The built in flash is not very powerful and would give you very flat look images. An external flash would be preferable, especially if you can get it off-camera. You would need to check the trigger voltage as some older flashes had very high ones which may damage your cameras electronics. All old Pentax flashes will be ok. K.

Have you tried cleaning the contacts on the lens mount? Does it work without the teleconverter? Sounds like something has gone wrong with the contacts and the camera thinks you have a pre-A series manual lens fitted.

K.

Plastazote is an inert foam used by conservators for packing archaeological finds. You can buy it from conservation and museum retailers. Not cheap tho...

K.

I had a quick and dirty go (about 5 minutes if that) at a BW conversion of No 3 just from your small jpeg. With the original file someone could do a much better job. I don't like it that much as I have killed off what interest there is in the sky, but I haven't worked out yet how to improve contrast there without messing up the rest of the shot! IMHO, though, it is a bit of an improvement on the original. Just an idea of where to go, not a finished product.

I'll delete it if you'd rather.

Best wishes, Kris,.

If the lens is worth more than a few quid I'd send it to Alan Marlow (A.M. Technical Services). He serviced a few lenses for me and did a sterling job.

Personally, I am cack handed on a scale of cack-handedness my father (a very practical man) couldn't believe. I'd probably get the lens apart but in what condition is anyone's guess!

Cheers, K.

That doesn't work, don't have a house, don't have a wife!

More than I can afford

Nice set of images. I think the third one could make a superb monochrome image.

Best wishes, Kris.

~nicks Darkmonk's camera bag while he is asleep and hides it...~

I agree re: Royal Mail. Living in a slightly out of the way spot, the only people who can find me are Royal Mail. Third party couriers are a pain in the neck. My postie knows my name and when people get the address wrong (which also often happens) he still delivers it to me.

There is clearly a tension here between trying to stop fraud, and honest punters trying to buy things. The biggest problem is that there is often no flexibility in the system for intelligent human beings to make decisions. A friend of mine retired early from being a bank manager because he was no longer allowed to make decisions, everything was determined by the computer system.

K.