".......... the slower lens is often easier to focus, because the image snaps in and out of focus far more noticeably with the slower lens..."

I think you have this round the wrong way,...a faster,ie, larger aperture gives less depth of field and thus allows easier image 'snap' than a smaller aperture.....

Something not mentioned thus far is the fact that with reflex cameras one must use the lens also for supplying an adequate viewfinder picture. For some low light work it is essential to see as clearly as possible and an extra stop can make all the difference,..quite apart from easier focus.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=20633667

For those waiting on the K10D this is interesting......An account of the most recent pentax presentation on home ground with intelligent commentary by a local attendee.

Hi Dan,

Thank you for your info,...very useful.

McBrian,.....thanks for that,..I already have beattie and Haoda websites on my 'favourites'.

Hello everybody,...this is my first post so I hope you can give me some basic info.....

Does anyone know if the k10D will have interchangeable screens and if so, will there be a split image with microprism ring available.

Apparently, pentax makes the manuals available online for download,...however, I have not been able to find one for K10D. Could someone point me in the right direction please.

Does anyone know where the first image files from production samples of K10D are likely to appear first,...I am assuming that the images published so far are from pre-production units, but may be wrong.

Thanks for any help.

This may not mean anything....

For one thing the alpha is the first DSLR from sony and has had one of the biggest and most comprehensive pre-launch campaigns of any recent camera.

Secondly, AP has repeatedly shown itself to be well and truly in the pockets of suppliers, especially those who use high levels of cultivation such as sony. That nice little free holiday in Morocco DID play it's part you may be sure.

Thirdly, any real test or comparison should have been against the existing 6 milpix cameras since there are already doubts about noise levels with the current crop of 10milpix models, especially at higher iso settings.

Essentially, it holds well to believe nothing one reads in the UK photo press at face value.

".....but we're getting cracking results from both of ours..."

John, what size are you printing to please?

The lack of moderate wide primes with good max apertures is a GLARING omission in the pentax range which is frankly inexcusable for any decent system.

The situation could be helped considerably if Pentax would just put back into production a few of the primes which it made until just a couple of years ago.

I don't believe that the lack of wide primes has anything to do with the APS-C sensor,...other than it's quite possible that Pentax has known all along that sensor sizes would eventually return to 'full frame' so expensive development of APS wides would be wasted.

Nikon and Pentax amongst others used to make 25mm/24mm f2 lenses which in 35mm equates to moderate wide 35mm. This was long considered a key focal length,...at one time Leica had a least 4 35mm lenses in it's catalogue and it's viewfinders featured the 35mm frame on most models other than the M3. This important visual tool is missing from most DSLR systems but Pentax is particularly lacking.

Also the idea of making very expensive 'limited' lenses, however good their optical quality is strange for a maker who offers such cost effective and practical bodies. Unless of course the bodies are just 'loss leaders' to give lens sales of over priced lenses.

Also,.....Three zooms covering roughly the same range; 18-55, 16-45 and 16-50 while glaring gaps in the rest of the range..??...seems a strange marketing technique...

Obviously I must be missing something here....

If the pentax 'K' mount was large enough for the full 35mm frame, and it was, then why would it be too small for a digital sensor the same size....??