I have one of those screens for my LX which I fitted. I may change back for normal use, however, as I find it difficult to focus quickly. Not an issue if I get a shift, however. I had a nice unilock tripod until one of my team drove the landrover over it...

Four shift lenses sold on ebay in the earlier part of the year for between 215 and 300 quid. I noticed those two on ebay too. I am not in a rush...

Best wishes, and thanks for the comments,

Kris.

Bob,

thanks for all the extremely useful information. I must admit I am tempted, and after all I can use it on my LX and scan the Fuji Velvia slide and get sweet pictures that way.

The Hartblei's certainly have good write-ups but seem almost impossible to get hold of at the moment.

I guess 250 isn't that expensive compared to some lenses. I was thinking of the price most K/M series lenses from the mid-70s go for but this is very specialised obviously, and I hadn't realised they were made up to 2004!

Again, many thanks for your comments.

Cheers, Kris.

Check out:

http://bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/extreme-tele/A300f4.html

for all the technical details.

As to why would someone sell it? Because they want something else more! I'd rather have a 12-24mm zoom than the 300mm because it would be more use to me.

Cheers, Kris.

I have 17 Super As in my database, the lowest being 16 pounds, the highest 180 pounds (!), giving a mean of 63. The 180 quid version was a body only, boxed, unused, mint with camera of the year strap. Given the 180 quid one will bias the mean, the mode is a little less at 58 quid. 75 is therefore a little optimistic, 50-60 pounds being more likely.

Cheers, Kris.

PS The last one I have was sold in April, so may be prices are going down...

Thanks John,

I had thought of getting a 12-24 but wondered about the shift as I can use it on my film cameras as well unlike the zoom. They are expensive for a second-hand lens though, usually going for 250 quid. As I said somewhere else, the 12-24 is the only lens tempting me away from the 16-50 at the moment. One lens at a time!

Thanks for your thoughts.

Best wishes, Kris.

I have to photograph quite a few coins. If the coin is in good condition, then a ring flash gives a good result that is clear and readable. Not a beautiful artsy photograph, but the result I need to achieve, quick and consistent. If the coin is knackered and corroded, I have to use a low raking light and a reflector, or two lights etc etc. Just a little bit more fiddly, slower, and requires more experimentation. Many numismatists don't use a camera at all these days, they just put the coins on a flatbed scanner!

Often I have to photograph other finds with very minimal kit in a field in the back end of nowhere. Usually I can get decent enough results by setting up in the shadow of a building and using a curved white card as a reflector. Not artsy again, but shows the detail I need. My most used bit of kit in those circumstances? Little blocks of black foam to prop the find up at the right angle, and if necessary raise the scale into the plane of focus, along with a remote release.

So in a way, yes, I am doing photography for books, just archaeology ones not biology!

Best wishes, Kris.

Has anybody tried the Pentax "K" 28mm shift lens on a digital body? They still command pretty high prices.

Before someone says "just fix it in photoshop", I know that is possible but would like to know how the shift performs. I am also contemplating a 5x4 or 5x7 view camera (if anyone has a spare they'd like to sell :wink

Thanks, Kris.

That lens is top of my shopping list. I'd love to know what you think of it. The DA* 50-135 was worth every penny. At least you should get a good example, there are horror stories of duff examples floating around the net.

The only lens that is tempting me from the 16-50 is the 12-24...

Best wishes, Kris.

I'm hoping lots of people will sell their older ringflashes to pay for the new one and then I can pick up a bargain...

Kris.

I tried cropping this by scrolling the post in Firefox It does seem better with less of the cloud at the top, but I wouldn't get rid of all of it. Having said that, I really like this photo and it works nicely in BW. Great shot.

Best wishes, Kris.