I think it's pretty standards practice - everywhere I can think of here in North Wales closes at 6pm even during peak summer months, I'm sure if they were open a little later they would get visitors in but I guess it means extra staff hours etc.

Fortunately I find most of the best photo opportunities for me are from outside so never really had an issue

Simon

I echo the comments regarding 50mm vs 35mm, I initially bought an FA50mm 1.4 and it's an excellent lens - the problem was I found on the cropped sensor it was just a bit too long for my needs so sold it and bought the FA 35mm F2, I find it a more useable focal length.

Simon

Thanks for the suggestions, the Lowepro cases are a bit too bulky for what I need, I'll have a look for the Sanfrotto cases - the problem I find with Ebay though is finding the case that's the right size,

Ideally I need the case for Friday - unfortunately it's the first time SRS have let me down, they initially suggested the case would be available from pentax yesterday but when I spoke to them they then said they had no idea of when it might arrive


Simon

This is pretty urgent so I'd appreciate peoples help on this. I had the Pentax soft case (S100-120) on order from SRS but they have no stock and can't give me a delivery date and I need one pretty urgently.

Does anyone know of a similar alternative, ideally something not too bulky - even better would be if someone had one for sale but that's hoping a bit I think

Thanks

Simon

I sort of agree with Gareth,

the problem with using an UWA for shots like this is that it pushes your subject too far away (I've stood at that spot myself). For me though the foreground could be made stronger by getting lower/closer - the problem then though is that the shot is all about the foreground, something I tend to find when taking UWA shots, the reason that I still use my DA17-70 far more than the DA12-24.

Just my thoughts

Simon

I recently took up an offer of 6 months of DSLR mag for £5 - to be honest I still feel I paid a bit too much, I don't think it's one of the better mags out there.

The test results certainly seem a bit odd as they are the same lens - the test results are contrary to every test I've ever read on it too, as well as my own experience

Simon

A used 12-24 would be my recommendation, I prefer it over the Sigma 10-20 I previously owned - sharper and better colour rendition, I also prefer the distortion characteristics - found them a bit odd on the 102-20.

The Sigma is known to have sample variation though which may go someway to explaining how some people are non too keen and others are delighted with it.

I think the new Sigma 8-16 seems to get decent reviews although I haven't really looked much - worth doing a bit of research on.

Simon

I'm not advertising for them and have no connection with them, although I'm currently considering joing as a member myself but it might well be worth considering joining "Welshot"

http://www.welshotimaging.co.uk/

I think it cost £120/yr but having spoke to Lee who runs it last week it would probably be very useful for your circumstances - I think you get 1hr with a webdesign company & 1hr with a solicitor included in the membership - there's other assistance too but I'm not going into it more as it will sound like I'm a salesman for them and I'm not. It's worth giving Lee a phonecall and having a chat as it may well be very helpful to get you started.

Simon

Not neccesarily their passwords as at the log-in screen you can pay by credit/debit card without having a paypal account - this would mean people entering their card details though so perhaps that's even more of a problem - might be worth taking the laptop along though just to see if people would use it?

My thinking is to take say 20x16 & 16x12 mounts together with 20x16 frames and 14x11 frames - I might get a few postcards printed too. If anyone wants different sizes etc you can take an order.

I'm also considering takeing the laptop along with internet fob to take payments via Paypal - not sure if people would be 100% comfortable with this though

Simon