It's also quite disappointing he has a Nikon on the desk in front of him in full view while talking about the 1

I have also done the rounds as far as the big zooms are concerned. I've had the 50-500, 150-500 and both were not as good as my DA*300 + 1.4x HD TC so I stuck with that combo for a couple of years and have been more than happy with the setup on first my K-5iis and then my K-3.
However I recently sold a load of FF Canon kit which gave me enough to get the 150-450 and after reading MikeP's review I was set on one. This Saturday I took the plunge and drove to Watford to take advantage of the Easter offer at SRS and boy am I glad I did. It really is a stunning piece of glass, awesomely sharp, colours and contrast are exceptional.
I took a trip to Forrest Farm and took these, see for yourselves...
Full album here
The only shot that was sharpened was the gliding heron.
Example

Someone donate a K-5 to Gary, we need him back in the fold. Welcome back Gary I've missed your images.

Lens porn

I had a discussion in a hide with a guy using a Canon 1dx and 600mm f4. He says if you get one shot in ten that you're not binning you're doing well. Just keep shooting. I personally would shoot with TAV at f8 and try to keep the shutter speed above 1/500th and let the ISO run away. I always dial in -1 stop of exposure compensation too which holds back the ISO. However if it is a "bird on a stick" (I hate that term) you can slow it down to 1/200th or less if required on a support of some description. Remember post the K-7 ISO is much less of an issue.
see here
and here

...

Posted today along with my FA35 that has a cracked barrel due to a thuggish wall in Gran Canaria a few years ago that (without provocation) grabbed the camera strap as the wife and I were walking past which sent the camera and lens crashing to the floor , the lens works perfectly except the barrel does reveal a crack when the lens cap pushes it apart.

I have noticed that my shots in the last couple of weeks have become just plain awful. I first noticed it the last time I went to shoot the kingfishers, although the images were sharp there seemed to be a ghost.
Today I went out again today (I'm on leave) and my shots are rubbish, really poor. I assumed it was the TC so removed that and at f8 the 300 on its own improved. So I decided to go back to Forrest Farm and shoot the kingfishers again and got lucky one showed up again. on close inspection they are simply poor. I had with me my Tamron 70-200 so put that on the TC and bang, razor sharp again.
So now feeling a bit depressed because my favourite lens is sick I went home to conduct a bit of an investigation. It didn't take long to realise that there is something seriously wrong with it. The barrel wobbles at the base of the focus ring and can be very slightly twisted too.
Has anyone else had something like this happen to their DA*300 ... btw I haven't knocked it, bashed it or dropped it

That's LBA I have it too. It'll cost you a packet

I should've come down Gareth, ah well an opportunity missed