Fred - look at the Cokin P system as a starting point. P system can be used on any lens you're likely to use with your K-X.

Most useful filters - Grad Grey, Grad Blue, ND4 and polariser. System filters mean they can be used on different size lenses with a change in the adaptor ring on the filter holder. Holder take up to 2 filters at a time - but not if using an extreme wide angle as it will vignette - ie dark corners to the image. Cokin do a special holder for a single filter for these types of lenses.

A lot of people use UV or Skylight filters on the front of their lens to protect the lens front from accidental damage. It's a personal choise which probably dates back to our film based days.

HTH


Steve

If you have an HD Camcorder, then you will need some serious power under bonnet of your PC.

The wife bought a Panasonic HD camcorder then had to buy a new PC to run Pinnacle Studio 12* on it as my machine couldn't cope with the frame rate. Not withstanding the need for a 4 core, 64 bit processor, Pinnacle is a good package - not much it can't do. Will keep her occupied for hours on end editing and compiling movies to burn onto DVD. Good for the music collection as well, never have the right music available to go with the images being compiled.


Steve



* now out in version 14

Having just done a 5 week tour Down Under when I used my K7 pretty well every day, I'd recommend the DA*16-50 - not often found to be too short or not wide enough. Primes are fine on your own patch - you have a rough idea of what's possible and whether it's wide or telephoto location but when your travelling, flexibility is key IMHO.

If your budget doesn't stretch to this lens, the DA 16-45 (available second hand only) will give you a similar focal range but a stop slower wide open and no weather sealing. Neither of these may be an issue in yr part of NSW, but if you go up to Cairns and beyond, weather sealing might be useful.

HTH


Steve

My G & T tonight was made with genuine Export Gordons - 47% proof (as opposed to Gordons with the right style label but no content ie 37.3% proof - as seen in Aussie Bottleshops, price approx > £30 a litre!)

Sainsbury's Blackfriars Gin, 43% proof, at £15/litre is worth looking out for .

helpful?

could be in trouble for non pointless comment


Steve

Hi Greg

Distance - quite a bit - the vehicle was stopped short of the middle of the bridge over the water, so it must be close to 50 yds.

Image is as shot, in *** jpeg, with no PP.

It's not a lens I use a lot. My SA travelling kit was, IRRC, K10D, ist D, MZ-S, FA28-105, FA80-320, DA18-50 MkI, DA50-200. I shot the Kruger section of our trip with the FA80-320 on the K10 & DA50-200 on the ist D. It was what I had available at the time - and could get in my pack as hand luggage.

Am I happy with it - yes. I've got a 100-300 which sits in my office draw. That's definately softer at 300mm. I didn't use the lens at its longer end that much - the Heron was one of the few instances I could remember without going through each image. For game drives, based on my experiences in Kenya, Zimbabwe and SA, I reckon that the focal range of the DA50-200 is pretty close to optimum.



Steve

Done - should be able to see it now in Gallery - title is SA Giant Heron & sole search tag is FA80-320mm


Steve

Stefan - we have London Gin and Plymouth Gin, distilled slightly differently so as to give a different taste. Can't ignore Bombay Gin - but that's London Gin in a different guise. However, with tonic - its the strength that counts most - 43 or 47 proof make the best G & Ts

Jenever (Gin) is different but uses the same basic ingredients IIRC - though can't ever recall it being mixed with tonic or bitters or vermouth for that matter. Got to be 30yrs since I last had any. May be time to break the seal on one of the houses...

Steve

on the spelling of Whisky.

Greg - I'll post a shot from your part of the world taken in the Kruger, near Sabi Sands, which was done with my K10 and the FA 80-320 @ 320mm, F11, 1/500, ISO 400 and hand held. Good at 50%.

Took 3 in total - next shot not as good - target fairly small for the AF, even at narrowest setting.

HTH


Steve

Gwyn - to be strictly fair to the Aussies (have to be nice to them cos we beat them at cricket again and they get very sulky about such things :wink, they don't drink beer, its a form of lager they drink. Proper beer is not served chilled.

Stefan - Jeneva gin's not big in the UK - got a drop or 2 in some KLM porcelain houses they used to give to their Business Class customers back at the turn of the century. The better class of off license (bottle shop in Aussie speak) are getting few and far between these days, so chances of buying it (and any malt whiskey not associated with the Glenfid**** distillery) getting hard. Try the Islay malts - very distinctive and much better than any of the Speyside malts (IMHO).


Steve

Drink of choise has to be VB (Victoria Bitter).

Strange thing beer - you're place of residence can be deduced in some peoples minds - accused of being a Queenslander on my last (planned) night at Coffs Harbour because of the beer I was drinking (they didn't do VB:!

Could I also put in a word for Wadworths . Yorkshire real beers are all very good but they ain't the b all and end all . Abbey, brewed here in Bath is well regarded.


Steve