NOT a totally free upgrade, but... ONLY offered as a free upgrade for a limited time period - one year. Who knows what happens at the end of that one year?

But in getting that upgrade... It will be interesting to view the minimum configuration specs. Add to that (even worse) that most people will not be able to "bring along" most of their older copies of software. Might work fine on W7, but it will be interesting to see how much works well with W10.

But they are also not going to Mars to live there for very long.

Using technology of any possible budget; it's highly unlikely they will live there more than two years. Plus remember; that long in space added to even the most trivial of medical issues only leaves one solution

The Pentax K3 has some impressive glass specs for video, but... With a sensor that large and using ANY available settings... It's actually "more difficult" to capture quality video than a camera with a smaller sensor; even one such as a GH4.

But for current model dslr's nothing quite gets close to an Canon full frame eos 1d C. Even with that size of the glass coupled to that full frame sensor; it's one of the best cameras on the market - right up there with the RED line

Almost reminds me of the MarsOne issue; where astronauts will basically be going on a one way ticket to Mars

Would be interesting to see a few side by side comparisons with different lenses; especially other weather resistant lenses; given that the two main "edges" the teleconverter has is the Pentax label and the weather resistance of the device.

For instance in comparison; any lens without teleconverter on maximum settings; such as a Pentax K3 on full 24mp raw+jpeg, best possible settings. Then with the teleconverter as compared to cropped in to a similar range/distance.

Technically the teleconverter could win on single focal length lenses, but on most zoom lenses the crop factor might very well have the edge

On my Pentax 16-50 (a first release series lens) it was attempted to be properly repaired three separate times. Since it was purchased by credit card, after the third repair the card company got me a complete new replacement lens. But that one also had issues; which have since been resolved - for now at least.

My Pentax 50-135 has had two completely separate issues, but for now seems to be working quite swell.

Add to that my neighbor who teaches photography at three separate schools. Out of all of the students she's had over the past two years who have had Pentax camera bodies; four of her students have had issues with Pentax SDM lenses.

So out of my entire current Pentax lens collection, which includes all but one of the current Pentax line; the problem seems to limit itself to SDM lenses. They literally do not last half as long as the other types of Pentax lenses; especially the FA's. It's also quite sad to see that Pentax labeled lenses not lasting as long as Sigmas, even Rokinons (ouch)

[quoteThe SDM problem was really on early batches of the 16-50mm and 50-135mm lenses, but it was solved a long time ago. These things persist on the internet for ever.

There will always be some failures, but that applies to everything man made. ][/quote]But, per ratios of one hundred copies... Those two Pentax lenses are near the top ten in worst lenses ever made. Cannot begin to mention how many of them I've seen fail.

Considering the number of copies sold. It speaks volumes when those two Pentax lens issues also outdo most any lens ever sold by Nikon or Canon.

If one happens to own one of those series of lenses, nothing quite worse than having the need to carry around a second or third lens (because of need and not want)

The original posting mentioned walk around lens; which typically means the smallest and lightest lens. Guessing that knocks the Sigma 50 out of the running completely; it's by far the largest and heaviest 50

About remotes:

1 First of all there would be the ideal range for something that is out of the box.

But...

If one were to slightly modify either (or perhaps both) the transmitter and/or receiver. One could easily get considerably better distance. Let me also clearly point out that I would strongly NOT suggest that anyone ever take a Pentax camera body apart. Doing so would completely void the warranty, would most likely damage items that area sealed (even weather sealed), and could easily damage the camera body beyond practical repair.

If one happens to know someone knowledgeable in electronics (especially fabrication) one could add to the receiver lens on the camera body and also do all kinds of tear apart work on the transmitter. There are all kinds of Nikon people who do this all of the time.

I've seen distances only limited by line of site, or some rare instance of bouncing a signal - well over several hundred meters.

There's also the art of purposely making a man in the middle type of device for the remote. Think of it as grabbing the signal, and then rebroadcasting it.

Anyone knowledgeable with items such as "pineapple transmitter/receiver" should be able to easily configure such a device. One could also pose the question and/or topic to a HAK5 Forum

I literally have the serial number of the second Pentax K3 camera produced for the "consumer market". Ironically I have never had one single issue with the original first run K3. Sure I've heard and even witnessed a few very minor issues with others; such as mirror flap, or getting stuck on and having to remove the battery, etc..

But also noting; I also have two more newer generation Pentax K3's; the chrome/silver one and also the gunmetal one. Unless I just haven't heard about it yet, any and all issues with the original first run have since been completely resolved.

Also of note; I have generally "heard" that there may be several issues with Mitakon (spelling??) lenses being used on Pentax camera bodies in general. That sometimes the lenses "slip" out of the settings they should be used in, or that the camera is not set properly to use the two fixed focal length lenses that are also manual focus and manual aperture.

These are two of the four lenses which I do not yet presently own for PK.