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<p>Hi Folks.</p> <p>Hope the New Year is starting out well. I had a chance to head to south central Indiana for a chance to chase down a little wildlife this week.</p> <p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18330566-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="553" /><br> Seymour Sandhill Cranes taking off. Pentax K1 150-450.<br> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18330572-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="665" /><br> Cranes in the Cornfield. Pentax K3 150-450<br> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18330571-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="324" /></p>

<p>Thanks James. Very timely. I still like my K3, but I have never been all that impressed with the autofocus. I hope this improves it!</p>

<p>Honestly I used to just use a rain cover myself. It is no where as easy to use, but it will keep your gear safe.</p>

<p>Hi Richard.<br> Before Pentax went digital they didn't make a 'true' weather sealed lens of any kind. That said, The LX and several other cameras were so well made that I never had an issue with them getting around a little water (if we are talking rain/snow). I never worried about getting 'a little water' on the LX, and I suspect that's what it was for. The lenses were, again, reasonably water tight, enough to handle a little water, but they weren't truly weather proof.<br> Thinking about this, were any lenses of that era (Nikon/Canon/Minolta) actually coming with seals?<br> I used to shoot with a Sigma 400mm f5.6 APO macro (version II) and it was worse than my Pentax lenses in that it would get humidity inside, it was a real pain in tropical environments anyway.</p>

<p>Hi Hin,</p> <p>I really love the ET photo. Pretty cool effect! The light effect works nicely on the 'farting boy'.</p>

<p>Wishing everyone well in the New Year!</p> <p>A few images from my new K1</p> <p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18327655-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="453" /><br> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18327656-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="453" /><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18328051-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="600" /></p>

<p>Merry Christmas, Patrick!</p> <p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18327040-lg.jpg" alt="" width="665" height="1000" /></p> <p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18327041-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="452" /></p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18323096-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="450" /><br> A Winter's Day, in a Deep and Dark December.</p>

<p>Hello All.</p> <p>Some crazy weather going on, snow ice, sleet, rain. Never know what's around the corner!<br /> I went to work with my 18-55 and the K5iis. It was great for my first shot.<br> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18323096-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="662" /><br /> Snow scene, Williams Creek, Indianapolis</p> <p>Next is a case of having the wrong lens at the right time.While walking for snow scenes a Red Tailed Hawk took off right in front of me with a squirrel. All I had was the 18-55. Still, not a bad shot.<br /> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18323046-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="677" /><br /> Red Tailed Hawk, Indianapolis.</p> <p>Finally a case of having the right lens at the right time. For years I have tried to get a decent photo of a Ringed Kingfisher. But they are very weary. I saw ths one a long way off across a part of Eagle Creek reservoir. Fortunately I had my 600mm f5.6 A and my 2X-L TC with a cropped body. I still had to crop, but I got a decent return.</p> <p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18321295-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="746" /><br /> Ringed Kingfisher, Indianapolis.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Love that shot Wayne!</p>

<p>Hi Jasmine.<br> <br />Look through the view finder. Can you see through the lens? If not the mirror might be stuck. <br> The ZX-7 is a fine camera, but like many Pentax cameras of that era they did tend to have motor drive issues. <br> Are all the other functions working? Does the battery seem to be providing power to the view finder on the top?</p> <p> </p>

<p>Matt, your dog there is practically invisible in the snow. Really love the sunrise shot. Nice brokah in the Helios<br> Patrick-my sentiment exactly. Question though, how cold do you feel that your equipment can manage? I might go visit a family member in Alberta and it would be useful to know what it can actually handle. With the old K1000 it was basically worring about the film breaking. </p> <p>Rick, looks pretty relaxing. Enjoy yourself!</p>

<p><strong>All in a name</strong>.<br /> Few animals have a funnier scientific name than the bird that is intimately known to us across North America, The American Robin. First of all it is NOT a true 'Robin'. Europeans missed their sweet little robin of Biblical fame, so they named an unrelated species of Thrush as the 'American Robin'. Well, it seems the naturalist who gave the scientific name to our local worm eater got the last laugh. With a name like <em>Turdus migratorius</em> (migrating turd?) you've got to wonder what brought that name about.<br /> No worms here!<br /> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18321294-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="745" /><br /> American Robin on Ice, Eagle Creek, Indianapolis.<br /> Pentax K3, Pentax 150-450.</p>