Thanks Jono, Carl, Jim, Vince and Mark....
First impressions on the 200/2.8.....I really love it. It's very sharp (although needed a +5 AF micro-adjustment). It is not THAT heavy. (It's about the same size as the Canon 200mm prime)
Nice bokeh. It's whisper quiet.....especially compared to the screwdriver drives AND it's weather resistant. You wouldn't know it but was very windy when I took those shots, so once I got the shutter speed up, it acquired focus very quickly and accurately.
I continue to be amazed by the picture quality of the K-5. Both of those shots are uncropped, largely unedited and unsharpened.....in fact the only PP done on the RAW files was to reduce the saturation in the shot of the
Brownea macrophylla flower.
When I first got the K-5, I thought it would replace my 7D (it did.....now sold). Now I am thinking it will also replace my 5DII. Having attempted shots like that before with the 5DII, I know that the highlights would have been completely blown out.
Will wonders never cease......
R