"Mean spirited..." nah, what I don't know doesn't hurt me. It's "open season." I'm glad you got a good deal. You might even be able to make a quick buck or two by putting it on ebay. It's not all that often that a person gets that kind of deal in this neck of the woods. People seem to hold onto their "L" lens and try to pawn off their aftermarket gems on us.

Aye, 't'was indeed a "warm and fuzzy" place for kids but there were always rules, some written, some un-, and that one about which you lament was an "un-" and I go way back - still is to a large extent in many places but rarely "taught" as such - just mainly not discussed so it never reaches the consciousness of the little folks. It just isn't often noted, doesn't get discussed, and is therefore rarely an issue 'til later when one breaks through that invisible parental shield that surrounds undesirable information.

Enjoy your "new" lens and I'll look forward to seeing your results. It's not like you don't have any subject matter. Cheers!

Thanks, gessman! I am enjoying it. And it, I'm sure, is getting a few good chuckles as the old ignoramus experimenting with its power. I was out before dawn to try it out on some sunrise shots, of which I have a fair threshold set from using both my Lumix stuff and the more recent addition of Canon oldies with Tamron lenses. Instead, I found myself faced with a very foggy morning at Rabbit Mountain Open Space near Lyons, CO. Not to be deterred, I shot a few things at a variety of settings, some successful, some not so much. The last two moody views were at Rabbit Mtn, the others were shot between the Open Space Park and Lyons.