I've just bought the DA 18-135 WR, after getting some advice from this forum and reviews from elsewhere, looking to upgrade from the kit 18-55 for something to use as my principal "walk around" lens. I must say that so far I'm very impressed with it.

This image is the JPEG straight out of the camera (K-r), with JPEG settings of 6M pixels and the medium quality setting. It is uncropped. It was taken, handheld, at 135mm, 1/400, F5.6, ISO 200. I always shoot Raw + JPEG, but thought that on this occasion it might be interesting to put up the JPEG straight out of the camera, rather than a RAW image that had been "worked on".

When I was in Dubrovnik in June I saw quite a few - perhaps something in the air attracts them there. All types of Pentaxes were in evidence, from several old 35mm cameras including an MX, an ME Super and what looked like a K1000 (but I could be wrong on that one) through to the modern DSLRs (K-r, K30 and K5 variants) and even a couple of Pentax compacts.

They were significantly outnumbered by the massed hoards of the Canikons, but there were more Pentax users there than anywhere else I have been recently.

Phil

David - I agree with Barrie - a little brighter please.

I might also be tempted to try blurring the tunnel portal a bit more, as I find my eye drawn to it and in particular to the "No walking" access signs.

Phil

Thanks for all the helpful comments & suggestions (both positive & negative).

However, if I had known in advance that this was such a contentious subject, I probably wouldn't have posted it at all!

Philip - No matter what others may think of the general approach, I liked the second one in your thread.

Phil

Ditto - except different favourites. It's 2, 3, 6, & 12 for me.

As per sbrads, except I use the standard neck-strap wrapped around my wrist several times. Once it's adjusted (which is a little fiddly) the camera hangs from my fingertips, but is securely attached to my wrist. I find that the width of the neck-strap makes it more comfortable than a lanyard around my wrist.

I spotted this tree growing in Crotia and liked the look of it for a potential "selective colour" B&W image. I'd welcome comments on both the approach and the result!

I also have a WD Passport and find it easy to use and very reliable and like the ability to select folders/drives to back-up. I didn't find the software particularly intuitive to use at first, especially the "Files not backed up" message mentioned by Steven, but once I got used to it I find it fairly straight-forward

The reason why I unplug mine is to keep it separate to the PC, so that in the vent of fire/theft I have a safe copy.

Some years we get quite a few Stag Beetles, other years - none at all. This year was a good one and we got quite a few. I think that they are fascinating (and beautiful) - not that my wife agrees with me. They also scare the cats!

Anyway I took a few photos and would welcome C&C on both the approach (e.g. showing them complete or in close-up) and my technique. All were taken quite late in the evening (well after dark), handheld with a K-r and a Tamron SP90 and using the camera's built-in flash.

Phil

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I've just finished checking all of my AF lenses on my K-r using one or more of the focusing test charts available on the web and they all seem to be alright and not to require any fine adjustment.

Do I:-

a) need to go and get my eyes tested;
b) count myself lucky that my lenses are all correctly calibrated;
c) not understand how to undertake the tests properly;
d) need to stop worrying about testing AF accuracy, and just trust my judgement of the images I take with them, until repeated "out of focus" results tells me otherwise.

I worry as there have just been so many posts on various websites about AF accuracy that I worry that I must be missing something. Also, can anyone tell me, does AF accuracy vary over time due to wear and tear, or with temperature (i.e. perhaps time of year)?

Phil