I am glad to see a whole selection of DA lenses starting to be rolled out in a timely manner. I think the Hoya takeover has given them a jolt up the backside to get their arses in motion. There are more lenses planned over the next six months than over the past year and a half!

I am really looking forward to all the DA* primes and really want to get my hands on the 30, 55, 200 and 300. Finally some real telephoto options to play with. I am also interested in that SDM teleconverter, a 1.5x would be perfect for the 200 (if you don't have the 300) and 300 as you'd get a 450mmF5.6 with the fov of a 690mmF5.6![/i]

I didn't shoot JPEG or get rid of the RAW. I was just pleased with what I did in camera (spent a month without my PC!). I couldn't get anything similar in lightroom, the sky kept going odd and uneven colours. The sun is better in the RAW image though as it has a higher DR.

Congratulations Gwyn, looking forward to the next competition.

Well, here is one of my recent photos taken in December.

Who says the K10D's in camera JPEG is poor? This shot is better than a lot of what I sometimes get out of Lightroom and was processed in camera!




K10D with DA* 16-50mm F2.8
PEF Processed in Camera

Looks better viewed on a black background.

I think you've done very well. The whole process with a smooth transition to get the desired effect. I'm not too fond of the whole 'fake image' style associated with magazines/fashion but it is hard work and does require skill to get right. The final image works very nicely, I would have left it a little more realistic on the skin (still softened though). I like that tatoo on her back.

You can't really tell if it is the camera, screen, monitor or printer unless you have at least two of them calibrated. Try getting a print (not on inkjet) from somewhere like photobox and see what it looks like. Once you have done that you can decide if it is oversaturated.

Most monitors will display very saturated colours by default and you need to tone them own a little (the monitor not the image).

These sorts of discussions can get really tedious. Just look at dpressingreviews and you'll see that a lot of people don't have a clue about photography, they are just tech heads with an addiction to specifications and too much time to complain.

I am very happy with my APS K10D, it makes for a lighter system. Getting good images is about being to use your equipment propperly not having the most expensive, biggest, highest technology, etc. 'Professional' imaging does have its teach heads with no real know how but also some very skilled people who can work with whatever you give them.

PS. has anyone looked on dpressing reviews and read the K20D threads. People complaining that it isn't an Eos 1D MKIII competitor practically.

The prices would be better if we got something a little closer to US prices. Come one 50% more for the same lens? It is rather silly!

Still, I'm going to be saving for these two DA* telephoto lenses.

16-50, 50-135, 60-250, 55, 200 and 300mm DA* lenses are all on my wish list (well, except 16-50 which I already have).

I hope the 35mm SDM they have on the roadmap is weather sealed (and F2 or better) as it is a perfect replacement for ye olde 50mm prime of the 35mm era.

I don't much see the point in the 35mm macro though as they will have two very similar lenses there...

Helps when your wife/girlfriend/partner is also desperate for these new telephoto lenses.

I really need to save for them I also want Pentax to release a 400mm F5.6.

Now that is one very good step up from the K10D!!! I want/need a second body (K20D that is).

That is the bit that I wanted in focus, I didn't try rotating the shot much though as the space I had to work with was too tight. I really should have moved elsewhere... You live and learn...