Adams (1980, p. 168 ) recommends a No 12 (minus blue) filter for removing haze (which is a deep yellow) so I guess what you need is a graduated version of that. What colour are the Tiffen Haze filters?

K.

PS Whatever bright spark decided to make 8 ) (without the space) the code for a smiley needs a kick...

I'd give images to charities and educational causes but AMEX can cough up. The "we'd like to be able to use it for any purposes whatsoever" clause is a right cheek.

K.

Yup, my favourite one. The price on the K18 is equally silly.

K.

You don't fancy snapping up this bargain then, Dangermouse?

K.

Manual focus isn't really a problem. I normally set the lens on the magnification I want (1:1 or 1:2 etc) then move the camera to get the focus. My Sigma 50 macro is used on manual focus 90% of the time.

Not sure why you are worried about the reversing ring though. I have a Pentax made one which seems fine. The only issue is being careful you don't hit the object you are photographing with the rear lens element. According to the paperwork that came with it, the best magnification is with a reversed 28mm lens.

K.

I can only speak for the Pentax 12-24mm lens and can happily say it is probably my sharpest lens. My other extreme wide angle lenses are for my film bodies really (the K15 and K17 for example).

One point I would make though is that extreme wide angle lenses are generally not good for landscapes. You think you want all that width for the wide open spaces but what you end up with is tiny looking mountains and lots of sky and grass. Picking out details with a shortish telephoto or stitching images to make a panorama often works better. I find I use my 12-24 more for interiors or buildings (and often I end up throwing away the bottom 40% of the image).

Good luck with your choice.

K.

Nice set and a difficult choice. The horizon in No 2 is slightly off square, and I find the blue of the sky in No 3 a little weird. I like the muted simplicity of No 4 myself but I would guess the "wow" factor of the skies in No 1 would attract many people. Hmmmm, No 1. Probably.

K.

Unfortunately Pentax appears to have used a random number generator for its serial numbers in contrast to, for example, Soviet cameras where the first two numbers usually represent the year of manufacture.

K.

I wondered about that too but couldn't decide if it really bothered me or not. I guess it does. Oh well...

K.

You've been lucky with the 1.4s. I've been wanting a S-M-C Tak 50/1.4 for my ES/ESII but they have usually gone for over £100... I'm in no rush though, so one day...

K.