people around the coachloads didn't start to arrive until we had been there for a while. I'll post a few more shots of Stockholm shortly

thanks

Simon

David - there on Sunday 6th August, we visited Rostock too so may well have passed Prieni without knowing it I mainly used Live View and auto iso (max 6400) for interior shot and it worked extremely well, infact I've realised just how useful Live View can be as many shots were taken holding the camera over crowds of people as some of the cathedrals were quite busy. Contrast AF was very effective too, hardly missed a focus.

Paul - yes, I really like this one too but it really doesn't do the place justice - I wouldn't say I'm normally a mad architecture buff but I've never been anywhere and taken so many interior shots - the K5 is responsible for that too though, my previous K20D just wouldn't have coped with some of the lighting I had to deal with.

Frogfish - Last shot is taken with the DA 55-300 @ 300mm, I see what you mean about a couple looking overexposed (1 & 3 mainly to me) - both are ok in the RAW/Tiff so not sure why they look a tad brighter here:

Thanks

Simon

A few shots from my recent holiday, taken with the K5 and most of the interior shots @ ISO 3200 - 6400

Warnemunde
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1083.jpg[/IMG]

St Petersburg
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1330.jpg[/IMG]

St Petersburg
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1285.jpg[/IMG]

St Petersburg
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1379.jpg[/IMG]

St Petersburg
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1527.jpg[/IMG]

St Petersburg
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1459.jpg[/IMG]

Helsinki
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1573.jpg[/IMG]

Stockholm
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1776.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1671.jpg[/IMG]

Returned last week from a great holiday visiting a few Baltic cities and took along the K5 which performed brilliantly, I'm still working my way through the 600 or so photos I shot.

We visited Stockholm and called in the Vasa Musuem to see the amazing 300yr old warship, the museum itself is extremely dark inside although you can't tell from these shots, and my initial thoughts were that no way would I manage any decent photos - well I underestimated the K5 as together with the DA12-24 it produced some great shots.

Both shots were handheld at 1/6sec, Iso 6400 - amazing the amount of detail the high iso retains even after noise reduction

[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1732.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/STKITCHIN/IMGP1734.jpg[/IMG]