How to check K-5 for usual defects?

Surfseen, your post=much appreciated!
True, the amount of money paid for the whole system (camera + lenses + tripod + bag(s)) isn't insignificant, but I don't sweat much because of it, since I think that investing around 1000 pounds every 3-4 years in a quality camera is a reasonable thing to do... Point and shoot cameras are great, but so many times insufficient...
I plan to use the camera quite a bit, since I travel and visit often, go to museums and castles, like landscape photography, macro shots and now with K-5 I hope to venture into night photography, too... So, even though I am far from being proficient and skilled like you guys here, I am motivated and want results. This is my first DSLR and I bought K-5 because friend of mine told me it is a great camera to grow into, and also because it came up so high on both expert and user reviews...
I am aware that some issues usually come and appear only after certain amount of usage... But, some are also there right from the start, so I want uncover them straight away and deal with it now...
No, I don't plan to leave my K-5 to my children (havent' got any yet! )... most likely I'll learn as much as I can with K-5 and sell in 2 years time, and then buy either K-5 successor, or if Pentax and Ricoh won't play too well together, then Nikon D7000 successor.
I bought K-5 believing it is the best camera for the money within the 550-900 £ limits.

That's just the law for internet purchases and is known as the Distance Selling Regulations. It's not a warranty, just an opportunity for you to return something if you've changed your mind. That's seven days from the date you receive it.

I doubt whether you'll find any obvious defects on a brand new K-5 just by looking at it, you'll only find out once you've tried it! If you do have an issue then its covered by the warranty so get out and use it.

Enjoy your new camera!

I have several film Pentax SLRs (each around 40 years old) and four Pentax DSLRs (including a K-5) plus the Samsung clone and not had an issue with any of them.

[quote="cmick30"]I bought K-5 believing it is the best camera for the money within the 550-900 £ limits[/quote]I agree.

John