Ah yes, I hadn't noticed that! That's me and technology!

Hi smc, could you try sending the PM again as it hasn't come through for some reason. Keep having this problem with this forum! The PM's don't always seem to get through.

£170. I am based in Worcestershire if anyone wants to inspect first, and I can send photos on request.

Please note that for countries outside the UK, postage on this item is very expensive due to insurance.

Good find. Unfortunately when I did my searches in Google SRS didn't come up in the results. Besides, Clifton has the 2 year warranty as well, not 1 year, and they are also a Pentax Pro centre.

I just ordered mine from here.
https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Pentax_55-300mm_SMC_DA_f4.0-5.8_ED

£189 plus £10 postage, plus another £25 off from a cash rebate offer from Pentax!

Excellent many thanks! Just ordered one.

I'm about to plunge down the cash for a Wein Safe-Synch so that I can use my old Vivitar 283 with my K10D. I'll be ordering the device from the US so I can get it for a realistic price instead of the over inflated UK one.

Anyway, the 283 as you will all know does not have any horizontal rotational ability, which is no good if I want to bounce the flash in any direction other than straight ahead or up at the ceiling.

Does anyone know if there is a bracket anywhere that allows the flash to be rotated to face the opposite direction? I've looked around and cannot find one. Seems like such an obvious thing to make!

My finances at the moment will not allow for a new flash, so that is not an option.

Okay. I'm using a K10D. I have a Sigma 18-50 EX DC, a Super Takumar 135mm f 3.5, and a 50mm 1.7 and 28mm 2.8 SMC's.

While the 135 is a fine lens, I need some decent glass to cover a more useful range.

I was photographing rallying the other day, in Wales, which as Simon has mentioned can be very changeable! The trouble is that the cars sometimes come so thick and fast there often isn't time to change lenses without missing a great moment. I can't be splurging money on two camera bodies, much as I would like to.

Sometimes I am close to the track, which means that I need a wide angle to fit the cars in shot, and sometimes I need to photograph the corner which is a way away with a telephoto. I'm getting a bit fed up of guessing which lens I should use, only to find that the cool action happens in a range that doesn't suit the lens I have attached to the camera.

I'm only doing this for my own enjoyment, not for business.

Ideally I would want something with 28-300 range. However that is just an ideal. 50mm on the short end is a bit tight. But even a 35-135mm would be quite versatile for what I need.

Point is I need a camera that offers me 'something' on the wide end and 'something' on the telephot. Reason I need it fast'ish' is because the weather conditions can sometimes be pretty horrendous and on a mountain in mist and rain I need everything I can get. If possible.

Despite all the threads on various lenses I'm still at a bit of a loss as to which one would be best to get.

I'm after a good zoom lens that could cover from around 30mm to around 200mm give or take.

I realise that on such a wide range it is hard to find something that will produce top sharpness in all areas. Though I need it for versatility for motorsports photography.

I haven't got huge amounts of money to spend, but at the same time I need something that won't be too slow (ie if possible I would like at least f2.8 ).

What lenses are out there that would offer a good compromise between flexibility, price, and speed in this regard? Are there any lenses forthcoming from Pentax that might be suitable?