Weekend bump ^

http://www.ilexinstant.com/product/perfect-exposure/

Listed as £8.99 but scroll down a bit and follow the instructions to get the book free in your choice of format.

Deal found on another forum, many thanks to the OP there.

230mm f9 iso 400 1/800th Hand held with OS probably off since I've tended not to use it

Full size image, a little under 17mb
http://www.marnoch.org/galleryhm/sigma/dbc5.jpg

Probably hand held at 150mm 1/320th iso 100 again full size at 8.5mb
http://www.marnoch.org/galleryhm/sigma/sigma150mm.jpg

Obviously the lens handles static subjects much better.

Can do, there's a couple here to be going on with.

These were taken with a monopod with no OS or in camera shake reduction.

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/no-dolphins-47788

Ordered from SRS on 14th January this year, I've not been able to get along with the weight of the lens and have 'upgraded' to a DA*300mm.

The Lens is complete with the Hood, Padded Sigma case and box, I'll also throw in the 86mm Kood UV filter I bought for it.
I'm looking for £480 including RMSD. Bank Transfer preferred. The lens will be offered for sale elsewhere.










I've managed to get some small scratches on the leading edge of the hood, they don't affect the lens at all but here's a picture for the sake of clarity.



Links to full size images, be warned they're 4mb to 5 mb each.
http://www.marnoch.org/galleryhm/sigma/sigma150500b.jpg
http://www.marnoch.org/galleryhm/sigma/sigma150500mount.jpg
http://www.marnoch.org/galleryhm/sigma/sigma150500tri.jpg
http://www.marnoch.org/galleryhm/sigma/sigma150500obj.jpg
http://www.marnoch.org/galleryhm/sigma/sigma150500hood.jpg

I have the same problem and it makes some lenses pretty much unusable hand held. A monopod is a good solution for some of the time but you can't always carry one. There's an old photographers trick using a length of string, tie one end off to the camera and make a loop in the other you need to make the string just the right length so that you can put the camera to your eye comfortably with your foot in the loop. Then you can use the tension in the string to help steady the camera.

Using a faster lens is another solution but it can be expensive. My Sigma 150-500 is a case in point, I struggle to get usable images with it hand held because the weight makes my hands shake even more. I've got myself a DA*300 which is a bit lighter and is faster and I'm happier with it even though I lose the zoom range.

With five months to go, there's plenty of time to get familiar with new kit and this really is a once in a lifetime experience. You're never likely to see two Lancasters flying side by side again.

I missed the kit list at the end of your first post, the DA* 17-70 would be good instead of the small prime. As you say it's a once in a lifetime experience but JAK has a point. I'd still vote for the DA*300 but if you can, rent it for a while before the day to get used to it.

Like the others I think Mount Ararat over the Turkish Border is just superb! I'm not sure the ultra wide angle did you any favours in some of the interiors though.

How about this - Buy or hire a DA*300mm for the K5 and use a short prime on the Kr? then leave the Sigmas at home. The Sigma lenses are awful heavy for a full days carting about and you'll probably miss opportunities trying to decide between them on the day. The speed and sharpness of the primes will make up for any lack of in between zoom range.