I'll be bringing Mike along, so that's two vets.... is that better or worse?

Will also have my 1.7 converter I suspect.

Sorry, we'll miss you Graham

Mike & I should manage to come along after all, so count us in

Helen

Looks exactly the same as mine (K5 no 3!) did - when sent in, SRS told me it wasn't the sensor stain, just a dirty sensor and cleaned it, but it still had faint spots when it came back to me. Again I had been incredibly careful when changing lenses, and had only changed lenses 3 times (and have changed lenses on my K20 and K10 for years without a tenth this much dust ever!). No idea what is happening, but accepted mine back with the slight marks, because I thought somehow it was my fault.... am starting to be doubtful, since it's not just me that's getting an unusually dirty sensor.

Indeed - I have had a pretty good think about where I changed lenses on those three occasions - one was in a hotel room, one at home and one in a car (doors and windows closed) - none of the places was especially dusty and over many years of owning them I have changed lenses on the K20 and K10 in the same car and at home many, many times without any problems, other than the occasional dust spot that could be removed with a few dust removal uses, a blower or at worst, on rare occasions, with a Pentax brand sensor cleaner. The hotel room is the only different place and that was spotless, so I can't believe there was any greater risk there (I wouldn't have risked my precious K5 if I'd been suspicious of any dust!)

I am mystified as to what is happening and only hope the retailer can help when they look at the camera. Otherwise I love the K5 and am absolutely delighted with its performance - it has been everything I hoped for; I think I may have just been exceptionally unlucky!

I've had a similar problem with dust, but sadly several times. My first K5 had the sensor stain and was very promptly replaced by the retailer. The second one arrived with a sensor covered in small dust particles that wouldn't come out with dust removal or a blower, so was sent back within a few days, but again replaced extremely promptly (I have no argument with the retailer, who have been nothing but helpful).

Have just sent my third one (owned for less than 1 month!) to be checked as it just seems to be accumulating dust at a ridiculous rate and has a sensor covered in dust particles that can't be removed with dust removal or a blower - the lens was only changed three times on it, all done carefully with clean lenses, an extra pair of hands to ensure minimal time for lens changes and in a normal inside situation (no sand-storm or pollen filled garden to account for all the dust). I have never managed to get that much dust on my K20 or K10 despite probably hundreds of lens changes. I don't understand what is happening with the sensor in the K5, but am starting to despair that I'll get a K5 I can use for more than a month!!!

I probably can't make that date, but was a maybe anyway! The good news is that I have probably escaped the discectomy however

Looks like it
Yeah, but not so keen on the pain bit until they can get me the op (up to 18 week wait) and after the morphine wears off.....

My plans for the next few months are completely on hold for the mo, so can't say when I'll be free Im afraid, but if I find myself free and able to walk I'll be there!

I was planning a joint exhibition with some friends that Saturday, but to be honest I may still be in recovery from op by then (still early on in NHS target wait!), so all bets are off for my plans for most of this summer at the moment! Will stay in touch with the thread though in the hopes i might be ok by then and could make it, if it ended up being on the Sunday

Looks rather good for a visit when I'm back on my feet properly