To butt in and change the thread slightly. Can you knowledgeable guys tell me where the F lens fit into the scheme of things. I have aquired three of these but have not tried them out yet. Don't see them advertised
regards thoramay.

I don't think you can accuse George of dictating. He is expressing an honest opinion, much as we all are. (unless he is delibeately winding us up, and you wouldn't do that, would you, George?) George's opinion does seem to lack tolerance, though, but that is something we all do from time to time. A final challenging comment. If we don't speak to each other in perfect english, and yet are easily understood, what is the big issue of not writing in perfect english?

Martin...In no way was my comment a critism. I stated that in my experience... and my experience of joining a camera club has been a very positive one. Maybe that is not your experience and that's Ok. I know from personal experience how easily a comment or intended critism of a picture can be misconstrude. We are all different and both processes can work. Without question, a face to face session with an experienced photographer must give benefits over a remote session, but lets not make more of my comment than I meant, please. There is more than enough contention through this thread without us falling out over my opinion.

Thanks, Derek. Such a sensible and level response to so much that has been posted. Your sentiments are also mine. From my own experience the best advice to give to a newbe, (Martin) who has got the basics wrong is to advise them to join a camera club where comments on their efforts can be made and received face to face with a laugh or two, plus a demonstration of how better to take photographs. It is so very difficult to make points on paper where the explanation can easily be lost and mis understood. I post on my Gallery for others to enjoy, and comment if they feel so moved. Photography isn't all about getting it perfect, it is also about conveying who you are and how you view life and what makes you feel good.

Oh dear!! I am courting trouble here, but here goes. George! I admire your eloquence and I would wish to attain your standards but neither are within me. What would you wish me to do? Leave this forum? When someone adds a comment to a photo, it may not be OUR opinion but it is THEIRS. Surely it is within us to hold to our opinion and at the same time respect theirs. Expecting this Forum to meet our expectations can easily become the reason that people leave. There is one comment that I fully support and that is the use of banal and unrelated humour that follows a perfectly serious question. This often takes the thread away from the point of the question. Humour translated easily in the spoken word but is much more difficult when put on paper to the extent that it can be misunderstood and develope into conflict. It HAS happened. In expecting this Forum to meet the expectations of a wide and varied group of Pentax users with a similar wide and varied ability, am I wrong? If so then I am sorely dissapointed.

Jon...I am indepted to you sharing your experience. Yes!! It does have the PKA Adaptall. Will try to source the PKM version. Have just had a session in the garden and I am very pleased with this lens now. It takes some getting used to with accurate focusing. I accually set the lens to 700mm. The results are good, so what difference does this make? I take your point, though and will set it back to 500mm. Do you use the filters? I have only a 30.5 hoya skylight. I loved your shot of the lion, at least that is what I think it was (memory, Jon). I will continue to upload a pic a day on the Gallery for you to see.
regards Thoramay.

sitting in my chair contemplating how and why I was not getting to grips with this lens and pointed it at several objects in the room. This pic really surprised me. Took it at an angle to the face hence the far side not so much in focus which posed the question of how much depth of field I should expect at F8 and if the lens is working at F4 as is recorded on the camera does this reduce the depth of focus. I am out of my depth with this at the moment. I am a macro person and do know how to use depth of focus. Another question. Using this lens on a dslr means that the lens, albeit a 500mm lens on slr becomes nearer to 750mm lens. When dialing in the focal length do I increase this figure to beyond the 500mm.? The wind is blowing hard, so getting anything outdoors to be still enough for a sharp pic is near impossible. Took one of a bird on a lamp post some 300 yards away yesterday. Will put this on the gallery in a while.
regards thoramay.

have loaded a pic into the gallery. It's using flash indoors. I am surprised it's ability to take such close ups. Will upload an outdoors shot tomorrow.

I am experimenting, but, but, but. I am not experienced enough to interpret the results. As one other member states...getting there, thanks to you. Will follow your advice and see what transpires. And here we go again..How do I post onto the Your Photo section. I'm darned if I can crack placing photos onto the forum pages.
regards Thoramay.

Have mastered the focal length and dialed in the correct length but the camera still declares that it is F4 when I have the camera set to AV. When I use manual then it does not record an F number. Does this indicate I should be on manual settings only for this lens? Have checked that the aperture ring is enabled in the menu. Interested in substituting the Adaptall 2 P/KA. What Adaptal should I be looking for. The camera shop was of no real help so I am relying on you good people to help me through.
regards thoramay.