The only thing that might be rewarding to change would be to get the Pentax 16-45 lens. I have a friend who uses this and it is a really nice lens indeed, worth the extra money and more of a true wide angle. A couple of links that will help you compare it with the 18-55.http://www.pbase.com/cameras/pentax/smc_da_16-45_4_ed_alhttp://www.pbase.com/cameras/pentax/smc_da_18-55_35-56John.Please visit me at:http://www.pbase.com/johnfr/backtothebridgehttp://www.pbase.com/johnfr..

Thanks for the links !.

Any suggestions regarding ballhead, flash, bag and polarizing filter???.

I was told the cable shutter release wasn't compatible with the K10D?..

I still require assistance for the ballhead, polarizer filter, bag and flash ....

The lens you suggested is about 130$ more but reviews seem to like it a lot... I think ill go with this one !..

Can't help you on the ballhead. I use an old Leitz Tiltall. As for flash, it looks like the one you want will still cover the wide area of the 16-zoom you've upgraded to..

Bags, that's always a tough and personal call. For different systems and needs I have a small Tamrac, two Domkes, a Lowepro AW 400 Stealth Reporter and an M products bag. The Domkes are basically homes for my film cameras. The M bag I'm still not wild about but for now it houses my Epson RD and Leica M. The Loewpro is my basic digital carry around bag. Main reason I bought it though, was neither of my Domkes fit under an airline seat comfortably and my Tamrac is bascially a one-SLR bag and I needed one that fit at least two..

Ask yourself these questions:.

1. Do you plan to carry your camera in the bag with one lens mounted all the time, or broken down?.

2. How much MORE gear do you expect to own (and want to carry at one shoot)?.

3. Is being waterproof important, or will water resistant do?.

4. Do you want a shoulder bag or a backpack?.

5. How much money do you want to spend?.

Good luck,'Nice pen, bet you write good stories with it.'..

My budget was 3000$ for everything ....

So I'm close to my limit already. I prefer should bag, and I'd rather keep the 16-55 lens on all the time, and keep the second there. I expect I will use the first more often than the second..

A ballhead will already cost me 300$ probably, so I'd have 200$ left for a bag and a Polarizer filter. Though - are polarizer filters really needed ? I'll do a lot of indoor shooting (babies in hospitals, animals) and probably landscape. I'm not so much in macros (at the moment). Street photography really interests me but it seems difficult..

The first thing I'll probably need to learn is how to use the white balance options correctly according to where I shoot (especially if I am indoor)... but for the rest I've never owned a SLR before, so what I'm buying is based purely on recommendations I've seen on other forums or books I have read...

That makes sense and there are plenty of wonderful bags in all price ranges. There are web sites for all the types I mentioned, and they include suggested camera outfit size and configuration that each will comfortably hold..

One mfg that I'm not personally familiar with thought I've seen people mention on this forum is Crumpler. Go to crumplerbags.com the 6 million dollar home seems to be popular for people with the amount of gear you're looking to purchase..

And, white balance is easy. Carry a white card with you and balance it off of that..

'Nice pen, bet you write good stories with it.'..

Too many sd cards, I use one 1 Mb card and shoot raw only images. I download onto computer after every session. I have one backup card and have never needed it..

Lenses, hey I don't want to preach but.... buy one good fast lens. 4.5 apeture is too slow especially with the longer tele lens. Or scrap these two and get one macro lens..

50 or 70mmm 2.8. you are going to get other lenses anyway sometime so get something that will ALWAYS be useful..

After using this single focal length lens for a while you will know what you Really need..

Most people (apparently) either want to go as long as is possible or as wide as they can. With the real macro you can already go as close as you can and have an ideal portrait lens as well..

Tripod, dunno about carbon fibre but get as heavy as you can or, a Benbo for getting into impossible positions..

ThanksAndy.

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C'est La vie..

I changed a few things...some people said I could save a lot on buying in the United States, but I said with duty fees, brokerage, PST & GST (whereas I only play PST if ordering in Canada but another province) ... besides if I buy in Canada I get a Canadian Warranty. Anyway to compare the kit just for the hell of it....

@ CameraCanada.comPentax - 16-45mm f4 Digital smc DA ED AL Lens $377.60Battery Grip DBG2 for K10D Digital SLR $182.14Sandisk - 2 GB Ultra II SD Plus Memory Card 2x $62.79Battery Pack DLI50 Rechargeable $84.50K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Body BONUS $920.80Lowepro - Pixel Pak V1 Memory Card Case $17.8950-200mm smc PDA f4-5.6 ED Lens $188.80Pentax - Deluxe SLR Camera Bag with Pentax insignia $24.74Sub-total: 1922,05$Shipping: 16,72$6% PST: 116,32$Total: 2055,10$.

Versus eBAY kit: http://cgi.ebay.com/...0130504849QQihZ006QQcategoryZ30020QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem.

Sub-total: $1,189.95USShipping: $47US14% PST/GST: $173,17USDuty and brokerage fee: $73,14USTotal: $1483,12USTotal: 1539,00$ CAD.

Of course I don't have the same lenses (CameraCanada.com doesn't have the Temron mentioned) so my approximate savings for buying across the border would be of 300$ give or take...Except I won't be happy if my K10D breaks and I have no more warranty. That 300$ savings imho is not worth the trouble..

What do you think? I removed the tripod and that's it....

Suggestions ?

If anybody has better recommendation than the 50-200mm I plan to buy now, can you give me an explicit example?.

I don't want to buy *too* expansive lenses since I'll have a lot to learn..

How's that:.

== At CameraCanada.com ($CAD):- K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Body BONUS $920.80- Pentax - 16-45mm f4 Digital smc DA ED AL Lens $377.60- Pentax - 50-135mm f2.8 smc DA* ED (IF) SDM Lens $1,227.20- 2x Lexar - 2 GB 60X PLATINUM II SD Memory Card $114,66$Sub-total: 2640.26$PST 6%: 158,41$Shipping: 16,00$Total: 2814,68$.

== At BHphotovideo.com ($US):.

- 190XDB 3-Section Tripod (Black) with 501HDV Fluid Head - Supports 7.5 lb (3.4 kg) $266- O-ME53 Magnifying Eyecup for Pentax Digital SLR $34.95.

- Apex 120 AW Shoulder Bag - for Digital SLR Camera with Lens Attached, plus Accessories (Arctic Blue) $44,95Sub-total: $345,90US / $364.34CADPST 6% + GST 8%: $21,86CAD + $30,90CADShipping: $44CADTotal: 461,10$.

Combined orders: $3275,78CAD..

Nice prices, I think. if that is all too expensive, drop the long lens until you see the need..

I am glad that you have kept the tripod n head because you will need it eventually.ThanksAndy.

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C'est La vie..

I'd probably disagree with this. Looking at the price of SD cards at the moment, I can't see any reason why you shouldn't invest in two or three (or more), especially considering the weight and size!.

People shoot in different ways, but I'll certainly fill more than two or three gig cards if I'm on holiday for a week or more (and many people don't like to lug their laptop abroad with them, or have the hassle of downloading every night)..

I also feel safer having a weeks worth of images spread over several 1 gig cards, rather than relying on everything being stored on one 2 or 4 gig card..

Just my humble opinion however!.

Cheers - BT..