Hmm, are Pentax listening?

Soon after the KX release they release an improved version amending the main niggles people had:

- focus point indicators? CHECK!
- AA battery alternative? CHECK!

At the same time they seem to listen to the calls for fast, cheap, normal prime (well, "fast" is debatable...)

What's next? A high quality telephoto lens? An official teleconverter? Full frame? (ok, probably not full frame)

It's a good sign and seems to be filling some of the gaps in the range.

I prefer the third one but then I always like close up animal portraits. I think his pose (turning his head) makes for a bit of added interest. To me this one is excellent. Did you have to wait long for him to pull this pose?

I quite like the first one as the background and colours give a nice context but I can also see it being a bit distracting.

*groan* you're bringing tears to my eyes...

'Lo all

I started a post a while ago asking about filter systems. I was looking into the economical way to get the effects I wanted across all lenses (i.e. cokin-style filters so I could just switch them between lenses). However, following the advice from here I decided to go with circular filters where possible for the extra quality.

Since then I have also made a brief foray into using 2 polarisers to get a variable ND filter which has worked quite well.

The main gap (in what I want to be able to do, anyway) is variable grads for landscapes. For this, the big square filters are the only real choice so I was hoping for some advice on a couple of areas:

1) Which system go for - cokin (cheap) or Lee (quality). Since I haven't used these yet and they would probably be occassional use, I'm tempted to go with Cokin as the cheaper option. I'm a bit concerned about comments on colour cast though.

2) Can anyone recomend a quality alternative to either?

3) What filter strengths should I get as a starter kit?

4) Hard or soft grads or both?

5) Widest lens at the moment is 17mm but I plan to add a 10mm soon. If I went with Cokin, would I need the wide angle holder? Would the other systems that might be suggested by people work for wide lenses?

Cheers

WG

It's very fast focussing though and not the noisiest of lenses to focus anyway.

My understanding is that the DG lenses have a further coating to prevent internaly reflected light from the sensor. I've never seen a comparison though. I don't think it's a big differentiator - apparently the design is the same apart from that. One thing to bear in mind is that, if you are going to use this with the matched teleconverter, as long as you use the DG version you will get the same effect.

I have this lens (the DG version) and it's a cracker. Hefty but fantastic image quality. That price is very good. I'm surprised it hasn't gone yet (especially as they have discontinued the lens in Pentax mount for the time being).

Number 1 is stunning. I'd be very proud if I could capture a photo like that.

Probably redundant but I have had a similar experience. I went in there to look at buying a "normal" focal length lens. They seemed very helpful and informative, put a few on a camera and let me try them out, etc.

Then when it came to asking about the prices they clammed up. Asked what would I be prepared to pay and what other prices had I seen them for. Everything went a bit odd from that point onwards and they obviously lost interest.

It's a shame because they are a short walk from my office and it would be useful to have a Pentax stockist nearby but it has definitely put me off going there again.

Were you using a mono or tripod (I'm guessing not a tripod if they're moving around)? That may help the stability. If they are going in and out of the same place then a tripod would surely be best but you'd only get a few attempts.

If it's getting dark and the light is changing then autofocus would be a problem with fast moving subjects. I think you would struggle with any lens/camera in those conditions. I would have maybe tried manual focus (or catch in focus if the k10d does it).

edit:
Matt's suggestion seems to be a good one (more detailed than my "I would maybe have tried manual focus" comment)

I agree - by posting on a Pentax forum you have limited yourself to a population of people who (for one reason or another) chose Pentax. Not that I'm saying the posters here will mislead you - just that for them Pentax was the right choice. Other forums that are for general digital photography will have a wider spread of brands.

Try and avoid recomendations that are too over-zealous or emphatic. The reality is that all the main brands entry level cameras produce good images. Make a list of the features you want and compare them to the cameras available. Try and get out and hold a few as ergonimcs can be a very personal thing. Once you have a shortlist, price up the kits available and work out which makes the most sense to you. It's also worth looking at what you might want to purchase in the future and seeing how much those items would be too.