I think it's because I'm like a kid in a sweet shop, it has taken me a while to save this lot up and it will be quite a while before I can purchase any more bits. The next thing I will be fretting about flash units

I'm not far behind you Oggy I have a Flipside 400 as well, great bag and a lot lighter than my AW Treckker. However the bigma might be the death of me half way up Scafell Pike.

Re that snake Stefan, you would not have managed to get me that near to it.

That is one reason why I'm hesitating about the 50-500 It would only get used on days that i go wondering round the country park

I have considered this Macro link it looks a very good price but and still unsure about this one.

Stefan, RR, and Dougf8 have all mentioned primes but again I'm not quite sure what I would get for my money and what to look at. This is my one frustration with Pentax products, it's near on impossible to wander into a shop and try Pentax lenses.

I currently photograph Landscapes and Wildlife , however I tend to pick these subjects because if fits with my other hobbies. My desire is to become a better all-round photographer rather than a mediocre landscape photographer. Since joining the forum I have had quite a bit of opportunity to try areas I would not normally consider, portraits and so on. My current frustration is that anything I produce is very soft and lacking in punch and feels as though I need better kit before I can move on. It's like listening to a music student on a beginners clarinet, they can only go so far until they are limited by the instrument.

It would stop her moaning about me pinching her spotting scope

Well I am now watching your post

Thanks for the review of the 12-24 and comments about the K20D Stefan, it is quit illuminating. Regards the 50-500, this is still tempting but on balance I think with my limited funds I need to improve my day to day photography. The 50-500 would allow me to get so near to all those birds that keep hiding the other side of our wetland reserve but this is probably only 10% of my current output.

Not sure yet, although the idea is great, just need to check my diary. So to wet peoples apatite Gareth, what would you suggest are the photographic highlights.

I had not considered anything quite so wide, do the images tend to be distorted at the edge when you pull back to 12mm?

I was catching up on the posts and then you go and throw me a curve ball. The 50-500 is so so tempting Now I'm twice a confused.

Just to stimulate the conversation further is it worth going for a K20D instead?